MY STORY

How I Got Here

I have danced my whole life...since age two. I trained in ballet, primarily, but also jazz, tap, lyrical, and contemporary. At age twelve, I began attending professional ballet summer intensives and was fortunate to be trained by some amazing (and some famous) ballet professionals at North Carolina School of the Arts, Miami City Ballet, The Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet, and Burklyn Ballet Theatre. I was a part of a pre-professional ballet company, Florida West Ballet, for six years and performed in Miami City Ballet's Nutcracker for

eight years. My college years began at the University of Florida and then I transferred to the

University of Central Florida, graduating with my B.S. in Psychology. 

After I got married and moved to Deland, I opened my own Dance Studio for five years. It was a difficult feat to run a business at such a young age and also begin raising a family. I made the decision to close the studio in 2012 so I could be home at night with our two girls (at the time). I heard about this school for the arts, Ivy Hawn, and inquired about teaching dance. I was hired on as the sole dance teacher for the entire school in 2012, teaching kindergarten all the way up through 8th grade! I also started the competitive dance team, Illumination Dance Team, that year. I loved getting to take my kids to work with me and having the same schedule as them, while also getting to teach dance. The school has expanded and evolved so much since that first year...I gained a great colleague and partner in teaching for the dance program, Mrs. McCarthy, I had my 3rd baby girl, moved into a

new dance room, and guided our dancers to reach so many accomplishments and accolades. 

I am now entering my 12th year teaching dance at Ivy Hawn, two of my girls are at Atlantic High School, and Stella is here at Ivy Hawn with me and on Junior Dance Team! My favorite place in the whole wide world is New York City, and I have a slight obsession with all things Nutcracker. I am powered by coffee and positivity and wake up every day excited that I get to teach what I love and share my passion with amazing kids at Ivy Hawn. 

Get ready to work hard, be pushed to your potential, get weird, and create the most beautiful form of art

with the strongest instrument, you!