Ballet Intensive
Shaun Ricks received most of her early training in Salt Lake City at what was then called the Ballet West Conservatory. She went on to earn her BFA in Ballet Performance from the University of Utah while dancing in the Utah Ballet and competing with the University's Ballroom Team (URAD). She later returned to the "U" and completed her MFA in Ballet teaching and choreography in 2011.
As a professional dancer, Shaun has been privileged to perform across the country with such companies as Ballet West, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, The Lyric Opera of Chicago, Peoria Ballet, Roxey Ballet, and NoMi LaMad Dance Inc. During her career as a dancer, Shaun has continually sought opportunities to choreograph and her work has been presented by many companies and festivals including Roxey Ballet, RASA Dance Chicago, Freespace (IL), Breakthrough (IL), and American Performing Arts Presenters (NYC).
Shaun discovered her passion for teaching while dancing in New Jersey, and has since spent many happy years exploring and sharing the unique and beautiful art of dance with students there and in Illinois, Wisconsin, and now Utah. She believes the best part of becoming a dancer is realizing that you are becoming a work of art, and finding the joy in that everyday. She is excited to be teaching at UDA!