Faculty
Sandra Mitchell
Owner & Creative Director
​Sandra Mitchell, a seasoned dance professional and Atlanta native, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the world of dance. With a versatile background encompassing ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, gymnastics, and acrobatics, Sandra has not only delighted audiences through her performances but has also nurtured and mentored her students. From choreographing for trade shows, theatre productions, and church events to assisting with the prestigious 1996 Centennial Olympics, Sandra’s passion and dedication shine through her work. With former students achieving success in various fields of dance, she is now thrilled to embark on a new chapter in Southern California, where she founded Performing Arts Empire, a culmination of her vision and commitment to providing exceptional dance education in a supportive and inspiring environment.
Drew Shaw
Company Director
Drew started dancing at one and a half and has trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, modern, tap, hip hop, pointe, and pas de deux. She began working professionally in Los Angeles with Howie Mendell, Joffrey Ballet, Napoleon and Tabitha, Sonja Tayeh, Twitch, and more! She then started teaching at fourteen and has absolutely loved sharing her passion for dance with others! As a certified Pilates instructor, she combines her knowledge of anatomy with her passion for dance to provide safe training practices for her students. She has also graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and loves to incorporate this knowledge into her teaching philosophy for student growth. Her most recent certification in Acrobatic Arts has helped her develop a wealth of knowledge to further her teaching abilities.
Dallas Austin
Receptionist
Dallas is our friendly face at the front office to help with all your needs here at Performing Arts Empire! She has an associates degree in Business Administration and many years of customer service experience. Her background in cheer, color guard, and dance helps her to understand our classes and the importance of a positive environment for the growth of our dancers.
Bethany Sahagun
Foundations Director
Bethany has been an instructor at PAE for 9 years and is passionate about providing young dancers with a strong technique foundation for their dance journey. She loves all her classes, but spends most time teaching the younger ages where she believes that balancing social and intrapersonal development with dance is an important part of a successful learning experience. Bethany grew up playing sports and discovered her love of dance in high school. She was trained by Sandra Mitchell and other PAE teachers in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, acro, and is a certified Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) and Acrobatic Arts instructor. She graduated from California Baptist University in 2022 with a bachelor of science in kinesiology for sport performance and has recently gone back to earn her license as a physical therapist assistant.
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Elizabeth Bocanegra
Financial Director
Elizabeth is constantly behind the scenes making sure our families' accounts are in order.
She recently graduated from UC Irvine with two degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Business Administration, and has over 10 years of customer service experience. She loves helping our dance families, answering questions, and making sure everyone feels taken care of. So, whether you have questions about tuition, enrollment, or charter billing, she's here to help
Gianna Williams
Instructor- Tap, Acro, Hip Hop Jazz Funk, & More
Gianna Williams is a passionate and dedicated dance instructor with over a decade of experience in various dance styles including ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, acro, lyrical, and pointe. Since the opening of Performing Arts Emp, Gianna has immersed herself in the world of dance, honing her skills and developing a deep love for teaching. Gianna currently dances on the RCC Dance Team while pursuing a degree in business. Her diverse training and commitment to the art of dance inspire her students to explore their creativity and achieve their personal best. Gianna is excited to share her knowledge and passion for dance with the next generation of performers.
Gianna Pascente
Ballet Instructor & Company Choreographer
​Gianna is from Des Plaines, IL and in her Junior year at Chapman University where she is pursuing a double major in dance and business. Before Chapman University, Gianna trained at Extension Dance Company a pre-professional studio in Chicago. She has trained with Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Nova Linea Contemporary Dance, Gus Giaradon and more. Her training includes ballet, modern (horton and graham), contemporary, jazz, hip hop, tap, pointe, lyrical, heels and ballroom. Gianna loves to share her passion, education and training with her students. Her goal is to be a great mentor and inspiration to the children she teaches, so they can develop into the dancers they aspire to be.
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Rebecca Vazquez
Instructor- Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop Flip Flop & More
Rebecca Vazquez has loved to dance since the age of 3 and was noticed by a dance studio who happened to be visiting her preschool, commenting about her perfect cartwheels around the playground. Most of her training started out at Dancing Images Dance Center in Moreno Valley where she grew up training in ballet, jazz and lyrical. While attending High School she was in many Performances at her local church and dance competitions. After High School she pursued dance teaching jobs in the after school GATE programs while attending Riverside Community College and receiving her Associates in Arts in Dance . She then pursued her Bachelors Degree in Physical Education with a Dance Emphasis at Calstate Dominguez Hills. Dance for her was always pursued as an art. When she was exposed more to modern dance, it became her love language. This allowed her to thrive in teaching and choreography throughout her college years. She was selected to showcase and compete her Modern Dance Choreography through The National College Dance Festival. Furthermore, Rebecca grew up mostly dancing, playing sports, being with family and having faith in God. Her faith is what grounded her to pursue what He created her for. Now that she is a mom, she is thankful to pass on the love for dance to her daughter and to the younger generations.
Karah Patton
Instructor- Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop Flip Flop, & More
Karah has been trained as an instructor at Performing Arts Empire. She joined dance later in life but has grown up playing sports and trying new activities. Karah is passionate about creativity and enjoying the process of learning new things. She teaches the younger ages and prioritizes teaching the basics they will continue to use throughout their dance journey.