Lori Michelle started dancing at age 3 and has had over 16 years of dance training with such noted teachers as Sheryl Sims, Aleta Davis, Christy Wilkerson and Joan Golden. She was a member of the LA Dance Connection’s company and won several overall awards with them. She was a teacher’s assistant for 4 years and has taught dance for 30 years, in both California and Texas.
Lori was a member of the Hi-Lites Dance Drill Team in high school, and was voted Most Skilled and Most Dedicated for 3 years. In 1991, she was the Dance Drill Team Captain, and placed 2nd at the Los Altos Southern California Championships, 3rd at the Southern California Dance Drill Team Championships, 6th at the Baldwin Park Blue Ribbon Royale, and was also a Miss Dance Drill Team USA contestant.
In school, Lori was on the Honor Roll and the President’s List. She has received such accolades as the Presidential Academic Fitness Award, honors on the California Golden State Exam in algebra, was in the top 25 students in her class all four years, and is a Lifetime Member of the California Scholarship Federation. Since then, she has become a Certified Pharmacy Technician, graduated Summa Cum Laude from the National Institute of Technology, and became a lifetime member of the National Honor Society. She also went to San Antonio College where she received a Certificate of Academic Excellence Award and graduated with an Associates of Art.
After moving to Texas, Lori has competed several times with a solo and has received several 1st places, including 10th overall soloist in the nation at Showstopper Nationals in 1994, and 2nd overall teacher soloist in 1996. She has choreographed many overall award winning routines including, Love Takes Time, Artistic Rhythms, Bye Bye Blackbird, Minuet and Badinerie, Sweet Dreams, 12th Street Rag, which was the 1st overall group at Starbound Nationals, Working Day and Night, Kiss, which was the 10th overall group in the nation at Starbound Nationals, She Talks to Angels, Jumpin East of Java, Why Didn’t You, Crucify, Le Jazz Hot, Bossa Nova USA, Boy Like That, Now We Are Free, and Schindler’s List. In 2001, she earned the Nationally Recognized Teacher plaque from Showstopper National Competitions.
Lori is an accredited member of the Texas Association Teachers of Dancing and has her certification in both Tap and Jazz.