Lisa Applegate

Lisa Applegate is the director of Applegate Dance Studio. She has taught, choreographed and directed dance performances in the area for over 25 years.  Lisa’s warm, optimistic nature can be seen in the classroom. Lisa strives to form strong relationships with her students. Her aim is to both inspire and draw out the special talents of each dancer. Lisa is very passionate about dancing and teaching, always eager and enthusiastic to pass on her knowledge.  As Artistic Director of Applegate Dance Company, she stages one or two dance performances for the community of Davis a year. In addition, she choreographs and teaches short dances, which are performed throughout California. Lisa Applegate trained and performed with the Phares Theater Ballet and the Sacramento Ballet. She has taken classes with renowned teacher Finis Jung. She has also attended teacher's training courses at the National Ballet School of Canada. Lisa continues to dance and train in the Bay Area at various Berkeley and San Francisco Ballet Schools.

Cara Rains

Bio to come

Marlaina Schroeder

Marlaina Schroeder has been dancing since the age of three. She has trained in many styles of dance such as: ballet (15 years), jazz (9 years), lyrical (9 years), and hip hop (6 years). Marlaina was the captain of her high school cheer squad, her high school dance team, and her high school hip hop team. With a bachelor’s degree in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, a minor in Education, a California Teaching Credential, and a Master’s in Education, Marlaina understands the human body and how to teach students to use their bodies safely and effectively. She has coached multiple dance teams in California to national titles and is planning to do it again this year!

Jean Snyder

Jean Snyder teaches Teen/Adult Intermediate to Advanced Ballet.
We are very fortunate to have Jean on staff. Jean brings years of professional experience to Applegate Dance Studio. Jean was a professional dancer touring internationally with the Marquis de Cuevas Ballet, and also danced in European films and TV. She took her teacher's training courses at the Royal Academy of Dancing, and at the Marin Ballet School, and has been teaching and choreographing for over 25 years.

Megan Houpt

Megan Houpt, is a performer, director, and acting coach.  She earned a degree in Theatre Arts and English Literature from Emmanuel College in Boston.  Stage accomplishments include, college productions of Puck in aMidsummer Night's Dream, Beth in Little Women, Little Red Ridinghood in Into the Woods, and a few roles in Davis Musical Theatre Company's various productions, including the title role in Peter Pan.  Directing credits include, DMTC Young Performer's Theatre (YPT), Winnie the Pooh, Stuart Little (2004), The Hobbit (2002), and Anne of Green Gables (2001). 

As a theatrical coach she is proud of the accomplishments her students have made in reaching their theatrical goals, ranging from obtaining the lead in both community theatre and high school productions and college admission acceptance to the theatrical programs.  Should you wish to learn more about taking Acting Classes with Applegate Dance Studio, please email Megan at Megs4drama@gmail.com

Shaila Bonanno

Shaila Bonanno is a Davis High School student currently in her fifth season dancing with Applegate Dance Company. Shaila is a studio favorite as her warmth and passion for dance are contagious. Shaila is a skilled teacher with an attention to detail and sound technique. Shaila teaches a variety of beginning through intermediate classes at the studio as well as acts as rehearsal mistress for Applegate Dance Company performances. When not busy with the studio Shaila can be found performing with Davis High School’s Jazz Choir.

Sequence ("Q")

Sequence ("Q"), a native Californian, has been dancing since
the age of five. Discovering that dancing was his fortay, he began to
study dance formally at the East Bay Center of Performing Arts, where
he was introduced to Indian, African, Ballet, Modern, Laotian, and
Mexican styles of dance, adding to his already rooted Latin and
Hip-Hop skills. "Q" went on to compete locally and nationally, in such
competitions as Broadway Magic, and Headliners. After "whoahing" the
judges in Rhode Island, he and his team went forward to compete  in
the International Hip-Hop Competition in Bremen, Germany in 2003. Aside from choreographing for various singing  and dance groups in the bay, Q at a begginer/intermediate level,  introduces hip-hop movement to any and all ages, from 5 through adult; pin-pointing such basics as: spacial awareness, isolations, strength, balance, groove, and technique. So whether it's for cardio, shill enhancement, or it's your first time and you want to try something new, come join Q as he brings some of his many talents to the classroom!!

Stephanie Baltz

Stephanie Baltz is a native Californian and has been dancing and performing for most of her life, taking a break at one point to get married and start her own family. She received her Bachelor of Arts in History from Mills College and brings to Applegate Dance Studio both a passion for the ballet as well as knowledge of history and costume. She began her training with the Collenette School of Ballet in San Marino, CA and continued on with the Pacific Foundation for the Performing Arts, Beth Hoges while at Mills College, the Vacaville Ballet Academy and currently with Applegate Dance Studio. It is Stephanie’s goal to provide a solid technical and artistic foundation for students as they advance upwards in the studio.