Sheila Paloma began her dance training in Orange County, California. She went on to earn her B.A. from UC Irvine and her Master’s degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Her training includes the Royal Academy of Dance in London, Centre de Danse du Marais in Paris, France, and Barrio Sacromonte in Granada, Spain, renowned for flamenco.
Sheila has been a professional dancer for over ten years. She has performed Carmen at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco, toured with Me First and the Gimme Gimmes (a supergroup including members of Foo Fighters and the Ramones), and danced in films including Netflix’s Mank (winner of 2 Academy Awards and nominated for 10). Her upcoming performance is Tchaikovsky: A Love Letter at the Musco Center.
Sheila has served as faculty for the American College Dance Association. She has worked for DreamWorks Animation, Microsoft, Studio Smokescreen, and Universal Pictures, and her choreography blends classical ballet with storytelling inspired by her Mediterranean and LatinX heritage. Sheila loves working with students of all levels, especially beginners, as she believes the beginner’s mindset is a gift to be treasured.