Staff

Melanie Useldinger

Artistic Director

After dancing in the corps of San Francisco Ballet under Michael Smuin, as well as with Dance Theatre of Kansas, Melanie spent many years teaching ballet in different studios in Santa Cruz County. She founded Agape Dance Academy in 2012 with the dream of having a studio that takes care of its dancers holistically, creating a loving and caring environment where students could grow in their ballet technique and love of dance.

 Conrad Useldinger

Director

In 2019, Conrad received an MA in Theatre Practices from Artez Hogeschool voor de Kunsten (NL), where he was a recipient of the Artez Scholarship. In 2015, he received a BFA in Dance from Belhaven University (USA) where he was a recipient of the Belhaven Dance Scholarship.

Over the course of his training, Conrad learned ballet under the tutelage of Caleb Mitchell (Houston Ballet), Ravenna Tucker (Royal Ballet), Laura Morton (Milwaukee Ballet), and of course his mother (San Francisco Ballet) among others.

In his ballet classes, Conrad focuses on performance and presence, teaching the students how to dig into the work and to find and hold the inner light of artistry.

 Lana La Framboise

Membership Coordinator | Social Media Designer | Contemporary Instructor

Lana grew up dancing with Caledonia Dance & Music Center and competed at regional and national competitions and conventions. After she graduated from high school, she competed and performed with Aquinas College's Dance Team. Lana taught for 4 years at CDMC as a dance instructor and has loved working with students at all stages of their dance journey. She joined Agape in 2021 and intends to create an inclusive and supportive community in every one of her classes.

Lana is also a twice published author and poet. She received her B.A from Aquinas College and is currently pursuing an MFA at San Jose State University.

 Kelly Spindler

Ballet Instructor | Director of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2021), Swan Lake (2022), and Alice in Wonderland (2024)

Kelly Beach Spindler studied classical ballet from 10 years old at Los Gatos Ballet, training under Marcie Ryken, Christina Bernal, and Kate Mashburn Kopecky. By age 17, she had danced originating roles in Alice in Wonderland (Alice), Cinderella (Stepsister), and Four Seasons (Summer). Kelly attended summer programs at Bossov Ballet Theatre and San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. Most recently, she danced the role of Sugar Plum Fairy in Agape’s 2018 and 2019 Nutcracker.

Kelly came to Agape in 2018, with focus on artistry through movement. She instills creativity in the classroom, using different genres of music to discover new methods of expression, while maintaining accurate and proper classical technique. Kelly is most interested in the intersection between the structure of ballet and the story-telling of movement.

 Corinne Schwartz

Ballet/Pilates Instructor

Corinne Schwartz graduated Summa Cum Laude from California State University, Long Beach with a BA in Dance Science, is an ABT Certified Ballet Teacher, and completed the BASI Pilates Comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training with Dance Specialization. Her formal ballet training began in Santa Cruz, California and at the age of 11 she was first introduced to Pilates. She was immediately drawn to the practice and inspired by how Pilates positively impacted her dancing. This interest continued to grow as she attended college, with a focus on dance and kinesiology. She had the privilege of studying under CSULB’s distinguished faculty, performing, and taking Pilates courses with the renowned Karen Clippinger. Corinne has taught Pilates and Ballet at various studios in California (Balletiquette, VIDA Pilates, One Body Studios, Playa Pilates, and Agape Dance Academy) and has assisted Karen Clippinger and Lisa Johnson in Pilates courses for dancers at CSULB. Corinne strives to share the joy of movement with her students in a safe, welcoming, and positive learning environment.

When Corinne is not in the studio, you can find her out in nature, cooking, and adventuring with her pup, Marvin.

 Brianna Greene

Ballet Instructor

Brianna grew up in Southern California and trained with the Looking Glass Studio and the San Gorgonio Ballet, where she trained and performed in a variety of styles before moving to Santa Cruz to study at UCSC. She loves teaching, and in her classes hopes to provide an introduction to ballet technique while emphasizing self-expression and joyful movement.

 Leah Hall

Pre- Ballet Instructor

Leah teaches ballet on top of dancing as a company member at Agape. She has been teaching ballet since 2021 and has been dancing since 2016. Her priority is for her students to have a safe and enjoyable environment to dance in. She focuses on the structure and technique of ballet but also incorporates fun games and activities into her classes. Leah's foremost goal in teaching is for her students to develop a love and a passion for ballet.

 Christina Frankiv

Pre-Ballet Instructor

Christina Frankiv has been dancing at Agape since 2012 (more than ten years now!). She has attended summer intensives at Joffrey Ballet and Ballet Austin, where she further developed her technique. She hopes to create a safe and fun environment for kids to learn the beauty and joy of ballet. Christina will use her knowledge and experience in dance to introduce her students to the world of classical ballet in a way they will enjoy.

 Sienna Dudas

Ballet and Pre-Ballet Instructor

Sienna studied classical ballet with an emphasis in Balanchine technique since age 5 at San Elijo Dance and Music Academy under Pacific Northwest Ballet principals Lauri-Michelle and Ben Houk. She furthered her studies by attending summer intensive programs with The Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. 

Sienna focuses on the fundamental techniques of ballet in combination with creative artistry. Her main priority is to teach ballet as a complex language that fosters joy and expression.