St. Augustine
Dance Academy

WORLD GOLF VILLAGE & 210/NOCATEE

OUR FACULTY

Click an image to learn more about what our instructors have to offer!

Tasha - Artistic Director

Growing up as a military child, Tasha’s dance experience spans over thirty years throughout the United States varying from traditional ballet instruction to competition teams from California to Virginia. Tasha holds a doctorate of education in curriculum and instruction from the University of Florida, has been trained in ABT PrePrimary through Level 3 Ballet in New York and is certified in Acrobatic Arts. Tasha has a passion for dance that she loves to share with children of all ages.

Katie - Instructor

Katie started dancing at the early age of two. She has trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, modern, and hip hop in Las Vegas and Jacksonville/St. Augustine. She is trained in ABT PrePrimary through Level 3 Ballet and Acrobatic Arts. Katie believes that dancing allows you to express yourself in ways that you can't with words. She loves to teach and inspire children to achieve their dreams in dance.

Elena - Office Manager/Instructor

Elena’s dance career began at The Dance Company with ballet and jazz at the age of seven. She attended the St. Johns County Center for the Performing Arts at St. Augustine High School for dance where she learned ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, lyrical and more. Elena is certified in Acrobatic Arts. She hopes to build children’s love of dance through a fun and enriching learning environment.

Abby - Instructor

Abby began dancing at the age of three at The Dance Company. As a company member, she took part in many competitions taking her as far as London, England. Abby was also an advanced dance member in the St. Johns County Center for the Arts at Murray Middle School and at St. Augustine High School. She is the coach for St. Augustine High’s Ja’Quettes Dance Team and is certified in Acrobatic Arts. Abby’s passion in life is dance.

Bethany - Instructor

Bethany trained as a gymnast as a child. At the age of 15, she began her training as a dancer and continued on to major in Dance Education at FSCJ. After college, she joined multiple local production and dance companies such as Paradigm Flux, MegaMind Productions, and A Kavin Grant Productions. Bethany hopes to inspire every student to discover the artist – and person – they are destined to become.

Lauren - Instructor

Lauren is trained in ballet, jazz and lyrical/contemporary with a BA in Dance from Jacksonville University. She was a choreographer and dancer for Kankakee County Soldiers professional basketball team in Illinois. Lauren is Pilates certified and has many years of company choreography experience as the former assistant director for Dance Alive! Dance Studio. She has a passion for technique and shares her love of dance with students of all ages.

Danielle - Instructor

Danielle started dancing at the age of two in South Florida. She has trained in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, and hip hop, and was also a part of the Pure Energy Dance Company. Danielle earned a masters degree in Sport Management from Florida State University. She also taught undergraduate Dance and Stretch/Relaxation physical education courses through FSU’s Lifetime Activities Program. Danielle loves to teach and is excited to help her students achieve their dance goals while having fun!

Chloë - Instructor

Chloë has trained throughout north Florida since the age of 2 in all genres. She has attended multiple intensives from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts to the Rockettes’ Summer Intensive in New York. Chloë is currently studying entertainment management in Orlando and is certified in Acrobatic Arts. She strives to set a positive example when she is in our studio as an excellent role model and mentor for all other dancers.

Megan - Instructor

Megan began her ballet training at the age of 9 with Marta Jackson in Orange Park. She has won multiple awards through Youth American Grand Prix, including third place in NYC finals in classical and contemporary ballet. Megan was accepted into American Ballet Theater’s Studio Company and was an extra in the movie Center Stage while studying in NY. Megan has returned to Florida to carry on Marta Jackson’s ballet legacy as an instructor.

Susan - Instructor

Susan ran a successful studio in New York’s Hudson Valley area for 30 years. At national dance and talent competitions, she received recognition for her choreography and “Teacher of the Year.” Susan completed Dance Educators of America’s certification program and is a lifetime member. She teaches dance and fitness lessons in her neighborhood and loves sharing her passion for dance with students of all ages and abilities.

Liz - Instructor

Liz trained with Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and the Florida Ballet Conservatory. She completed her associates degree with multiple electives in dance, theater and musical theater. Liz is currently studying psychology at UNF and can be found teaching dance after school throughout St. Johns County. Her varied background allows her to provide training to dancers in artistic expression in addition to classical technique.

Grace - Instructor

Grace started dancing at the age of three at her local studio. She trained in ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, hip-hop, acrobatics and more. Grace has attended workshops and intensives at Alonzo King LINES Ballet and The Joffrey School. She has performed in countless ballet productions with Dance Alive National Ballet and trained at Point Park University’s Conservatory for Performing Arts. Grace is thrilled to be sharing her greatest passion with eager individuals ready to grow in this art form.

Rose - Instructor

Rose grew up dancing at The Dance Company, including competing with their performance company. She has taught hip hop and jazz in the Netherlands and has helped choreograph school musicals at St. Augustine High as part of the St. Johns County Center for the Performing Arts. Rose is very excited to share her expertise with all of our students.

Tori - Instructor

Tori began dancing at 3 and accompanied her training with competitive cheerleading, track and girls’ weightlifting. She received her BFA in Dance from UF with highest honors. Tori is skilled in various techniques such as modern, contemporary, jazz, ballet, tumbling, hip hop, and West African. She has lived and performed all over including NYC, San Francisco, Honolulu and Nashville. Tori is currently a yoga instructor and also sharing her love of dance at several studios in NE Florida.

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Student Teachers

Our student teachers are current preprofessional dancers that are successful graduates of our Teacher Apprentice Program (TAP) and must be enrolled in all advanced level classes. This program includes training in and out of the classroom from lesson planning to appropriate music choices to classroom management. Each student teacher has extensively trained by observing master teachers, assisting classes, co-teaching and teaching summer camp classes. Our student teachers are regularly evaluated with feedback to continue to grow in and out of the classroom. Former graduates of this program include our current teachers: Elena, Katie and Chloë. Our student teachers bring a unique passion into the classroom as they are still training and applying what they learn to help our younger dancers grow.

Aubrey

Cecilia

Madison

Abbey

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