Andrea Jiles graduated from Shenandoah University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, as well as studies in Psychology and Elementary education and has been dancing for over twenty five years. Since beginning dance at the age of two, Andrea has danced all over the United States. As a teen dancer, she participated in several competitions including the Showstoppers Nationals for both solo and group works. Being a “military brat” has given Andrea the opportunity to be exposed to several different teaching styles which she embraces and uses in her own teaching style today.
Ballet was her first love, but she has grown to love all genres. Since beginning to teach dance in 1998, her classes have included ballet, lyrical, pointe, jazz, tap, hip hop and musical theatre from preschool ages through adult. One of the highlights in her dancing life has been the opportunity to perform in the Opening Ceremonies of the 2002 Sydney Olympics. Throughout her dance career, she has had the opportunity to dance the leads in several ballets including Nutcracker, Coppelia, Swan Lake, Cinderella, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, and many more in the United States, Canada and Mexico. While in college dancing with the Flying Lions Modern Dance Company, she was selected to perform in a gala at ACDFA in a piece dedicated to the tragedies of hurricane Katrina, which is now a permanent part of repertoire at Shenandoah University. Andrea was recently a member of a local modern dance company, AriDen, which performed throughout the Metro area, as well as several invites and appearances in New York. Andrea began teaching at VDC in 2011 and loves working with our dancers.
