Owner/Artistic Director
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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 19 years of teaching experience, she cannot wait to inspire and build strong dancers within the Gainesville, Alachua, High Spring and surrounding areas! |
Ms. JessieResident Guest
Teaches Ballet, Pointe, Conditioning, Technique |
Jessie Dominguez, Principal Dancer, trained at the National School Ballet earning numerous awards which include: Silver Medals in 1998 and 1999 and Bronze in 2000. She graduated in 2001 and became a member of the National Ballet of Cuba, elevated to principal dancer. She has toured internationally and performed on the most important stages in Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, Canada and the US. Dominguez joined Dance Alive National Ballet in 2016, where she is current company member and has had many featured roles. |
Ms. RachelTeaches Tap/Ballet Combo and Acro I
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Rachel was raised in the Florida Keys where she began her dance training at the age of three. At On Your Toes Dance Studio, she studied ballet, tap, jazz, modern, contemporary, and acrobatics. She was a part of the studio’s OYT Elite Competition Team, where she competed at various competitions and conventions around the state of Florida. Rachel began working for On Your Toes Dance Studio as an assistant in high school, and after high school graduation as an acrobatics, tap, and modern teacher.
In 2016, Rachel graduated from the University of Florida with an undergraduate degree in Telecommunication Production. During her time at UF, she was an active member and choreographer with Floridance, a student-ran dance company. She also had the opportunity to work on dance films and perform with UF School of Theatre and Dance’s, Swamp Dance Festival. During the day, Rachel works as a Video Producer and Editor for UF Health Lifelong Learning. She is delighted to join the Momentum Dance Arts family and cannot wait to teach this year! |
Ms. AlexaTeaches Hip Hop, Tap/Jazz
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Ms Alexa has been dancing for 15 years and has been teaching for 4 years. Growing up, she was apart of various dance companies through the country, as well as in Japan. She is currently a student majoring in Dance at the University of Florida, and after graduation, plans on pursuing her dream as a professional dancer. She has a passion of teaching students how to feel confident and strong through dance. She has dreamed of being a dance teacher since she was five, and now she is prepared to bring the best out of all her students! |
Ms. TeresaTeaches Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary
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Teresa began dancing at the age of three at Donna Lee Studios in Homestead, FL. There she trained in ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics, pointe and contemporary. She was a member of Expressions Dance Company, a pre-professional company within Donna Lee Studios, until she graduated from South Dade Senior High in 2014. While in high school, Teresa was a member of the competition dance team and choreographed a few pieces for competition. She also attended several summer intensives, including American Ballet Theatre, Florida State University and Orlando Ballet.
Teresa graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Agricultural Education and Communication in December 2017. During this time she choreographed pieces for Expressions Dance Company and began teaching dance at Momentum Dance Arts. |
Ms. MeredithTeaches Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Acro, Technique and
is our Company Co-Director |
Meredith has trained in dance since the age of three at Karl and Dimarco in Tampa, FL. She was apart of their company from 2010-2017. She performed at multiple NFL football games, charity galas, as well as danced in the Macy’s Thanksgivings Day Parade.
She currently attends the University of Florida pursing a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. While at UF, Meredith was a member of the University of Florida Dazzlers for the 2018 season. During the summer, Meredith is a UDA instructor, teaching dance to middle and high school dance teams through various camps and conventions. Meredith’s passion and heart for both dance and children shines through her teaching, and she cannot wait to bring a new and exciting energy into the studio this season! |
MS. AlyssaTeaches Tap
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My love for dance began when I was three years old and began taking a class at O2B Kids. I always enjoyed dancing, but it wasn’t until I put on my first pair of tap shoes that I truly found my love.
When I turned ten, I joined the competitive dance team at a IndepenDANCE Studio in Gainesville, FL. I quickly learned how much dedication my passion would require, dancing at least 20 hours a week until I graduated high school. I have traveled across the country earning numerous awards, including multiple judges’ awards, first overall placements, and several scholarships including some from LA Dance Magic. During my competitive years, I studied all genres including Jazz, Jazz-Funk, Contemporary, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Modern, and Lyrical, and of course, Tap. Dance has taught me countless life skills and fulfilled my life in countless ways that I am thrilled to be able to share with the students at Momentum Dance Arts. |
Ms. KieraTeaches Ballet and Creative Movement
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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 with companies including the Orange County Regional Ballet (Ballet Unlimited), Nannette Brodie Dance Theatre, Nevada Ballet Theatre, Santa Clara Ballet, Boulder Ballet, and Rocky Mountain Ballet.
Kiera is an ABT® Certified Teacher in Primary through Level 3 for 8 years & has been teaching ballet for 18 years. Kiera has been an assistant teacher in Montessori & Waldorf schools. She is also a certified yoga teacher with years of experience teaching adults & children's yoga classes. |
Ms. YuliaTeaches Ballet, Pointe, Progressing Ballet Technique,
Stretch and Conditioning |
Yulia Pivotskaya is a professional ballet instructor and a certified Progressing Ballet Technique teacher. She is a ballet teacher at the University of Florida and at the Skyra Studio as well as a guest teacher for Summer and Winter Intensive Programs. Ms.Pivotskaya was a professional ballet dancer. She graduated from Vaganova Ballet Academy in 2002 and immediately joined The Saint-Petersburg
State Academic Ballet Theatre. In 2005 she performed all classical ballets with the Mikhailovsky Theatre in Saint-Petersburg, Russia. In 2008 she joined Croatian National Ballet Theatre as principal dancer. In 2014 she is a principal dancer with Dance Alive National Ballet. Ms. Pivotskaya has danced almost all classical ballets and performed contemporary ballets as well. She worked with famous choreographers ( Zurij Vamos, Rami Be'er, Leo Mujic ) and teachers ( Joyce Cuoco, Johnny Eliasen,Uwe Scholz). Ms. Pivotskaya got a Master's Degree in Ballet Pedagogy in Vaganova Ballet Academy. She has 14 year history of hands-on experiences as a Ballet Teacher. She was a Ballet Instructor in Vaganova Ballet Academy, Russia; in Croatian Ballet School, Croatia; in Pofahl Studio, in Dance Alive National Ballet, USA. Ms. Pivotskaya was giving Master Classes and Summer Intensives, doing choreography and staging performances. Has toured with Mikhailovsky Theatre to Japan, with Croatian National Ballet Theatre to Italy and Turkey. Ms. Pivotskaya teaches ballet beginners/ intermediate/ advanced, pointe , PBT classes, stretch and strengthen classes, variations, character classes, technique classes. |
Ms. MaryTeaches Tap/Ballet Combos, Musical Theater, Acting, Ballet, and Creative Movement
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Mary began dancing at age 3 and never stopped. Born and raised in South Bend, IN, She started studying ballet, tap and jazz. At the age of 11, Mary began studying with Carolynn Hine-Johnson, a past member of ABT. Mary was a member of the Arts Alive Dance Company, where she studied numerous styles of dance from ballet to flamenco and Irish Step dancing. During her high school years, Mary began assisting and eventually teaching dance classes at various studios around the South Bend, IN area, including teaching at CDA at the company ballet instructor. In 2006, She attended IU-South Bend, where she majored in theatre and minored in Dance, while still a company member of Arts Alive Dance Company.
In 2008, Mary has continued teaching at various studios throughout Virginia, Indiana, and Florida. Teaching at Dancemakers, Virginia Beach, and most recently at Graceful Gifts Dance Academy in Melbourne, FL.. There she instructed in ballet, tap, contemporary and jazz. She also choreographed for the performance company. Wherever she moved, she always found a way to continue dancing and sharing her talents in the studio. This June, Mary, along with her husband and 4 kids are moving to Alachua. With over 15 years of dance teaching experience, Mary cannot wait to share her love of dance with those a part of the Momentum Dance Arts Family! |
Ms. AlissaTeaches Acro and Jazz.
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Alissa has been dancing since she was 5 in community theatre and a few different studios. She joined Dance Dimensions of SWFL at the age of 13 and was a part of their Show Troupe team from 2015-2018. She started teaching dance with them in 2017 and still helps choreograph Show Troupe routines.
She is currently a student at the University of Florida perusing a BFA in Theatre Production with a focus in Lighting Design. She has been a member of Floridance for 2 years and held the Publicity Chair for the 19/20 school year and is the Historian for the upcoming 20/21 school year. Alissa is so excited to join Momentum Dance Arts and can’t wait to see what this season brings! |
Ms. AlyssaTeaches Contemporary, Jazz, Tap, and Hip Hop
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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. |