Sharlyn is a shining Orinda star
At the end of every school year, local dance studios raise the curtain on their annual performances, but none are quite like the extravaganza that is the Sharlyn Dance Experience.
There is nothing subtle about Sharlyn McIntyre, who has taught Orinda girls the fundamentals of jazz, hip hop, tap and ballet for almost five decades. Always dressed in her signature colors of black and red, and fully accessorized even on a Tuesday, Sharlyn embraces dramatic expression in both motion and presence while teaching her students ages 4 to 18.
With a different ornate outfit for every number, the costume changes are almost a show in themselves. Sequins, tassels, accessories and props are paired with playful choreography to throwback tunes.
The show is upbeat, fun and more focused on the joy of dance and performance over technique.
This year’s highlight had the girls dressed in glittering red and black (of course) marching band costumes, twirling batons and tap dancing to the Cal Bears fight song. Her show is nostalgic at its core, and always entertaining.
Sharlyn doesn’t advertise her classes. There is no website, no Instagram. It’s by word-of-mouth that students flock to her weekly classes held in the no-frills Masonic Center in Orinda. Even tuition dues are invoiced in her penmanship on the back of a 3×5 index card.
She knows each one of her students on a personal level and they love her for it.
Over the years, she has taught thousands of dancers, some of whom are the daughters of former students. Lia Flournoy was a student of Sharlyn’s as a child and now decades later, her daughter Dani, 9, shares the same affection for her.
“I like that while we warm up before class, she tells us stories about her life,” said Dani.
At every recital, Sharlyn takes a moment to honor her graduating seniors – some of whom have been dancing with her since they were in preschool. She presents them with flowers and announces the colleges they’ll soon be attending.
“This is the part of the show I love and hate,” said Sharlyn. “It’s when I have to bid them adieu into their future.”
One by one, the graduates express what she has meant to them, describing her not just as a teacher, but as a friend, a mentor and a steady presence throughout their lives.
Sharlyn, in all of her analog glory, is another reason why I love Orinda.
Sharlyn McIntyre, dressed in her signature colors, welcomed a packed audience at her end of year performance, held June 7–8, at Skyline High School in Oakland.
