We are excited to get to know your children. All of our teachers and staff are background checked and CPR certified to ensure the safety of our families! Thank you for trusting us with your child!
Our Certifications
| Progressive Ballet Technique | Barre Above | Kidding Around Yoga | Acrobatic Arts | Tap Training with Aubrey Cheek | NASM certified personal trainer | Certified in Youth Protection Advocates in Dance | SiRA Aerial Yoga Parents & Kids | Advanced Acro Tumbling with Mrs. Jill Bosack | Hip Hop Training with John Barrella | Tap Training with Diane Gudat | Fostering Self-Love through The Mental Health Coalition | Autism Friendly through CARD
Director & Teacher
Ms. Sara
Ms. Sara started dancing around the age of 8 and shortly after became a competitive dancer training in several different genres. She always had a love for ballet, so soon followed that passion. She trained with Sarasota Ballet and School of Russian Ballet, taking intensives with Atlanta Ballet & Orlando Ballet. Throughout high school, she danced in the performing arts program performing notable roles such as Swanilda in Coppelia and the Snow Queen in the Nutcracker. Following high school, Sara went to further her dance education at the University of South Florida. Sara graduated with her Bachelor’s in General Studies following a hip injury. Since, Sara has taken ESE courses, and became Youth Protection Advocates in Dance, Progressive Ballet Technique, and Kidding Around Yoga certified. She also took a tap training course with Aubrey Cheek, as well as advanced acro training with Jill Bosack. She has danced professionally with Releve-tions ballet company and the Florida Sunsations. Sara has taught at studios all over Florida and has presented at the Florida Dance Teacher conference. She hopes to instill her values of inclusion, acceptance, and giving back to her dancers, as well as create a safe, welcoming environment where children and their love for dance can grow. Outside of dance, she serves on the board with the Valrico Fishhawk Chamber, is a member of 100 Women Who Care, and enjoys spending time with her students!
Office Assistant
Mrs. Tracy
Tracy was born and raised just outside of Dallas, Texas, and at the age of 14, her family moved to the Tampa area. In middle and high school, she was involved in choir, theater arts, and childhood education. She is a homeschool mom of two kids and a dedicated dance mom of 3 years, with Dancing for a Difference. She enjoys volunteering her time and assisting with studio events, shows, and fundraisers. She has a love for animals and helps support the community through pageantry with her daughter. She fell in love with the studio because of the sense of community.
Teacher
Ms. Amanda
Ms. Amanda started dancing at Karl & Dimarco School of Theatre and Dance at the age of three, where she continued her training for 16 years. She has experience in multiple dance styles; however, ballet and tap are her favorite and therefore, are the genres she prefers to focus on. She has danced as a Swan in Swan Lake and received her most recent ballet training from Ms. Sara. Amanda graduated in Spring 2020 with her Associate’s in Arts degree from St. Petersburg College, where she is currently continuing her education to pursue a Bachelor’s in Special Education. She is a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM); is certified in Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (YPAD) certified; holds a current CPR/AED/First Aid certification from the American Red Cross for babies, children, and adults; and was an intern for Traveling Tutus in 2018. In addition to continuing her training in both dance and working with children of all abilities, Amanda has also taken a tap teacher training course with Aubrey Cheek and enjoys attending various tap festivals in the area. Dance has always been a huge part of her life, with her passion for helping students with different abilities being the result of pushing through her own learning challenges and anxiety, something that has allowed her to accept and appreciate the differences of others. Amanda is a firm believer in the power of inclusion and strives to build genuine, positive relationships with her dancers. She often uses a multisensory approach to instruction as a way to simultaneously activate the multiple learning pathways of her dancers and works hard to teach from a trauma-informed lens as one of her values is “less judgment and more kindness.” Amanda has been a part of Dancing for a Difference since 2017 and has enjoyed her time here because of the studio’s inclusive, welcoming environment and being a place where dancers of all abilities can dance together and share their love of dance while continuing to grow. It is a place where dancers of all abilities can dance together as well as share their love of dance!
Teacher
Mrs. T
Mrs. T joined Dancing for a Difference as a teacher and an assistant in the summer of 2018. She is a first-grade teacher in Hillsborough County and has experience working with children of all ages. She has experience in ballet, pointe, jazz, and cheerleading, and has acro/flexibility training. She trained with Ms. Sara at North Port High School and Universal Dance Academy. Mrs. T has taken classes with Acrobatic Arts and continues to train through adult classes. Mrs. T has taken training in Advanced Acro Tumbling with Mrs. Jill Bosack. She has been a part of our team for several years and loves to learn and grow as both a teacher and choreographer.
Teacher
Ms. Maggie
Ms. Maggie began her ballet training at the Degnan Ballet Center. She studied at the Performing Arts Institute of Wyoming Seminary and the Wilkes Conservatory. She continued her studies at Mercyhurst University on scholarship, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance Pedagogy, choreographed a number of works presented at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center, was the student coordinator of the Liturgical Dance Ensemble, served on the Leadership Team, and was an Ambassador for the university. She received several awards during her undergraduate career, including the Jenni-Lyn Watson Spirit of Dance Award, the Palmer Service Award, and the Etoile Student Leadership Award. She has danced professionally with Connect The Dots Dance Company, District Dance Company, and Metropolitan Ballet Theatre. She founded and previously directed the Holy Redeemer High School Dance Team and the Youth Program at Dance Loft on 14, as well as served as interim artistic director of Connect The Dots Dance Company, and of Little People’s Creative Workshop. She is currently an apprentice with Florida Dance Theatre. Ms. Maggie has taken Advanced Acro Tumbling training With Mrs. Jill Bosack. When Maggie is not dancing, she is in the wings photographing dancers for En Pointe.
Teacher
Mrs. Gabby
Mrs. Gabby was born and raised in Burbank, CA. Her dad was a choir director and played the piano for church, and her mother was also a talented singer so you could say she had no choice but to love music and performing! She started singing in choirs as young as 4 years old and took tap and ballet as well. Growing up across the street from Warner Brothers and Walt Disney Studios, opportunities for acting were endless. Her parents allowed her to audition often, but she truly fell in love with musical theatre when she was in her first musical in 3rd grade. She joined her school’s thespian program as well as classical and show choir. She continued until she graduated high school and into college. Being classically voice trained enabled her to win several state competitions as well as perform all around the Bay Area. With her choirs and her thespian troupe she competed and placed several times as well. She was involved in many musicals and plays throughout her career but her favorite and one she was most proud of was 12 Angry Men. She took 4 semesters of ballet at HCC and several theatre and performance classes, as well as continued singing in her community and leading worship at church. Once married, Gabby and her husband were eager to start a family. They now have two beautiful children who are involved in dance, music, and soccer. Ms. Gabby has continued her voice education by working with a voice teacher because there’s always more to learn and perfect! Currently, she is the voice teacher and musical theatre co-teacher at D4D, but when she’s not there you can find her behind the camera snapping photos for the studio.
Teacher
Mrs. Jenn
Mrs. Jenn was born and raised in northeast Pennsylvania. She began dancing at age 6 in all areas of dance throughout her life up until middle school. During high school, she started with competitive cheerleading. After high school, she trained with Cheer LTD and taught cheer camps across the United States working with children of all ages and abilities. During this time she attended Penn State University and was a part of their basketball cheerleading program. She was also a competitive cheerleader throughout college at Penn State. She trained with UCA and Cheer LTD for 4 years, becoming a regional and national judge and certified coach. Mrs. Jenn is currently taking continuing education courses in Hip Hop.
Outside of dance, she is a mom of 2 kids and the PTSO vice president at their school. She has been a certified and licensed hair and makeup artist for over 10 years. She frequently assists the studio with hair and makeup for dance events. Mrs. Jenn and Ms. Sara will be working hand and hand throughout this next year expanding the non-profit to extend to providing haircuts for foster care kids at no cost. She loves working with kids and is very excited to be able to do what she loves: dance and hair!
Guitar Teacher
Mr. M
Adam (Mr.M) loves to bring the joy and excitement of music to the classroom. He has been playing guitar for over 20 years and has picked up many other instruments along the way. Adam has a bachelor’s in Audio Production from Sanford Brown College of Florida and experience in music studios and film sets. Adam has also taught in middle and high schools, as well as volunteered to work with children with special needs. He clearly loves music and his students, it shows the second you meet him! When teaching, Adam enjoys finding ways to incorporate each students’ interests into the curriculum.