Julie White

Spotlight on Julie White

Julie is 36 years young and co-director at Shannon O’Brien School of Dance. She started dancing at the studio when it opened in 1992 and after enjoying a successful performance career, began teaching in 1995. Julie graduated from Dean College, where she attended on the Joan Phelps Palladino Talent Scholarship, with a degree in Dance. She continued on to Rhode Island College and earned a degree in Psychology with Honors.  She has also been on the faculty at Dean College since 2008 where she teaches ballet and jazz.  

As a dancer Julie performed key roles from several ballets, namely The Snow Queen and Spanish from The Nutcracker, as well as, Kitri from Don Quixote.  As a contemporary dancer she has performed with Andary Dance modern dance company.  In 2008 she traveled to Poland for the World Dance Cup.

Julie produces award-winning choreography pieces both nationally and internationally.  In the competition dance community Julie has been commended for her unique movement vocabulary and innovative style.  Julie’s choreography is presented annually with SOSD and continuously with her concert dance company, EMC.

Julie teaches dance to children of all ages at the studio.  Her youngest dancer is 3 and currently her oldest at SOSD is 19, although her instruction extends to older dancers at Dean.  She teaches Tap, Ballet, Lyric, Jazz, Acro, Modern, and Production classes.  Her favorite styles being Jazz and Ballet.

Julie has received MANY awards for choreography, such as, American Dance Award’s Young Choreographer, and ADA's Diamond Choreography Award.  She was also nominated for America's Choreographer of the Year alongside her sister, Shannon Marshall.  Her knowledge of dance has led to roles as a Master Teacher, instructing classes for ADA’s  Titlists in 2011 and 2012, ADA Nationals Convention classes in 2011, as well as, serving as a guest teacher for the State Ballet of RI in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. 

On her iPod you will find EVERYTHING!  ….Disney, Beethoven, Taylor Swift, Tori Amos, and MORE! 

One thing you may not know is that she loves avocados.  Julie's love of healthy foods is well-known among her dancers.

SOSD World Competition DanceTeam

Julie’s favorite dance memories are traveling to Poland for the World Competition, along with other dancers from the studio, and making it to the Elite 6 at ADA Nationals in 2014.  She traces her start in dance back to her sister, Shannon.

Julie lives in Cumberland, Rhode Island with her husband, Michael, and her 3 sons.