Home Class Offerings Staff Profiles Tuition Recital 2011 Workshops Photo Gallery Contact Us		About Ev-leen's Dance Studio, LLC Ev-leen's Dance Studio is owned and directed by Eve-lyne Thomas. Eve-lyne has been dancing her entire life. Her father worked for the Belgian government in Rwanda, Africa, and Eve-lyne was born and lived there until about age 9. Consequently, French is Eve-lyne's first language. She began Ballet lessons while in Africa. Her family then moved to the Bay Area where she began her ballet education in the Vaganova style of Russian Ballet, as well as trying to pick up the English language. At age 12, she moved to Fresno and remained there until she left for college. She is a former member and soloist for the Fresno Civic Ballet Company. Dance continued to be the center of her life. Eventually she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from California Institute of the Arts, founded by Walt Disney. It was there that she discovered Contemporary Dance and honed her personal dance style further. She went on to earn a Masters degree in Dance Education from San Jose University. Eve-lyne began formally teaching in Caracas, Venezuela. She opened her own studio when she came to Bakersfield in 1981. Since moving to Bakersfield she has been a dance consultant for the Performing Arts Magnet Program, a participant in the Community Connection for Child Care Services, "Children's Day of Exploring the Arts". She has been awarded "International Woman of the Year in Arts in Kern County" as well as "Best Innovative Dance Choreographer, by the Arts Council of Kern County. Eve-lyne has also been the dance instructor at Bakersfield College since 1981. Eve-lyne has been passing on her love and knowledge of dance to local dancers young and old for 25+ years. For Eve-lyne, the students come first. She teaches dance with enthusiasm and a passion for the art. Eve-lyne chooses the staff for her studio very carefully, requiring them to finish a training process before they have their own class to instruct. Her instructors have a wide variety of backgrounds and dance experiences. Young adults and teens have the opportunity to take Jazz, Hip-Hop, Tap and Ballet while learning flexibility, tumbling, splits and other exciting movements. For younger children, Eve-lyne emphasizes learning the basic fundamentals with correct technique and forming good dance habits. Her philosophies for teaching young children include learning through play. Children learn by performing fun exercises which teach understanding rhythm, learning how to take turns, following directions, respecting fellow students, and listening skills. We seek to develop the whole child: emotionally, physically and mentally. Children leave classes at Ev-leen's with better self esteem and a variety of motor skills and improved coordination. The entire staff at Ev-Leen's genuinely loves and enjoys watching the dancers of all ages develop and grow during their instruction at our studio. Eve-lyne takes pride in her well trained professional staff. She is pleased to introduce the following instructors for her studio: Candace Lynch Candace started teaching for Ev-leen's in 2005. She has danced on and off since the age of 3, starting at Dance Steps Studio and then at Dancer's Workshop, then at Ev-leen's Dance Studio. She took Ballet, Modern and Jazz classes with Eve-lyne at BC. Candace enjoys working with children. She has 24 units in child development and has 4 years of preschool teaching experience. Candace is now a stay at home Mom with two little ones of her own. She is very excited and happy to be back "home" at Ev-leen's Dance Studio. Shelby Hagelstein Instructor: Dance Movement and Ballet III (Pointe Class) Shelby Hagelstein is 18 years old. This is her second, and final, year at Bakersfield College; she plans to transfer to CSUB next fall. Her career goal is to be a high school English teacher. Shelby was a student of Ballet at Ev-leen's Dance Studio for six years and has been dancing for a total of ten years. For the past five years she has been a member of the Imagine Ballet Company. She has performed in the Bakersfield Symphony's production of the Nutcracker and has danced the roles of a Snow Maiden, Arabian, Mouse, and Flower. Shelby is excited to be teaching at Ev-leen's Dance Studio this year. Gustavo Andrade Instructor: Hip-Hop (Teen/Adult) Gustavo recently began teaching for Ev-Leen's. Like many members of the Ev-Leen's family, Gustavo met Eve-lyne at B.C. in her Jazz class. He has been dancing since the age of 10. His natural dance roots are from the Latin style of Salsa. He began learning how to dance Hip-Hop when he was introduced to dance street battles at the age of 14. He started taking professional Hip-Hop dance classes at the age of 16 when attended workshops in L.A. taught by Hip-Hop crews such as, Kaba Modern and Team Millennia. After adapting to their style of Hip- Hop, Gustavo decided to bring some of that style to Bakersfield and mix it with his own creativity. Gustavo has been teaching choreography for Quinceneras, sweet six-teens, surprise dances for both, and also taught classes at Lenore Smith Performing arts. He is excited to share his passion for dance with his students at Ev-Leen's! Mike Manalastas Instructor: Zumba Michael is a Certified Nursing Assistant with an outgoing and energetic personality who has joined Ev-leen’s this year in 2010. He began dancing in the Philippines where he learned modern and folk dance in the Philippines. He acquired his Zumba instructor's license in July of 2010. He danced on television shows in the Philippines and has danced competitively for several years. He has a love for dance and incorporating fitness in new and interesting ways and we are pleased to have him with us!