Israel Rodriguez, Faculty

Born in Camaguey, Cuba, Israel Rodriguez began classical ballet training at the Vocational Art School.  He began his professional dance career with the Ballet de Camaguey under the direction of Fernando Alonso where he performed as a soloist.  His abilities earned him the opportunity to tour around the world, including Greece, Brazil and Mexico.  A principal dancer with the Orlando Ballet under the direction of both Fernando Bujones and Bruce Marks, Mr. Rodriguez performed solo roles in virtually all of the ballet classics.  Notably, he was the first male dancer in the United States to perform the full-length ballet Spartacus.  The accomplished dancer has earned rave reviews from the Orlando Sentinel, Dance Magazine, Dance Spirit, International Dance Magazine and arts communities across the globe.  Additionally, Mr. Rodriguez is a talented filmmaker with extensive experience in the television and motion picture industry as an actor, director, model and martial artist.  This instructor teaches:  Latin Cardio and Advanced Ballet

Dr. Margo Blake-Tyler, Faculty 

Reverend and Dr. Margo Blake-Tyler began training over 45 years ago.  Her instructors included Lester Wilson, choreographer for “Saturday Night Fever,” and Michael Peters, choreographer for Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” and “Thriller” videos, and the original Broadway production of “Dream Girls.”  She has appeared at Carnegie Hall, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Lincoln Center, and worked on the film “The Wiz.”  She is a founding artist of the FreshStArts Program at Rollins College, and has owned two dance studios.  Dr. Tyler holds an H.D.D., B.S. and A.S. in Christian Education, an M.A.A.A. from Goucher College and a B.F.A. from Temple University. Her dance education includes studies in Ghana, West Africa and Katherine Dunham’s Cultural Technique Seminars in St. Louis, MO.  She has been a company member with the Bernice Johnson Dance Company and Arthur Hall’s Afro-American Dance Ensemble.  Dr. Tyler has served as an adjunct dance professor at Rollins College and Temple University.  Notably, she was the first African-American female Associate Show Director for Walt Disney World Entertainment, training both choreographers and cast members for Festival of The Lion King at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Dr. Tyler is currently the Performing Arts and Theology Instructor at Agape Christian Academy. This instructor teaches:  West African Dance

 

Erica Minnich, Faculty 

Erica Minnich has been teaching dance for the past 15 years.  She has studied with Beatrix Aldana, Pamela Bolling, Brian Vernon, ‘Casper’ and Judi Siegfried, just to name a few.  Ms. Minninich is a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a minor in Dance.  A former Orlando Magic Dancer, she is a performer at SeaWorld Orlando and has worked with Cirque Du Soleil, Walt Disney World and was a company member with the Orlando City Ballet.  Ms. Minnich also served as the Dance Coach for the Jackson Heights Middle School Dance Team.  With extensive experience as a dancer, model and actress, Ms. Minnich enjoys teaching her students how to bring dance to life by connecting emotions and stories to movement.  A skilled technician and artist, Ms. Minnich welcomes the opportunity to teach students of all ages and levels, from beginner to professional.  This instructor teaches:  Creative Movement, Beginner Adult Ballet and Advanced Technique, Turns & Leaps

    

 

Niki Mort, Faculty 

Niki Mort, inspired by her grandmother’s dance troupe, followed her footsteps and has been dancing for 33 years. As a dancer, choreographer and educator she has successfully assisted in opening two dance studios and taught at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse until her move to Florida in 2000.  Since arriving in Florida, Ms. Mort has coached, directed and choreographed for several local schools. She holds an M.S. Degree in Education and uses her classroom and dance experience to assist students in making connections between the physical and mental aspects of dance. Ms. Mort is also an elementary school teacher and reading therapist in the Orlando area.  This instructor teaches:  The Hip Hop Workout, Elementary Hip Hop and Teen Hip Hop

    

 

Clifford Tyler, Faculty 

Mr. Tyler began studying African drumming at Gloria Jackson Dance Studio & Bernice Johnson Dance Studio in Queen, NY.  He studied and performed with master drummers from Senegal, Mali and Guinea, West Africa and others such as the late Chief Bey in New York.  Some of his earliest performance include playing percussion for R & B Band Creative Fund, the opening act for recording artists Blue Magic, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, The Stylistics, and Black Ivory.  He played percussion for the Diana Ross Concert in Central Park and several concerts at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.  He was a principle drummer for the Dance Africa concerts at Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York.  Throughout his 40-year career, Mr. Tyler has performed at colleges, churches, correctional facilities, private events, concerts, dance performances, charity events and many more.  This instructor teaches:  African Drumming

        

 

Nancy Schofield, Faculty 

Nancy has been dancing for over 25 years and has been a choreographer and dance teacher for over 10 years. She has had extensive training in ballet, jazz, lyrical and tap dance and has had the privilege of being taught by remarkable artists including Savion Glover, Patsy Swayze, Pamela Bolling, Casey Saxon and Nina Cameron. Nancy was a senior member of the Danscompany of Gainesville for 6 years where she was a featured dancer. She has choreographed award-winning group and solo routines for high school dance teams and has also acted as a co-choreographer for musicals such as "42nd Street" and "Guys and Dolls." She teaches all levels and areas of dance including tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical and acro-dance. As a dance teacher Nancy strives to provide a positive atmosphere, free from judgment where students can feel comfortable expressing themselves through, and nurture their love for, the art of dance. This instructor teaches:  Beginner and Advanced Tap 

 

     

 

William "Wink" Winkler, Faculty

Wink was born in Long Island, NY and was raised in Florida, North Carolina and New York. Throughout his life he studied and gained a keen appreciation for all art forms, especially the performing arts. Wink has been a dance performer in multiple professional dance crews, including Tiao Wu. He's also been a Walt Disney World performer and has taught hip hop up and down the east coast. Studying different forms of hip hop dance from some of the greats like Brian Green and Ejoe Wilson, Wink feels its important to know the origin of hip hop and why we do it. For this reason, all classes conducted by Wink include the sharing of historical information, so students are equipped with and understanding of the roots of this art form. Wink's classes have been described as a high-energy experience for the body, mind and soul. This instructor teaches:  Advanced Hip Hop

    

 

Ingrid Ferrer-Lozano, Faculty

Ingrid Ferrer-Lozano, professional dancer, choreographer and dance educator, has been teaching and inspiring students for over 20 years. She holds a Master’s of Education in Dance & Theater from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX. Ms. Ferrer-Lozano studied professionally with Harkness Ballet School in New York, Atlanta Ballet, Caracas Ballet in Venezuela, and was awarded a scholarship at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Canada. She has danced professionally with companies in the United States, South America, Europe, Canada and the National Classical Ballet Company in Mexico City. She has served as director/owner/ballet mistress for professional companies, dance centers, universities and dance divisions at private and public schools.  Ms. Ferrer-Lozano is presently the dance director of New Dimensions High School and New Dimensions Dance Company in Kissimmee, FL.  This instructor teaches:  On sabbatical until Summer 2010