Paula K. Shiff
Paula K. Shiff is the artistic director of the North Shore Civic Ballet. She has devoted her life to dance. She started training with E. Virginia Williams at the Boston Ballet School and studied in New York at the American Ballet Theatre and the Martha Graham Studio. Paula performed with the Boston Ballet. She also had full academic training with a B.S. from the University of Massachusetts. In 1971, Paula opened the Marblehead School of Ballet. She also has served on the faculties of the North Shore Community College and Salem State University. The unusual range of her training and experience gives her a unique approach to dance education. Rather than adhering to one style of training, she draws the best from many styles. In 2009, Salem State University recognized Paula’s success and dedication with their Lifetime Achievement Award in the Arts.

Sallee Slagle
Sallee has been a professional teacher, performer, studio owner and choreographer for over 20 years. Since receiving her BFA in Dance from the Boston Conservatory, Sallee has taught students of all ages and abilities from preschool to professional. Though she teaches many dance forms, her favorites continue to be classical Modern and Ballet. Sallee has performed throughout New England, the Caribbean and abroad with a variety of dance companies including the modern company she founded and continues to direct, Forty Steps Dance. As well, Sallee's choreography has been presented locally and internationally by the Culture Connection, North Shore Dance Alliance, Windhover Performing Arts Center, North Shore Civic Ballet Co., Somerville Theater, Majestic Cruise Lines and England's Saint Hill European Arts Festival. Along with teaching at a number of area studios, including her own Dance Dimensions, Sallee is currently delivering her Increasing Creativity through Movement workshop locally and abroad bringing creative dance to everyone.

Wendy Hamel
Wendy received her BA from Bradford College in 1998 and started performing with Exit Dance Theatre in 2000. She has taught dance at several local dance studios including Ballet New England, Kathy’s Tumbleweed and the Triton Regional High School Dance Company. Wendy has also performed with the Donovan Dance Company, the Bradford College Dance Company and the Seacoast Civic Dance Company. She has studied under Denise Collins, Mary Lee Karlins, and Lillian Carter—studying ballet, modern and jazz. Wendy recently launched her own professional services company called Med-Marketers, creating integrated marketing programs for specialty medical practices in the Greater Boston Area. She also designed the NSDA website. Wendy lives in Newburyport with her fiance, Scott, and her 7-year-old daughter, Avery.