Karen (Tebeau) Shackleford, Owner/DVIDA Certified Dance Instructor
Karen has more than twenty years experience in the ballroom dance industry. She began studying social dance in 1978, and after taking some time off to focus on career and family, she returned to ballroom dancing and teaching in 1991. She has studied with Mark and Dawna Nocera, Dan Radler, and Suzanne Hamby, and has participated in numerous seminars with other dance luminaries including Ron Montez, Jim Maranto, Jonathan Wilkins, Michael Mead, Toni Redpath, and Edward Simon among others.
Prior to opening her own business, Karen taught a social dance curriculum for studios in Greater Boston and Southern NH. Karen has competed pro-am at ballroom dance competitions on the Maine and Massachusetts circuits. She holds teaching certification from Dance Vision International Dance Association (DVIDA), LaBlast TM, and the Professional Dance Instructors Association (PDIA). Karen is the proud recipient of hundreds of skills endorsements on Linked In. In addition to International and American Style Ballroom training, Karen's repertoire includes some country western, west coast swing, lindy hop, hustle, salsa, and nightclub two-step.
About Karen
Karen's exposure to dance began at the age of five, with a theatrical dance program under the direction of Mary Bertagna, former Radio City Music Hall Rockette. Karen has been choreographing and producing ballroom dance showcases since 1996. Her work has been presented at six New England shopping malls as well as the Palace Theatre's production of "Keyboard Lounge", the Bel Esprit Arts Festival, the Center of NH Senior Expo, and many other venues.
Since 1999, Karen has owned and operated The Queen City Ballroom in Manchester, NH, which is known as a friendly, fun studio featuring professional instruction in club and classic dance styles. Her studio is the proud recipient of twin wins in 2013 by the Hippo Press Readers’ Poll: “Best Dance Studio” and “Best Date Place”. Most recently, Karen proudly and gratefully accepted the designation, “Best Wedding Dance Instructor in NH, two years running, in 2015 and 2016”, awarded by NH Magazine Bride.
In 2014, Karen opened Cape Sands Ballroom on Cape Cod, where she currently teaches group, private, and wedding lessons, and ballroom line dancing. Find Karen at Cape Cod Health and Fitness in Dennis, MA, Brewster COA, the Chatham Community Center, and the Harwich Community Center in Harwich, MA.
Karen holds a Bachelor's of Arts Degree from the University of New Hampshire where she included some theatrical dance as part of her studies. Karen demonstrates longtime support of various nonprofit and charitable institutions through donations of dance lessons, and providing showcases for events.
Karen has one daughter, Nicki Tebeau, who (in addition to full time employment in the field of behavioral healthcare), co-teaches a youth dance group.
Karen’s hobbies include photography, music, healthy living, floral design, decorating, writing, and fashion.