Owner/Artistic Director
|
Jamie, a Florida Dance Master’s Certified Teacher, is a native of Florida, but has also studied dance in Indiana, Kentucky, and Los Angeles, California. In 2001, Jamie pursued a degree in dance with a full arts scholarship to Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida. While in Gainesville, she studied with greats such as Alberto Alonso, Antolino Alvarez, and Maximum Dance Company of Miami. She served as President of the performing group, as well as, choreographed and directed the student choreographed show “Angels of Dance”.
In 2003, Jamie went on to perform commercially in Los Angeles, California and was selected to dance with top performing groups throughout the city. After returning to Florida in 2007, she became the resident teacher for Donna Lee Dance Studio in Miami, Florida, teaching tap, jazz, ballet, and acrobatics to all ages. She also choreographed works for their dance company, “Expressions”. In addition to teaching at local studios, Jamie has had the privilege of teaching at national conventions such as the Florida Dance Master’s Convention where dance studios from across the state come to learn from the best in the industry. In 2016, she left The Dance Company of Ocala where she instructed ballet and acrobatics, as well as choreographed for their award winning competition team, to pursue her dream of opening Momentum Dance Arts. A well-rounded education and a love for the arts has allowed Jamie the opportunity to share her passion and abilities with children and artists from all around the world. With over 20 years of teaching experience, she is dedicated to inspire and build strong dancers within the Gainesville, Alachua, High Spring and surrounding areas! |
Ms. ErinTeaches Ballet, Contemporary, Conditioning & Flexibility, Company
|
Erin is a Florida native and dance educator with over twelve years of teaching experience. She has won multiple regional and national awards for her choreography and costuming. As a former competitive gymnast and theatre major and dancer in the Tampa Bay Area, she specializes in ballet, jazz, lyrical, acrobatics, tap and contemporary. Erin holds multiple certifications and continues to expand her dance education to give her students the best experience in every class.
Her ultimate passion is to inspire young dancers and equip them with knowledge and skills to carry with them not only through their dance career, but in any path they follow in life. Erin is so excited to be welcomed to the Momentum Dance Arts family and is looking forward to working with their amazing dancers! |
Ms. KatieTeaches Musical Theater, Jazz, Contemporary
|
“Katie Needles began dancing at the age of 10 in Pensacola, Florida. Since then, she has had the opportunity to teach and choreograph for several studios in the Pensacola area. While in high school, she pursued her passions for theatre and acting through Pace High School’s drama troupe and was awarded a superior award in choreography her senior year by district 1 of the Florida State Thespian Festival. This experience allowed her to expand her knowledge of musical theatre choreography while continuing to train in jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop at her home studio.
She recently graduated from the University of Florida with degrees in Dance and Business Administration with a specialization in theatre. While at UF, she had the opportunity to perform in both faculty and student showcases. She also was highly involved outside of the dance department including being a member of Stomp the Swamp’s performance team, serving on the sustainability committee of Florida Women in Business, and being elected to the secretary position of Extreme Dance Company- one of UF’s largest student-run dance organizations. With her leadership roles, she gained experience in organizing showcases with many dancers and choreographing for groups with various backgrounds. She is so excited to be able to share her knowledge of the performing arts while continuing her professional career.” |
MR. BOTeaches Tap, Musical Theater, Company
|
Bo is a performance artist, director, choreographer with over 20 years production experience spanning the genres of the industry from cruise line and theme park to Off-broadway. Bo’s wide range of performance credits include the National Tours of CATS, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, ThoroughlyModern Mille and Crazy For You. Bo has performed with Dollywood, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Disney cruise lines and has danced alongside Dolly Parton and his favorite, MinnieMouse! He has worked for Walt Disney World and has been featured in Beauty and the Beast:Live On Stage, The Hoop
Dee Doo Revue, Dream Along with Mickey, ABC’s Annual Christmas Day Parade, and the live christening of the DCL Disney Dream cruise liner with Jennifer Hudson. Bo made his Off Broadway debut in the musical Trip Of Love starring Nia Souix and Darlene Love ultimately becoming the production’s dance captain. Bo has taught and adjudicated with studios across the southeast and worked with masters such as Gwen Verdon, Ann Reinking and Ben Vereen. Bo’s directorial and choreographic work has been nominated for Broadway World and MTA awards and includes show creation for CarowindsTheme Park and Celebrity Cruise Line. |
Ms. LoganTeaches Strength and Stretch, Contemporary, Company
|
Logan’s mom always knew she would be a dancer. Logan’s love of dancing began very early at the age of 2 where she would put on performances for her family. It wasn’t until 7 years later, with the help of an amazing teacher that she would begin her formal training. During her 12 years, she performed in over 50 competitive dance and recital pieces in various styles including hip hop, jazz, contemporary, musical theater, modern and ballet. Logan was selected to attend Joffrey Ballet School’s Contemporary Intensive in Athens, GA and Joffrey Ballet School’s very first Hip Hop Intensive in New York City. Along with her intensives, she has attended countless dance conventions.
Once she finished competitive dancing, she set her sights on bringing her passion to dance to the next generation of upcoming dancers through teaching. Logan enjoys teaching tap, jazz, contemporary and hip hop. Logan graduated Santa Fe college this past spring and had the opportunity to be selected for two residency pieces of work “There is a time” choreographed by Jose Limon directed by Dante Puleio and “Near Future” choreographed by Xan Burley and Alex Springer. Logan also performed in three showcases as a student. Logan is now at the University of Florida to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Logan brings her unique style to every class and strives to create a fun environment for learning. She loves seeing her students grow as dancers and develop their skills. |
Ms. AlyssaTeaches Contemporary, Jazz, Acro, and Hip Hop and is
Co-Director of our Competitive Company 
|
Alyssa began dancing at 8 years old at Hannah Bergstrom School of Dance and was a member of their competitive company from 2009-2016. She then trained at Artistry Dance Alliance from 2016-2018 where she was a member of the Alliance Dance Company. Her senior year of high school, she worked as a teaching assistant for Artistry Dance Alliance and fell in
love with teaching children. In 2018 she choreographed her first competition group piece for Fusion National Dance Competition’s young choreographer challenge where she placed 2nd. Since then, Alyssa has choreographed several competition pieces for the Alliance Dance Company, several of which earned top 5 placements. She is currently studying General Psychology at the University of Florida. During her time at UF, Alyssa was a Dazzler (2019 and 2020 seasons), performing at various sporting events including football, basketball, and volleyball. Alyssa continues to dance through UF’s dance club Danza. |
Ms. KieraTeaches Ballet
|
Kiera Manna began dancing as a child with Marilyn Budzynski in Pennsylvania. She continued her training with Kristen Olsen Potts at the West Coast Conservatory of Ballet in Southern California. Kiera performed and toured as a professional dancer with companies including the Orange County Regional Ballet (Ballet Unlimited), Nannette Brodie Dance Theatre, Nevada Ballet Theater, Santa Clara Ballet, Boulder Ballet, and Rocky Mountain Ballet.
Kiera is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She has been teaching ballet for 20 years and is also a certified teacher of Yoga and Zen Barre. |
Ms. KassyTeaches Jazz, Hip Hop
|
Kassandra Garcia was born and raised in Miami Florida. As a native to Miami, FL, Kassandra grew up predominately learning ballet, contemporary, jazz, and hip hop under the direction of Marisel Garcia, Elizabeth Aleman, and Jennifer Rivera training at Mari’s Ballet and Dance Academy for her entire childhood. Throughout the years she has had the opportunity to train with master teachers and choreographers through the attendance of multiple conventions. Kassandra graduated from Doral Performing Arts and Entertainment Academy in 2021, where she held the position of co-captain for the national winning Doral Rubies dance team under the direction of Marion-Skye Logan, Claudia Florez, and Andrea Jonusas. Presently, she now attends the University of Florida in hopes to obtain a mastery in Biology as well as a certification in Dance. She is also an executive board member of Danza Dance Company, University of Florida’s most selective dance company. Kassandra hopes to gie back her passion for dance to upcoming dancers and help them study movement research. |
Ms. AleanaTeaches Ballet and Pointe
|
|
Aleana Perez started dancing ballet at the age of five in Port St. Lucie Florida. She continued her classical ballet training up until 2022 with St. Lucie Ballet under Rogelio Corrales and Lydia Oquendo, who both teach Cuban Classical Ballet. Along with Ballet she also intensively trained in contemporary, jazz, neo-classical, and much more. It was around the age of 13 in 2018 that she began competing at competitions and attending various different workshops across the country. Some of these experiences include competing and receiving awards at Universal Ballet Competition Grand Prix, Youth American Grand Prix National Ballet Competition, The American Dance Competition, Shake the Ground Dance Competition, New York City Dance Alliance, and attending Grand Premier Invitational Intensive Workshop as an ambassador in Arizona. She has also danced as a soloist and been a part of multiple different ballet productions such as The Nutcracker, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Coppelia, Paquita, The Sleeping Beauty, Diana and Acteon, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Esmeralda, and many others she will never forget. Throughout the years she has been able to work with many amazing choreographers and teachers in the dance world. They have been her inspiration to pursue her passion for dance. Along with dancing she loves being able to teach, inspire, and challenge students in classical ballet. She believes that there is such beauty in ballet and it is her motivation to pass this onto her students and spark inspiration within them.
Aleana is currently a student at the University of Florida as a nutritional science major, and is on a pre-med track. She hopes to one day use her nutritional science knowledge to help spread more awareness in the ballet and sports industry, along with hopes to make it into medical school in 2026. |
Ms. MaryTeaches Creative Movement, Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Acro
|
Mary Kenney found her love for dance when she was 2 years old at Donna Lee studio of Dance in Miami, Florida. Mary continued to pursue her passion for dance by taking a variety of classes at Donna Lee including ballet, pointe, acrobatics, tap, jazz, and lyrical and eventually joined Expressions Dance Company where she continued to work with many talented choreographers and teachers. She began assisting with several dance classes at age 13 and discovered that she loved teaching dance just as much as she did dancing herself. In high school, she joined Westminster Christian School’s varsity dance team where she partook in competitions, workshops, conventions and more. For 16 years she has continued taking classes at Donna Lee Studio of Dance 4 days a week, rehearsing on weekends with Expressions Dance Company, participating in dance team practices after school, and of course teaching her love of dance to students. Mary is excited to now attend the University of Florida, majoring in Nutritional Sciences, as well as join Momentum Dance Arts to continue her love of dance.
|
Ms. ClaudiaTeaches Tap, Contemporary, Jazz
|
Claudia De Armas trained at Elsa Pardo Dance Center in Tampa, Florida for 8 years. She trained in ballet, pointe, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, and tap. While training at Elsa Pardo Dance Center, she competed with their competition team for 6 years. Their team attended several different competitions and conventions across Florida, which allowed Claudia to expand her dance experience. While competing with her studio, she was also a part of her high school’s dance team for all four years.
Claudia fell in love with dance during these years and wanted to continue to pursue it after high school. She is currently at the University of Florida studying Applied Physiology and Kinesiology and pursuing a Dance in Medicine Certificate. She also continues her passion of dance by choreographing dances in Danza Dance Company at the University of Florida. Claudia hopes to spread her passion of dance to all the dancers at Momentum Dance Arts. |
Ms. LivTeaches Ballet
|
Liv (she/her/hers) is in her final year at the University of Florida for a BFA degree with focuses on choreography, contemporary, improvisation, partner work, modern, jazz, ballet, and dance film.
Liv has produced several works within the community, co-choreographing a dance film shown at the Hippodrome of Gainesville, producing an evening length work in affiliation with the University of Florida, and showing and producing work at the Harn Museum of Art. |
Ms. KiKiTeaches Acro and Hip Hop
|
Ms. Kiki was born and raised in Miami, Florida where she trained at Miami Dance Company. She was apart of the competitive team and went to New World School of the Arts to experience concert dance training. Throughout those years she gained a well rounded background of all styles including ballet, modern, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, acrobatics, and more. Ms. Kiki was honored as Artistic Dance Exchange’s Senior Dancer of the Year and has worked with many renowned choreographers. She is continuing her training at the University of Florida as a BFA Dance Major and looks forward to new opportunities.
|
Ms. CataTeaches Acro, Contemporary, Tap, Jazz, Creative Movement
|
Catalina Cunha is currently a student at the University of Florida pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. Cata began training as a dancer at the age of two at a small dance studio in
Uruguay. After moving to Miami, Fl she continued her training under the direction of Jillian Torgas – Leyva at Roxy Performing Arts Center, as well as attending South Miami Center of the Arts’ Magnet Dance program under the direction of Jessica Vega. Cata has been teaching Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Technique, Stretch, Conditioning, Acro and Ballet since 2017, as well as choreographing routines for dance competitions where she has received choreography awards. Cata is an Acrobatic arts certified instructor, and currently works for Fusion National Dance Competition as part of their staff. She is also a member of UF’s premier dance company, Danza dance co. Cata can’t wait to share her knowledge and passion for dance with all her students! |
Ms. TaylorTeaches Tap/Ballet, Tap/Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop (Saturdays)
|
Taylor is currently pursuing her BFA in Dance, while engaging in the pre-medical track at the University of Florida. While at UF she has worked with well-renowned choreographers, such as Millicent Johnnie, Elizabeth Johnson, and former Doug Varone & Dancers company member, Alex Springer. She grew up competing with Dancing Plus, a dance studio in South Florida and was an assistant for multiple dance conventions, such as Intrigue Dance Intensive and Force Dance Tour. Additionally, she is a company member for The Âme Project, where her dance films have been a part of international film festivals. Taylor has a passion for choreography and finds lots of gratification through teaching and shaping young dancers.
|
Ms. BrinkleyBallet and Acro
|
Brinkley Johnson is a double major at the University of Florida, pursuing a BFA in Dance and Business Administration. She trained for 15 years at The Dance Company in St. Augustine, FL
under the direction of Stephanie Burkhardt, honing skills in tap, jazz, hip hop, ballet, acrobatics, and contemporary. In high school, Brinkley was captain of her varsity dance team, leading them to a national ranking, while also serving as President of the St. Johns County Center for the Arts Dance program. From 2021-2023, Brinkley taught at The Dance Company, with her choreography featured in numerous performances and competitions. Her experience as an instructor has helped her develop a deeper understanding of choreography and mentorship. Additionally, Brinkley works as a Professional Apprentice with Platinum National Dance Competition. She travels nationwide, learning from world-renowned performers and choreographers while assisting with both the competition and convention operations. Brinkley hopes to combine her academic and dance backgrounds to help others learn and foster their love for the art form of dance. |
Ms. LexieAssist Acro
|
Lexie Sealy (she/her) is a rising senior at the University of Florida (UF) majoring in dance with a minor in theatre from South Florida. Most recently, Sealy was a Rising Choreographer with Sarasota Contemporary Dance Company. Sealy also recently performed in the UF Summer Dance Intensive showcase and the UF Spring into Dance faculty. In fall of 2023, Sealy served as the Harn Museum of Art Choreographer-in-Residence, generating new choreographic works for the museum every month. Additionally, she participated in the Florida State University Dance in Paris Program in the summer of 2023, training in various dance styles and creating multiple short films. Sealy has been featured in dance works by UF faculty Rujeko Dumbutshena, Elizabeth Johnson, and Isa Garica-Rose, along with multiple student-led projects. She was also cast in the UF Musical Theatre’s rendition of Cabaret as the female swing, performing in eight nights of the show. Sealy is interested in all dance styles of performance and choreography, from modern and contemporary dance to theatre and jazz styles.
|
Student Instructor
Ms. KatherineTeaches Tap/Ballet and Creative Movement
Ms. MakaylinTeaches Hip Hop
|
Ms. DevynTeaches Cheer
Ms. JadeTeaches Ballet, Hip Hop, Acro, Tap/Jazz
|