Susan Martinelli Shea is the president and founder of Dancing with the Students, a 501(c)(3) Private Operating Foundation which teaches ballroom dancing, manners and respect to inner city students. She started with one school in Philadelphia in September, 2005, and has added schools every year. Her former career as a special education teacher spanned fifteen years and five states. Sue is a proud graduate of Boston College and holds a masters degree from Johns Hopkins University.

Known as “Ms. K.O.” in the classroom and proud to be a DWTS teaching artist since 2008! Ukrainian/Irish. Jersey girl who came up in Philly. Bicoastal actor. Member Actors’ Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA. Recent theater: Cabaret (Bristol Riverside Theater), Dot (People’s Light). Barrymore nominations for Best Featured Performance, Detroit (Philadelphia Theater Company) & Taming of the Shrew (Lantern Theater). Barrymore nominations for Outstanding Choreography, Emma (Lantern Theater), It Girl (Simpatico Theater Company), Anna (EgoPo Classic Theater). Russian language learner. Intermediate Spanish. Basic chess player. Former FIFA referee. VIPKid Teacher for English as another language learners. Previous work as a Special Olympics coach and as a Direct Support Specialist at the ARC of Hunterdon County in NJ. Certified yoga instructor. Trauma-informed training March 2022. Consent forward training May/June 2022. Education: AA (Raritan Valley Community College), BA (Montclair State University), MA (Villanova University), MFA (Temple University).

Kiersten M. Adams is thrilled to be joining Dancing With The Students for the first time as a Virtual Dance Instructor. This native Philadelphian has studied and performed all over the East Coast. She has worked with people like Troy McLaughin, Heitzman and Reid, and Tracy Thomas honing her skills

Her main focus in the performance world has been with Bright Invention, an organization dedicated to testing the limits of long form improv as a tool to help people from all walks of life. She has appeared in scripted roles such as Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show, and Stuart Little in Stuart Little. She is also familiar with working behind the scenes in costuming, stage management and set creation, among other things. When she isn’t performing she is usually involving herself with other forms of art and being a mother. She can be found through https://instabio.cc/kierstenmadams.

Guillermo Alonso is excited to be returning to DWTS and help adapt the curriculum for a virtual platform! He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Temple University. As a performer, Guillermo has worked regionally at the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival, Delaware Shakespeare Festival, and the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. As an educator, he has taught for Temple University, the Delaware Shakespeare Festival, and Dancing With the Students. Guillermo was raised in Mexico, and has recently relocated to Los Angeles.

Chris Davis (actor/writer) is a writer and performer residing in Philadelphia, PA. His solo shows have toured throughout the United States and Europe. Recently his solo-show One-Man Nutcracker made its international debut to a sold-out crowd in Germany.

Recent projects include solo shows The 40-Year-Old Ballerino, One-Man Nutcracker, The Presented (★★★★ – The List), The Last Emperor of Mexico, One-Man Apocalypse Now (★★★★★ – “superbly crafted” – Underdog Reviews), Juan-Winfield, Bortle 8 (“…a strikingly original writer and performer.” – The Scotsman), Drunk Lion (“A potent success” ★★★★★ – Wee Review), and Violence of the Lambs (“…absurd comedy at its very best.” ★★★★★ – The Student Newspaper). www.realchrisdavis.com.

Kat Dillon has worked with DWTS for 2 years and is excited to continue sharing joy in movement in Philadelphia schools. Kat is a contemporary circus artist. They have spent 3 years studying dance acrobatics, somatic practices, and physical theater. Kat has taught at Montessori schools, coached gymnastics, and aerial dance. They are presently attending Circadium School of Contemporary Circus.