Claire Sheridan

Professional Overview

Founder, LEAP Program

Claire Sheridan is the visionary founder of the Liberal Education for Arts Professionals (LEAP) program at Saint Mary’s College of California. A dancer, educator, and advocate, Claire has dedicated her career to the belief that the discipline, intelligence, and artistry of professional dancers deserve the highest level of academic recognition.

A Legacy at Saint Mary’s

Claire’s journey at Saint Mary’s College began in 1977. Over the next two decades, she laid the foundation for dance on campus, establishing the college’s first formal dance program and serving as its director until 1997. Her leadership transformed a small set of classes into a thriving artistic community, opening the doors of expressive education to generations of students.

The Vision for LEAP

In 1999, inspired by the intellectual rigor she witnessed in professional rehearsal halls and the unique challenges dancers face when transitioning careers, Claire founded LEAP. She recognized that the demanding schedules of professional performers often barred them from traditional higher education. In response, she designed a national Bachelor of Arts degree program specifically tailored to the lives of professional dancers.

Under her guidance, LEAP expanded from San Francisco to major dance hubs in Los Angeles and New York City, creating a "classroom without walls" that has empowered hundreds of artists to translate their professional expertise into academic success.

Global Impact & Education

Beyond her work in the United States, Claire is a distinguished international educator. She has shared her expertise as a teacher and lecturer at prestigious institutions worldwide, including:

• The Saint Petersburg Conservatory and the Academy of Culture (Russia), where she was the first American to teach jazz dance.
• Cambridge University (England) and Charles University (Prague).
• Academies and colleges across South Africa, India, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Bosnia, and Bangladesh.

Her international work is rooted in her core philosophy: "Dignity for All." This principle has guided her efforts to bring the joy of dance to diverse cultures while helping dancers everywhere realize their full potential both on and off the stage.

Current Work

Today, Claire continues to serve the dance community as a Dance Educator for the San Francisco Ballet. She remains a steadfast mentor to dancers in transition, an advocate for the performing arts, and a proud member of the Saint Mary’s community. Her legacy lives on in every LEAP graduate who has used their degree to leap into a new chapter of their professional life.

Education

Master of Arts, Education

Saint Mary's College of California