About Shari Fortino

Ms. Shari Claudette Fortino has over 45 years of experience in dance performance, instruction and choreography. Among her many achievements, perhaps the most significant, has been carrying the torch left by her father, John Soiu, as she furthers his legacy of both the Debonaire School of Ballroom Dancing and the Debonaire Special Dancers, a social dance program for special needs students.

Shari co-narrated an Academy Award nominated documentary movie about the Debonaire Special Dancers with Jack Lemmon in 1987.

Shari is the former co-owner of the Bakersfield Melodrama Theatre. She has collected seemingly unending credits in performance and choreography. She is also the former owner of the Vaudeville Express Singing Telegram Company, performing singing telegrams and vaudeville shows to the delight of Kern County audiences for the past 35 years.

Shari and her husband/dance partner Michael Smothers offer a special dance instruction opportunity for students through instructing and demonstrating dance steps. Shari and Michael offer group and private dance instruction.

Shari and Michael also write songs and perform together live around the central coast and on video in a folk duet know as the Latecomers.

Shari served on the Executive Advisory Council for the School of Arts & Humanities at Cal State University, Bakersfield. She was the president of Dancers De Classes and Bakersfield Laf-A-Lot Dance Club, and is very honored to be asked to serve on the Advisory Board for the Bakersfield Music Hall of Fame.