Our Instructors
The Morro Bay Dance is fortunate to have many wonderful instructors. Here are some of our instructors bios. This page is still under construction.
Shari Claudette Fortino has over 55 years of experience in dance performance, instruction and choreography. Among her many achievements, perhaps the most significant, has been carrying the torch left by her step father, John Soiu, as she furthers his legacy of both the Debonaire School of Ballroom Dancing and the Debonaire Special Dancers, a social dance program for special needs students.
Shari co-narrated an Academy Award nominated documentary movie about the Debonaire Special Dancers with Jack Lemmon in 1987. Shari has been doing choreography all her life in theater, schools and group performances. Shari’s main love is performing, which she started at the age of 12. Shari owned a professional theater for over 17 years.
Shari and her husband/dance partner Michael Smothers offer a special dance instruction opportunity for students offering group and private dance instruction. They teach many different styles of dance and focus on social dances that people can use in many situations. They specialize in creating wedding dances for the Bride and Groom, as well as the family members.
Shari and Michael also write songs and perform together live around the central coast and on video in a folk duet know as the Latecomers.
For more information visit www.debonairedancers.com
View instruction at: YouTube/Debonaire School of Ballroom Dancing
Saundra earned her B.A. in Theater with a minor in dance and psychology from the University of Northern Colorado. There she studied jazz, tap, ballet and modern dance, musical theater, drama, comedy and all aspects of production. After her graduate she moved to California. She has been active teaching at local studios and choreographing for Wine Country Theater and Applause Children’s Theater.
Saundra began her training in Ballroom dance in 1984 at Fred Astaire Studios in Denver where she taught for 7 years. Styles included were Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Rumba, Cha Cha, Salsa, East Coast and West Coast Swing. She is also trained in Nightclub Two Step, Bolero, Country Two Step and Country Swing. She has been specializing in Wedding dance instruction for the last 16 years. This includes the couple, father/daughter, mother/son and wedding party instruction. She teaches group and private lessons. Students with no dance experience to years of training are all welcome. More information can be found at her website www.firststepballroom.com . Like First Step Ballroom on facebook where you can get more information on upcoming events and classes.
