Sarah Balda, B.A. Dance Studies

Sarah Balda holds a B.A. in Dance Studies and a minor in Business Administration from the University of South Florida and, is certified to teach mat Pilates from the PhysicalMind Institute in NYC. Ms. Balda is also a member of the National Dance Education Organization, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting higher standards of dance education. In 2009, Ms. Balda along with Ashley Hilton formed Versa Dance Company. Ms. Balda has trained with some of the country's top dance educators and choreographers. Madame Gabriella Darvash, Gretchen Ward Warren (Penn. Ballet Theater & ABT), Gerri Houlihan, Michael Foley (Sean Curran), Alexandra Beller (Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company), John Parks (Alvin Ailey) and Lynn Wimmer are a few of Ms. Balda's past instructors. Ms. Balda has also had the privilege of taking master classes from company members of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Urban Bush Women, Parson Dance Company, and during the summer of 2006 assisted Mr. Peter G. Kalivas (P.G.K. Project, San Diego) with the dance residency at the Maxwell King Center in Melbourne, FL. During the Fall of 2006, Ms. Balda's choreography "Streams" was commisioned by the U.S. Embassy for its international debut in Kazakhstan for the Splash Gala. During the summer of 2008, Ms. Balda worked with the Brevard Cultural Alliance (BCA) teaching dance at various summer programs throughout Brevard County and during the 08/09 school year represented the BCA as an "Artist in Residency" at Sunrise Elementary School in Palm Bay, FL. In the spring of 2009 Ms. Balda worked with the Mosaic Dance Company based in Tampa, FL, to produce Brevard County's first all modern dance concert at the King Center on January 24, 2009. This concert featured DAC Company members, instructors, alumni and the professional dancers from Mosaic. During summer 2009, Ms. Balda initiated and implemented the dance residency with Peter Kalivas at DAC. This weeklong intensive brought twenty dancers from across the state ended with a dance concert featuring dance residency participants. In February 2010 she worked with Versa Dance Company to bring another all modern dance concert to Brevard. In addition, she is working with the Brevard Art Museum and The PGK Project on a collaborative dance concert which will be held on October 22, 2010.. Ms. Balda has a strong desire to educate others on the art of dance, and is thrilled to be carrying on the many traditions of Dance Arts Centre.

• B.A. University of South Florida
• Certified and a member of the PhysicalMind Institute
• National Dance Education Organization member
• Brevard Cultural Alliance "Artist in Residence"

Catherine Alexander, B.F.A. Ballet Performance

Catherine has over 30 years of experience as a dancer and dance instructor. She began studying ballet in high school with Mrs. Jean Moyer in Sunbury , Pa. She continued her dance studies as an Apprentice member of the Virginia Beach Civic Ballet. Upon moving to Cocoa Beach , Catherine enrolled first at Brevard Community College and then at the University of South Florida , graduating with a degree in Ballet Performance in 1981. Returning to Brevard County , she was accepted as an Apprentice with Southern Ballet Theater, but recognized that her real passion was for training young dancers. She began teaching at the Titusville Ballet and Jazz Center , teaching all levels of ballet technique and pointe. During this period she trained in the Vaganova (Russian) style of training, working with Marat Daukaev for 2 years in Brevard, as well as, summer seminars with Victoria Schnieder and Janina Cunova. Other areas of specialized study include the Bournonville technique of the Royal Danish Ballet and Balanchine technique through study with Patricia McBride. Catherine is a charter member of the Florida Dance Association and served as the organization’s President in 1994-95. She is an active member of Florida Dance Masters and a Board Member of the Brevard Cultural Alliance. In addition to ballet technique, Catherine has been a student of Hatha Yoga since 2002 and is working toward certification as a Yoga instructor, utilizing this training as a complement to her experience in training dancers.

• B.F.A. University of South Florida

Mia Pacitto

Miss Mia’s passion for dance started as a child in London, England, taking examinations with the ISTD and performing at grand theatres such as the London Palladium. After immigrating to the US in her teens, Mia’s dance world went from a strict syllabus to a traveling, competitive scene. Whilst majoring in dance at VCC, Mia’s love for travel lead her to a career upon sea with Disney Cruise Line, dancing and taking lead acting and singing roles. Mia also joined an entertainment team, running all onboard events with Celebrity Cruise Line. Mia has performed for all major Florida theme parks including, Disney World, Sea World, and Busch Gardens, and has taught at many dance and gymnastic studios in North Carolina and Florida, one being Orlando Gymnastics where she continues to choreograph for team gymnasts’ competition floor routines . Mia has toured nationally and internationally with Vee Corporation’s Sesame Street Live and Feld Entertainment’s Disney Live shows. Mia’s feel for the urban dance scene expanded when she danced for the NBA, with the NBDL Fayetteville Patriots, and lead her to pass the Les Mills Body Jam aerobic training. Aside from dance, Mia has worked in the health and fitness industry, managing LA Fitness health clubs, and she has obtained her license in facial aesthetics and acupressure. Mia feels that her vas exposure to cultures and styles has enabled her to show students a well rounded perspective on movement. Upon returning from Asia, Mia is proud to be a part the Dance Arts Centre Team and share her passion with the city of Melbourne

Marty Eyster

Marty Eyster brings more than 25 years of dance experience to Brevard County. Ms. Eyster is a Florida Native born in Pinellas County where she began her training with Mrs. Agnus Phillips dance master for the Royal Ballet in England. Her training continued with superb training with teachers from the University of Utah, University of South Florida, American Ballet Theatre, Kirov School of Leningrad and Ballet Concerto Company of Cuba. Ms. Eyster danced professionally with Florida West Ballet Company, Milwaukee Ballet and Tampa Ballet. Ms. Eyster has shared the stage with such wonderful dancers such as Martin Freedman of the Kirov School of Leningrad, Haydee Gutierrez of Cuba, Lauren Rouse of Joffery Ballet, Nobuyoski Nakajima of Tokyo City Ballet Company, Henry Hernandez of Southern Ballet and Orazio Messina of Teatro La Fenice, Venice Italy. Ms. Eyster has worked as an Artist in Residence for Brevard Cultural Alliance and Very Special Arts of Florida. She has taught dance in the Brevard County Juvenile Detention Center, Space Coast Marine Institute, and Rainwater Girls Institute striving to bring a form of artistic expression to youth at risk. She has written dance curriculum for Arts for a Complete Education with the Florida Alliance for Arts Education. Ms. Eyster is currently on the Florida Dance Association Board of Directors and is part of the Dance Writing Team for the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for the Arts (NGSSS-Arts).

Samantha "Sam" Scott

Ms. Samantha “Sam” Scott has been dancing in Brevard County for nearly 15 years. Ms. Scott has performed in two major local productions, Dracula and Young Frankenstein, with Precision Contemporary Dance, as well as, performed at various local community events such as: Boo at the Zoo, Christmas at the Zoo, McNair Magnet School and Celebration of Dance. In addition to her dancing, Ms. Scott loves to play the piano and sing. In the spring of 2008, Ms. Scott graduated from Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy and she is currently attending Brevard Community College . After graduating from BCC, she plans on attending Florida State University to double major in Business and Physical Therapy.

Emily Frazin

Bio coming soon

Mikhael Maynard

Mikael Maynard has been dancing in Brevard County for 12 years, 10 of which have been with Precision Contemporary Dance. Mikael has been a company member and has performed in many venues in addition to a lead role in last year's "Vamp Ball". She has attended various regional conventions including JUMP and NUVO, and in 2008, received a full scholarship through FDA for the Miami Summer Dance Program at New World School of the Arts. Mikael is currently attending college and is planning on pursuing a degree in Environmental Engineering.

Christy Morton, B.A. Elementary Education

Christy Morton is the founder of Dance Arts Centre. She received her B.A. in Elementary Education, and a minor in Dance from Florida State University. Ms. Christy began her ballet training with Alpheus Koon, a former soloist of Ballet Theatre, now American Ballet Theatre. She has previously attended numerous summer programs with various dance companies such as: Munich Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, National Academy of Ballet and Atlanta Ballet. Throughout her career, Ms. Christy has instructed at a number of community and state colleges throughout Florida. She is also a former company member of Dance Alive, based out of Gainesville, FL. Ms. Christy met her husband Greg in Gainesville, and in 1981 they moved to Melbourne, FL and started Dance Arts Centre.

• B.A. Florida State University
• Former company member of Dance Alive