Laura Romani Matter

Artistic Director/CEO

Laura grew up in the Fredericksburg area and started to take dance and music lessons from the time she was 4 years old. She began working at the Riverside Dinner Theatre (where she was in about 15 of their shows) in high school and that is where she truly discovered her love for Musical Theatre. Laura auditioned at a few colleges her senior year of high school and got into each of their musical theatre programs. She weighed some pros and cons of each, but finally decided to go with the school that offered her the highest amount of scholarship money, so she chose the Catholic University of America. CUA is an Accredited Music University where Laura graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in Musical Theatre. While in college, Laura was in several of the University’s musicals, she also had the opportunity to perform at The Kennedy Centre’s Opera House in “Leonard Bernstein’s MASS” and at the Lincoln Theatre in “Ragtime.” She also auditioned for their study abroad program, the London Dramatic Academy, and spent her spring semester of her junior year in London. After graduation, Laura auditioned to study at the Oxford University’s British American Drama Academy, but she opted out of this opportunity and moved to NYC. While there she was cast and performed in two Off-Broadway productions, “Carnival” and “Giggle Bound” and did extra work for the CW’s new show “Body Politic.” Miss Laura was also cast in two other films while living in NYC: “Haze” and “To Pull a Stunt.” Even though NYC held many opportunities, she ultimately decided that Fredericksburg was where her heart was. She moved back home and opened up her own studio in Fredericksburg. She has taught an assortment of classes and private lessons at local dance studios, as well as, dance at The Riverside Dinner Theatre’s summer camp. She has studied dance, acting, and voice in many master classes around the world and wants to take all of this knowledge she has gained over the years and pass it on to the Fredericksburg community. Laura has a vision with the Fredericksburg Studio of the Arts and loves to educate children and to make them as passionate about dance and theatre as she is. When Laura isn’t at the studio, she spends time with her supportive husband, Matt, is a mom to two wonderful children, and tries to get tickets for as many musicals as she can! Laura looks forward to making dreams come true and to have you be part of the FSA family!

Shelbi Shelton

Competition Director, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Adult Dance, Company Tech and Workshop

Shelbi has grown up in the Spotsylvania area and began her dance journey at the age of 4. First studying at M&S Studios then finding home here at FSA for the past 10 years. She has been very active on the competition team here at FSA for the past 9 years, this included multiple leadership positions. Shelbi has won countless 1st place overalls, judges choices, scholarships, and regional titles. Shelbi has studied a variety of styles including: tap, jazz, contemporary, ballet, musical theater, hip hop, modern, fosse, and Miami latino ballroom. Although her absolute favorite is definitely tap!  She has also had the opportunity to learn from such inspirational individuals, such as Luke Hickey, Aaron Burr, Laura Edwards, Travis Wall, Twitch, Ayodele Casel, Chani Bell and many others. Shelbi plans to attend a university and double major in mathematics and dance, with having the ultimate goal in joining a dance company one day and pursuing dance as long as possible. Shelbi not only finds joy when training and performing, but when teaching also. She’s extremely thankful for everytime she is able to step foot in the studio and having her passion influence others around her. Although dance has Shelbi’s heart, she also enjoys thrilling activities such as riding rollercoasters, parasailing, shooting, etc. She can’t wait to teach again this year and share her passion of dance with her students!

Sally Roehl

Contemporary, Ballet, Jazz, Pointe, Creative Movement

Studied dance for about 20 years. She has been teaching dance classes off and on since high school. She studied dance, voice, and musical theater at M&S Studio in Fredericksburg, VA. A member of M&S’s dance competition team, the Starz Dance Company, Sally was selected captain and helped to choreograph several of the team’s dance routines. She was a featured dancer in many of M&S Studio’s productions and recitals. Sally has also performed in several productions at the Riverside Dinner Theater including a shark girl and dance captain in West Side Story, Lorraine and Peggy Sawyer (alternate) in 42nd Street, Tiger Lily in Peter Pan, and a dance ensemble member in Evita. Sally graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a B.A. in Fashion Merchandising and a minor in General Business in May of 2008. She is currently attending graduate school at the University of Mary Washington to pursue a Master’s Degree in Teaching.

 

Maija-Liisa Jano

Jazz, Conditioning, Stretch

Picture and bio coming soon

 

Stephanie Wood

Ballet, Pre-Pointe

Stephanie Wood is a professional performer, choreographer, and dance instructor. Professional performance credits include Riverside Center for the Performing Arts, American Music Theatre, Busch Gardens, Kings Dominion, Hersheypark, and RWS & Associates. Stephanie has choreographed numerous productions at Riverside Center, the Riverside Awards, and Hersheypark. She graduated with honors from Oklahoma City University with a Bachelor’s degree in Dance Performance. Stephanie is the 2019 Broadway World Central Virginia Award Winner for Best Choreography for Annie, starring Sally Struthers. She has taught at numerous dance studios in the Mid-Atlantic region, and is thrilled to pass on her passion for dance to her FSA students!

Brooke Renfrow

Hip Hop

Picture & Bio Coming Soon

Cameron Slemp

Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Tap

Picture & Bio Coming Son
 
 

 

Kat Slemp

Creative Movement, Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Musical Theatre

Picture and bio coming soon

Yasmine Hasan

Acro

Picture and Bio coming soon

 

Regan Schwenzer

Ballet

Picture and bio coming soon.

Janelle Behm

Competition Choreographer

Janelle has been taking classes, attending competitions and conventions for over 20 years. She has trained in all styles, but jazz has always been her favorite. After graduating high school she began teaching various classes as well as choreographing competition pieces. Janelle attended the University of Mary Washington where she was on the dance team and an officer for the Performing Arts Company. She is also a former member of Company 360 where she performed and choreographed for their bi annual shows. Her favorite opportunity so far has been attending the Rockettes Summer Intensive. Today, Janelle continues to further her dance education/training while inspiring all of her students to always do their best and “go full out!”

 

Nicole Kent

LimeLite Theatre Company Children’s Director

As a youngster, growing up outside Richmond, Nicole enjoyed being a part of music with district chorus programs and, in high school, show choir. She also danced from the time she was three all the way through college. In high school she also loved coaching swim team and working with the kids was the highlight of her summer! When Nicole entered Longwood University in 1997, she knew her passion was in those areas and graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education with a concentration in voice.

Nicole spent a year at Richmond’s St. Benedict’s as the music teacher and select choral director for K-8 before marrying her husband in 2002 and joining him in Spotsylvania. She taught chorus for three years at Spotsylvania Middle School before their first child, Xander, was born. Nicole chose to stay home as a full time mom to both Xander and Willow. Currently she coaches summer swim in the area, offers private voice and piano lessons, and is a substitute teacher in Spotsylvania County. Over the years she has also taught musical theater classes with CYT and was the director for CYT Lite’s productions of “101 Dalmatians” and “Jungle Book” Kids.

Nicole is super excited to be joining Fredericksburg Studio of the Arts in their Limelight Theatre Company productions. A special thank you to Laura Romani Matter for this amazing opportunity!

Roxanne Romani

Administrative Director

Ms. Roxanne brings over 20 years of administrative management to FSA. She has worked for a major retail firm in management and training where she was the youngest department manager ever hired by her branch. She also was the administrative assistant with her husband, Peter, and later with her son Matt to establish a successful real estate team that has spanned over 25 years. Because of her love of working with children she was a substitute teacher in Spotsylvania county for many years.

Her greatest love in the performing arts is musical theatre so being a part of establishing FSA has been a dream come true! Having been a parent of a performing arts girl, her daughter Laura (from dance, musical theatre, voice and piano), she certainly understands the “parent” side as well as the “business” side of the desk.

She is honored to work with Laura and these incredible instructors! They are all so passionate and dedicated to their art and to these children. She loves these children and their parents/families. In her spare time Roxanne loves to read, the theatre, and mostly spending time with her family, especially her grandson, Jack.

To all, welcome to our FSA family!