Our Story

Founded in 1989 by Cheryle Armstrong, Class Act Dance has flourished for nearly four decades, becoming a cornerstone of Paso Robles and its neighboring communities. For many of those years, our beloved studio on Vendels Circle has been a second home to generations of dancers.

Today, under the fresh leadership of Rachel Connerton, our mission remains unchanged: to deliver exceptional dance and performing-arts training while expanding access to inspiring performances year-round.

Each CAD instructor either holds a degree or minor in dance or has trained at Class Act Dance as an alum for at least five years, ensuring every class is led with expertise and a deep understanding of our studio’s values.

We invite you to be part of our next chapter, rooted in tradition, driven by growth, and grounded in a strong sense of community.

Mission & Vision

Mission Statement

Class Act Dance & Performing Arts Studio’s mission is to cultivate excellence through dance and performing arts education. We are dedicated to providing top-tier training to individuals of all ages and skill levels who are passionate about the performing arts.

CAD Vision

CAD believes in continuous growth and development for both students and instructors, and proudly hosts instructors who annually enhance their expertise across various dance genres. CAD’s cultivation of excellence drives us to nurture creativity, build skill, and ignite hard work and passion within each student. With a dynamic and comprehensive curriculum, we aspire to empower our students to flourish as artists, performers, and individuals.

At Class Act Dance, our name reflects more than just who we are, it reflects what we believe in. Each letter in C.A.D. represents values that shape our community, guide our teaching, and inspire our dancers:

C – Creativity, Cultivation, Community

We believe in nurturing creativity, cultivating growth through supportive instruction, and building a strong sense of community both in and out of the studio.

Core Values

A – Artistry, Acceptance, Ambition

We celebrate each dancer’s unique artistry, embrace inclusivity, and encourage ambition to chase goals with passion.

D – Dignity, Delight, Dance

We uphold the dignity of every individual, foster joy in movement, and remain committed to high-quality dance education.

Studio Space

Studio A
Marley Flooring

Studio B
Marley Flooring

Meet the Team

Class Act Dance Owner

Paso Robles Dance Collective Director

Rachel Connerton

Rachel Connerton was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and was fortunate to have trained at The School of Ballet Chicago, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, LINES Contemporary Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre and Richmond Ballet. Rachel’s professional career began in 2014, working with the Charlottesville Ballet, The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, RVA Dance Collective, Oakland Ballet, Virginia Repertory Theatre, Stavna Ballet, Collide Dance Theatre, James Sewell Ballet and Pegasus Contemporary Ballet with whom she retired with in June of 2024. Rachel has had the privilege of working with acclaimed choreographers and teachers such as Daniel Duell, Patricia Blair, Sheila Rozann, Alonzo King, Patricia McBride, Suzanne Farrell, Kim Jones, Colby Damon, Maggie Small, James Sewell, Michelle Thompson, and Thang Dao. Rachel’s choreography has been seen on the trainees and apprentices at the Charlotte Ballet, the students at Degas Dance Studio in Encino, California, the trainee dancers at the Charlottesville Ballet, and the company dancers at James Sewell Ballet. Rachel has been teaching for over a decade in California, Virginia, Minnesota and Texas, working with students (ages 3-adult) at more than a dozen dance studios, schools, and academies. Rachel is a 2022/2023 National Visiting Fellow of the School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center and is currently a faculty member of The Joffrey Workshop.

Class Act Dance Founder

Ballet Instructor

Cheryle Armstrong

Cheryle began her dance training on the east coast in Washington D.C. with Oleg Tupine from the Kirov Ballet and continued her training at Florida State University where she was a member of the South Florida Ballet Company. Her performing experience ranges from classical ballet with several east coast companies to contemporary ballet with the Valerie Huston Dance Theater in California. After her performing career, she continued her education at the Florida State University Dance Department and two years later graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Instructing, choreographing, and directing a full range of dance styles, from contemporary to classical ballet for all ages, led Cheryle to own several dance studios and direct two companies. In 1989, Cheryle became a co-founder of Class Act Dance and Performing Arts Studio. She has directed the Ballet Company for the past 30 years. Cheryle continues to be inspired by her students and would like to thank her family and friends for all their support and hard work.

Communication & Marketing

Director

Alyna Gibson

Alyna Gibson is a proud SLO County local, having grown up along the coast of Morro Bay. A recent graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, she earned her degree in Communication Studies with a specialization in politics and civic engagement. Alyna is passionate about learning, advocacy, and community-building. She is driven by curiosity and strives to understand the world through diverse perspectives. Her background in communication, combined with her dedication to civic engagement, fuels her work in strengthening community ties and encouraging meaningful connection. Outside of her professional interests, Alyna enjoys coastal hikes, surfing, and of course, her border collie Sandy!

Ballet Director

Theresa Comstock

Theresa Broussard Comstock (B.F.A. Ballet, TCU), a Texas native, began her dance training with RDA company Beaumont Civic Ballet and continued her training at TCU where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.F.A. in Ballet. At TCU, Theresa worked with many renowned artists including the late Fernando Bujones who described Theresa’s dancing as having “remarkable energy and attack” paired with “her radiant personality on stage.” Her performing career has extended throughout the States and Europe with NYC based companies The Von Howard Project and BodyArt and with the Music Theatre of Wichita in West Side Story, Beauty and the Beast, Annie Get Your Gun, Me and My Girl and Joseph and the Amazing… As a dance educator, Theresa has taught and choreographed throughout the country for various schools, studios, universities, and companies. She considers her relationships with her students one of her greatest gifts and treasures the ability to pour the knowledge and beauty of dance into each soul. Theresa is grateful to her husband, Casey, and daughters, Lily Kate and Maddy Beth, for their endless support and love!

PRDC Production Choreographer &

Rehearsal Director

Doriana Sanchez

Doriana Sanchez is an award-winning Director and Choreographer. She received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Choreography for her work on Cher: Live in Concert - From the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and was honored with a World Choreography Award for Concert Choreography for the Cher D2K Tour. Her love of Dance and Movement has allowed her to create in all areas of stage and media, and her visual masterpieces have been seen in nearly every large -scale arena in the US and abroad. A longtime collaborator with Legendary Icon Cher, Doriana has created, Directed and Choreographed the superstar’s extravaganza performances, including Cher at the Colosseum during its three year, 200-plus sold-out performances at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Her Show Direction and Choreography can also be seen in the Love Hurts, Believe, Living Proof and Dressed to Kill Tours. The Living Proof Tour was honored with four Emmy Awards including Outstanding Musical Variety Special. Over three million people saw the show during its 325 performances. It ranks as one of the most successful tours for a female artist, grossing over 200 million dollars. Doriana has also acted as Creative Consultant for Classic Cher at the Park Hotel in Las Vegas. Her work can also be seen on Cher’s Here We Go Again Tour. Doriana also Directed and Choreographed Cher’s Promo Tour in support of her Christmas album, with performances on The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC, The Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting NBC, The Graham Norton Show BBC, Strictly Come Dancing BBC, Vettendas Germany, and the Royal Variety Show at Royal Albert Hall in London, for The Royal Family. For the Tropicana Hotel Las Vegas, she Directed and Choreographed Imaginarium for European Grand Illusionist David Goldrake. Stage credits include, Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons, at the Lunt – Fontanne theatre on Broadway, Radio City Music Hall and the Royal Albert Hall in London. World Premier of Senor Discretion Himself, at Arena Stage for which she received a Helen Hayes Award nomination for Best Choreography, Barry Manilow’s Copacabana, at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London, Olivier Award nominee for Best new Musical, The Night is a Child, at Pasadena Playhouse and Blade To The Heat at the Mark Taper Forum. Circus Creation and Direction, The Galaxy Stars Circus in China, Circo Fantastico, and Odyssey for Princess Cruises. She was Associate Director/Choreographer for Cirque Dreams Holidaze with Cirque Du Soleil, as well as Creative Consultant Additional Directing and Choreography credits include, Video Games Live at the Hollywood Bowl, Jane’s Addiction’s Jubilee Tour, Perry Farrell’s Porno for Pyros Tour, Peter Gabriel’s Secret World Tour, Dirty Dancing Concert Tour (2 weeks Sold out shows at Radio City Music Hall), and multiple shows for Holland America Cruise Line and Princess Cruises. She has worked with musical legends Shakira, Gladys Knight, Natalie Cole, Frankie Valli, The O”JAYS and David Foster, musical prodigies, Jackie Evancho and Charice, as well as comedy genius Ellen DeGeneres. Doriana received a THEA award for outstanding achievement, for Resorts World’s Crane Dance, in Singapore Harbor, the largest animatronic water and video spectacular in the world and was Director for Festive Walk’s Lake of Dreams also at Resorts World. Corporate work includes Redken, Target, Toyota, Mattel, Canon and Crayola, with the creation of tiny dancing paper sculptures for Crayola. Television credits - The Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, The Voice, Dancing with the Stars, Divas Live, Euro VMAs, Blockbuster Awards, Be Good Johnny Weir, 16 seasons as Resident Choreographer on Fox’s hit show So You Think You Can Dance creating the high flying energetic Disco numbers, Disney Channel, Macy’s 4 th of July Spectacular, The Oprah Winfrey Show, GMA, The Late Show and Dream School USA for the Sundance Channel. Doriana is a master dance educator and is also a Dance adjudicator and coach. She loves discovering and developing new artists. She was honored to receive a Courage Award from UCLA Neurosurgery. Doriana is proud to be a Producer and Director for idance4acure, benefiting pediatric cancer and brain tumor research.

CAD Kids Director

PRDC Minis Director

Vanessa Orr

Vanessa Salas Orr has dedicated herself to the nurturing development of kids and families through yoga, dance, and mindfulness practices. As a public elementary school teacher for seven years, she has combined her skills and expertise from the classroom with over 500 hours of Kid & Adult Yoga and Mindfulness Teacher Training Certifications. Movement has been a part of Vanessa's life from the age of four when she first began her journey as a ballet dancer. She completed her BA at Arizona State University in Elementary Education with a focus on multicultural and multilingual populations with a minor in dance. Within, training of the CPYB syllabus, she has refined her skills in teaching ballet to the some of our youngest dancers as well as offering programs in jazz, tap, and lyrical. She continues her love of movement through dance with a local Paso Robles adult Mexican Ballet Folklorico group. Vanessa's goal is to bring happiness, confidence, mindfulness, and strength to all of her students. Vanessa is a published children’s author. Visit www.VanessaSalasBooks.com to learn more.

CAD Instructor

Kimberly Eaton

Kimberly fell in love with dance when, as a pre schooler, she sat through 4 acts of the Swan Lake then announced to her parents that she wanted to be a Ballerina. She has been involved in the dance community throughout Santa Barbara and SLO counties ever since. As an adult, she has performed with Santa Barbara Ballet Theatre, Valerie Huston Dance Theatre, Allan Hancock College Dance Department, Variable Velocity Performance Group, Gilbert Reed Ballet, and several individual studios. Kim has taught ballet, pointe and modern for decades at Adkins Dance Center, VAFB youth center, Allan Hancock youth dance department, Central Coast School of Dance and Flex Performing Arts. Kim has over 45 years of experience as a choreographer for many productions, including dancers of all ages and technical levels. Kea Dance is Kim’s home business where she designs and makes costumes, dance wear, clothing, accessories and aquatic therapy equipment. She resides in Santa Margarita, where she is surrounded by her dogs, cat, tortoises, turtles, fish and several sewing machines.

CAD Instructor

Kailey Ardouin

Kailey began dance at the young age of 3 and since then has always been a part of the Class Act Dance Community. She grew up in Atascadero and is forever grateful she is able to be a part of Class Act for so many years. She has participated in many performances and competitions through the instruction of Cheryle Armstrong and Theresa Comstock. Recently she started choreographing and helping in any way around the studio. She also has decided to continue to dance through the first years of college and share her knowledge with many others around her. She is currently going to Cuesta College and majoring in Culinary Arts with a dream of spreading happiness through pastries.

CAD Instructor

PRDC Jazz Choreographer

Myra Betancourt

Myra Betancourt is originally from Ventura County but moved to San Luis Obispo where she studies Animal Science at California Polytechnic State University. While pursuing her degree, Myra knew she also wanted to pursue her passion for dance. She grew up performing in the Los Angeles area and started teaching after graduating high school. She is excited to continue sharing her experience and training as she joins Class Act Dance. Myra began dancing recreationally at 2 years old and competitively at 7 years old. She accredits most of her training to Gotta Dance Academy, a highly competitive studio in Simi Valley, CA. She studied various styles such as ballet, hip-hop, jazz, lyrical, and contemporary. She competed as both a soloist and a large group member, going as far as winning national titles in Las Vegas, NV. She also was a part of her high school varsity dance team for 3 years. Once she graduated, Myra continued her training at adult studios such as Millennium Dance Complex, The House Dance Complex, and Motion Grounds. Throughout her time as a performer, she discovered her love for teaching dance and has been able to teach for several studios and organizations. She was offered a student coaching position for her high school’s beginner dance course and had the opportunity to instruct entry-level jazz and hip-hop techniques. She then began teaching at her home studio and was able to work with students in jazz, hip-hop, and technique classes. These students ranged in age from 3 - 14 years old. Additionally, she instructed hip-hop and technique classes at Luv2Dance Studio 1 in Fillmore, CA. She was also offered to host a class for the Moorpark Community College Dance Club and was able to choreograph a piece for their annual showcase. Myra’s goal as a teacher is to instill proper technical training that allows for creative expression, all while promoting kindness in the industry.

CAD Kids Instructor

Sara Cromwell

Sara is a CAD Alumni, she began dancing with the studio when she was 3 years old! A member of both the ballet and the jazz companies, she was in many of our annual productions. The Nutcracker being one of her favorites! Sara loves working with children and sharing her passion for all styles of dance. Sara believes that if you dance with your heart, your feet will follow!

Our Story

Mission & Vision

C – Creativity, Cultivation, Community

We believe in nurturing creativity, cultivating growth through supportive instruction, and building a strong sense of community both in and out of the studio.

Core Values

A – Artistry, Acceptance, Ambition

We celebrate each dancer’s unique artistry, embrace inclusivity, and encourage ambition to chase goals with passion.

D – Dignity, Delight, Dance

We uphold the dignity of every individual, foster joy in movement, and remain committed to high-quality dance education.

Studio A Marley Flooring

Studio B Marley Flooring

Meet the Team

Studio A
Marley Flooring

Studio B
Marley Flooring