Sara Battaglia
Director & Teacher
Ms. Sara started dancing around the age of 8 and shortly after became a competitive dancer learning skills in jazz, tap, lyrical, acro, ballet & pointe. 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, where she learned all dance styles but focused on ballet & modern. During her time at USF, she also danced with School of Russian Ballet and Brandon Ballet. Sara graduated with her Associates in Arts and hoped to continue to her Bachelors but unfortunately a hip injury occurred. Since, Sara has taken ESE courses, became YPAD certified, took Autism trainings, and hopes to continue training in other ways. She is taking courses online currently with Kidding Around Yoga, and will be attending Acrobatic Arts & Progressive Ballet Technique Certifications in 2020. She also took a tap training course with Aubrey Cheek and continues to attend Florida Tap festivals. She dances professionally with Releve-tions ballet company and cheers professionally with the Florida Sunsations. Sara has taught at studios all over Florida and is excited to focus on D4D. She enjoys speaking to other dance teachers about making their studio a more inclusive environment 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.
Amanda Ross
Tap, Combo 1, Ballet
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, but focuses on ballet and tap. 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 Associates in Arts degree from St. Petersburg College and is continuing her education there as she plans to pursue a Bachelors in Special Education. She is a NASM certified personal trainer, YPAD certified, and was an intern for Traveling Tutus. 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. She loves being a part of Dancing for Donations because of its inclusive, welcoming environment and it being a place where dancers of all abilities can dance together as well as share their love of dance!
Tedra Mason
Acro & Combo 1
Ms. T joined Dancing for Donations as a teacher & assistant 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, acro/flexibility training, and cheer leading. She trained with Ms. Sara at North Port High School and Universal Dance Academy. Ms.T hopes to become Acrobatic Arts certified in the next year and continues to educate herself through adult classes. Ms. T will be attending the Acrobatic arts training in July of 2020. She has loved to dance since a young age and is excited to get back to what she loves after a few years!
Octavia Alvarez
Acro, Tap, & Jazz
Bio Coming Soon!
Maggie Sullivan
Ballet & Musical Theatre
Ms.Maggie began her ballet training with Kristin and Peter Degnan at the Degnan Ballet Center. She studied jazz and modern dance under Tim Early and Carrie Ellmore-Tallitsch at the Performing Arts Institute of Wyoming Seminary, and Lynne Mariani and Kris Cross at the Wilkes Conservatory. She continued her studies at Mercyhurst University, on scholarship, under the direction of Tauna Hunter, where she received a B.A. 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 in soloist, corps, and character roles with Connect The Dots Dance Company in Washington DC, District Dance Company in Germantown, MD, and Metropolitan Ballet Theatre in Gaithersburg, MD. She founded and previously directed the Holy Redeemer High School Dance Team in Wilkes Barre, PA and the Youth Program at Dance Loft on 14 in Washington DC, as well as served as iterim artistic director of Connect The Dots Dance Company in Washington DC and of Little People's Creative Workshop in northern Virginia. She is currently a trainee with Florida Dance Theatre in Lakeland, FL where she has performed in several classical and contemporary works. Maggie has been a teaching professional for over a dozen schools and studios in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC, and Florida, working with students ranging from toddlers to adults in conservatory, competition, and recreational settings. When Maggie is not dancing, she is in the wings photographing dancers for En Pointe Photography.
Ms.Meg
Pom Jazz & Hip Hop
Mr.DHip Hop
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Bio Coming soon!
Danele “ Mr. D” Grant is a dancer, choreographer, and instructor with a huge passion for the art of dance. He has taught in Los Angeles as faculty at Millennium Dance Complex kids program and now teaches at several local studios. Born and raised in Tampa, Danele was influenced by dance through music videos and concert tours. Most of his training in his early years consisted of many hours in front of the TV learning choreography from dance videos and movies. He soon aspired to become a performer, and moved to Los Angeles and trained there for 1 year. In that short time Danele signed with DDO Dance Agency, taught and trained at The World Renowned “Millennium Dance Complex”, performed at “The Carnival Choreographers Ball” and dance in the music video “ Drop it Low” with Ester Dean and Chris Brown. Mr. D’s classes focuses on enhancing performance quality, confidence and dancing beyond the classroom. In each class he pushes students to have fun but also on how to let go and be vulnerable and find ways to incorporate individuality, precision, and musicality.
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Mrs.Tiffiny
Yoga, Combo 1, & Class Assistant
Ms.Tiffiny was born and raised in Kissimmee, Fl. She started performing in Show Choir at age 14 and dancing at age 22. She participated in show choir for 4 years and performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for 3 years. Mrs. Tiffiny took 1 semester in Ballroom Dancing at UWF, 1 year of Ballroom Dance at Center Stage Ballroom, and a few years of taking Barre and Fitness Classes. Mrs. Tiffiny is a certified Barre Above with Pilates focus instructor and has training in Trapeze. She is certified in SiRA Aerial Yoga Parents & Kids. Tiffiny is also YPAD Certified. When Tiffiny is not at the studio, she is an ESL Teacher, manages her own company, TKS Creative and is a PTA Board Member at her 2 beautiful children’s school.
Ms. Alyssa
Voice & Musical Theatre
Alyssa has been singing and performing since a very young age and couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Alyssa has performed in over 30 musical productions over the last 12 years. Her personal favorite roles include Emma in “Jekyll and Hyde”, Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz”, and Cosette in “Les Miserables”. Alyssa has been trained in both classical and theatrical voice since the age of 8 and has been featured in leading and supporting roles on both demo and cast albums for new original musicals. Off the stage, Alyssa is working towards her Bachelors degree through the University of Central Florida’s online school. Her big goal is to find a way to ensure that performing arts education is accessible to all. She has always had a passion for teaching kids and helping them shine both on and off the stage! Alyssa is very excited to work with you and hear your beautiful voices!
Valeria Carrasquillo
Student Assistants:
Arabella
Arabella is an 8 year old student assistant. She is currently assisting a beginner ballet class. She started her third year here at D4D and is loving every minute of it. Her favorite style of dance is classical ballet; she is working on a variation from the ballet “Paquita” for her solo and hopes to learn variations from all the classical ballets! She currently takes ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, acro and is on performance team and hopes to eventually work her way into a ballet company in the future. She loves being an assistant at D4D because she loves all the younger dancers and hopes to be a role model for them just as her teachers are role models for her
Jaelin
Jaelin is 11 yrs old and in 5th grade. Jaelin strives to do her best at all things she does, she's been on principal honor roll at school and loves to push herself in learning new things dance related. She is a bit competitive, even if it's just within herself. Jaelin enjoys assisting other classes such as that one of her little brothers and helping out and attending, fundraisers as she can. Dance has given her a whole new family of sisters and friends. This begins her 3rd season of dancing, all her training has been with D4D. She is currently taking lyrical, ballet, acro, tap, jazz, and this is her second year on performance team. She loves all things about dance. Not only is it fun for her, but it gives her a sense of leadership and hopes the children look up to her as a role model, as she does to all her teachers.
Jaylee
Jaylee is a sweet outgoing 9 year old that started dancing at 2. After dancing several places, trying cheerleading, gymnastics and even figure skating, she found her home at Dancing for Donations at 6 years old. They were starting up with a handful of kids and Jaylee fit in, learned quickly and loved her dance teachers and their mission to give back to the community. She’s just starting her 4th season with D4D while taking Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Acro, Voice and on the D4D Performance Team. She also is an assistant teacher in 2 classes this year and loves to help others, little or big and of all abilities. She loves what her studio stands for and loves dance outs for her community. Jaylee really favors tap dancing and has furthered her training by joining the tap performance team, Rhythm and Sole Tap Ensemble. Jaylee also has started her 5th year of being an active Girl Scout for Girl Scouts of West Central Florida. Jaylee is a leader with a huge heart that loves her family and friends, helping others and all things adventurous! Hoping to get through this next year injury free!
Raelyn
Jocelyn
Ava |
Raelyn is 9 years old. She started dancing at the age of 5 with D4D. This will be her 4th year of dancing. She is currently an assistant and loves helping the younger dancers. She currently takes ballet, acro, tap, jazz, lyrical, pre-pointe and is on the performance team. Last year, she starred in the Nutcracker as the lead, Clara. She enjoys dancing and has a true passion and love for it. She loves being apart of the D4D family and what the studio stands for.
Bio Coming soon!
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Ava Pearl, age 9, has been a student of Dancing for Donations since January 2019. What started out as a simple ballet class has turned into a second home for our family! Little brother Mason has decided to also start taking classes! Ava is also a member of this years “Road Crew” with Show On The Road. Aside from Dance- Ava is also pursing a future with acting/modeling. She has previously appeared in musical theatre productions, print ads and short films. Even though Ava remains activity involved with various adventures- she considers D4D her “Dance Home.” The environment offers a welcoming energy. Every student leaves feeling EVEN MORE loved, confident and poised! Ava is thankful for the opportunity to be a teacher assistant.
Dancing for Donations is YPAD certified! This means our teachers are trained in making the dance environment for your child safe and age-appropriate. Teachers are also CPR certified & background checked. We hope to make the dance environment the most ideal environment for every child.
We are a Wingman for Dance studio! We love the morals and values Wingman teaches and are excited to start implementing their ideas into our program.
"Behind every dancer who believes in themselves, is a teacher who believed in them first." ~Anonymous
