ABOUT US
Deborah’s School of Dance was founded in 1976 in Storm Lake, IA. Five years later, a second location was opened in Cherokee, IA. Over 40 years later, we continue to share our love of dance with students at our two locations in Storm Lake and Cherokee. The studio is owned by Deborah Dunn, instructor of ballet, lyrical, and pointe. Deb’s sister, Lisa, teaches all the studio’s tap and jazz classes. It is our intent that your child have a wonderful learning experience in our classes, as well as find the love and joy of dance. We think of our studio not only as a place for students to come and develop their skill and passion for dance, but also as a familiar, welcoming place to foster personal growth. Many of our students will begin lessons with us at age three, and continue dancing with us once a week until they graduate high school. We take pride in watching our students grow and develop into accomplished dancers and individuals.
TEACHER BIOGRAPHIES
DEBORAH DUNN
Owner/Instructor
BALLET • LYRICAL • POINTE
Deb is a native of Storm Lake, IA. She is the instructor of ballet, lyrical, and pointe. Deb started taking dance lessons at the age of nine at Jean Long’s Dance Studio. She went on to take lessons from Sue Diehl and Michael Anderson, and later from Siouxland Movement Arts. Deb started her own studio in Storm Lake as a senior in high school. Five years later, she moved to Cherokee, IA, and opened a second location. Over 40 years later, she continues to teach with no end in sight! She has been a member of the Professional Dance Teachers Association, and has had training from Dance Educators of America and from Dance Masters of America. She continues to update her dance education regularly. Deb has taken classes and attended workshops all over the country. She has also taken students with her to various Dance Olympus and Dance Caravan workshops in cities such as Chicago, Denver, St. Louis, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Omaha, and Las Vegas. She continues to take students to dance camps each summer. Deb has found it to be very rewarding to be able to teach the children of many of her student alumni. Deb and her husband Doug have two grown children, Derek and Demi, and two cats.
LISA SHIMA
Instructor
TAP • JAZZ
Lisa is the instructor of tap and jazz, and she also teaches the studio’s adult tap and jazz classes. As Deb’s younger sister, she too began dancing under the instruction of Michael Anderson. She later took lessons from Siouxland Movement Arts, and also from Deb. She was very active in dance competitions, winning numerous honors and awards. Lisa continues to further her dance education, and is a veteran of dance workshops such as Dance Caravan and Dance Olympus. She has had training across the U.S. in places such as Florida, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. Lisa lives in Storm Lake with her two boys, Christopher and Carter.