Dance Arts Centre - Instructors

Director/President

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. 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. Also, at that time Ms. Balda joined the P.G.K. Project as a dance company member. 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.

Full Time Instructors

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.

University of South Florida

Melanie Armstrong

Melanie Armstrong began dancing at age 4 and later transferred to the New England Dance Conservatory in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts at the age of 10. She joined the New England Dance Theater at 13 and trained in the company through her first year of college. Ms. Armstrong spent three summers studying at SUNY Brockport in Rochester, NY and spent much of her time devoted to tap dance; taking master classes with the likes of Savion Glover, Diane Walker, and the Hartford Conservatory in Connecticut. Graduating from high school in 2001, Ms. Armstrong moved to Syracuse, New York to attend Syracuse University where she received her bachelor's degrees in both Marketing and Entrepreneurship & Emerging Enterprises in 2006. While a student at Syracuse University, Ms. Armstrong was a part of various small arts performances and tap groups. She is currently a plumbing/contractor for Ferguson Enterprises in Melbourne, Florida. Ms. Armstrong is very excited to be back in the arts world dancing again and honored to be a part of the DAC team.

New England Dance Conservatory

Kristen Sholes, M.F.A. Dance

Kristen Sholes is originally from Gainesville, Georgia where she began dancing at the age of 3. She recently received her MFA in dance from Florida State University where she presented her thesis concert, Upside Out. She received her BFA in dance from University of Nevada Las Vegas graduating magna cum laude. She is currently a member of Surfscape Contemporary Dance Theatre located in Daytona Beach under the direction of Rachael Leonard and Kristin Bender-Polizzi. Kristen had the opportunity to take part in the FSU in NYC program where she interned with Movement Research. Kristen was also a member of Dance Repertory Theatre of Florida State where she performed the repertory of Nancy Smith Fichter and Arthur Mitchell set by Anjali Austin. Also while a member of DRT, she was chosen to perform at the Ringling Museum also participating in lecture demonstrations at local schools. She had the opportunity to perform the Human Show choreographed by Kari Margolis in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland as well as at the Kennedy Center. She performed in Madrid and Barcelona Spain with the American Choreographers Showcase under Dr. Carol Rae and in Kiel Germany in the International Dance and Gymnastics festival under Richard Havey. Kristen has performed with Collage Dance Theatre of Los Angeles, Red Desert Dance Ensemble, Arizona Jazz Dance Showcase, Dance in the Desert Festival, Holiday Ethnic Festival, and the 23rd Annual Choreographers Showcase. She has worked with Gail Gilbert, Douglas Dunn, Dan Wagoner, Eva Gholson, John Beasant III, Jack Mitchell, and others. She has trained under Louis Kavouras, Cathy Allen, Victoria Dale, Richard Havey, Margot Mink Colbert, Gerri Houlihan, Jawole Zollar, Wallie Wolfgruber, Anthony Morgan, Patty Phillips, Sheila Humphreys, Mark Swanhart, Suzanne Farrell, Ronn Stewart, and Anjali Austin. She has taught Jazz and Contemporary Dance through a teaching assistantship at Florida State University. She is currently working on her Pilates certification with Power Pilates.

Brianna "Bri" Piccolella

Brianna “Bri” Piccolella has danced locally since the age of 3 and has also participated in regional and national dance competitions for 5 years, winning many awards for her achievements. Currently, Miss Bri is attending Brevard Community College to receive her AA and later plans to attend Florida State University or University of Central Florida to acquire her Bachelor’s Degree in Sales and Marketing.

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.

Guest Teachers

Jeff Heiden

Jeff Heiden is a former soloist with the Cleveland San Jose Ballet. Receiving his dance training at the pretigious Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C., he has performed as a principle dancer with Florida's state touring company, Dance Alive. Mr. Heiden has also been a guest teacher throughout central Florida and California.

Founder

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.