Molly McFarland
Owner, Director, Sidney Dance Company Artistic Director, Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theater, Contemporary Instructor
Molly McFarland has been dancing for more than 35 years. Originally from St. Louis, MO, she trained with Dolores Wein at Lalla Bauman School of Dance and performed with various community and professional theatre companies, including 5 years with The MUNY of St. Louis.
After pursuing a Dance Management degree from Oklahoma City University, she moved to Chicago to seek professional opportunities in every aspect of the dance industry. For 10 years she was immersed in the Chicago dance scene, dancing, teaching, choreographing, directing, and providing administration for several dance companies, marketing dance shoes, attire, and costumes for major industry brands, and traveling nationally and internationally to work with hundreds of dance studios, schools, retailers, and manufacturers.
In 2018 Molly became the owner of Sharon's School of Dance and Artistic Director of the Sidney Dance Company. She is thrilled to be teaching, choreographing, directing, and sharing her passion for the performing arts every day. Molly is trained in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, modern, hip-hop, and musical theater, and teaches all styles, beginning to advanced.
Maureen Joines
Muscial Theater Instructor, Office Manager, Sidney Dance Company Vocal Director & Conductor
Maureen Joines is from Hampton, Virginia. She went to Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA where she received her Bachelor's in Music Education. Maureen now resides in Sidney with her husband, Andy, and two children, Noah and Melody. Just recently, in addition to her faculty position, Maureen has taken over the role of Office Manager for Sharon's School of Dance
She teaches music, drama and choir at Christian Academy Schools in Sidney. Maureen also does the vocal directing for Sock & Buskin and Sidney Dance Company productions. She has also been a featured soloist for "Messiah" and for the Sidney Civic Band. Maureen directed Houston High's production of Unplugged, and was the vocal director for Sidney High School's 2015 Musical, The Wizard of OZ. Most recently Maureen has directed Sidney Christian Academy's musical, Life on the Edge and New Kid on the Flock, co-Directed Sock and Buskin Players World Goes 'Round, and was the vocal director for SDC's Shrek Jr: The Musical.
Melody Joines
Acro, Adult Class, Ballet, Contemporary, Pre/Beginning Pointe, Jazz Instructor
Melody has been dancing at Sharon's School of Dance for 8 years, studying ballet, pointe, musical theater, jazz, tap, and contemporary. She also trained in gymnastics for 5 years at the Shelby County YMCA. Melody graduated high school in 2020, having participated in show choir and local high school musicals, as well as Sock & Buskin and Sidney Dance Company productions. Melody got married in the summer of 2022, and recently had her first child with husband Gabe in late July! Melody feels blessed to be part of such a strong and fast-growing dance studio, and she looks forward to working with her future students and fellow instructors.
Elizabeth Smedley
Jazz & Tap Instructor
Elizabeth has been studying at Sharon's School of Dance for 8 years, and is currently a high school senior in her 6th year as a member of the Sidney Dance Company. Elizabeth has a passion for Tap dance and is excited to be teaching and choreographing at the studio for the second time this year.
Colleen Chalfant
Ballet, Contemporary, & Musical Theater Instructor
Colleen is a 4th year member of the Sidney Dance Company and a senior in high school. She has taken lessons at Sharon's School of Dance for 8 years and this is her second year teaching.
Kara Kellner
Ballet Instructor
Kara is a senior and a 9th year member of the Sidney Dance Company. This is Kara's first year teaching at the studio, and she has been dancing at Sharon's School of Dance for 15 years.
Summer Sprowl
Acro, Ballet & Tap Instructor
Summer is a junior and has been dancing for 10 years. This is her 6th year as a Sidney Dance Company member, and her second year teaching at Sharon's School of Dance.
Catherine Smedley
Pre Ballet & Pre Tap Instuctor
Catherine is a 5th year Sidney Dance Company member and a freshman in high school. She has been dancing for 8 years and this is her first year teaching at the studio.
Sharon Eikenberry
Founder, Master Instructor
Sharon K. Arnold Eikenberry, a Sidney High School graduate and 2003 Hall of Fame inductee, has devoted her life to the Sidney-Shelby County arts community, profoundly touching the lives of thousands of young people and adults with her skills and love for the performing arts. In 1980, she opened Sharon's School of Dance in downtown Sidney. She also started the non-profit organization, Sidney Dance Company.
Sharon began dancing in Bellefontaine, Ohio at age 8, and furthered her training in Dayton under the tutelage of Mr. Rodriguez, Miss Jo and Miss Bess Saylor. She received her B.A. in Dance from Butler University, with additional training in NYC under Charles Kelly, Phil Black, and Luigi and Paul Gearhart. Just one year prior to opening the studio, Sharon traveled as a performer with the Roger Hess National Tour and performed in the Chicago Review. During this time she received her actor's equity card.
In the past 35 years, Sharon has choreographed over 80 productions, including: A Chorus Line, West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof with OSU, and Grease at Ohio Northern. For Sidney Dance Company she has directed and choreographed the following ballets: The Nutcracker, Coppelia, The Source, Aesop's Fables, Sleeping Beauty, La Fille Mal Gardee, Cinderella, Peter and the Wolf, Degas, and Alice in Wonderland. Her repertoire also includes the directing musicals such as The Wizard of Oz, Can-Can, Babes in Toyland, Peter Pan, Narnia, It Happened in Hamelin, Annie, Seusical, Cinderella and most recently, Snow White.
Sharon officially retired from full-time teaching in 2018, but still guest and substitute teaches from time to time.