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 Dance 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 when she was 3 years old.  She trained at the Academy of Ballet Florida under the direction of Donna Morgan and Marie Hale and 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.  At UNCSA, Nicole trained under Melissa Hayden, Fanchon Cordell, and Christine Spizzo, to name a few.

She began her professional career with Orlando Ballet and then went on to dance with Ballet Florida.  Nicole was also a guest artist for Palm Beach Ballet Center for multiple performances.  Her repertoire includes, Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, Snow White in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Helena in Midsummer Night’s Dream, the Nutcracker, Giselle, and Les Sylphides.  Nicole has been teaching ballet and coaching dancers on and off for the last 12 years.  Nicole received her B.S. from the University of Florida majoring in Health Science.  While studying at UF, she taught, choreographed, and performed with Floridance, a student run dance company at UF.  She has obtained her M.A. in Clinical Psychology and is currently working on her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the Florida School of Professional Psychology.

Nicole loves teaching and choreographing and has a strong passion to help young dancers to reach their full potential.  This is her first season teaching and choreographing with Gulf Coast Dancenter.  She is excited to be a part of Gulf Coast Dancenter and Gulf Coast Dance Theater.

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. 

Makenzie Denning – Jazz

Makenzie was barely 3 years old when a ballet performance of Cinderella captured her heart. After begging her mom, she began taking ballet lessons within that year and has been dancing ever since. Following two years of training at a small studio, Makenzie joined Gulf Coast Dancenter when it first opened.

Makenzie is trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, and contemporary, and currently performs as a soloist with Gulf Coast Ballet Theater, which she has been apart of since 2016. She has brought her passion for dance to the stage through numerous productions, including Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Clara’s New York City Christmas, and various galas. Some of her most memorable roles include: Alice, Clara, Stepsister, Dew Drop, and Sugar Plum Fairy.

Her training extends beyond the studio through summer intensives with North Star Ballet, Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, Gulf Coast Dancenter, Texas Ballet Theater, and Orlando Ballet. She will attend Ballet 5:8’s summer intensive this year and has been invited to continue her training as a trainee with Ballet 5:8 in Chicago.

Teaching has been a natural and meaningful progression for Makenzie. From the age of 12, she spent five years as a teacher assistant at Gulf Coast Dancenter, training under Anne Carollo, before stepping into her role as an instructor. She currently teaches Jazz 1 and Jazz 3, and has previously taught pre-ballet and Contemporary 3. Makenzie is passionate about creating a positive and inspiring classroom environment where students feel encouraged to grow, express themselves, and build confidence.

In addition, Makenzie earned her Associate of Arts degree from St. Petersburg College and is pursuing a future as a functional medicine practitioner alongside her dance career.

Edee Alexander – Office Manager

“Making a positive impact on someone’s life provides great satisfaction.”

With a strong customer service background and over 30 years as a Hotel Concierge in Las Vegas, Edee has been able to assist thousands of guests from all over the world in creating memorable tour & entertainment experiences.

Edee has recently relocated to Tampa Bay to enjoy precious time with family and the beauty of this incredible environment. Being able to easily access the spectacular gulf coast beaches & daily sunsets has been a dream come true.

“When I see our dancers from ages 3 to 70 years old walk through the door at Gulf Coast Dancenter, it gives me great satisfaction to know that their lives are positively changing forever through the magic and beauty of dance.”