Meet Our Instructors

Artistic and Executive Director

Alicia Chodera Alicia Chodera began her training in Chicago, Illinois at the Ellis-Duboulay School of Ballet at the age of 8, studying the Royal Academy and Cecchetti ballet technique on full scholarship.  She was awarded a full scholarship to the Boston School of Ballet under the direction of Violette Verdi and E. Virginia Williams and became a member of the company.  She continued on to the School of American Ballet where she received extensive training on scholarship in the Balanchine technique from such masters as Stanley Williams.  She danced with the Zurich Ballet and the Miami Ballet.  Alicia has received college training in dance therapy and kinesiology.  She is presently directing and teaching at The Dance Academy of Stuart. She enjoys choreographing for her young performing company, Stuart City Dancers.  In 2001, Alicia received the Bronze choreography award for her Lyrical dance “Jungle Bird”.  This is Alicia’s fourteenth year as Artistic and Executive Director!

Creative Movement,Tap,Ballet, Musical Theater
	Lindsay Leigh Davis - Lindsay began her dance training at the age of 4 at the Georgia Academy of Dance with Sherri Costales.  She returned to Florida in 1997 and began studying all forms of dance at the Dance Academy of Stuart with Alicia Chodera.  Lindsay has attended various professional summer camps through the years as well as auditioning for “So You Think You Can Dance”.  She spent a summer in the hills of Cherokee, NC performing in the outdoor drama “Unto These Hills” and returns with her AA Degree in Fine Arts to the Dance Academy.  Other credits include choreographing for Shiloh Theatrical Productions and local high schools.  She is a member of Anna Preston & Dancers and “Reach” Dance Company.  She spent two summers in NYC enrolled in intensive musical theatre and dance workshops.  Lindsay enjoys teaching and choreographing tremendously, and looks forward to another exciting year.  This is Lindsay’s ninth year teaching at the Academy.
Ballet Instructor
	Ms. Susan Horton - Susan, a native New Yorker, was trained at the Joffrey Ballet School. Susan has a strong professional background, including performing, for over ten years, both nationally and internationally. For over 30 years, she has taught ballet, to all age levels. Susan has received The American Academy of Ballet Certificate of Excellence (2006), Dance Teacher Magazine Certificate of Recognition (2006), and The Cecchetti International Teachers Summer Course Certificate of Participation (2003). “My philosophy is to instill an appreciation of dance to all my students, young and old. Whether they become professionals or are the future audience that will help support the world of dance, I try to make all my students realize how special they are to be given the opportunity to dance.”
Jazz Tap and Contemporary Instructor
	Kim Lorenzatto- Kimberly Lorenzatto brings over 15 years of Tap, Jazz, Contemporary –Lyrical and Ballet to the Dance Academy of Stuart. She has attended numerous dance conventions throughout her studies and has taken classes with such choreographers as Mia Michaels, Frank Hatchett, Scott Benson, Judy Rice, Tom Ralabate and numerous others. She was competition team Director 2004-2007 and received judges’ choice awards and platinum medals for numerous choreographic works. In addition, she is certified member of Dance Educators of America in Jazz and Tap since 2005. We are excited to have her teach Jazz and Contemporary/Lyrical dance at the Dance Academy of Stuart. This is Kimberly’s second year at the Dance Academy.
Ballet Instructor
	Sonya Hoffman - Sonya began her ballet training at the age of 14 with the Fort Pierce City Ballet under the direction of Nataly Nijinski.  She was Bolshoi/ Kirov trained at age 17 and went with Ms. Nijinski as an observer at the Olympics of Ballet Competition in Bulgaria and took ballet classes with the American team.  She danced soloist/principal classical roles for the FPC Ballet for a total of 17 years and began teaching beginner/intermediate level ballet to students during the last 7 years while at FPC Ballet.  . This is Sonya’s seventh year at the Dance Academy of Stuart.

Music Together of the Treasure Coast

Jodi Hirth - Teaching Music Together since 1995, Jodi Hirth taught for the founder in Princeton, NJ, as well as the Gymboree play program.  At Gymboree she was one of 13 awarded the “International Teacher Excellence Award” in 1996.  The Center for Music and Young Children in Princeton, NJ awarded Jodi Hirth Music Together Certification Level 1 status for outstanding achievement in teaching, musicianship, program philosophy, and parent education in 2003.  The Dance Academy of Stuart is proud to add Jodi and Music Together to our continued growth of exciting arts education offerings. This is Jodi’s third year with The Dance Academy.

Ballet Mistress

Amy Reffie -  Amy began her ballet training at the age of 4 under the instruction of Margaret Bisegli in Westport, Connecticut.  At the age of 10 she was awarded a scholarship with the Ballet Etudes Repertory Co, under the direction of Russel Fratto, Jeanette Lauret (Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo), and James Zynda (American Ballet Theatre).  She went on to receive a scholarship to the School of American Ballet in New York City where she studied for 3 years before joining City Center Joffrey Ballet.  Amy also credits her training with Melissa Hayden and Choo San Goh as “just amazing.”  This is Amy’s eighth season teaching with the Dance Academy.

Ballroom / Jazz / Tap

Ms Sherilyn Bryan - Sherilyn received her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance Performance, with a minor in Mass Communications, from the University of Florida, in 2001. Sherilyn graduated with honors, was a National Merit Scholar, a University Scholar and was placed on the President’s Honor Roll. After completing her degree, Sherilyn taught Ballet, Tap, Hip-Hop, Modern Dance, Ballroom Dancing, Latin Dancing and Acrobatics, from ages 2 ½ to Adult. In addition, Sherilyn choreographed routines and taught wedding routines. Prior to her graduation, Sherilyn videotaped and edited dance rehearsals and performances

Ballet Instructor

Joyce Hurley –   Joyce Hurley, formerly the Artistic Director of the Lighthouse School of Ballet and Artistic Director of the California Dance Theatre, brings more than forty years experience in Ballet, Tap, and Jazz instruction, choreography, and performance. She studied ballet with Leon Danielion, Maria Swoboda, Mme. Svetlova, Melissa Hayden, Meredith Baylis,  and Patrick Frantz; tap - with Jack Stanley, Danny Daniels, Louis DaPron, and Pat Rico. Her choreography credits in ballet, and theatre include Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Glazunov’s “Seasons”, Union Jack, Stars and Stripes, Nutcracker, The Secret Garden, The Red Shoes, My Fair Lady, South Pacific, and King and I. Her performance credits include New York USO shows, Ted Mack Show (soloist), Bob Hope Show, Frank Sinatra Show, Paul Whiteman Show, KLAC Hollywood Show, Ray Heatherton TV, Dallas Civic Opera Ballet, and the Hunter series. This is Joyce’s sixth  year with the Dance Academy of Stuart.

Ballet Pointe Instructor

Carol Andrew - Carol trained at London’s Royal Ballet School.  While at the Royal Academy of Dancing, she studied and worked with dance legends Margot Fonteyn and Rudolph Nureyev.  Also, she was certified to teach all grade levels through advanced while at the Royal Academy of Dancing.  Carol taught at Elmhurst Ballet School – one of Englands’ finest ballet schools.  She came to the US and taught at the National Academy of Arts at the University of Illinois. Carol has taught ballet in South Florida intermittently for several years.  She loves dance, arts, and theatre and holds a degree in theatre from Florida State University.  Carol is excited to share the artistry, technique, and beauty of “The Royal” with her students.  This is Ms. Andrews seventh season with the Dance Academy.

Baton Twirling Instructor

Terri Zechiel - Terri started at a young age, competing locally and nationally winning top awards.  She was a four year University of Alabama Crimsonette with the Million Dollar Band, was featured and performed at 3 Sugar Bowl Nationally Televised Championship Games. Terri directed the majorettes at UCF in the early 1980’s, has formed and now directs the Treasure Coast Twirl Teams, Stuart Middle School Majorettes and JBHS feature twirler. Terri’s twirlers have marched in the Disney Parade and competed at Twirl Mania. This is Terri’s fourth year with the Dance Academy of Stuart.

Creative Movement

Caitlin Clark - Caitlin was born and raised in South Florida. She began dancing in ballet and tap classes at 4 years old. When Caitlin started high school she discovered color guard with her sister Alicia where she performed competitively for 2 years. During that time Caitlin had the opportunity to take a variety of dance classes and began to train in classical ballet and hip hop. Caitlin has been studying dance for 5 years and hopes to continue her dance education. Caitlin has been teaching dancers as young as 2 1/2 years old in her Creative Movement classes and working with teens and adults in her beginning and intermediate Hip Hop classes. Caitlin is dedicated to sharing her passion of dance with dancers of all ages and skill levels.