Lori Christensen  Owner  

“Ms. California” has travelled a long way from teaching dance in the den of her California home at age 13 to Woodbury, Tennessee, where she was dubbed “Ms. California” at Woodbury Grammar school in 2006. Prior to relocating to Tennessee, “Ms. California” earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Theater Arts from the University of California, Irvine, a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from California State University, Fullerton, and a Special Education credential from MTSU. Her dance training began at the age of 5 and continued through her college and adult years, most notably with Broadway dancer, Jimmie Defore. One of the highlights of her long career was assuming the choreography responsibilities of Celebration, a performing group of special needs adults, who performed at the White House. Throughout the years, Lori has shared her passion for dance in a variety of venues including Theater For Young America and Dance2Go in Kansas City,  and Drama / Dance Department Chair at Fairgrove Academy and McPherson Magnet Schools in Southern California. She contributed her talents to both Cannon and Warren County School Districts as a Theater Arts Teacher and Beta Choreographer while teaching Special Education and ESL classes. Alongside her public teaching career, she developed and maintained her dance studio, Canyon School of the Arts, in Silverado, CA. and started Cannon Arts Dance Studio in 2007 for the purpose of providing quality dance instruction to “build dancers and change lives.” Since the inception of Cannon Arts Dance Studio, “Ms. California” has served the community in a variety of ways including the California Club Ballet Folklorico troupe, Board Member at Edgar Evins State Park, including History Hayride, and a National Park Ranger at Stones River Battlefield including the Hallowed Ground Tour. Her holistic approach to teaching dance focuses on the development of the student dancer through technique, skill building and unique performance opportunities. Currently, Lori holds a position as a board member on The Tennessee Association of Dance, where she advocates for dance arts statewide.