Staff
Melanie Useldinger
Co-Owner/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
Co-Owner/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.