Alexandria “Brinae Ali” Bradley was born and raised in Flint, Michigan and is an interdisciplinary artist who believes in using the power of the arts to transform the conditions of the human spirit. Brinae has served as the artistic director of Tapology, Inc. in Flint, MI, Fourth Wall Arts Salon, and Sound and Movement, LLC in Philadelphia. She has also partnered and served as a teaching artist with organizations such as Ping Chong and Company, NJPAC, Moving History in Baltimore, and the Apollo Theater Education Department.  She has also received awards for Best Short Play at the Downtown Urban Theater Festival for her one woman show “Steps” and the Vox Populi Independence Music Award for “Destination Forever: Vol.1 EP.”  Her broadway and off-broadway experience include Shuffle Along and STOMP.  Currently, Brinae is a lecturer at Johns Hopkins Peabody Conservatory, co-creator of a work in progress with trumpeter Sean Jones called “Dizzy Spellz”, a member of the Baltimore Jazz Collective, and cultural ambassador for diplomacy through the lense of Hip Hop culture as an artist in residence with Next Level-USA  in partnership with the U.S. Department of State Education and Cultural Affairs, the University of North Carolina, and the Meridian International Center.

Alfred Bruce Bradley is a tap dancer, visual artist, actor, vocalist, educator, philanthropist, community activist and is a native to Flint, MI. He is a HBCU graduate of Alabama State University earning a Bachelor of Arts studying theater and visual art. His passion in theater arts led his career towards Off Broadway shows such as One Mo’ Time, Staggerlee, A Raisin in The Sun and Rollin with Stevens and Stewart. Through his experience of working in musical theater he started learning tap dance from Mickey Costello, Lynn Gibson, Kevin Ramsey, and Lloyd Storey. Bradley eventually came off the road for a while to give back to the community of Flint teaching tap dance at Creative Expressions Dance Studio, performing in productions at the MCree Theatre, Buckham Alley Theatre, and to raise his four children. As an educator, Bradley taught theater at Northwestern High School and was adjunct professor at the University of Michigan-Flint for 13 years. Through his mentorship with Detroit native Lloyd Storey, he landed a role as Storey’s dance partner in the Broadway hit Black and Blue European Tour in 1995. Five years later he created a non-profit organization called Tapology,Inc. In honor of the late Bunny Briggs, Bradley has performed David Danced Before the Lord with The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Greystone Orchestra, and the Michigan State Jazz Orchestra led by Rodney Whitaker. He has also played the role of Drosselmeyer in the Flint Institute of Music’s production of The Nutcracker. Bradley also directed Flint Youth Theater productions of Bud Not Buddy, and The Transformation of Malcolm X., the University of Michigan-Flint productions of Zooman and the Sign, He Who Endures and Buckham Alley Theater production of My Sweet Charlie. Mr. Bradley serves on the board of Trustees at the Flint Institute of music, the Whiting Advisory Council, President of the Sunrise Rotary of Greater Flint and former board member of The Greater Flint YMCA. He is also the recipient of the American Tap Dance Foundation’s Tap Preservation Award.

Star Dixon is an assistant director, choreographer, and original principal dancer of world-renowned tap company, MADD Rhythms. She has taught and performed at the most distinguished tap festivals in the country, including The L.A. Tap Fest, DC Tap Fest, RIFF Dallas, Chicago Human Rhythm Project's Rhythm World, and MADD Rhythms own Chicago Tap Summit.

She’s performed internationally in Poland, Japan, and Brazil, to name a few. Performance venues include Jacob’s Pillow, Kennedy Center, and the Lincoln Center. Outside of MADD Rhythms, she's performed as a guest with such companies as Michelle Dorrance's Dorrance Dance and Savion Glover’s All Funk’d Up. Most recent awards include 3arts Make a Wave 2019, Chicago Dance Makers Forum lab artist 2022, Chicago Reader Best Dancer 2021 and Best Choreographer 2022.

Quynn Johnson, a graduate of Howard University in Washington, D.C., and native of Flint, Michigan, is an award-winning performing, teaching artist and author. She has toured as the tap soloist in the Tony Award-winning production After Midnight(NCL) and performed both nationally and internationally. Highlights include featured soloist in the Washington Ballet production ofThe Great Gatsby, Cirque du Soleil’s Mosaic production, the Festival Folclóricodel Pacífico and in Buenaventura and Cali, Colombia and has toured Peru as part of the Festival Internacional de Cajón Peruano. Quynn is the co-creator of the D.C.-based percussive dance company SOLE Defined with Ryan Johnson. A National Credential Residency Teaching Artist with Young Audiences and a WolfTrap TA, in 2014 and 2017, she won the Individual Artist Award for Dance Choreography (MSAC). As a teaching artist, Quynn has reached over 9,500 youth from pre-k through 12th grade with assemblies, residencies, and workshops. Her arts-integrated residencies bridge tap dance with literacy, math, Social-Emotional Learning. In 2011, Quynn became a self-published author with her children’s book, Lucky’s Tap Dancing Feet.

Deb Lombard's career began at Syracuse University, where she taught dance and movement for Actors at the College of Visual and Performing Arts. After moving to Florida, Deb worked as a teaching artist and conducted Arts Integration workshops for The Van Wezel Performing Arts Center, Any Given Child- Sarasota, Sarasota Ballet, and others. Deb was instrumental in starting the Players Performing Arts summer camp program where she served as the artistic director for over 20 years.

Deb spent nine years at Gocio Elementary School teaching dance and helped develop a comprehensive and award-winning arts program: In 2008, Gocio was awarded the National School of Distinction in Arts Education, and was named an Arts Achieve Model School by the Florida Alliance for Arts Education. Deb then went on to create a similar program at Southside Elementary School.

Deb has been bringing arts integration and dance programs into Sarasota County Schools for over two decades. Deb holds a BS in dance education from SUNY college at Brockport and is certified in K-12 Dance, Physical Education, Health, Creative Dramatics/Creative Learning (2008) and holds a Masters Level diploma in Arts Management. One of her greatest joys is instilling the love of dance and arts integration programs to students of all ages.

Jenna Outerbridge is a Teaching Artist, 200 hour registered Yoga Instructor, and Dance Instructor. She is a graduate of SUNY at Purchase College, where she studied in The Conservatory of Dance in the The School of the Arts. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology. In 2016, Jenna founded Stories In Motion, a movement program in Sarasota that helps children connect with their inner creative. After performing in Bermuda and England, Jenna returned to her native Sarasota. As an instructor at Booker High School, Jenna helps develop and teach Arts curriculum for the VPA Dance Program. She is a Teaching Artist for the Van Wezel, and a yoga instructor at The Yoga Shack and Everybody Yoga, Bradenton.

Marissa Rivera is a highly accomplished dance instructor and entrepreneur based in Anaheim, CA, with over 20 years of experience in various dance styles, including Contemporary, Jazz, Salsa, Bachata, and Brazilian Zouk. She earned her Dance Teaching Certification from Mt. San Antonio College and has since become a prominent figure in the dance community. Marissa has achieved numerous accolades, including winning the 1st place Semi-Pro division title at the 2017 US Zouk Open and multiple 1st place titles in Brazilian Zouk Jack and Jill competitions both in the United States and Brazil. Notably, she was the first Brazilian Zouk dancer to win the prestigious New Face of GFranco sponsorship. Marissa co-founded Zouk Vibes of Orange County, where she and her former partner Rinaldo Melo played a pivotal role in expanding the Brazilian Zouk dance community. From 2017 to 2020, they led classes, organized socials, and hosted events that connected dancers across Salsa, Bachata, and Zouk communities. Her efforts were instrumental in establishing Zouk rooms at popular Orange County dance events, significantly contributing to the growth of the local Zouk scene. Additionally, as the organizer of the Zouk and Urban Kiz Experience at the Reno Latin Dance Fest from 2018 to 2020, Marissa helped the festival grow to attract 3,000 attendees. Currently, Marissa is a dance instructor at The School of Arts and Enterprise in Pomona, CA, while also pursuing a CTE certification in Arts, Media, and Entertainment. She directs Marés Dance Company, where she specializes in Brazilian Zouk fusion choreographies for adult dancers. Beyond her professional life, she enjoys practicing yoga, meditating, and spending time with her dog, Frida. Marissa is dedicated to fostering growth, diversity, and community within the dance world. As a leader, she is committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for her students, encouraging lifelong learning, and continually developing her skills as an instructor and mentor. Her ultimate goal is to nurture confident and authentic dancers who will contribute to the vibrancy and growth of the dance community she holds dear.

South Carolina native, Monessa Salley, has been with SCD for five consecutive seasons, dancing, performing, choreographing, and teaching professionally with Sarasota Contemporary Dance Company, serving as Production Lead for the past two seasons. After attending an SCD summer intensive in 2015, she knew this was a special organization, but it was not until 2019 that she seized an opportunity to join this unique company. Her desire to build community relations aligns with the company’s mission, in addition to it being a safe and nurturing space that fosters artistic growth in performance, teaching, and choreography. In addition to her work at SCD, she is a Teaching Artist for New College of Florida, an adjunct Dance Educator for the Booker High School VPA Dance Department, and serves as an Arts Integration Teaching Artist for several organizations, including The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Wholehearted Education, and Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative. Salley enjoys choreographing for musical theater and recently served as Assistant Choreographer for West Coast Black Theater Troupe. She began training in dance at a young age and is well-versed in various genres. She holds a B.A. in Dance Performance from Winthrop University and a Master of Education in Divergent Learning from Columbia College. After continued education and serving as a certified Dance Educator and Theater Production Manager for 12 years in SC public school, she went on to pursue her MFA in Dance Performance and New Media at New York University’s Tisch School of Arts. She has previously toured and performed professionally with Sapphire Moon Dance Company, Vibrations Dance Company, T.O. Dance Inc., The Power Company Collaborative, and NYU’s Second Avenue Dance Company. Salley enjoys sharing the joy and passion of dance with all ages. She has a “mind, body, spirit” approach to dance and relishes in refining her craft as a performer and teacher, promoting health, healing, and happiness through dance, and enhancing community relations. Predominantly teaching Tap, Afro-Fusion, and Kids classes, Salley is inspired by rhythm, culture, and dance as a universal language. When not dancing, she enjoys reading, spending time with loved ones and her dogs, outdoor and aquatic activities in nature, viewing sunsets, and doing anything that makes her laugh out loud!

A “body as mind” approach to performance, creating work, and teaching I want my body to create and dance in ways that I can feel. As a child I attended Vodu ceremonies on a weekly basis. I found that dancing was a form of worship for me, and the ceremonies I danced in were the beginnings of my embodied education in West African dance. With dances having been derived from traditional expression or ritual, movement was a means to communicate. Using dance to speak for you. A form of communication that is embodied because of the inclusion of your lived experiences, and cultivated through continued practice. West African dance is a highly personal experience. It asks you to use your entire body and mind while engaging in the movement. I carry this belief with me when I create work that encapsulates who I am as an AfricanBalletModern (in that mashed up order) dancer. My performance and teaching styles have been influenced by my introduction to dance initially through social, and religious ceremonies in West Africa, and later through formal ballet training in an after school program in Flint, Michigan. I later studied ballet in the university followed by modern and African styles in New York city. All these scenarios combined fostered a personal desire to have a dancing experience that was not only structured, required discipline, and had rules (spoken or demonstrated) but that also encouraged the enjoyment of the act and teased it out through full body engagement. 

Chicago Native, Nico Rubio, is one of the leading Tap Dancers of his generation. The founder and director of Shuffle Liiife Productions and Tap company 333 (Three Thirty Three). Nico has traveled the world, teaching, performing and choreographing everywhere from Europe to Asia, Central America to South America. Appearing locally on Windy City Live and halftime for the Chicago Bulls, as well as abroad from UCLA’s Jazz Reggae Fest to the Beijing Contemporary Dance Festival.

In 2018, Nico received the Chicago Dancemakers Forum’s Lab Artist Award. In 2019, he choreographed, produced and even DJ’d By Way Of Taps: A J Dilla Tribute, which was performed at Columbia’s Dance Center, in Long Beach California, and premiered in full at Thalia Hall in Pilsen, IL. From 2020 to now, Nico has produced virtual and in person events via Shuffle Liiife, such as Shows, Jam, Workshops, and notably his Footage Functions that have furthered his contributions towards preserving where Tap has been, where it is now, and where it’s going. With everything he does, Nico’s mission is not just to expose the majesty and humanity of Tap Dancing and other art forms, but to highlight everyone’s infinite individual incandescence (light), via Shuffle Liiife.

Leymis Bolaños Wilmott, a Cuban-American artist, mother, and teacher with rhythm inextricably in her bones found her voice through dance at an early age. As the Founder and Artistic Director of Sarasota Contemporary Dance, she has the privilege of using those bones to create art that has been called “stunning and imaginative” by Carrie Seidman of the Herald Tribune. As Artist-in-Residence at New College of Florida, she has the opportunity to share her love of dance and to be an influential member of Florida’s dance community. Featured in Sarasota Scene Magazine’s Arts & Cultural Issue: Ladies of the Arts, Leymis has been the recipient of numerous artistic achievement and leadership awards throughout her career. She was honored to receive the Dance Magazine award for “Southeast Best Choreographer” and was listed in Sarasota Magazine as one of the Top 28 Most Powerful People in the Arts. Her 80+ dance works include collaborations with artists and organizations of various disciplines from musicians to museums. Collaborative highlights include: Sarasota Orchestra, Choral Artists of Sarasota, Westcoast Black Theater Troupe, Asolo Rep, Salvador Dalí Museum, Kaleidoscope, John and Mable Ringling Museum, Art Center of Sarasota, Stephen Miles of New Music New College, composer Eduard Cosla, percussionist Scott Blum, Mark Dancigers of NOW Ensemble, and the multitalented Francis Schwartz. Her works have been performed nationally at the John F. Kennedy Center, Ailey Citigroup Theater in NYC, Colony Theater and Jackie Gleason Theatre in Miami, and internationally in Ramallah, Argentina, and Spain.

Leymis pioneered the Dance and Healing certificate at the University of Florida and holds a Master of Fine Arts in Performance and Choreography from Florida State University. Her research in dance as a healing art form and its ability to harness and foster community building came to fruition in 2006 when she and Rachael Inman founded Fuzión Dance Artists, now Sarasota Contemporary Dance.

Leymis is a Dance Instructor/Artist-in-Residence at New College of Florida, a certified Pilates instructor, founded the dance program at Parkinson’s Place in 2012, and has worked in the Sarasota and Manatee County community as teaching artists since 2004. She served as Vice President of the Florida Dance Association from 2013-2017 and Arts for Health Sarasota-Manatee 2014-2-17. Her most precious honor, however, is being married to her husband, Kavin, of sixteen years and mother to twelve-year-old Charles Edward and five-year-old, Valda Elizabeth who inspires her dance-making daily.

As a past FST student and intern, Kate has been a part of Florida Studio Theatre for over six years. She is a graduate of Flagler College’s Theatre Arts program, where she acted in and directed several productions. She has served as a Teaching Artist at the Tony award-winning Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. Her main goals as a Teaching Artist are to instill self-worth, creative independence, and curiosity through engaging interdisciplinary theatre lessons.