Artistic Director, WMYB and Studio Owner of Ada Dance Academy. Sanford trained at Southold School in South Bend, Indiana, North Carolina School of the Arts (trained under Melissa Hayden, Duncan Noble, and Warren Conover), Ballet Chicago Studio Company (mentored by Dan Duell and Patricia Blair), attended numerous summer courses including School of American Ballet, Houston Ballet, and Hartford Ballet. Sanford has had the opportunity to work with esteemed choreographers and teachers such as Kirk Peterson, Val Caniparoli, Suzanne Farrell, Daniel Duell, and Mario Radacovsky during his 14 seasons performing as a Principal Dancer with Grand Rapids Ballet Company. Sanford has performed as a guest artist for New York Theater Ballet, Toledo Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, St. Louis Ballet, Ballet Chicago, Geiger Ballet, and Southold Dance Theater. Alongside his performing career, he taught classical technique classes at Grand Rapids Ballet School for 14 years and he has been teaching master dance classes throughout the Midwest. Sanford is currently teaching classical technique classes at Ada Dance Academy. Stephen and his wife, Jennifer, have three daughters Julia, Elaina, Lucy and two sons Andrew and Nathan.