Faculty & Staff

The faculty at Suncoast Academy of Dance provides the finest level of dance instruction in Tampa Bay. This quality instruction is best reflected in the number of our students who have been accepted into nationally recognized dance programs (University of the Arts; Broadway Dance Center, American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and many more).

Suncoast also believes in providing a professional experience to our most mature and talented students. Several of our staff members have been at Suncoast Academy of Dance since they were children. After being accepted into our teacher assistant training program, the most capable of these students are given the opportunity to teach their own classes. We are proud of the level of dance instruction and enthusiasm these young women bring to our staff.

If you are a talented and dedicated dance teacher and would like to be considered for a teaching position, please forward your resume to suncoastdance@knology.net.

April Joseph-Sykes

Artistic Director / Instructor

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 St. Arnold

Instructor / AIM Coordinator

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.

Gail Hadd Horton

Instructor

Born on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Gail began her early training with Madam Tatiana Babushkina in Boston and later with the School of American Ballet in New York. She has performed with the Boston Ballet, the Capital Ballet in Washington DC, the San Antonio Ballet, the Ohio Ballet, and the Tampa Ballet. 

Gail has taught in the St. Petersburg area for several years at Judith Lee Johnson School of Dance and with Cheryl Lee Studio of Dance where she served as Ballet Mistress. Gail was also involved with Les Jeunes Danseurs Youth Ballet, a scholarship program bringing dance to young, serious ballet dancers.

Gail has won various awards at competition for her ballet and lyrical choreography including placing in the top twelve for contemporaty choreography in Youth America Grand Prix.

Alex Jones

Instructor

Alex Jones is a recent graduate of the USF Dance Department with a BFA in Dance Performance. Alex received his dance training from The Dance Center at Satya Life (Lakeland, FL), Highlands School of Dance (Lakeland, FL), the North Carolina Dance Theatre (Charlotte, NC), Orlando Ballet School (Orlando, FL), and LINES Ballet (San Francisco, CA), and USF Dance Department (Tampa, FL). He has had the opportunity to work with Alonzo King, as well as, Bill T. Jones in Serenade/The Proposition and Doug Varone in The Rite of Spring. He is currently a performer for both Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Walt Disney Word Resorts. Alex has recently performed in Tunisia, Africa with the University of South Florida on behalf of the American Embassy and the Tunisian Dance Federation. He is honored to work at Suncoast Academy of Dance and is looking forward an awesome dance year.

Michelle Beck

Instructor

Michelle has been trained in many brands of dance from when she was a little girl in Panama, all the way up to college, including: Modern, Hip-hop, Jazz, Break-dancing, Experimental, Pop, Contemporary, Acrobatic, Lyrical, Salsa and is currently learning the Tango. Michelle has made a way of life through her dance by performing in over a 100 plus shows, concerts, plays etc. She first got her start fresh out of college teaching multiple styles of dance to the youth at the “Prodigy” Cultural Arts Program, operated by USF's School of Social Work, DJJ & the UACDC. After 6 awesome years with Prodigy, she decided to move on and spread the dance magic to other academy’s and studios through the company Art Current.

Tayler Sady

Instructor

Tayler is from Lilly, Pennsylvania and is very excited to join Suncoast Academy of Dance. 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.

Jenni Carlson

Instructor

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.

Colleen Patterson

Instructor

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.

Cleo Sykes

Instructor (substitute)

Cleo was formerly on the Suncoast faculty, and 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 Arizona State University majoring in dance performance.

Cindy Woods

Studio Manager

Cindy's bio coming soon.

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2330 Curlew Rd, Palm Harbor,  FL 34683
727-786-8111
info: suncoastdance@knology.net

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