Anne (Cichra) Carollo – Owner/Director & Ballet

Anne is the esteemed proprietor of Gulf Coast Dancenter, a distinguished ballet and technique-focused studio that was established in 2011 to address the demand for superior dance education in Pinellas County. Complementing this accomplishment, she also serves as the founder of Gulf Coast Ballet Theater, a nonprofit dance company aimed at providing exceptional performance opportunities for aspiring youth and adult dancers in Pinellas while engaging with the community through noteworthy events and service initiatives.

Anne’s journey in dance began in Gainesville, Florida, under the guidance of Nina Cameron at Cameron’s Dancenter. Furthering her training, she sought out prestigious summer dance intensives such as The Rock School for Dance Education, Atlanta Ballet, and Columbia City Ballet. Anne’s exceptional talent and dedication led to an invitation to dance with Orlando Ballet, initially under the directorship of Vasile Petrutiu and subsequently under the direction of Peter Stark and Fernando Bujones. During her tenure at Orlando Ballet, Anne showcased her artistry in numerous productions, including the company’s illustrious Nutcrackers and Carmen.

While dancing at Orlando Ballet and seizing the opportunity to substitute for their esteemed school, Anne discovered her passion for teaching. Since then, she has dedicated over 20 years to honing her pedagogical expertise, holding prestigious certifications in ballet and jazz from Florida Dance Masters, Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), a certified 4-Pointe teacher, and the coveted distinction of an ABT® Certified Teacher. This accolade was attained through successful completion of the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. In addition to her dance certifications, Anne holds a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Pre-Veterinary Studies from the University of Florida.

Anne’s impact as an instructor is reflected in the accomplishments of her students, who have excelled in esteemed institutions and professional companies such as Washington Ballet, Rochester City Ballet, United Ballet Theater, Colorado Ballet, School of American Ballet (SAB), Miami City Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB), among others. Additionally, numerous students have continued their education at the university level, pursuing promising careers in the competitive world of dance.

Nicole Stuart – Ballet

Nicole began her dance training at the age of three. She trained at the Academy of Ballet Florida under the direction of Donna Morgan and Marie Hale, as well as Palm Beach Ballet Center under the direction of Joan Miller. Nicole attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts for her first year of college, where she trained under renowned faculty including Melissa Hayden, Fanchon Cordell, and Christine Spizzo.

Nicole began her professional career with Orlando Ballet before continuing on to dance with Ballet Florida. She also performed as a guest artist with Palm Beach Ballet Center in multiple productions. Her repertoire includes Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, Snow White in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Nutcracker, Giselle, and Les Sylphides.

Nicole earned her B.S. in Health Science from the University of Florida, where she taught, choreographed, and performed with Floridance, a student-run dance company. She later earned both her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Florida School of Professional Psychology.

Since joining Gulf Coast Dancenter in 2013, Nicole has become an integral part of both the studio and Gulf Coast Ballet Theater, where she now serves as Associate Artistic Director. Alongside Anne Carollo, she has co-choreographed numerous full-length productions including Clara’s NYC Christmas, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, and many more.

In addition to her work in the arts, Nicole recently opened her own psychology practice, where she serves the families and community of Pinellas County. Nicole is deeply passionate about both dance education and mental health, and she loves helping young dancers grow not only as artists, but as confident and healthy individuals.

Heidi Romero – Ballet

Heidi Strohl Romero, a native of Winston-Salem, NC, is a graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts, where she trained for nine years. She also studied at many intensive summer sessions, including Pacific Northwest Ballet, Joffery Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and the Hungarian Ballet Academy in Budapest, Hungary.

In her professional career since 1997, she has danced with Charleston Ballet Theatre (SC), Greensboro Ballet (NC), Northern Ballet Theatre (NH), Burklyn Ballet Theatre (VT), Kim Robards Dance (CO), Paradise Ballet Theatre (FL), Gleich Dances (NY), Key West Contemporary Dance (FL), and Tampa  Ballet Theater (FL).

In 2002, she performed as the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. Other favorite roles include Lucy in Dracula, Odette in Swan Lake, Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, and the principal role in Paquita.

Dana (Stackpole) Barbour – Ballet

Dana (Stackpole) Barbour’s professional career as a dancer has spanned over 23 years, with 9 seasons at the American Ballet Theatre under the direction of Mikhail Baryshnikov and 4 years with the San Francisco Ballet. She transitioned into a career on Broadway where she performed leading roles in such Tony award winning shows as Carousel, On The Town and the Billy Joel -Twyla Tharp sensation Movin’ Out. Other Broadway credits include, the Tony award winning Contact and the epic Broadway smash, The Phantom of the Opera.

Dana is certified in the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum as well as in both Gyrotonic® and Gyrokinesis® . She also is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and a licensed Zumba Instructor. Her desire is to help impart the joy of dance and is summed up in this quote by Martha Graham: “I believe that we learn by practice. Whether it means to learn to dance by practicing dancing or to learn to live by practicing living, the principles are the same. In each, it is the performance of a dedicated precise set of acts, physical or intellectual, from which comes shape of achievement, a sense of one’s being, a satisfaction of spirit. One becomes, in some area, an athlete of God. Practice means to perform, over and over again in the face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire. Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired.” ― Martha Graham.​

Myles Thoroughgood – Jazz & Contemporary

Myles Thoroughgood has enjoyed the privilege and pleasure of over 3 decades in the dance ecosystem as a Dance Educator, Choreographer, Director, and Dancer in all mediums.

Dance Captain Wave Jazz Dance Company sold out performances in Shubert Theater, London’s Royal Festival Hall.

He is featured in multiple pop dance music videos after relocating to Los Angeles.

Myles Thoroughgood debuted as the choreographer of The Disney Channel’s New Mickey Mouse Club. Many of the MMC cast, all of whom had their early professional experience under Myles’ choreographic direction have gone on to successful careers including Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Ryan Gosling, Britney Spears, and Kerry Russell.

His experience on national television includes programming for NBC, Nickelodeon, TLC/Discovery Network and Sesame Workshop. He has choreographer several seasons of television including Nickelodeon’s Taina, and TLC’s Animal Jam.

Myles has choreographed several Central Florida Theatre For Young Audiences musicals. Including Orlando Family Stage’s Polkadots The Cool Kids Musical, Pickle Chiffon Pie(Premiere), Giraffes Can’t Dance. His directing credits include productions at Theatre West End, Ocala Civic Theatre, and Historic State Theatre.

For five years Myles’ choreography entertained attendees at the opening ceremonies for the National Association of Home Builders Convention at the time it was the world’s largest convention.

His work in theme park, cruise ships and tourist venues include Dolly Parton’s Stampede in Pigeon Forge and Pirates Adventure in Myrtle Beach, Nickelodeon Lost Lagoon, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and Riviera Mayan.

As a Dance Educator Myles has shared his expertise as a teacher at Dr Phillips Center Advent Health School of the Arts. He is the Founder of School of Dance for The Interactive Academy of Performing Arts, an online platform for arts education.

During the last 10 years Thoroughgood has been a Storyteller for The Orange County Library System. Developing and presenting entertaining, engaging stories, songs, and rhymes to inspire youngster’s imaginations and a lifelong interest in reading and literacy.

Makenzie Autry – Pre-Ballet

Makenzie began her dance training with the Alabama Dance Theatre (ADT) at the age of 5. From the ages of 10-18 she was a pre-professional company member with ADT where she trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, and Modern. As a student and company member with ADT, she performed in productions of Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Nutcracker, Dracula, Giselle, and The Little Mermaid to name a few. 

Through her school years at Baldwin Arts and Academics Middle Magnet School and Book T. Washington Magnet High School, she integrated her dance training with her educational pursuits. While in school, she was immersed in dance etiquette, terminology, and history of ballet, jazz, modern, and contemporary. In 2015, Makenzie decided to step into the choreographer’s shoes and choreographed her first piece, which got selected for the Regional Dance America/Southeast Festival in High Point, NC. 

Makenzie pursued higher education at The University of Alabama, where she continued to broaden her understanding of dance and focus on teaching. In 2019, she graduated with her degree in Dance.

After spending a few years in Atlanta, GA, Makenzie relocated to Clearwater in 2023 where she embraced the opportunity to immerse herself in the local dance community. She is excited to teach and instill a solid ballet foundation with her students. 

Elizabeth Morgan – Jazz and Tap

Elizabeth Morgan is a Tampa Bay Area native, where she was thrilled to develop a love for the arts while training with Harmony Studios, Florida West Ballet, Bay City Ballet, and St Petersburg City Ballet. After growing up with a passion for ballet, followed by a career in Theatre performance, Elizabeth spent the last decade teaching students of all ages in dance and musical theatre, with many of her students going on to the best Universities in the nation for the performing arts, and then on to fabulous careers in the industry. She has directed and choreographed dozens of children’s productions, with a specified eye for creating stunning visuals on stage.

Elizabeth has performed in/served as dance captain in many professional regional theatre productions, including A Funny Thing…Forum, South Pacific, Curtains, and more. She spent many years at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay as a dancer and stage manager, and has also toured with Stages Productions, performing children’s theatre productions at The Straz Center, The Broward Center for the Performing Arts, and The Mahaffey Theatre, among others.

She is so happy to be able to continue her career in the ever-flourishing arts community that is Tampa Bay!

Brianna Gaylord – Pre-Ballet and Admin Assistant

Brianna Gaylord’s bio coming soon.