Shantele Headman Peterson
Skyline High School Dance Director
Shantele Headman Peterson began her dance career as a young child taking classes in
private studios. She became serious about dance when she was placed on a performance
and competition based Dance Company when she was eight years old; since then, dance
has become an integral part of her life. Mrs. Peterson has received diverse training in
movement including but not limited to ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, ballroom, tap,
West African, Latin, hip hop, pom/cheer, gymnastics, aerobics, Pilates and yoga. Her
love of dance has continued to flourish throughout her life as she actively pursues her
study, focusing on ballet, jazz and modern/contemporary dance.
Mrs. Peterson is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Arizona State University. Through
academic and talent scholarships from the Friends of ASU Dance, The Regents Dance
Fund and The ASU Department of Dance, she holds a degree in Fine Arts in Education
with a K-12 endorsement in dance. Mrs. Peterson was named the Outstanding Dance
Education graduate for the class of 1997 and was a performing member of Arizona State
University’s dance company, Dance Arizona Repertory Theatre.
Mrs. Peterson has been sharing her love for dance, teaching in valley studios and in the
community since 1990. She began teaching dance for Mesa Public Schools in 2006
directing the dance program at Smith Jr. High until 2009 and thereafter at Skyline High
School. She is an active member of the National Dance Education Organization and the
Arizona Dance Education Organization through which she collaborates with other dance
professionals throughout the nation. In 2012 she served as the Production Manager and
Artistic Director for the Mesa Public Schools Collaborative Charity dance concert at the
Mesa Arts Center and continues to serve on the board of directors.
Mrs. Peterson continues to pursue her dance education through master classes, seminars
and college courses extending across the nation from Salt Lake City, Los Angeles,
Chicago and New York City. She has studied with artists from the Alvin Ailey Dance
Company, River North, Broadway Dance Center, Gus Giordano Studios, Hubbard Street,
Ririe Woodbury, Millenium and The Edge to name a few. She is currently directing the
Ascension Dance Company at Skyline High School and sponsors concerts, community
service, dance performances, workshops and educational performance tours for her dance
company members to experience. Mrs. Peterson also sponsors the Hip Hop Dance Club
and is the Dance Director for the Skyline High School dance program.
Outside of her dance career, Mrs. Peterson is a dedicated wife and the mother of two
wonderful children. She enjoys vacationing with her family, running, home-making,
volunteering for the Boy Scouts of America, snowboarding, attending cultural arts events
and serving in her church.