Our History

Shannon Jackson founded SSD with one simple dream: create a joyful, supportive place where every child feels like they belong. Her warmth and passion became the heartbeat of this studio. Before Shannon was born, her mother, Kalah Street studied dance with Eddie Gay and was one of Francis Osborne’s “Stars of the Future” in California. Kalah studied under Henry Richards and Al and Marian Hodgini in Evansville and became a dance instructor. By 1974, Kalah’s 17 year-old daughter, Shannon Silkey also began teaching at Hodgini’s, a historic dance studio of Evansville, IN established in 1953. Shortly after, Shannon and her mother Kalah started their own fledgling studio, Shannon’s School of Dance in Albion, IL In 1976, Shannon had relocated SSD to another space in Town Center Mall of Evansville. The studio quickly flourished building a reputation in the community for its outstanding dance instruction. Located in Town Center for over 30 years, SSD has instructed several generations of students.

Through the 1980s, Shannon’s School of Dance became a cornerstone of Evansville’s arts community. Enrollment grew steadily as word spread about Shannon’s nurturing teaching style and the studio’s warm, family-like atmosphere. Annual recitals became highly anticipated events, drawing families from across the region and cementing SSD’s reputation as the place to learn dance in the Tri-State area.

The 1990s brought fuller classes and a defining shift: former students began returning as assistants and instructors. It was the first sign of SSD’s mentorship cycle, proof that Shannon’s investment in her students built not just dancers, but lifelong connections to the studio.

Shannon passed the studio to her longtime student, then 22 year old Michelle Crosbie, who promised to carry forward the same love and values while guiding SSD into the future. Michelle, a former Shannon’s School of Dance student and instructor, bought the studio from Shannon (Silkey) Jackson in 2004. She has been the school’s owner ever since and is celebrating her 22nd year as the owner/operator! An accomplished dancer and instructor, Michelle is involved in many charity events with Shannon’s and her own dance team, The SaSSquad. “Miss Michelle” is an avid cook, and has also has appeared in print for her interior design aesthetic in which she credits her mom, Earlene, as her biggest influence.

Hip-Hop, Acro-Jazz, and Lyrical joined the schedule. Toddlers Michelle once taught were now returning as instructors — and bringing their own children.

Outdoor classes, Zoom recitals, and endless creativity kept our community connected. Today we proudly teach the children of former students — the ultimate honor.