Suncoast Academy of Dance

April has established a solid foundation of quality dance instruction and an outstanding dance curriculum for Suncoast Academy of Dance. She is the Artistic Director and choreographer for the award winning Art In Motion. April is well respected in the dance industry and has formed relationships with Suzi Miller (LA), Rhonda Miller (NYC/LA), Chebar Williams (LA), Finis Jhung (NYC), and many others through annual dance conventions.

April began her classical ballet training locally. She spent her early professional career with Princess Cruise Lines as a dancer and line captain. She continues her dance training with such greats as Finis Jhung and Chebar Williams.

April's commitment to the community, the arts, and our dancers is unparalleled. Each year April participates in "The Great American Teach In", "Relay for Life", and the Pinellas County Schools "Adopt a Class" program as well as other community projects.

Jenny's exciting tap, jazz, and lyrical classes and personality are loved by all. Jenny is also the coordinator of Suncoast's performing company, Art in Motion. Jenny's innovate AIM choreography has won numerous awards.

Jenny began her dance education at Suncoast Academy of Dance when she was 3. She continued her dance education by attending The Edge, Millennium Dance Complex and American Performing Arts in California. Jenny's performing experience includes: Super Bowl XXXV Pre-game Show, The Art & Spirituality Festival, The Oft Told Story Stage Production, and Katurah & Co. (a modern Dance company).

Upon her return to the Tampa Bay area, Jenny enrolled at USF and continued her studies in Ballet, Modern, and Improvisation while earning a BS in Industrial Engineering. When Jenny is not teaching dance, she teaches math at Largo High School.

Jenni has a passion and love for dance that she passes on to the students she teaches. Jenni teaches jazz to all ages as well as pre-school classes.

Jenni began as a student at Suncoast Academy of Dance. She has performed in several industrial shows in the Tampa Bay area including Nexus. Jenni attended classes at the Edge and Millennium Dance Complex in California. Jenni has been involved with our performing company, Art In Motion, as both a student and now as an instructor. Jenni's warmth, encouragement, technical skills, and positive attitude towards our students is a benefit to all.

Nicole Dalia, originally from Clearwater, Florida, attended Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School. She then continued her studies by attending The Boston Conservatory as a scholarship student. In 2004, she received her BFA in both Ballet and Modern and went on to apprentice for the summer with Verbs Ballet in Cleveland, Ohio. Nicole then joined the modern dance company, Elisa Monte Dance in New York City, where she performed nationally and internationally. Her tours brought her to dance on the stages of Germany, France, Italy, and England. While residing in New York she also danced for Randy James Dance Works, Metropolitan Repertory Ballet Company, and Ballet for Young Audiences.

Nicole taught ballet for children of all ages at the prestigious Ballet Academy East in Manhattan. Continuing her teaching path, she became a teaching artist for Rioult Dance Company, where she auditioned and set choreography for children to perform on the big stage with the company. Since 2009, Nicole has been a certified Pilates instructor and currently teaches at LA Fitness and Access Fitness.

Colleen is very excited to be back in Palm Harbor teaching dance at her home dance studio. In addition to pre-school classes, Colleen teaches tap and jazz to all ages.

Colleen began dancing at a young age, taking many forms of dance. Colleen auditioned and was accepted into Suncoast's Art In Motion performing company for numerous years. Colleen became an assistant instructor and then promoted to an instructor based on her technique and dedication. Colleen has studied under tapping experts Gregg Russell, Ryan Lohoff, and Angela Carter. 

Colleen is a graduate of Florida State University with a degree in Family and Child Sciences.

Tayler is originally from Lilly, Pennsylvania. In 2011, Tayler graduated from Slippery Rock University (SRU) with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. While attending SRU, Tayler had the opportunity to work with exceptional dancers and professors including Ursula Payne, Teena Custer, and Nora Ambrosio. In 2009, Tayler was one of three SRU students chosen to travel to India. In India, she studied Bharata Naytam under Revathi Ramachandrin. More recently, Tayler had the opportunity to travel to Paris, France where she explored the culture and participated in master classes from Alexandre de la Caffinière.

Lara started her dance training in York, Pennsylvania at The Greater York Center for Dance Education as member of the pre-professional Greater York Youth Ballet. She has studied many different forms of dance including Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern, and Lyrical. Lara has also trained in Mexico under, Mexican, Cuban, French and Russian dance professors while participating in summer dance programs and attending the University of Vera Cruz. Lara taught ballet for the Acclimation dance ministry and choreographed for the Hip Hop group Footprintz while in college.

Lara graduated from Messiah College with a major in International Business where she was able to spend some time traveling through Europe, India, and China. She is working for Sawyer Products in Safety Harbor as an international sales coordinator and is excited to teach at Suncoast Academy of Dance.

Maura Herrera began her dance training at The Central Delaware Dance Academy in Dover, DE. At CDDA Maura trained in ballet, jazz, tap, and contemporary. She was a principal member of the Delaware Ballet and also performed with The Delaware Opera.

Maura attended Towson University on a dance recruitment scholarship and was accepted into the Towson University Dance Company. She served as the rehearsal assistant to Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell. With TUDC Maura was cast in soloist roles set by world renowned choreographers Jawole Willa Jo Zoller, Nani Chen, and Yanis Pakeri. Maura had the distinct opportunity to perform “Valse Fantasies” choreographed by George Balanchine restaged by Elise Borne of the Balanchine Trust. Maura graduated with a BFA and was honored with the Jean Snyder Technical Excellence award.

In 2008 Maura earned her K-12 dance education license from East Carolina University. She is currently in graduate school pursuing a Master's in Teaching Dance through the Royal Academy of Dance.

Cleo, formerly on the Suncoast faculty, is now substitute teaching when her college schedule allows. She has been dancing since the age of 6, and was a member of Suncoast’s performing company, Art In Motion. Cleo was accepted to summer programs with The Sarasota Ballet, The Orlando Ballet at The Patel Conservatory as well as the Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive.

Cleo was the coordinator for our Relay for Life team for four years before graduating from East Lake High School. She is currently attending Pace University in New York City where she is working towards her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Commercial Dance.