MEET THE TEAM

Alicia began dancing at the age of 3 when she started studying Ballet and Tap. Throughout her childhood she continued studying multiple styles, adding Jazz and Broadway Jazz to her list, while strongly focusing on Tap. In 2005, Alicia joined Precision Dance Company in Rockledge, FL led by Marty (Eyster) Mercado, performed around the county, and continued to further her education into other styles, including Modern, Contemporary, and Hip Hop. During this time, Alicia began to gain experience teaching tap and hip hop classes to children ages 4-10, and was an assistant teacher to Natalie McKnight-Palmer during her summer musical theater workshops. Alicia spent the next few years performing with Evolution Dance Company at different events, including baseball games at Space Coast Stadium as a part of Space Coast Surge Entertainment. In 2019, Alicia choreographed for the musical "Guys and Dolls" at Eastern Florida State College. She also works alongside the Brevard Achievement Center with a residency in their Arts4All program working with Special Needs students for their annual Performing Arts Showcase and is a Certified Rhythm Works Integrative Dance Instructor. Alicia's passion for dance is long-lasting and she hopes to bring something new and exciting to Brevard County by offering a wide range of classes for everyone to enjoy!

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Memberships/Certifications/Credits

• Rhythm Works Integrative Dance Certification

• National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) Member

• Creative Dance in Early Childhood (NDEO-Endorsed CEUs)

• CLI Studios Member

• Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (YPAD) Certification

• First Aid/CPR Certified

Brooke began dancing at the age of 2 in a studio located in Brusly, Louisiana. At age 6 she began competitive dancing and by 13 she began traveling and assisting for Tremaine and The Streetz Dance Conventions. Brooke spent time assisting and learning from many esteemed dancers and choreographers such as Paula Abdul, Joe Tremaine, and Derrick Schrader to name a few. During the summer, Brooke would travel to study dancing at Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio located in Los Angeles, California and Joffrey Ballet School located in San Antonio, Texas. At age 15 Brooke began choreographing and teaching many different styles of dance including technique, jazz, lyrical, contemporary and ballet classes around Louisiana. When she graduated, she moved to Orlando, Florida to begin her career as a performer for Walt Disney World. Brooke performed for 2 years and was even cast in the 2019 “Mickeys Most Merriest Celebration” Castle Stage Show for Walt Disney World. Brooke now works for Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort as a Children’s Activities Hostess and is studying to become an Elementary Teacher. She is excited to share her passion and skill for dance with many aspiring dancers in the studio and hopes to become a valuable role model in your children’s lives. 

Stephanie has been dancing since the age of 2 and when she took her first dance class,
she immediately fell in love with the art. Her favorite style to dance is Hip Hop and her
favorite style to teach is all of the above! She has been trained in all genres of dance
including; Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Ballet, Pointe, Hip Hop, Clogging, and
Breakdancing. Stephanie was in a pre-professional company, Boston Community
Dance Project, from ages 12-15. Stephanie has had the opportunity to dance at Epcot,
has won numerous national titles and has been recognized by many nationwide
choreographers; Travis Wall, Aaron Tolson, Peter Sabasino, Twitch, Skooj-Choreo,
and Allison Holker. Stephanie has traveled across the country for several dance
opportunities and to teach alongside these choreographers. She has been
demonstrating/teaching students since she was 13. She loves every child she works
with and she believes the most rewarding part of the job is being able to give children
the space to be themselves as well as make connections with her students year after
year. She is excited to teach children the joy of dance and can’t wait for what this year
has in store!

Marlene started dancing in 2005 and found a forever love of dance! Throughout the years she has gained experience and passion in various styles of dance including Ballet, Lyrical, Jazz, Pom and Latin. Her interest, however, lies mostly in ballet and in teaching. She is currently a member of the National Dance Education Organization and has credit hours with the NDEO in dance education. She is very passionate about making a positive influence and helping her students to develop their talents and skills. Marlene went to college in 2009 at Spring Arbor University in MI and participated in the Swing Dance Club there as a hobby during the school year. She later joined Jackson School of the Arts in Michigan as a dance instructor for 3 years, as well as Ballet classes at the local YMCA in Jackson, MI. Through this, she built valuable experience in both teaching and choreographing. From 2017 through 2021 Marlene furthered her Ballet training with advanced adult ballet classes at Go Dance Studio in Goshen, IN and at Debbie Werbrouck School of Dance in Mishawaka, IN. Marlene and her husband moved permanently to FL in November 2022, at which point she joined Dance Variations as a dance instructor. Marlene currently also gives private ballet lessons at Space Coast IcePlex for figure skaters on behalf of Dance Variations. In her spare time, Marlene is currently a band member at ECCC in Merritt Island as a piano player and vocalist, because music has also been a lifelong passion. She also enjoys practicing Yin yoga, exploring the outdoors, and long walks on the beach with her husband and their Greyhound dog.

Sarah Fancher is originally from the West Virginia and Pittsburgh area where she has danced from a very young age. Graduating from Point Park University with a BFA in Dance with a concentration in Jazz, Sarah started her teaching career in Pittsburgh. In 2017, she moved to Florida after getting married, and has since been teaching and choreographing all over Central Florida. Now she has a family in the Edgewater area and is teaching this fall at Cindy's Dance Studio and Dance Variations. Sarah loves dance and loves to share and instill that into her students while maintaining the integrity of dance education.

Cassidy Bastiaensen is an Orlando-based dancer, choreographer, teacher, and creator who grew up in Richmond, Virginia. She grew up studying various styles of dance and in the dance competition/convention world. After finishing high school online she attended AMDA, American Musical and Dramatic Academy. She attended and studied at both the New York City and Los Angeles campuses, earning her BFA with honors in 2020. She has worked professionally for a wide variety of companies and artists, while traveling the world doing so, and is now a teacher at local studios while still pursuing her performing career. After graduation, she chose to stay in LA to pursue a professional dance career. Since then, she has had the opportunity to participate in various professional dance jobs. She was one of the featured dancers in the short film “Regret To Inform You,” performed as one of the dancers for Snoop Dog in the Super Bowl LVI Pepsi Halftime Show, and was a company member at Myrtle Beach’s residency show “Pirates Voyage.” She has also performed on Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady in their shows “Lola’s Library” and “Persephone.” While pursuing her professional dance career, she discovered a deep love for teaching that added new meaning to her journey. Sharing her passion with students and watching them grow sparked a sense of fulfillment. Balancing her training and performances with mentoring young dancers deepened her appreciation for the art. Teaching has allowed her to pass on techniques and the invaluable lessons of resilience and creativity. This dual path continues to enhance her artistry and fuels her commitment to nurturing the next generation of dancers, intertwining her passions for both performing and teaching. Cassidy is thrilled to be involved with this project, dedicated to nurturing every developing dancer!

Lexi is a young yet passionate dance educator with a rich background in both ballet and competitive cheerleading. With years of performance experience, Lexi has danced in some of the most iconic ballets, including The Nutcracker, where she portrayed roles such as Snow and Flower Waltz, Arabian Princess, and Snow Queen for two consecutive years. She has also showcased her talent as the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella and danced in Swan Lake, where she performed as a swan, one of the two big swans, one of the Prince’s friends, and as a bride.

In addition to her stage performances, Lexi has earned multiple titles in dance competitions and received numerous scholarships for her outstanding performances. Her training includes time at the prestigious Orlando Ballet, and she was even invited to train with the renowned Joffrey Ballet School, where she further honed her craft. Not only a skilled dancer, Lexi has also found success in cheerleading. She was awarded All-American in cheer with both the National Cheerleaders Association and the Universal Cheerleaders Association. With her extensive performance experience, training, and competition success, Lexi brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her students, helping them achieve their full potential in dance and beyond.

Phoenix Aryndia Vincent is a seasoned choreographer, teacher, and dancer with training from some of the best in the industry. Phoenix has traveled all over the country studying from dance icons such as Mia Michaels, Mandy Moore, Justin Giles, TOKYO, Dee Caspery, Jackie Sleight, Rick Robinson, and Darryl Yeager. Phoenix did a one on one mentoring program with Mia Michaels that has had a huge influence on her development of original foundational technique systems for dancers. She danced professionally with three different professional dance companies in Utah and in 2008, Phoenix opened up her own large dance studio at the age of 28. For nine years Phoenix was the artistic director and founder of Elle Vie Dance Company, a professional dance company. With her company she has produced 5 full length shows and has performed in three different states. She is very innovative in her approach to dance, looking for new ways to entertain, new paths to create success in the industry, and never accepting a path or solution just because everyone else is doing it that way. Nothing is impossible to her, and she gives that same courage and enthusiasm to her performers and her audience, so that all walk away inspired and empowered. She additionally put that passion into an original Dance Your Truth project that partners with her Elemental Dance Technique. The aim of these two programs is to teach dancers of their individual worth and the way it is expressed through their dancing, while utilizing a safe and sustainable technique system that will support all genres of dance. Recently she has done choreography for a anti-trafficking film soon to be released, "I See Rose."

Rachael began dancing at the age of 5. She took 15 years of ballet, jazz, and pointe. She always loved dance and ended up getting into Show Choir in College, where she continued to perform and enjoy dancing. She also found a love for both the music and the dancing genre of swing and salsa. When she graduated college the first time her career path took her away from
dancing. After having her first 2 children, she found Yoga and Zumba both of which are a former dancer’s friend. She has taught Yoga and Zumba for over 9 years at the YMCA and then at the Melbourne Athletic Club. She is happily married and a mother to 4 amazing children and a pug. She now works as a registered nurse while teaching on the side. She believes dance brings joy and she loves bring joy to others.