About Us
Owners’ Story
Sunshine Dance Center, Established 1972
Founder, Miss Sheila Tetreault was born in Scotland where she was trained in and taught Dance. She moved to the United States where she continued her training in Connecticut and New York, and, she founded Sunshine Dance Center in 1972 in Waterbury, Connecticut. Miss Sheila taught all that a Sunshine Dancer tells a story through choreography and a love for dance that shines, all become part of Sunshine Dance Center family, where classes are taught with focus and discipline and a measure of fun.
In 2019 she changed roles of ownership and gifted the studio to two Sunshine students she’s personally trained since the age of three Jacqueline CroweDowns (Miss Peaches) and Emily Summa (Miss Emily.) Miss Sheila passed the torch the best way she knew her legacy would continue and grow to new heights. Sunshine Dance Center has been winning awards nine years in a row as the best dance studio in Waterbury area.
Left to Right,
Emily (Dunn) Summa (Miss Emily),
‘Sheila (Thomson) Tetreault (Miss Sheila) and
Jacqueline (Crowe) Downs (Miss Peaches)
Then Student
Emily Dunn
at Sunshine Dance Center
since Age 3
Sunshine's Co-Owner/Directors
Emily Dunn Summa
&
Jacqueline Crowe Downs
Then Student (on right)
Jacqueline Crowe
at Sunshine Dance Center
since Age 3
Emily has graduated from:
Chase Elementary School, Waterbury, CT
Wallace Middle School, Waterbury, CT
Crosby High School, Waterbury, CT
Central Connecticut State University with:
Bachelor Science Education
Masters Education (M. Ed)
Emily is an Elementary School Teacher at Gilmartin Elementary School in Waterbury, CT
Emily has won Teacher of the Year at Gilmartin Elementary School in 2018
Emily has a daughter, Aubrey, Age 15.
Like her Mom, Aubrey has been a dancer at Sunshine since Age 3. We are proud to say Miss Aubrey has been on Sunshine’s staff as a Helper for the past 5 years. You can meet her here…Sunshine’s Miss Aubrey
Jacqueline has graduated from:
The Master’s School, West Simsbury, CT
Sacred Heart High School, Waterbury, CT
Anna Maria College, Worcester, MA, with:
Bachelor Science Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement
Bachelor Arts Psychology
Masters Science Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement
Masters Arts Counseling Psychology
Jacqueline began at Sunshine at Age 3 in Miss Nancy’s class and at Age 4 transferred to Miss Sheila’s classes where she remained thru and past college. Jacqueline simultaneously took Classical Ballet from Ages 6 thru 11 at The Master’s School in West Simsbury. Jacqueline simultaneously trained in Gymnastics beginning at age 4 at Olympics-Level Gyms in Simsbury, Cheshire and Stamford, CT and in Worcester, MA. At Arena Gymnastics in Stamford, CT she competed regionally to Level 8, where Level 10 is Elite and Olympics Training. She became a Gymnastics Coach at several Gyms in CT and MA. She created a Dance, Cheerleading, Acro Program in College as Coach/Instructor and took team to Nationals in its infancy. Jacqueline was a national competitor for USA-Wildcats All-Star Cheerleading in Watertown, CT. Jacqueline is married to Shane Downs and they have a son, Jackson, Age 10, a daughter, Savannah, 8, both whom started at Sunshine at Age 2.
And in between...
…there was always back and forth to Sunshine from Grammar School, High School and College.
Miss Emily 1st Row Left
Miss Peaches 1st Row Right
Miss Emily 2nd Row Far Left
Miss Peaches 2nd Row Far Right
Miss Sheila 3rd Row Center
Miss Peaches 1st Row on Left
Miss Emily 1st Row on Right
Miss Sheila 3rd Row 2nd from Left
Miss Emily 4th Row on Left
Miss Peaches 4th Row on Right
When our Moms registered us at Sunshine as 3 year-olds, it was because it was already a well-known fact that Sunshine Dance Center is the best dance studio in Waterbury, Connecticut and all surrounding towns.
A fairy tale that came to life for two little girls that never stopped mastering their craft and their love for Dance, believing in Sunshine Dance Center. And in themselves.
And then we moved into from 2 dance studios on 54 Monroe about a mile away to 451 Meriden Road where we expanded into 3 studios
Where we
Professionally
Teach Dance...
Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Pointe, Hip-Hop, Acro
and Fitness for All Generations
with Discipline, Focus, Caring
and a Measure of Fun!
Valuing Knowledge, Integrity, Community ®
Thank you for ...
...being part of
our Sunshine Dance Family!
We hope to pass on our integrated approach
to help students gain great advances in Dance…
Because integrating hard work
while having fun is everything!
Sunshine Dance Center, LLC
Established in 1972
Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Acro and Fitness
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- Classes + Registration
- Private Lessons
- Staff
- Sunshine Co-Owner Miss Peaches
- Sunshine Co-Owner Miss Emily
- Sunshine Founder Miss Sheila
- Sunshine’s Teacher Miss Michelle
- Sunshine’s Teacher Miss Nancy
- Sunshine’s Teacher Miss Susie
- Sunshine’s Teacher Miss Steph
- Sunshine’s Teacher Miss Joelle
- Sunshine’s Teacher Miss Heather
- Sunshine’s Teacher Miss Amber
- Sunshine’s Assistant Miss Brielle
- Sunshine’s Assistant Miss Meaghan
- Sunshine’s Assistant Miss Reagan
- Sunshine’s Assistant Miss Sanai
- Sunshine’s Assistant Miss Talia
- Sunshine’s Helper Miss Arieles
- Sunshine’s Miss Aubrey
- Sunshine’s Miss Janaida
- Sunshine’s Miss Karina
- Sunshine’s Miss Mackenzie
- Sunshine’s Miss Madyson
- Sunshine’s Miss Milana
- Sunshine’s Miss Niona
- Sunshine’s Miss Tina
- Sunshine’s Miss Zoe
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