LDA INSTRUCTORS

Mrs Kacie (Studio Owner/Team Director, Dance Instructor/Choreographer)

Miss Kacie’s love for ballet begin at just two years old. At seven years old she joined the Dance Conservatory of Orlando’s competitive team, in which she competed for nine years. She spent her time on the competition team under the training and mentorship of one of The Royal’s past students, Lisa Hendrickson. At seven she took on training in classical ballet as well as tap, jazz, modern, lyrical and musical theater, attending conventions and competitions at the national level in addition to performing for the Orlando Magic and Disney. At 12 she became a student assistant at DCO, sparking a passion for teaching, and continued assisting until she became a teacher with Impact on the Road, at the age of 16. Her high school years were spent continuing under private instructors, culminating in a dance education from the Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida, under the influences of Alora Haynes, Alberto Alonso, Sonya Alonso, Kristen Thigpen and many more. Her recent experience has revolved around choreographing, teaching and subbing in the greater Orlando area, running an after-school city program for children’s dance and drama classes for 3 local cities, and is now excited to share her love for dance with her students at Longwood Dance Academy.

Miss Ally (Assistant Team Coach/Dance Instructor/Choreographer)

Miss Ally was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, where she began dance at the age of 5 and quickly fell in love with the art. Over the years, she trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and tumbling. Additionally, Ally started competing at the age 10. Throughout this time she attended numerous conventions and received multiple awards. After moving to Orlando Florida, Ally became captain of her highschool dance team for all four years. She has choreographed a wide range of pieces—from solos to large group performances—for game days, pep rallies, and showcases. Ally has a heart for kids and loves sharing her gift here at Longwood Dance Academy. Her goal is to help her students grow not only as dancers, but also as confident, creative individuals. She hopes to bring light and joy into every dance space she walks into.

Miss Kylie (Dance Instructor/Choreographer)

Miss Kylie is a passionate dance educator and Choreographer with over 15 years of training and experience in the Greater Orlando area. She began dancing at the age of 3 and started competing by the age of 5. At 18 years old, Miss Kylie transitioned into teaching and choreographing at a local studio, developing a strong foundation in multiple dance styles including, but not limited to, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical, Ballet and Modern.

Miss Kylie is a recent graduate from Florida State University, where she earned a degree in Psychology with a business Minor. During the day, Miss Kylie pursues a career in Human Resources while continuing to nurture her love for dance in the evenings. Her diverse experiences, from dance intensives and conventions to real-life lessons, have shaped her holistic approach to teaching both dance and life values. Miss Kylie is especially passionate about teaching children and is dedicated to helping them grow into confident, well-rounded individuals.

Miss Ambrielle (Dance Instructor/Choreographer)

Miss Ambrielle is from Orlando, Florida and has been part of the dance world for the last 12 years. She spent most of her dance life in the competitive world, competing in both regional and national competitions all over the United States and consistently placing in the top 10. Cheer is another big part of Miss Ambrielle's life and she is part of a local Cheer team where she competes throughout the year with her school. Miss Ambrielle was honored to choreograph for multiple establishments in the greater Orlando area and was recently blessed to perform in a Christian Rap Music Video. With plans to attend FAMU for their dance program, Miss Ambrielle dreams of being able to perform live on stage with some of her favorite music artists in the future. Miss Ambrielle is excited to be teaching at Longwood Dance Academy and sharing her knowledge of both Cheer and Dance with her students.

Mrs Kristen (Annual Special Guest Dance Instructor/Choreographer)

For 15 years, Mrs Kristen has taught ballet, tap, jazz and modern/contemporary dance. Born in Gainesville, FL, she received her early dance training from Joni Messler, Judy Benton, and her mother, Alora Haynes. At the age of 9 she was featured in Alberto Alonso's (of the National Ballet de Cuba) original ballet "Quotations". The following year she was selected by Oberlin Dance Company San Francisco, to perform in their production of the Velveteen Rabbit. During her teenage years, Mrs Kristen attended American Ballet Theater's summer intensives where she trained with many former luminaries of the company. After graduating from High School she attended Florida State University to pursue a degree in Education while simultaneously receiving dance training from Rick McCullough, Sheila Humphreys and Gerri Houlihan. Upon graduating Cum Laude from FSU, Mrs Kristen taught High School Social Studies for 7 years and various styles of dance at several popular Alachua County dance studios.