Our Alumni Shine Around the World

Gulf Coast Dancenter graduates continue their dance journeys at prestigious schools and professional companies.

J. Paul “Trae” Mikus III

Trae discovered his passion for ballet at Gulf Coast Dancenter in Clearwater, Florida, after initially enrolling in the boys-only hip hop class. Under the guidance of Artistic Director Anne Carollo, his talent and discipline quickly emerged, leading him to transition into ballet and begin focused one-on-one training.

Within just a year and a half of study at Gulf Coast Dancenter, Trae earned a full scholarship to the Next Generation Ballet (NGB) Summer Intensive, where he continued his training under Artistic Director Philip Neal. After two years with NGB, he was awarded a full scholarship to The Washington School of Ballet, where he completed his pre-professional training and was later promoted to Trainee and then Apprentice with The Washington Ballet.

While with The Washington Ballet, Trae performed featured roles in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle, and Sleeping Beauty. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he returned home to Gulf Coast Dancenter to continue his training and perform in the company’s gala, Kinetic. He has since gone on to dance with the Rochester City Ballet, bringing his artistry and professionalism to the stage as a company member.

Lanie Watson

Bio coming soon

Pearl Oman

Bio coming soon

Cynthia Clark

Bio coming soon