A native of South Florida, Karen Ann began her dance training at the age of four, under the Artistic Direction of Joan Miller of the Palm Beach Ballet Center. By age 16, she was a principal in the company and spent her high school years studying and performing throughout the Palm Beaches and Dade County area. Other influential instructors included: Sonia Diaz of Ballet Concerto, Edward Villella of Miami City Ballet, Colleen Smith of Ballet Palm Beach, Victoria Leigh, Jim Franklin, and Ruth Petrunovich.
Karen Ann’s summers were spent in New York and Los Angeles to enhance her dance education. Favorite teachers included: Finis Jung, Ben Stephenson, Susan Jaffe and Susie Taylor (lyrical). At 19, Karen Ann received a full scholarships to the Royal Academy of Ballet’s teacher training summer intensive in London, England. That same year she was chosen by Alicia Alonzo, Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Cuba, to demonstrate variations and technique for videos to be used for the Ballet School in Havana, Cuba.
At an early age Ms. Ugalde discovered a passion for teaching and choreography that has led to over 40 years of training young dancers, creating award winning dances and providing the foundation for future careers. She has been a long time resident teacher of ArtStage of the Performing Arts in Jupiter, working along side Artistic Director Linda White and her friend and mentor, Charles Russell of the Joffrey Ballet. She had a 15 year partnership with her friend and studio owner, Susan Lyle, where she created original story ballets. In 2002, a $50,000 grant was awarded to bring the entire cast of “The Rainforest” ballet to perform in the Dominican Republic.
Karen Ann is so very proud of all of her students and their accomplishments. Many are thriving in companies from California to the Netherlands. This is inspires her everyday to continue to teach the art of dance.
Nina began dancing at The Dance Academy of Stuart when she was ten years old. She joined the DAS Competition Team in 2021 until she graduated in 2023 from Martin County High School. Nina is currently pursuing an associate degree in nursing at IRSC while also attending FAU to enhance her educational credentials. During the summer Nina teaches preschool.
We are excited to welcome Nina as part of our teaching staff. Her love for working with children and her passion for arts poise perfectly for her new role at The Dance Academy of Stuart!
Megan has danced at the Dance Academy of Stuart since she was five. She later became a member of the Stuart City Dancers. In 2019 Megan joined our staff as a student teacher. Megan complimented her dance training as a student in Treasure Coast High School's dance program for four years. In 2023 she graduated from Treasure Coast High School and also earned her Associates degree in Education at IRSC the same year. Megan is now continuing her education at FAU.
Megan aspires to make a positive impact as an educator, combining her love for education and dance. We are excited to have Megan as part of our faculty.
Juliana Beladera, a DAS alumna and Stuart, Florida native, began dancing at the age of three. She continued to train at schools throughout the world including the Orlando Ballet School and the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City.
She moved to New York City to attend The Fashion Institute of Technology where she graduated with a degree in Advertising and Marketing Communications. While living in New York City, she was accepted into Steps on Broadway's Conservatory Program and studied intensely with New York’s most prominent teachers and choreographers. She also trained at The Boston Conservatory and with the Rockettes at their summer intensive.
Juliana holds a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and numerous certifications. She’s certified in Pilates with Basi Pilates and is a prenatal/postnatal exercise specialist with AFPA (American Fitness Professionals & Associates). She’s also certified in Group Fitness with AFAA (Athletics and Fitness Association of America) and Zumba. She has experience teaching HIIT and strength and conditioning formats and is an instructor at Equinox where she trained in barre. She teaches Pilates reformer at boutique studio, The Peach House, in Austin, Texas and Pilates mat at corporate sites such as Intel and Samsung with the company EXOS. She also teaches events at The Austin Proper Hotel and Hyatt Resorts.
She created an exercise program, The Bela Method, dedicated to and specializing in women’s health, prenatal/postnatal exercise, and dance conditioning with an emphasis on injury prevention and Pilates based movements. Check out her app (available for both iOS and Android) or website (thebelamethod.com) to learn more!
Juliana is based in Austin, Texas. Visit her websites at the links below and follow her on social media to connect!
www.julianabeladera.com
www.thebelamethod.com
Follow: @julianabeladera @thebelamethod
Thomas has been coaching dance, gymnastics, and cheer for over 18 years, he is the owner/director of Aerial Elite in Stuart. He has been a choreographer and/or performer for Nishay Fisher, Molly J, Meghan Ritmiller, Vanilla Ice, Mzlady Zae, Mia Michaels, and creative director for Mzlady Zae tour. Tom was also hired as backup dancer for a tour with DJ Khaled. Tom’s passion and love of dance inspire all, with and without disabilities.
Jesse Seth Hammel has professionally performed throughout the United States, Japan, Canada and Bermuda with ballet companies like James Sewell Ballet, David Taylor Dance Theatre, Ballet Pacifica, Grand Divas, Ballet Florida and Demetrius Klein Dance. He has been a founding Ballet Director for Downtown Dance and Wellington Ballet Theatre, as well as directing his own school and company, Ballet Atlantica. He also holds a Master of Science degree and professional licenses as a physician of Traditional Oriental Medicine.
Mr. Hammel joined our teaching staff In 2018.
Shelby Trembly was born and raised in Palm City, Florida. She danced locally since the time she was 3 at Florida Arts and Dance Company and Dance Academy of Stuart. While in high school, she performed at the Orange Bowl Halftime Show with Dierks Bentley, the Russel Athletic Bowl Half Time Show with Nico & Vinz, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Spirit of America’s. Shelby studied dance at Indian River State College, on scholarship, after graduating high school for two years. While at IRSC, Shelby taught at Dance Academy of Stuart, and was a part of Miss Alicia’s company, Atlantic East Coast Dance Theatre. She then transferred to Santa Fe College and studied dance for another year. After receiving her AA from Santa Fe College, she then transferred to the University of Florida where she majored in Event Management, and continued to study dance in their arts program. She was also a part of Extreme Dance Company while studying at UF. This past year, Shelby danced with a local dance studio in Gainesville called Cameron’s Dance Center. She graduated from the University of Florida Summer of 2021, and began teaching at The Dance Academy of Stuart in 2021. She is so excited to be back with her dance family teaching!
Kim Lorenzatto began her training locally at the age of seven in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical and Acrobatics with an emphasis on Jazz and Lyrical. She competed throughout her childhood and young adult years on regional and national levels earning National High Scoring titles. Throughout her 25 years of teaching, Kim has choreographed competition pieces that have earned Judges’ Choice Awards and Platinum Medals. Kim is certified to teach through Dance Educators of America and is a 2-time attendee of Dance Masters of America Teacher Training Seminar in Buffalo, NY. Kim has continued her education as an adult by attending master classes with teachers from across the country. Kim received her certification in Progressing Ballet Technique and enjoys incorporating this method with cross-training to the students of DAS with a focus on strength and proper technique.
Kim has been instructing at The Dance Academy of Stuart since 2009.
Philip Kendrick (also known as P.K.) was born in West Palm Beach FL. And is a native of south Florida. As a dancer he is part of Tae Talent which is one of the most respected agencies in Miami. As one of the most sought after Hip Hop teachers in Florida he has taught/is teaching in some of the most respected and talked about studios through out South Florida. (DanceTown. Dance Attack, Focal Point, Stars, Sean's Dance Factory, etc.)
P.K has also shared the stage with Jason Derulo, Don Omar, Marc Anthony, Daddy Yankee, Trick Daddy and Danity Kane and has done videos with the likes of Luis Fonsi, French Montana, Yandel, One Direction, Flo Rida etc.
And it doesn't stop there he has also appear on shows such as MTV Super Sweet 16, BET Spring Bling, Premios Juventud and Premios Lu Nuestro.
His passion for dance has inspired others through his artistry of dance. And he is happy to pass on his knowledge and experience to the next generation of dancers as a sought after master teacher and judge.
Philip joined the Dance Academy of Stuart in 2020.
Ryan began dancing locally at the age of 6. Since she began, Ryan has been training to be diverse in many styles of dance ranging from Ballet to Hip-Hop and everything in between. Ryan also grew up competing where she has won numerous awards, scholarships, and has met/learned from praised choreographers. Along with competition, she was part of the DAS Stuart City Dancers pre-professional company. At the age of 11, Ryan became a teacher’s assistant for the younger ballerinas and at the age of 15 she began teaching her own classes. Now, Ryan continues to teach in multiple genres and choreographs for our DAS competition team! In 2017, Ryan became an official instructor of DAS and a company dancer with the Atlantic East Coast Dance Theatre. In 2020 she has also received her certification in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT).