Lara, and her husband Erwin, founded Expressions Academy of Dance many years ago. She has trained multiple generations of dancers and has worked as a Competition Judge. In addition to continuing teaching some of the youth classes, Ms. Lara regularly drops in many of the other classes to check progress, evaluate dancers, and clean routines. Ms. Lara manages all of the administrative functions of the studio, orders all the beautiful costumes you see on stage each year, managing the studio's dance store, after-school program, etc.

Tonya Narzinsky

Co-Director

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Miss Tonya is a graduate of the University of South Florida, with a B.A. in Psychology. In addition to her psychology education, Tonya danced in college including ballet and aerial arts, as well as performing on a college dance team. Prior to college, Tonya was a top notch competitive dancer, skilled in multiple genres: Classical Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Tap, and Acrobatics. Tonya was also a USAG state champion gymnast. Moving onto being a professional choreographer, Tonya has choreographed for and danced in multiple music videos for various recording artists, has appeared on MTV, television commercials, and has worked as a professional print model. Tonya has received multiple Choreography Awards and has worked as a Competition Judge. Tonya casts local talent for music videos, festivals and professional stage performances. Tonya teaches and choreographs for our competitive dance company as well as Fun Adult Classes such as Ballet Jazz, & Hip Hop.

Welcome back

Lourdes Santos

Ms. Lourdes taught at Expressions several years ago and we are excited to have her back on our faculty for the 2022-2023 Dance Season!  After graduating from the government sponsored Art school of Holguin, Lourdes began dancing professionally at the “Ballet del Teatro Lirico de Holguin” and teaching ballet at the government art school. During her tenure. she trained several generations of ballet dancers. Eventually, she opened her own studio which she ran until coming to the USA. In conjunction with her private ballet school she was appointed as Artistic director for “the center for music and spectacles”, a branch of the ministry of Arts, developing programs for athletes who used ballet for cross-training, as well as directed several musicals and dance shows.

Welcome!

Gabrielle Day

Ms. Gabby is new to our faculty this season, as well as being new to Florida. She comes from the state of Pennsylvania with a strong foundation in competitive dance. Having worked as a guest teacher over the past recent years, we are happy she chose Expressions as her new dance family. Ms. Gabby will teach Hip Hop and Contemporary.

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Student Teachers

We handpick a select few of our Home-Grown, very talented, high school students to Co-Teach our youngest students. For the 2022-2023 Dance Season, these students have been selected:

Melina Miraglia

Chaisen Gonzales

Ember Dougherty 

Gretchen Miraglia

Parent Volunteer

Gretchen is a parent-volunteer who helps out in many areas. From helping organize costumes to helping back-stage. Are you interested in getting involved? Whether it be with props, or something else, ask to fill out the volunteer form. We'd love to have your help!