Staff

Pat Shepherd
Owner/Director

As a child Pat Shepherd had formal dance training under the instruction of Beale and Peggy Fletcher.  She began attending Dance Masters of America National Conventions at the age of 8 to further her studies.  The summer of 1971 Joseph Levinoff personally chose Pat for his summer intensive ballet at NC School of the Arts and she continued to study with him for the next 3 years. In 1974, at the age of 18, Pat tested with Dance Masters of America and became the youngest certified teacher in the United States to teach tap, jazz, ballet and acrobatics under the Dance Masters seal.  Her other professional certifications to teach are with Dance Educators of America and Professional Dance Teachers of America.  She, her staff and students are currently very involved with the Dance Educators of America regional and national workshops and competitions.  Pat is married to John Shepherd and they have 2 grown children, Mark and Sher Shepherd.

Before starting her family in 1982 Pat traveled extensively as a choreographer/teacher and competition judge for PDTA, DMA, Dance Caravan, Dorminy’s Homecoming and Hoctor dance conventions.  Over the past 38 years, Pat’s dancing school students have won thousands of awards including many High Scores of the Day, 1st Place Overalls and the coveted Dance Educator’s of America President’s Cup several times.  She has former students performing with their respective college dance teams and also after 3 decades can tout several professional actors and dancers that trained through her studio.  Pat has personally been the recipient of numerous Choreography Awards and she and her dancers worked in the 1987 smash hit movie, Dirty Dancing.

It has always been one of Pat’s favorite pastimes to travel with her students.  Most interesting performance trips were to Atlantis Resort, Bahamas;  Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, New York;  Orange Bowl Parade with Pat as the choreographer for the dancing team that year, Miami and Walt Disney World, Orlando.  In her spare time, Pat contributes her talent as a professional choreographer to many high schools and various charitable organizations.

She is an active member of the Hendersonville Lions Club and in 1993 was named a Melvin Jones Fellow.  She has also received the Lions Club International President’s Certificate of Appreciation for humanitarian service.  As recognition for her lifetime contributions, she was chosen to carry the Olympic Torch in the 1996 Cross Country Relay.  She has been the NC Apple Festival Entertainment Director for the last 30 years.  A complete resume is available upon request.

More than anything Pat loves to teach her students how to express themselves through the art of dance and to help them become the best that they can be in all facets of their lives.

Sheraton Shepherd  

Sher Shepherd literally grew up at Pat’s School of Dance. She is the 26 year old daughter of Pat Shepherd and much to her mother’s delight has become one of the most sought after tap dance teachers in the United States and abroad.  When she is not on the road as a featured guest instructor or teaching with a professional organization, the students at Pats get her undivided attention.  By staying current with the ever changing forms of dance, her choreography of competition routines always come back as winners.  Sher confidently says that she gives her students the best!

Outside of her formal training at Pat’s School of Dance, Sher has studied ballet at Virginia Intermont College and with the Atlanta Ballet.  In addition to winning the title of Sr. Miss DEA, her high school years were full of travel. She was chosen as an assistant for the Joel Ruminer summer camps and as early as 18 years old landed a professional  job in Germany, First Floor Company.  Many and varied are her professional performances, including but not limited to: Disney Tokyo as female lead, Tap Happy Two & Cape Cod Jamboree Nights;  Universal Theme Park Orlando, Macy’s Christmas Show and featured model for Universal’s promotional advertisements; Orange Bowl Parade and the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. Last year Sher performed in and choreographed the Herbalife Industrial show in Atlanta, Georgia.

Her professional teaching has taken her to facinating places such as Costa Rica, Mexico, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.   Even though her radio/television voiceovers for Verizon, Fresno Co. PSA, College Foundations NC, Kinney Drugs, LL Bean and Phisoderm; and acting roles ; LuLu, Nuptials; Agnes, Meet Me In St. Louis and an extra in Heavy Weights, were enlightening and fun; dancing is where her heart is!

April Freeman   

April Freeman started her dance studies at Pat’s School of Dance, started dance competition at age 10 and started student teaching at age 13.  She is married, a mother of two and has been dancing at Pat’s School of Dance for 30 years. Her most memorable performance was in Miami, Fl dancing with the Pat Shepherd Dance Company for the Lion’s Club International Convention.

April became a full time employee at Pat’s School of Dance and was certified to teach tap and jazz through Dance Educators of America in 1996.  She routinely attends teachers training school to stay abreast of the latest teaching techniques.  April diligently puts her skills as a parent to work here.  She is charming, funny and communicates extremely well with the children.  This makes her a favorite of the young children here at Pat’s.

April is very civic minded and volunteers with Pat for various organizations around Hendersonville.  Her work as a choreographer extends to North Henderson High School where she works with the Show Choir.  She helps as a volunteer at her daughter’s school and also with her church.

Brittany Sellers

Brittany Sellers is a full time teacher at Pat’s. An 18 year student of formal dance training in tap, jazz, ballet and hip hop

Brittany has perfomed in national and international industrial shows for Herbalife. She has also performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and on NBCs Today Show.  With an extensive background in cheer we are proud that Brittany was part of the 2008 UNCA dance and cheer team in Asheville, NC.  More recently Brittany worked with the Miss Hendersonville Princesses for the Miss America Sponsored pageant as the Princesses’ choreographer.

 

Amanda Fetter

Amanda Fetter is a 2007 graduate of Pat’s School of Dance. Since graduating, she attended UNC- Charlotte where she was captain of the dance team.  Amanda recently moved back to Hendersonville after dancing in New York City.  She was an intern at Broadway Dance Center and has trained with the best choreographers such as Shelia Barker, Derrick Mitchell, and Germaine Salsburg.  Amanda is happy to be back at Pat’s where she will bring her ideas and new choreography to the students.  

Robert Hart                                                                                                                                                         

Robert is a 2011 graduate of Pat’s School of Dance. As a competitve dancer, Robert always won top score awards with his hip hop and tap solos. He has been recongnized nationally by winning scholarships to train at top professional studios, the Hollywood Summer Tour, and claiming the title of Teen and Senior Mr. Dance 2011. Robert has also taught hip hop at many conventions and choreographed for area dance teams.  He is happy to be teaching at Pat’s School of Dance sharing his hip hop technique and choreography. Robert is currently auditioning and working towards his professional career.