About  The  Department

The School of Arts & Enterprise Department of Dance is a competitive, pre-college professional training ground.  Through course work, an intensive and diverse production calendar and small ensemble learning, students are given the tools needed to take their dance aspirations to the next level.   Our goal is to make every student feel that they can achieve their dance goals if they use the tools our program provides while being committed to the process. Students artists will receive experiences that will prepare them for dance study at the collegiate level or enter professional dance training programs. We guide our students with professional education, and hands on work experience.

High School Dance Majors take a variety of courses over their 4 years at The School of Arts & Enterprise High School - including Foundations of Dance, Dance I-III, and Choreographic Process. The Senior Dance showcase is produced by the Senior Dance Majors which is an intense production that is required of all student artists. The dancers host auditions, produce the outline of the show, self choreograph, write the program and advertise for this dance concert. Finally, they have their senior dance portfolio which will culminate their years of dance at The SAE. This will include a reel, headshot and resume for all graduating Dance Majors. ​

Please contact Risa Anderson, Director of Dance at The School of Arts & Enterprise with questions about The Department of Theatre Arts at randerson@thesae.org

​ABOUT  THE  STAFF

Michelle Perry (Dance Instructor) -has been dancing since the age of two. She has danced and competed at studios such as: RC Club Cheer and Dance, Dellos Dance Studio, The Dance Gallery, and Adage Dance Center. She has been teaching jazz, lyrical, tap, ballet, and hip- hop for the past fourteen years. Participating in plays such as: The Wiz, Lil Abner, and The Glory of Christmas and short films such as the 101 Dalmatian Sing Along and Agent Mx Zero.
    She currently teaches at Valverde School of Performing Arts, choreographs for Vineyard Jr. High School Show Choir Program and coaches the Bishop Amat High School Dance Team. She has also choreographed for the El Roble Intermediate Dance Team, Valverde’s Expression Groups, Twilight Dance Drama, and is a substitute for the school program at The School of Performing Arts and Enterprise. She was the choreographer for the 2011-2012 “Old Skool Crew Dance Team” (WNBA). Michelle owned her own dance studio for 4 years  called Primetime Dance and had a competitive dance team. She attended Orange County High School of the Performing Arts for three years. She has worked with countless choreographers including: Mark Meismer, Jim Kolb, Cindy Peca, Eddie Garcia, Joe Lorera and many more. Michelle is currently in her second season of “The Ladies of Ontario Fury,” dancing for the professional arena soccer team Ontario Fury.

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About  The  Staff

Risa Anderson (Director of Dance, The School of Arts and Enterprise) - is an accomplished dancer, coach, and teacher from Claremont, California. Having been a dancer in the entertainment industry, she brings a level of knowledge, resources and professionalism that students can glean from. Her passion has not been extinguished, having been in the business for over twenty years. She has earned numerous accolades in that time in genres as diverse as contemporary, jazz, and hip hop. Some of these awards include two USA Dance National Hip Hop Championships, Best of the West Jr. Hip Hop Division Championship, and Sharp International High Point Awards. Risa believes although winning is great, what students learn through their journey is more important.

Dedication, perseverance, and integrity are the ingredients to Risa's successful recipe. She infuses these values into all of her  teams and students to build a strong foundation, no matter their prior experience.  Mrs. Anderson has also been a professional judge for 15 years in national competitions. Her training is in cheerleading, tumbling, ballet, and tap, along with her jazz and hip hop roots.

She is a professional dancer who has worked with influential choreographers and artists. Risa has choreographed for professional dance teams such as the Los Angeles Clippers and Clipper Kids, as well as musical artists Aundrea of “Danity Kane" and pop singer "Emle".


She owned a professional dance and cheer studio and continues to teach throughout Southern California. With her roots planted in the Inland Empire Risa has been able to study dance at the collegiate level and completed her Designated Subject Credential. She is the Director of Dance at The School of Arts and Enterprise and coaches the school's award-winning Dance Company.

Risa strives to inspire dancers to want to learn as much as they possibly can while they are young and give them the tools to succeed in the classroom as well as in their future dance careers. Her goal is to make every student feel that they can achieve their dance goals if they use the tools given to them while being committed to the process.  

Erin Carey - Baron (Dance Instructor) - a California native, has 28 years combined experience as both a dancer and teacher.  Known for her zeal, her  joyful spirit and her dedication in all she does, Erin has trained and reared up talented artists who have gone on to do great things in cheer and dance.  Mrs. Carey-Barron is trained in jazz, hip hop, musical theatre, contemporary, lyrical, ballet, modern, and tap. She holds a B.S. in Child Development, Child and Adolescent Studies from California State University of Fullerton as well as a Master Degree in Education and a Teaching Credential in Physical Education. Erin has successfully run a competition dance studio since the age of 18.  She has also held the positions of Dance Team Coach/Choreographer for Townsend Junior High School, Competition Jazz Choreographer for Norco High and Alta Loma HS, and Coach/Choreographer for the Chino Hills Junior All American Football Cheerleaders.
    Mrs. Carey-Barron is currently coaching and choreographing for the four time National Champion Chino Hills High School Dance Team where she has trained a variety of dancers for the past 9 years. She has also choreographed many national and regional winning dance routines with her incredible diverse choreography, which will be showcased throughout the year. Her professional ambitions include teaching physical education at the high school level and coaching a high school dance team to compete at a national level.
    As a faculty member at The School of Arts and Enterprise, she teaches Dance II, Ballet Performance & Technique, and Choreographic Process.  She is very excited to be able to spread her passion and love for the art form of dance with all of the students at The SAE.