Shelley Grantham Nierenberg, Executive Director of The Steffi Nossen School of Dance in White Plains, NY since 2016. Shelley had previously been The School at Peridance Capezio Center’s Coordinator since 1999 along with the Director of the Peridance Youth Ensemble since 2000. Originally from Minneapolis, MN Shelley started her dance training at Dance Arts Center and Ballet Arts. She furthered her dance education at the Conservatory of Dance at Barat College, DePaul University, Chicago, IL receiving a BA in Dance and graduating with honors in 1997. While in Chicago she taught at North Shore School of Dance and choreographed for the musical theatre department at Loyola Academy. Shelley also performed with the Barat Repertory Dance Company, working with Rory Foster, Eileen Cropley, Emily Stein and Julie Cartier. After moving to New York City she began dancing and performing with two independent companies, Danielle DePersis and Dancers and Deborah Damast and Dancers along with choreographing for a Tap group, Fiddle Faddle Feet. Shelley has been teaching and choreographing for schools in Minnesota, Illinois, New Jersey and New York for over 25 years, teaching Jazz, Modern, Tap and Composition. Shelley coordinated all out-reach efforts for both not-for-profit dance companies at Peridance, Peridance Contemporary Dance Company and the Peridance Youth Ensemble for over 15 years, working closely with organizations such as University Settlement, Dancers Responding to AIDS, Free Arts and NY Cares. Shelley is a Facilitator for the Department of Education in New York City, helping develop dance curriculum for the classrooms of NYC public schools along with working closely with Dance Education Laboratory, 92nd Street Y as a Facilitator in Training. Shelley believes she is the person and educator she is today because of her strong family and very supportive dance teachers throughout the years. She cherishes every moment she is able to give back to the dance community and arts education.
Shelley teaches Jazz, Composition and Conditioning classes in our Conservatory classes, Summer Dance Camp, Dance Intensives, and Boot Camp.
