EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - Lori Hickey

Ms. Hickey is a former professional ballerina who brings decades of dancing, teaching, and studio management experience to FADC. Her passion is to instill a love of dance in the hearts and souls of students of all ages, talents and backgrounds, and throughout her varied career she has exhibited an unwavering devotion to enable both special needs and traditional students gain a sense of accomplishment through dance and movement.

Ms. Hickey began her dance training at an early age under the tutelage of the renowned Martha Kruger, of the Paris Opera Ballet. She progressed in New York City with coach Gabriel Taub Darvah, at the New York Conservatory with Vladamir Dukoudovsky, and at Jacobs Pillow. Ms. Hickey's professional career as a ballerina included positions with the Boston Ballet (MA) and the Bay Area Dance Theater (CA), and she was honored to progress to the role of principal ballerina and to tour the country with the Rabovsky Ballet Company (NY).

Ms. Hickey's instructional and choreographical career has been similarly varied. She has taught dance at the Alvin Ailey Camp in Bridgeport, CT. She has choreographed for the Wilton (CT) Children's Theater production of the Wizard of Oz, as well as the Wilton (CT) High School's theater production of Grease. In 1992, she founded the Conservatory of Dance (CT), which received numerous accolades under her leadership, including recognition on the Oprah Winfrey Show through a Lifetime Special entitled "I am Beautiful".

Ms. Hickey is honored to serve as the Executive Director of FADC and appreciates the fabulous staff whose dedication, talent and enthusiasm serve to motivate and excite the FADC students, as well as the Martin County community at large. She also wishes to thank her wonderful family for their unconditional love and for their support of her dreams of a career within this vibrant Arts enclave in Florida, and growing FADC to its fullest potential.

Contact Ms. Hickey at lori@fladance.org.

IRISH STEP - Maureen Armstrong

Maureen Armstrong performed Irish dance at Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall in New York. She is an adjudicator of Irish Dance Competitions throughout North America. Maureen's students have successfully qualified to compete at the World Championships in Irish Dance held in Ireland.

Contact Maureen at maureen@fladance.org.

YOGA & PILATES - Jeanine Chamberlain

Jeanine has over 20 years of experience in the dance and fitness industries. She has appeared in various productions including a cable television series running for seven seasons, commercials and professional performances. Jeanine matriculated at the nationally recognized University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. She was a lead instructor at the world famous Broadway Dance Center, choreographing and instructing professional Broadway dancers. Jeanine also appeared in the original touring company cast of the critically acclaimed Broadway Musical "Rent". She has been trained expertly in yoga and pilates and has been actively training and developing dance and fitness programs at various dance and fitness facilities around South Florida for the last ten years.

THEATER INSTRUCTOR - Sara Gates

Sara is very passionate about being given the opportunity to foster the love of performance in the students as the Director of Performing Arts. Sara was raised in every aspect of theatre and performing arts. From the age of three she fell in love with acting and singing and spent decades working in the performing arts. Sara received a full Musical Theatre scholarship to Palm Beach Atlantic University, and she holds a degree in Social Science Education from Florida Atlantic University. She was vocally trained for 15 years and participated in many local choirs, ensembles and solo performances. Sara performed in over 30 musicals and plays before taking on choreography, production and directing roles. She is thrilled to share her gifts and talents with the families of FADC.

OFFICE & PROGRAMS DIRECTOR/PRE-BALLET INSTRUCTOR - Mina Hamilton

Mina graduated FADC in 2004 with 14 years of ballet and 4 years of jazz training. She has been a teacher at the studio for 7 years. This year she took on the important role of Office and Programs Director. Mina has a bachelor's degree in Finance from Florida Atlantic University.

Contact Mina at mina@fladance.org.

CONTEMPORARY/MODERN & BALLET INSTRUCTOR - Jennifer LaCombe

Jennifer began her dance training at the Armory Learning Arts Center in Montgomery, Alabama. There she studied classical ballet and modern under the direction of the late Haynes Owens, a former soloist with the Joffrey Ballet. In 1993, Jennifer joined the Alabama Dance Theatre which gave her the opportunity to study with many great names from the ballet world including Dame Sonia Arova, Wes Chapman, Francesca Corkle, Thom Clower and choreographer Leslie Jane Pessemier. In addition to her training in Alabama, Jennifer attended summer intensive workshops with the Joffrey Ballet and Ballet West. Jennifer has also appeared as a guest artist with Ballet, Etc. and the Auburn Ballet. Jennifer holds a bachelor's degree in marine biology from Auburn University and is currently employed as a graphic/web designer at American Custom Yachts.

Contact Jennifer at jennifer.lacombe@fladance.org.

TAP & BALLET INSTRUCTOR - Jennifer Lauritano

Jennifer has been instructing, performing and choreographing for 16 years. She is a certified dance instructor thru Florida Dance Masters and has attended conventions to strengthen her skills and knowledge as a dance instructor. She has had an extensive professional performance career and has performed throughout the country. Her performance career includes a three-year tour performing as a Radio City Rockette in Branson, Detroit and Mexico City. Jennifer also performed for three years touring with Cirque Productions and Legends in Concert. She is excited to share her knowledge of dance and to pass on to her students the love she feels for this form of art.

Contact Jennifer at jennifer.lauritano@fladance.org.

BALLET INSTRUCTOR - Olga Lundstrom

Olga is a professional dancer and choreographer. She started training at a very early age in the children's dance ensemble "Barvinok" in Vinnitsia, Ukraine, which is one of the best children's choreographic groups of Ukraine. Olya has received several prized medals in her career including the "Pride of Barvinok" to which she was the first recipient in history to receive this honor.

Olga has also received the "Medal of Honor for Breakthrough Achievements in Elaboration of Culture and Arts" (№189). She is a gold medal prize-winner in the children's show program, as well as obtained a special award of "Great Performance Skill" at Slavyanskiy Bazar, at the International Festival of the Arts in Vitebsk, Belarus. She also holds a gold medal in dance group competition for - "Zlota Jodla" International Dance Festival in Keltse, Poland, etc.

Olya graduated from the Virsky Choreography Studio in Kiev, Ukraine as an artist of ballet. She also holds a diploma from the National Academy Administration of Culture and Arts as a specialist choreographer and choreographer-teacher. She was a substitute choreographer in the choreography studio of Virsky, and a member of board of examiners, master classes in Barvinok, Vinnytsia, Ukraine.

Olya left Ukraine as one of the top professional dancers in Virsky National Folk Dance Ensemble, the highest rank achievable for a ballet artist in the entire country of Ukraine.

BALLET INSTRUCTOR - Elizabeth Rodriguez

Elizabeth started dancing at the age of three, concentrating mostly on classical ballet. Her early training was with the Metropolitan Ballet of St. Louis and artistic director Nathalie LeVine. She also received training from Victoria Leigh. During those years, Elizabeth achieved a certificate in cecchetti method. She went on to study with Magda Aunon, artistic director of the Fort Lauderdale Ballet Classique (FLBC), during her teen years. Elizabeth has performed and coached in numerous productions of the Nutcracker over the years. She also attended the Southeastern Regional Ballet Association (SERBA) with FLBC. Elizabeth has received several summer intensive scholarships and has attended Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet and Hartford Ballet. Elizabeth graduated from the Dreyfoos School of the Arts (formerly the Palm Beach County School of the Arts).

Contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@fladance.org.

JAZZ INSTRUCTOR - Lindsay Rybak

Lindsay graduated from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City with a Bachelor of Fine Arts specializing in Dance. Her dance experience includes Jazz, Modern and Ballet. You may have seen her solo in our End of the Year Performance. She has taught at the Ailey School in Manhattan as well as various studios in Palm Beach Gardens. We are eager to have her cultivate our jazz program.

Contact Lindsay at lindsay@fladance.org.

BALLET INSTRUCTOR/IN-HOUSE GUEST ARTIST - Adam Schnell

Adam brings to us a vast international performance and teaching experience. His professional performance experience includes: Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Sarasota Ballet, Nevada Ballet, Omaha Theater Ballet and Channel Islands Ballet. Adam is currently working toward a Bachelor of Arts degree in Arts Management and Dance Education. We are thrilled to add a male teacher to our ballet program to teach a Pas de Deux class. This will allow our students to experience partnering on a more regular basis.

Contact Adam at adam@fladance.org.

HIP-HOP & TUMBLING INSTRUCTOR - Dominique Shepherd

Dominique started dancing when she was 4 years old, taking ballet and tap. She loved to tumble and added gymanstics to her dance training. Four years ago, she started taking hip-hop at FADC combining her love for dance and tumbling. FADC saw her passion for dance and natural skills and asked her to share that with the kids through teaching. Dominique is in her third year of teaching tumbling and hip-hop at FADC and believes that it is the "best job ever". Dominique also creates music. She writes and has recorded her own songs. She has been known to use some her own music in her classes.

Contact Dominique at dominique@fladance.org.