Shely Pack-Manning has been a dance educator for over 50 years and has taught on the San Mateo Coastside in California for 30. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, at age 16 she chose to join Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre even after being awarded a scholarship to attend Carnegie Institute of Technology - now Carnegie Mellon. She went on to dance professionally with The Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and “Timepiece” a Pittsburgh based modern dance company.

 

Shely was honored to serve many years on the Board of Directors for Dance Masters of America. She was also the Chairman of the Modern Dance Education Committee and was on faculty for TTS Long Beach and Buffalo. She was the DMA Miss and Mister Dance Solo Title Director for 4 years before she was elected onto the DMA Advisory Board. Shely was honored to serve as the President of Dance Masters of America 2012-2014.

 

She earned her BA in Performing Arts from St. Mary’s College of California and her Masters in Leadership through Grand Canyon University. Shely has taught master classes and judged throughout the United States and Canada for many organizations including American Dance Awards, Dance Masters of America, many DMA Chapters. Shely was awarded the 2012 Arts Educator of the Year by the San Mateo Arts Foundation and has been recognized by the National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts for her teaching and influence in encouraging and supporting students who have been recognized for their exceptional artistic achievements in the Arts Recognition and Talent Search Program.

 

Shely has had many award winning students throughout the years, including the 2000 Miss Dance of America, 2001 Teen Mr. Dance of America, 2003 Mr. Dance of America, 2006 Teen Mr. Dance of a America, and the 2009 Junior Mr. Dance of America and was the Teacher of Recognition for the 2015 Petite Miss Dance of America. Shely’s students can be seen on Broadway, National and International Touring Companies, music videos, television shows and commercials, cruise ships and professional ballet and modern dance companies.