About Eastern Shore Dance Academy
Eastern Shore Dance Academy (ESDA) was founded by Ms. Jessica Hindman in 2004 and is located in Cambridge, Maryland. Ms. Hindman teaches various classes at her studio such as Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Modern and many more. Her mission is to provide artistically, developmentally and physically appropriate dance training for a wide range of students. Her goal is to provide the highest quality training with a positive emphasis on technique and artistry for all of her students. Ms. Hindman has 100+ students now at ESDA and has also created The Cambridge Ballet Company (CBC). It is a non profit organization to help introduce the youth to a variety of ballets. CBC is a pre-professional dance company for children, dedicated to learning and performing classical ballet. Open auditions are held in August of each year. CBC is housed at The Eastern Shore Dance Academy in Cambridge, Maryland. Our Teachers:  Jessica Hindman-Wheatley
Mrs. Jessica Hindman-Wheatley is a certified dance instructor through Dance Educators of America. She has studied with renowned teachers such as Tatjianna Akinfieva-Smith and Alexi Charov of the Pennsylvania Ballet. Through the years, she has danced with the Pennsylvania Ballet and the Eastern Shore Ballet Theatre in Salisbury, Maryland, and professionally as a guest artist with the Diamond Dance Company, Dover, Delaware. She has also been awarded scholarships from the Dorchester Arts Center and Maryland Council for Dance to further her knowledge at Point Park Summer Intenisve for two summers, as well as being awarded Miss. Teen Talents Express where she recieved first place in ballet, jazz, tap, and lyrical. Mrs. Hindman-Wheatley has also been offered jobs with Jean Ann Ryan Production who hires dancers for cruise lines all over the world. She has also choreographed senior class productions at the Cambridge South Dorchester High for 14 years.
Mrs. Hindman-Wheatley is the proprietor of the Eastern Shore Dance Academy located in Cambridge, Maryland, where she teaches classical ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, modern, musical theatre, and choreography. She is also the Artistic Director of the Cambridge Ballet Company, a non-profit organization that introduces the art of dance to the community. Mrs. Hindman-Wheatley has previously taught master dance classes at Salisbury University and choreographed dances for the Salisbury University Dance Company’s 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011 spring show. In 2008, she began a new position as a dance instructor teaching jazz and modern at Salisbury University. She continues to take teacher workshops over the summer as she quotes, “you can never stop learning.”
Staci Alexander (Photo not available) Ms. Alexander was born in Salisbury, MD and grew up with Dancin' feet. For eight years her focus was ballet, jazz, and tap, performing in many years of Nutcracker performances and recitals. After graduating high school, she joined the performance tour of Up with People, traveling the southwest states, along with Sweden and Denmark. She returned to Maryland for college and continued her dance instruction, now adding hip hop to her repertoire. In 2003, Ms. Alexander joined another national/international touring company, The Young Americans. Singing, dancing, and teaching children were the main focuses of the company, and she was fortunate to explore the Midweat, Pacific Northwest, England, Ireland and Wales. After two years of touring, a dance opportunity lead Ms. Alexander to Tuscon, Arizona. She taught at multiple dance studios, and performed with The Human Project, Urban Dance Theater, Thom Lewis Dance Co., and Old Tucson Studios. Educating children and adults in the history and styles of hip hop has been her recent passion, also adding contemporary and modern styles to create new movement. Currently, Ms. Alexander is continuing her education in Early Childhood Development, and spreading hip hop knowledge to local Eastern Shore studios. Jordan Hyde Jordan has been dancing for many years. She continues to still train under the direction of Mrs. Hindman-Wheatley as well as taking classes in NYC over the summer and workshops such as the Maryland Council for Dance. Ms. Hyde is also a member of the Cambridge Ballet Company. She is currently in her 2nd year teaching at the Eastern Shore Dance Academy.
Haley Baumgartner Haley has been training at ESDA under the direction of Mrs. Hindman-Wheatley for 5 years. Ms. Baumgartner also continues to take classes over the summer in NYC at the Broadway Center of Dance. She is also a member of the Cambridge Ballet Company where she has performed many lead rolls such as "Clara" and "Rose bud" from the ballet "The Nutcracker." Haley is currently in her 2nd year teaching ages 3-7 at the Eastern Shore Dance Academy. Courtney Donnelly Courtney Donnelly is a college senior at Salisbury University, where she is majoring in Elementary Education at Salisbury University. For many years she Irish danced and competed in several Fies’ with Fedelmia Mullan Davis’ Dance Company and under Michael David’s Ccademy. After teaching Irish dance at ESDA during the 2010/2011 dance year, Ms. Donnelly looks forward to another wonderful dance year. Lisa Baumgartner (Photo unavailable) Lisa is currently our manager of the Eastern Shore Dance Academy and Totally Tutu's Dancewear. She has been on Staff with us for 5 years. Guest Teachers:  Jennifer Yackel
Jennifer Yackel is originally from the Eastern Shore of Maryland where she recieved her early training. During this time she participated in the Kennedy Center Master Class Series for promising young dancers and recieved a medal at the Youth American Grand Prix. She trained with the Richmond Ballet, performing with the company, and was a company member of the Ballet Theatre of Maryland for three years. While at BTM, Jennifer had the privilege of choreographing on the company. She went on to study independently in New York City with instructors of the Limon Institute and the Ailey School. She hsa performed with Chisena Danza, Bowen McCauley Dance, Neville Dance Theatre, and with musician Paul Zunno at Symphony Space in NYC. Jennifer is currently in her second season with the Ellen Sinapoli Dance Company as well as presenting her own work in the upstate New York area. Linda Collison (Photo not available) Linda Collison recieved her early training in Orlando, Florida at the Royal School of Dance. She later attended Florida State University where she recieved a BA in Dance. Linda returned to Orlando and with Southern Ballet Theatre as a soloist for 2 years. She later moved to New York City where she performed with Dance Theatre Trio and the Hulton Dance Company. She was the founder and director of The West Side Dance Company in Bivalve, Maryland for 5 years. She was also on the faculty for the Dance Program at Salisbury University in Salisbury, Maryland for 7 years. She has taught ballet, tap and jazz for the last 30 years in various cities on the east coast. 
Bill Shortall
Born in Trappe, MD with natural talent, Bill Shortall is a force to be reckoned with. Mr. Shortall danced at D’Ann Danse Studio in Salisbury, Md. He has taught in Easton, MD for many years at places such as Seabreeze Oasis and Summer Fame. He’s performed in such musicals as Titanic, Fiddler on the Roof and choreographed Tommy for Easton High School. Bill has also been a guest performer with the Cambridge Ballet Company. He is currently living in California doing hair and performing. Rebecca Conway (Photo unavailable) Rebecca Conway is graduate from Salisbury University with a Liberal Arts degree in the
fields of Philosophy, English, and Environmental Issues. She has spent the
past four years practicing and studying the art of yoga through clubs,
classes, and personal development. She has also been an active instructor and
friend to the Salisbury Student's Yoga Club. In addition to yoga, she
enjoy music, poetry, nature, and especially Satsanga, a yogi Sanskrit
term meaning “the company of like-minded people who uplift and inspire
you." "Teaching yoga has truly become a passion of mine and I cannot
wait to teach and share its worth with you" says Conway. Felicia Grube (Photo unavailable) Felicia Grube is a student at Salisbury University. She will be minoring in dance when she graduates. Ms. Grube taught at ESDA during the 2010/2011 dance year. She hopes to return after she completes the nursing program at SU. Alumni: Eastern Shore Dance Academy students have excelled so much that they have performed all over. Students have performed on the Royal Caribean Cruise Ship "Monarch of the Seas" and in the National "Cherry Blossom Parade" in Washington DC. They have also performed at the Centre of Salisbury, for the MS Walk and Relay for Life. In August of 2011 they will be performing in Walt Disney World. ESDA dancers also volunteer their time to perform at local nursing homes such as Mallard Bay and Pleasant Day located in Cambridge, MD. 
Abbigail Tyler
Abbigail Tyler has attended the Eastern Shore Dance Academy for 5 year and has been a member of the Cambridge Ballet Company for 3 years. In the Cambridge Ballet Company Abbigail has maintained roles such as Clara, Columbine, Rosebud, Baker, Toy Soldier, Snow, and Flower in CBC’s annual production of "The Nutcracker". She also attended many musical theatre intensives such as Maryland Summer Center for the Arts. Ms. Tyler also recently performed on the Royal Caribbean Monarch of the Seas Cruise Line. She attended East Carolina Univeristy and has transfered to Salisbury University where she will be majoring in musical theater. She recently auditioned to be a performer at Disney and made it to the top 10 out of hundreds of people. "Dancing has become a very important part of my life. It is a way of expression and a major asset to my future career." Jade Kenny
 Jade Kenny has been dancing for only 8 years. She started her training at Dance Center in Salisbury where she danced for 4 years and then left Salisbury to study at the Eastern Shore Dance Academy for the past 4 years. She has been a member of the Cambridge Ballet Company for 3 years and held the roles of Rat king, Spanish and Rosebud in "The Nutcracker". She attended the Kirov Academy of Ballet in 2006 for a summer intensive and also a workshop for the world famous Radio City Rockettes. Jade performed on the Royal Caribbean Cruise ship along with other Eastern Shore Dance Academy students in January of 2009. She is Miss Free State America and competes in many other pagents where her talent is ballet.
Jade attends the University of Alabama where she will be majoring in Sports Broadcasting. She will also be auditioning for the University of Alabama's dance team, "The Crimson Cabaret". Jade will miss dancing and learning with her close friends. She thanks Ms. Jessica for not only teaching her how to dance but for being such a great friend and pushing her to follow her dreams. Chalice Howard (Photo not available)
Chalice Howard started her pre-professional dance training at the Eastern Shore Dance Academy in the fall of 2004, after several years of recreational instruction. Ms. Howard also took classes at the Salisbury Studio of Dance for one year under the instruction of Elena Manakhova-Amy. She attended summer intensives such as Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts, Ballet Magnificat and Eastern Shore Dance Academy’s own summer intensive. Chalice taught at ESDA for three years and has truly found her passion for dance in imparting it to children. She has spent a summer with an urban ministry in New York City, that allowed her to work with inner-city children by developing loving and nurturing relationships as well as giving dance instruction on a daily basis. Chalice attends Palm Beach Atlantic University where she will major in Cross-Cultural/Urban Studies and continue to pursue her love for the arts by minoring in dance. Chalice loves teaching and inspiring young people to use their dance ability with passion to influence the community in a positive way. Her life long goal is continue her work in dance ministry and community outreach through long-term work in the orphanages of Uganda.
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