***Most of our classes are closed until after our recital on June 16, 2012, however, we do have NON-RECITAL classes and we are in the process of adding even more classes. Please call 276-1259 to find out more.***
Ashley Carr McNair has over 20 years experience in the art of dance. She has been trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, modern, lyrical, musical theatre and pointe by over 30 professional instructors throughout the years. A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Ashley grew up in the world of dance. Her parents owned dance studios across Northeast Indiana. Upon moving to Orange Park, Florida in 1998, she continued her dance career by assistant teaching in 2000, began teaching in 2003, and was appointed Director of Dance at Wehner's School of the Arts in 2008. Ashley is an OPHS Raiderette Dance Team alumni, a Jacksonville Lady Jam alumni, and danced competitively for 10 years. Ashley has both judged and choreographed for various dance teams and pageants in Northeast, FL. She has studied under the direction of professionals such as Jason Kalish, Mia Michaels, Ryan Warren, Marc Wayne, Dan Karaty, and Frank Hatchett, among many others. Ashley is currently continuing her dance education under Paige Ricci and James Morrow. She also attends workshops and conventions throughout the year to keep her choreography and teaching methods current and in order to give her students the best dance education available. Ashley is a member of the Florida Dance Association (FDA).
Danae Carey is a native of Jacksonville, FL and has been dancing for over 16 years. She has competed in many local and state dance competitions over the years and has attended multiple conventions such as "LADF" and "Encore." As a member of the Forida Ballet, she performed in multiple ballets such as "Snow White," "The Nutcracker," "Romeo and Juliet," and many more. In 2005, Danae received a full talent scholarship to FSCJ, where she was a part of their Danceworks Company. While attending FSCJ, she was also accepted into Rhythm Nation's Dance Company. She has studied under the direction of artists such as Frank Hatchett, Jason Kalish, Jennifer Muller, David Robertson, Cari Coble, Missy Pounder-Reston, and others. She also took classes in New York City at "Steps on Broadway." Danae has been teaching at WSOTA since 2008 and is a member of the Florida Dance Association (FDA).
Danae Carey
Meagan Curtis
Meagan Curtis has been dancing for over 15 years. She moved to Fleming Island from Waldorf, MD in 2005 and is a graduate of Fleming Island High School. She majored in Elementary Education at St. Leo University and also works as a Teacher Assistant at Center Academy in Orange Park, FL. Meagan specializes in Competitive Dance and has an extensive history of winning dance competitions over the years. She was ranked among the top in the nation for Jazz and Hip-Hop at the Universal Dance Association (UDA) Competition in Orlando, FL. She was also a member of the NFL, Washington Redskins Junior All Star Dance Team, which performed during halftime of several football games. Meagan has been teaching at WSOTA since 2009 and is a member of the Florida Dance Association (FDA).
Samantha Strickland has been dancing, singing and performing on stage since the age of three. She has studied in many different styles including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, contemporary, lyrical, acrobatics, Broadway, hip-hop, Bollywood, African, and also rhythmic gymnastics. She grew up studying Lester Horton, Martha Graham and Alvin Ailey modern techniques with Artist/Choreographer Linda Eve Elchak, founder of the NAO Dance Collective in Orlando, FL. Samantha was a member of the FSCJ Danceworks Repertory Company for three years under the direction of founder and Director of Dance, Rosemary Fletcher. She has had the privilege to work with many choreographers such as Tony Parise, an experienced Broadway choreographer who performed in the musical "42nd Street" for nearly twelve years, as well as a member of Edgar Zendehas Company from Montreal, QC. She also learned Bollywood, an exciting and high energy fusion style from Rujuta Vaidya, who recently choreographed a "Slumdog Millionaire" performance for the Oscars, as well as performances for Disney's the Cheetah Girls and Brittany Spears. Samantha has been teaching at WSOTA since 2010 and will receive her AA degree in Dance from FSCJ in the Spring of 2011. She is also a member of the Florida Dance Association (FDA).
Samantha Strickland
Feel free to email our Director of Operations, Holly Wehner, at Holly@WSOTA.com, with any questions regarding our dance program at WSOTA.
