Karissa has been studying dance for the past nineteen years, which includes four years of dance instruction to preschoolers. Her passion for dance includes: Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Hip Hop. Karissa has been dancing with Little Dancing Stars since 2005. Karissa received her degree from the University of North Florida in July of 2009. She is continuing to dance with LDS and will be opening her own dance company, Dancing Little Stars, in September of 2010.
Laurie has been in the preschool system for several years as a teacher and has had the passion for dance since she was a child. She has been with LDS since the summer of 2007. She says this job is "too good to be true, both of her interests (teaching and dance) in one job". Laurie choreographs all of the productions at a local private school. When Laurie is not sharing her passion for dance with our preschoolers, she is busy being a loving wife and a mother of two; Hanna and Sadie.
Melissa began her dancing career at age four in south Florida at the Riverdale Dance Academy until her family relocated to north Florida in 1980 where she continued dancing at the Bean School of Dance. She received her training in Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Gymnastics. Melissa was offered to be the lead choreographer for "Your Stars on Stage" for Dancing Little Stars dance company in Virginia. Melissa then went on to begin her own dance company in the greater Jacksonville area. Melissa has co-written a new curriculum for teaching tap and ballet for the preschool age. Her curriculum's method is "learning the art of dance through fun, while also teaching both dance techniques and its terminology". When Melissa is not working with Little Dancing Stars... she is being a wife and a mother to twins, Ashley and Kaitlyn.
Monica joined our dance company in 2008 with seven years of dance experience at the Ballet Arts Centre studying under Beth Marks. There Monica studied Classical Ballet, Pointe, Pas de Deux, Modern, Jazz, Tap. She also performed six times with the community Nutcracker as the "Rat Queen". Her passion for dance will boil over onto our little dancers, she is "so excited" to be teaching again! While not with your dancers, she enjoys spending time with her husband who is a brave Fireman!
Yolanda manages our preschools in the Fleming Island, Middleburg and Orange Park areas. She has a degree in child development and has several years experience in the childcare/preschool system. When Yolanda is not managing Little Dancing Stars, she is managing her home with her two children; Mya and Joshua. Yolanda also has a passion for the theater and when she finds the time, you can find her performing at a Community Theater.
All of the above personnel, have been fingerprinted by local, FDLE and FBI with no records. Your school has a copy of those results. This is in accordance with the Florida Department of Children and Welfare.
Instructor Updates: After seven years of dancing with LDS, Mrs. Carol is persuing a nursing degree at JU - She will be greatly missed, but know that this is a great plan for her. Ms. Julie has been called to work in youth ministry, may God bless her work!
