Our Philosophy
At Stardance Performing Arts, we believe every dancer has the potential to shine. Our mission is to train each student to become a star both on and off the stage by fostering confidence, discipline, creativity, and a love for the performing arts.
Through quality instruction and a supportive atmosphere, we emphasize grace, precision, and elegance while helping dancers develop strong technical skills and artistic expression. We encourage our students to strive for excellence, respect their fellow dancers, and take pride in their accomplishments.
At Stardance, success is measured not only by performance achievements but also by the character, confidence, and lifelong lessons gained through dance. We are committed to helping every dancer reach their fullest potential and discover the joy of movement in a positive, inspiring environment
Owner & Artistic Director
Shelley Gordon
Ms. Shelley Gordon, owner of Stardance Performing Arts, has been immersed in the world of dance for over 48 years!
Growing up in the Atlanta area, she dedicated her early life to intensive dance training and competitive performance with her mentor Ms. Dolores Werner, cultivating both technical excellence and a deep passion for the art form!
In 2002, Shelley relocated to the Western Carolina region, where she has raised her sons, Will & Caden, and she has become a vibrant force in the local performing arts community. Through opening Stardance Performing Arts, she has inspired generations of dancers, sharing her extensive experience and heartfelt love for dance! Shelley’s commitment to fostering creativity, confidence, and discipline in her students continues to leave a lasting impact on the region’s artistic landscape!
Teachers
Autumn Berrong
Instructor
We are thrilled to welcome Mrs. Autumn back to the Stardance Family! Autumn began her dance journey at the age of 5 and has been passionate about dance ever since. She graduated from Young Harris College in 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in Dance Education, focusing on the areas of dance, middle grades education, and business.
Having grown up under the mentorship of Ms. Shelley, Autumn has had the privilege of learning from one of the best, which has greatly shaped her love for teaching and choreography! Autumn is excited to bring her knowledge and energy to the studio, and we are confident she will inspire and uplift all those she teaches!
Misty Tice
Musical Theatre Instructor
After graduating from Young Harris College with her Musical Theatre Degree, Misty spent 10 years working in and around the Atlanta area as a performer.
She’s won two Metropolitan Theatre Awards for Best Choreography in a Musical for her work on The Addams Family and Urinetown. She was also nominated as Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her role as Inga in Young Frankenstein.
Misty taught with Georgia State University as a dance instructor in their theater program. She’s assisted many private schools with their theatre and drama programs as well.
She is excited to share her knowledge and passion and looks forward to building strong, confident performers here at Stardance!
Brianna Ross
Instructor
Raised in Western Carolina, Brianna began her dance journey at the age of 4, with Ms. Shelley as one of her teachers. She continued dancing through high school and while earning bachelors degrees in biology and environmental science from Young Harris College and a Master of Arts in Science Writing from Johns Hopkins University.
Brianna began apprentice teaching with Ms. Shelley at 13-years-old, substitute teaching at 18-years-old, and taught her own classes for the first time during our 2024-2025 season.
During the day, she works remotely as a Science Item Writer at Cambium Assessment, creating standardized end-of-year science tests for grades K-12 across the United States.