Sarah Balda, B.A. Dance Studies, MNA Masters of Nonprofit Administration
Sarah Balda holds a Masters in Nonprofit Administration from the University of Notre Dame and a B.A. in Dance Studies from the University of South Florida. Mrs. Sarah 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 her previous instructors. Mrs. Sarah 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. The United State Embassy commissioned her choreography for the Splash Gala in Kazakhstan. She has worked as an artist in residency through the Brevard Cultural Alliance at Brevard County Public Schools and has solicited professional dancers from across the nation to teach master classes and residencies at Dance Arts Centre. Ms. Sarah is heavily involved with the nonprofit sector and the arts community. She has a strong desire to educate others on the art of dance and, she is dedicated to making dance accessible to our community’s youth regardless of one’s ability to pay.
- B.A. University of South Florida
- Master’s of Nonprofit Administration, University of Notre Dame
- Youth Protection Advocates in Dance Certified
- Former Brevard Cultural Alliance “Artist in Residence”
- Email Sarah Here
Instructors
Dorian Coney
Sole180 is proud to present Dorian Coney. He is a dancer and entrepreneur. Dorian’s love for dance has brought him in front of hip hop greats that have helped form and shape his training; BDash, Fresh Redding, Amanda Grind, Alex Fetbroth, Stevo Jones, Shaun Evarista, Brian Puspos, Bam Martin, Lyle Beniga just to name a few. Dorian’s passion for dance led him to step out in faith and has been instrumental in helping him land multiple contracts with local schools and day cares teaching hip hop dance to young kids and teenagers around Brevard County. He has touched the lives of many as well as become a mentor for several youth in the community. Taking classes with Dorian will insure a great time full of fun all the while learning the art and discipline in dance. He is currently a member of the Sole180 Production company and can be found performing in our live shows and events.
Morgan Johnston
Morgan is a dancer, choreographer, and performer from DeLand Florida. She recently graduated from Florida School of the Arts at St. Johns River State College with her A.S Degree as a dance major. She is now pursuing dance as her profession, beginning here at the Dance Arts Centre! Morgan has been trained in many styles, including ballet, modern, jazz, and musical theater dance. Her favorite style is modern, including techniques from Horton, Limone, and Graham, but musical theater is a close second! She has recently performed at the Romanza Festivale: Kaleidoscope of Dance in St. Augustine, and at the American College Dance Association Conference in Tallahassee. As she expands in her professional career, she hopes to continue performing and become a choreographer for local theaters.
Samantha Karls
Sam grew up in Melbourne, Florida and has been dancing since she was 3 years old. She started dancing with Donna’s Dance Studio Production from the age of 3 until 13, under the direction of Donna Stewart. At the age of 7, she joined their competition team and competed with them until their closure. After this, Sam continued her dance education at Precision Contemporary Dance, under the instruction of Marty Mercado. She joined their company the same year. With PCD’s company she performed at numerous local events and charity fundraisers as well as the production of Dracula and Young Frankenstein. In 2007 and 2008 Sam was accepted into Milwaukee Ballet summer intensive. She started teaching at Dance Art Centre in 2008. As well as teaching at DAC, Sam has also taught various dance classes through the Brevard Cultural Alliance which offers classes at elementary schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, the Brevard Achievement Center, and in juvenile detention centers around Brevard County. Sam has taught a variety of different dance styles such as: ballet, tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, pointe, musical theater, hip-hop, cheer and acro. Sam has her Associate of Art’s Degree from Eastern Florida State College and continued her education at the University of Central Florida in Hospitality and Event Management.
Nadine Timm
Ms. Timm received her BA in Dance-Theatre at Montclair State University in New Jersey. She trained at “The New Jersey School of Ballet,”. Ms. Timm wasa Principal dancer with “The Kennedy Dancers,” in N.J., a Contemporary Ballet Company. She has taken master classes from such artists as Twyla Tharp, Paul Taylor, Merce Cunningham, Pilobulus & Edward Villela, to name a few. She continues to educate herself yearly with different conferences such as Dance Teacher Summit. Ms. Timm has taught Ballet, Pointe, jazz, modern and Musical Theatre classes for over 25 years. She was the Co-Owner of IEAA Ballet Academy for 5 years in Ca. Ms. Timm was head Choreographer for Chaffey High School Theatre Co.in CA for their musical productions for 10 years. Ms. Timm enjoys teaching Ballet to children, teens and adults. Ms. Timm moved to Florida in Aug. 2019 and has been subbing,teaching Ballet, Jazz and Master Classes. She is excited to be teaching at Dance Arts Centre!
Dr. Melanie Bisson
Dr. Melanie Bisson began dancing at a very young age, primarily with the New England Dance Conservatory in East Longmeadow, MA under the direction of Kenneth Lipitz and Shelley Ziebel. She joined the New England Dance Theater at 13 and trained in the company through her first year of college. Some of Melanie’s fondest dance memories include completing intensive programs at SUNY Brockport in Rochester, NY, and being a guest artist at the NADAA (National Association of Dance and Affiliated Arts) convention. Melanie joined the faculty at Dance Arts Centre in 2006 and enjoyed three years before returning to western Massachusetts in 2009 where she was resident faculty for many years at Stepping Out II in Ludlow, MA, the New England Dance Conservatory in East Longmeadow, MA, and the Dance Academy of Somers in Somers, CT. She returned to Florida and Dance Arts Center from 2013-2016 and is thrilled to be back yet again! Melanie received her EdD from Baylor University, MBA from Vanderbilt University, and undergraduate degrees from Syracuse University. Melanie is married to her childhood sweetheart and homeschools her two boys.
Rebecca Leonard
Rebecca Leonard originally from Albany, NY, recently received her undergraduate degree in dance with a minor in communications from The University at Buffalo. Following graduation, Rebecca moved to the Melbourne area and is excited to start her teaching and performance career in Florida! She has extensive training in jazz, modern, tap, ballet, and hip-hop. Throughout her time in college, she was selected to perform in numerous departmental dance concerts; such as Choreolab Dance Company, Emerging Choreographers Showcase, and MFA Thesis Concert. Throughout college, Rebecca trained with various industry professionals and attended intensives/workshops with Urban Bush Women, Millennium Dance Complex, Entity Contemporary Dance, and Gus Giordano Chicago. Rebecca is excited to begin her career in Florida and continue to spread her love of dance!
Lonyee Eng – Social Media Manager
Lonyee Eng began dancing at the age of three and danced at DAC for seven years having positions as a student, assistant instructor, and tap instructor. She attended the University of Miami to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration double majoring in Marketing and Management with a minor in Dance. While at Miami, she held leadership positions such as being a Resident Assistant, Student Ambassador, and Public Relations Chair of multiple organizations including University of Miami: Dance Marathon. Now back in Melbourne, Lonyee works in business management at Northrop Grumman. She still has a deep love for dance and strong interest in photography, videography, and marketing. She is so excited to be able to share all DAC has to offer across all platforms.
Marty Mercado – Substitute
Mercado brings more than 30 years of dance experience to Brevard County. Ms. Marty is a Florida Native born in Pinellas County where she began her training with Mrs. Agnus Phillips dance master for the Royal Ballet in England. Her training continued with superb training with teachers from the University of Utah, University of South Florida, American Ballet Theatre, Kirov School of Leningrad and Ballet Concerto Company of Cuba. Ms. Marty danced professionally with Florida West Ballet Company, Milwaukee Ballet, Joffery Ballet and Tampa Ballet. Ms. Marty has shared the stage with such wonderful dancers such as Martin Freedman of the Kirov School of Leningrad, Haydee Gutierrez of Cuba, Lauren Rouse of Joffery Ballet, Nobuyoski Nakajima of Tokyo City Ballet Company, Henry Hernandez of Southern Ballet and Orazio Messina of Teatro La Fenice, Venice Italy. Ms. Marty has worked as an Artist in Residence for Brevard Cultural Alliance and Very Special Arts of Florida. She has taught dance in the Brevard County Juvenile Detention Center, Space Coast Marine Institute, and Rainwater Girls Institute striving to bring a form of artistic expression to youth at risk. She has written dance curriculum for Arts for a Complete Education with the Florida Alliance for Arts Education and has served on the Florida Dance Association Board of Directors. Ms. Marty also was chosen to work with dance writing team for the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for the Arts (NGSSS-Arts). Ms. Marty was the owner and Artistic Director of Precision Contemporary Dance in Brevard County for over 12 years. She produced original works at The King Center and The Henegar Center in Melbourne. She was also one of the co–curators for Robot Love.
