THE TEAM
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It’s easy. Just click “Edit Text” or double click me to add your own content and make changes to the font. Feel free to drag and drop me anywhere you like on your page. I’m a great place for you to tell a story and let your users know a little more about you.
​
Melissa Dobbs
Founder + Chief Visionary
Melissa, originally from the Washington, DC area, is a highly sought after movement professional who has spent the last 20 years innovating, creating and cultivating a leading performing arts school in Alexandria, VA. During her time as Founder and Executive Director of Metropolitan School of the Arts, she had the opportunity to train thousands of young dancers who have gone on to perform and study in some of the most prestigious and acclaimed venues and schools in the world.
As a dancer and performer, Melissa has had the honor of taking the stage in numerous national events including Walt Disney World, multiple Presidential Inaugural Balls, national galas and industrial events, ABC Thanksgiving Day Parade and most recently as a tap dancer in the annual gala: A Salute to the 1940’s Broadway Musical, with the National Symphony Orchestra, hosted by Julie Andrews on the Kennedy Center stage.
Melissa is a certified teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance (London) and a Stott Pilates instructor. She is nearing completion of her Masters of Arts in Psychology at Harvard Extension School and is currently relentlessly dedicated to building a new reality for our children through the arts.
​
Melissa is an advocate for wellness and health and has a passion for quantum physics and natural healing. Most importantly, Melissa is the proud mother to her three children who are the center of her universe and teach her more and more each day about the important things in life.
Tracey Tucci
Ballet Director
Originally from Clarendon Hills, IL, Tracey Tucci began her training with the Salt Creek Ballet under the direction of Patricia Sigurdson. She furthered her training at many prestigious summer ballet programs including Boston Ballet, School of American Ballet, San Fransisco Ballet, and American Ballet Theater. Tracey attended Butler University and graduated with a professional career with the Louisville Ballet in 2002. In 2004, she accepted a position with the Sarasota Ballet as w a member of the Corps de Ballet. She was promoted to Coryphee in 2008 and Soloist in 2009. Tracey's repertoire with the company included featured roles in ballets by esteemed choreographers such as Sir Fredrick Ashton, George Balanchine, Antony Tudor, Matthew Bourne and Sir David Bintley.. She has also performed in various full length productions such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle, Coppelia and La Sylphide, amongst others. Tracey also appeared in Susan Stroman's Contact in 2009 in conjunction with the Asolo Reparatory Theater. Retiring from the stage in 2010, Tracey has been raising her three beautiful children, who along with her husband Michael, are her joy and purpose in life. Together she and her husband own and operate Urban Air Adventure Parks in New Tampa and Brandon, FL. She is thrilled to return to the studio to share her passion for ballet and the power that dance and movement has on the wellbeing of all children.
Dex Honea danced professionally for fifteen years with Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Eugene Ballet Company, and The Sarasota Ballet. Dex has been teaching since 2004, and directed the Sarasota Ballet School for five years, until recently transitioning into professional photography. His duties as director included running The Sarasota Ballet School, The Margaret Barbieri Conservatory, and Dance The Next Generation outreach program for at risk youth. Dex specialized in teaching ballet technique, partnering and character classes. He has directed numerous successful summer intensives that included international students and teachers. As Education Director, he produced and directed all the shows, workshops, end of the year performances, outreach and master classes, adult program, and full school curriculum and syllabus. The Sarasota Ballet School won Best School at YAGP in 2015.
Christina E. Trainor has explored her love for the arts from her early youth. Born in
Miami, Florida and having studied classical piano under London’s Royal Academy of Music curriculum, Christina began her training in both classical and contemporary musical development in her formative years. She furthered her performance and musical training by attending New World School of the Arts for Musical Theatre under the University of Florida, and received her Bachelor of Arts with a Minor in Mass Communication from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Christina then
attended Florida Atlantic University’s graduate educational programs while studying piano performance pedagogy and currently holds a dual Florida State Educator Certification in both Visual Art K-12 & Music K-12. Additionally, Christina held an Electives Department Chair position for Somerset Academy Charter school in Broward County. There she wrote and developed a four-year curriculum for a Blue Ribbon Award
winning Visual and Performing Arts Conservatory. Under Somerset Arts Conservatory (SAC), she led a Fine Arts Faculty and directed several student musicals, recitals, show choir performances and visual art exhibitions. In 2008, she then founded and directed
Pro Arts Academy, with the goal to provide excellence in arts training and development to students of all levels. While residing in Palm Beach County, Christina became the Director of Piano for Plumosa Magnet School of the Arts in Delray Beach. She then joined the American Heritage School, teaching both on campus and virtually as her
students achieved superior rankings in local and international competitions in classical piano performance during a global pandemic. Relocating to Sarasota, Florida, she then
joined the Out of Door Academy as their lower school music educator and musical theater Director. Currently, Christina offers private and small group lessons both in person and virtually, while being an educator of performing arts with the Eden Conservatory.
Gabrielle Mundy
Contemporary, Jazz, Tap
Gabrielle, lovingly known as Mrs. Snook, is a passionate dance educator
residing in our community with her husband, Jeffrey Mundy. With a rich
background in dance cultivated in Charlotte, NC, Gabrielle’s early exposure to
the art form came from her parents, who own a dance studio. This foundation
allowed her to study under various talented teachers and choreographers,
shaping her versatile style.
Her career includes performing at renowned venues such as Disney, Universal,
SeaWorld, and Norwegian Cruise Lines, where she shared her talents on stages
across the globe.
Gabrielle brings a wealth of teaching experience across all dance genres and
has had the privilege of inspiring students of all ages, from energetic youngsters
to lively seniors. Gabrielle is also a certified instructor in Basic Life Support
(BLS), emphasizing the importance of safety and preparedness in her teaching
approach.
Khamor Lyons
Breaking
Khamor Lyons is a professional dancer and bboy (breakdancer). who is constantly competing and learning new ways to innovate his craft. he has entered many hip-hop/ breaking jams through out Florida. He started his breaking journey 6 years ago and has been teaching work shops and classes for two years. Khamor follows the hip-hop philosophy of “Each one teach one”- he views himself not as a teacher but as a life student of the hip-hop culture. He is sharing his knowledge that he has acquired through out the years in hopes the next person can add to their personal style and evolve into their own artist. His mission is to help grow the breaking and hip-hop community in South west Florida and help preserves the positive traditions of hip-hop culture.
Caitlyn Healey
Piano + Voice
Bio coming soon.
Christine Newell
Waldorf Master + Handwork Specialist
Christine was born and raised in England and later immigrated to Canada, where she was introduced to Waldorf education and Rudolf Steiner's philosophies. After moving to California from Canada, she completed a three-year teacher training program at Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, Sacramento.
Christine worked at the Waldorf School of Orange County in California for 20 years, teaching handwork in the middle school and practical arts in the high school, serving grades 7-12. She was actively involved in teacher training, foundation studies, weekly projects with parents, and, most notably, contributed to the greater community.
In 2022, Christine relocated to Florida and joined a Rudolf Steiner-inspired start-up school in Sarasota County. Her passion for arts and crafts now leads her to work with Future of Dance students, where she conducts weekly classes. Additionally, she maintains an Etsy store and supplies schools in California.
Cayli Dobbs
Guest Faculty
Cayli Dobbs is a professional dancer, singer and actress who lives in New York City. She has performed in many regional and professional theaters across the Country to include: Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Tap in Rio, Clear Space Theater and many more. Cayli is currently the Director of Performing Arts at New York Film Academy and supports Chloe and Maud Arnold with the DC and Hollywood Tap Festivals. She continues to pursue new performing opportunities to share her love of the performing arts with all.