Kristina Robison
Studio Owner
Early Dance Life
After dancing with numerous dance companies, Kristina danced professionally in New York City for two years and was featured in the David Shen Dance Group.
Education / Training
Kristina earned her Bachelor of Arts in Dance at Texas Women’s University, one of the top dance conservatories in the country.
Professional Dancing
Kristina was fortunate enough to be trained under the tutelage of Melissa Young, Michael Foley, Mary Williford-Shade, Sara Gamblin, Larry Keigwin and Amy O’Neal.
Fun Facts
Besides teaching, choreographing and fostering the love of dance in thousands of children for over 15 years, Kristina will tell you her greatest accomplishment is raising her four beautiful children.
Shelby Knight
Jazz Instructor
Early Dance Life
Shelby has been dancing since she was 3 and has trained many award-winning students.
Education / Training
After winning many awards as a competitor, she went on to train and travel with dance teams in the Southeast.
Professional Dancing
Won the National Championships as a collegiate dancer for the University Red Hots and earned a BFA.
Fun Facts
Shelby taught dance in the public school system for 9 years. She is excited to now share her passion for dance with her daughter who also attends Grace Conservatory.
Kayla Burford
Hip Hop | Preschool | BTBJ | Jazz
Early Dance Life
Kayla has been dancing since she was 3 years old, including 8 years competitively.
Education / Training
Kayla is continuing her dance studies after being accepted in the Dance Works Program at Florida State University, Jacksonville.
Professional Dancing
Kayla has won many awards for dance, including the Seasonal Best Duo.
Fun Facts
She has trained in many styles including: Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Tap, Modern, and Contemporary.
James Ranch
Hip Hop | Contemporary | Ballet | Acro
Early Dance Life
James started dancing at the age of 7 in street / urban styles and training in ballet and jazz at 10. He attended Douglas Anderson School of the Arts.
Education / Training
Not only is James a gifted dancer, he also is a musician and visual artist. He recently starred in a video that was accepted into the NY Film Festival.
Professional Dancing
He has taught at numerous schools, studios and institutions in north east Florida, including an Artist in Residence at Lavilla School of the Arts.
Fun Facts
James is married to his beautiful wife, Laurel. They recently were blessed with an adorable baby girl, Zara.
Alyssa Roselli
Preschool | BTBJ | Jazz | Contemporary
Early Dance Life
Originally from Canada, Alyssa started dancing at the age of 4. In her 20+ years of dance, she has studied all genres, including ballroom dancing.
Education / Training
Alyssa attended East Carolina University with a dance performance major. In Canada, her studio was part of the Royal Academy of Dance, which followed a strict syllabus to build technique and character.
Professional Dancing
A member of the Company Dancers of Durham, she was part of Mulitple Choices, raising money for Duke Children’s Hospital. She had the privilege to take Master Classes from Ann Reinking, Mia Michaels and Wade Robson.
Fun Facts
Alyssa shares her passion with the dance ministry at her church, expressing her faith through dance, giving dancers confidence and the ability to become who they were created to be.
Holly Dayton
Conservatory | Jazz | Broadway
Early Dance Life
Holly began training in various styles of dance and piano at age 5, competing and placing locally and nationally. She danced with Florida State University’s Golden Girls and trained with the Universal Dance Association as an instructor and choreographer at the collegiate level.
Education / Training
Holly graduated Cum Laude from Florida State University double-majoring in Finance and Entrepreneurship. She then trained and performed professionally in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New York, working with renowned instructors Baayork Lee, Marguerite Derricks, Charlie Sutton, Bonnie Story, and Matt Farnsworth Vocal Studios.
Professional Dancing
Holly performed with Lady Gaga in Sinatra 100 on CBS, Steve Wynn’s Showstoppers, Don Arden’s Jubilee!, Vegas the Show!, and Dancing Queen in Las Vegas. She toured nationally with Elf the Musical and The Elf on the Shelf Musical. She also performed with Royal Caribbean, Redken, Paul Mitchell, and Clarks Shoes. She also held more than 10 roles in musicals and plays across the country.
Fun Facts
Holly is dedicated to mentoring young artists, helping them prepare for important auditions and in their desires to pursue dance professionally. She loves sharing the joy of dance and witnessing the healing it brings.
She is grateful to God, her family, and her husband, Mark, for their unwavering love and support.
Kristen Jameson
Ballet
Early Dance Life
Kristen attended summer intensives including Bolshoi Ballet Academy and American Ballet Theater, and Kirov Academy of Ballet. Kristen also participated in the Joffrey Ballet School summer exchange program, and spent two weeks in Moscow, Russia at the esteemed Bolshoi Ballet Academy studying ballet and historical dance. Following this, she received an invitation to study at the Bolshoi in the year-round program.
Education / Training
Kristen attended Radford University, where she earned her B.F.A. with a concentration in Classical Ballet, as well as her B.S. in Early Childhood Education. She also appeared as a supernumerary guest at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC with American Ballet Theater, in productions of Le Corsaire and Don Quixote. Kristen went on to earn her M. Ed. In Early Childhood Education at George Mason University, and completed her Vaganova ballet teacher certification from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy Teacher Certification Program with the Russian American Foundation.
Professional Dancing
Kristen spent seven seasons as a professional dancer with the Savannah Ballet Theatre. She enjoyed performing some of her dream roles like the Snow Queen in the Nutcracker, and other leading roles such as the Wicked Witch in the Wizard of Oz. She continues to perform and guest artist where she can, and most recently found her way to Grace Conservatory for the 2024 “Messiah” production! She has been teaching for over fifteen years and spent three years as an Adjunct Professor of Dance at Savannah State University.
Fun Facts
When she isn’t at the dance studio, you can usually find Kristen at the beach or digging for treasure at the thrift store! She loves antiques and vintage fashion. Kristen also loves line dancing, and has recently tried her hand at tap! She enjoys writing, solo traveling, and a good DIY project.
Sachiko Kanai Hirokawa
Pre-Professional Ballet
Early Dance Life
Born in Yokohama, Japan, Sachiko began dancing at the age of three and joined a professional ballet company at eleven. After high school, she moved to London to study dance at the Urdang Academy and performed with a European Ballet Company.
Education / Training
Her training began in Japan at the Matsuyama Ballet Company and with Kiyoko Ogawa, followed by the Academie de Dance Classique Princess Grace in Monaco, three years at the Urdang Academy in London and continued in New York under the guidance of Finis Jhung.
Professional Dancing
Sachiko joined the JBA and became part of Japan’s largest musical company, the Shiki Theater Company. She performed in Cats (as Victoria), Contact, The Lion King, and A Chorus Line. In New York, she joined the Metropolitan Opera, gracing the stage in productions such as Aida, Turandot, Armida, Madama Butterfly, and Parsifal.
Fun Facts
As an actress/model she hosted a Japanese TV show and appeared in various shows, films, and commercials. She demonstrated in Finis Jhung’s instructional DVDs, including The Center Floor Ballet Warm-up and Ballet Barre for the Adult Absolute Beginner, to name just a few. She taught ballet to both children and adults in Japan, and many prominent NY studios.
Amy Gwilliam
Broadway | Vocal Music | Acting
Early Dance Life
At the age of 7, Amy started performing throughout Southern California. During her time in high school and college, Amy won the Opera Pacific, performed solos at the Crystal Cathedral and Angels’ Stadium, recorded CDs in Los Angeles, and was crowned in scholarship pageants in both California and Utah.
Education / Training
Amy obtained her batchlors degree from Chapman University in Vocal Music Performance. She has had the privilege of studying classical singing under Margaret Quon and Margaret Dehning, both former Metropolitan Opera singers, as well as acclaimed opera tenor, Isaac Hurtado.
Professional Dancing
A few of Amy’s roles on the stage have been: Marian Paroo in The Music Man, Lily Craven in Secret Garden, Grace Farrell in Annie, and Mrs. Banks in Mary Poppins. Amy has worked with hundreds of performers in her private voice and piano studio of 24 years, in shows she has musically directed (her best-loved is Les Miserables!) and in theater intensives and courses for teenagers and children.
Fun Facts
The first time Amy’s husband proposed marriage to her was the summer they met, while acting out a scene on stage in front of a live audience. 22 years and 3 amazing children later, they are all performing together!
Theresa Jimmerson
Pre-Professional Ballet
Early Dance Life
Theresa was born in Germany and decided to join the conservatory of the Ballet Basel, Switzerland at the age of 12.
Education / Training
She received her ballet education in the pre-professional program of Theater Basel under Amanda Bennett and Nicola Biasutti among others.
Professional Dancing
She performed for numerous companies and freelance choreographers in the US, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, France, Italy and the Faroe Islands, i.a. with Vivo Ballet (Enzo Celli), RIVA Dance Company (Rannvá Niclasen), Luca Renzi Smith, Julia Ehrstrand and Max Stone.
Fun Facts
Fun Fact: In her very first dance performance as a 4-year old, she danced in the role of an oven.
Florian Rouiller
Choreographer
Early Dance Life
Florian was born in Switzerland and studied at the prestigious John Cranko School in Stuttgart, Germany where he danced with the Stuttgart Ballet.
Education / Training
Florian has a BFA in Ballet from the John Cranko School and an MFA in Dance from the University of Maryland.
Professional Dancing
He’s danced with Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Ohio Ballet, Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Chicago, Ballet International Eldar Aliev, Ballet Metropolitano de Caracas, Ballet Contemporanea de Caracas in Venezuela, and Goteborg Ballet in Sweden.
Fun Facts
He has performed with many companies throughout the United States and taught extensively, including at the Kirov Academy in Washington DC, the Washington Ballet School, and City Dance Ensemble. In the DC area, he has performed with City Dance Ensemble, Dana Tai Soon Burgess, and Lucy Bowen McCauley, Karen Reedy.
Mandi Logan
Choreographer
Early Dance Life
Mandi has been dancing since she was a child and trained in ballet for 14 years. She has taught in various studios in North Carolina and Ohio. She resides in St. Johns with her husband and seven amazing children.
Education / Training
Training under Karena Brock Carlisle (principal dancer of ABT), Mandi has attended Joffrey Ballet, Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet, and the Governor’s School of the Arts Intensives.
Professional Dancing
While at the Governor’s School for the Arts, Mandi received the Callie Rainy Award for excellence.
Fun Facts
Some of Mandi’s most memorable performances include “Giselle”, “The Nutcracker”, “The Bluebird”, “Le Corsair”, “Interlude”, “Gotcha Gottschalk”, “Entertainment” and “Satie Suite”
Katie Miccarelli
Ballet | Contemporary | Jazz
Early Dance Life
Originally from the Philadelphia suburbs, Katie has been dancing since the age of three and studied all genres of dance growing up.
Education / Training
She received a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from St. Francis DeSales University, studying primarily under Trinette Singleton. Throughout her college studies, Katie was featured twice as a student choreographer and she was honored to have her work adjudicated at the National College Dance Festival.
Professional Dancing
Katie directed her own non-profit dance company in Philadelphia. Her company and her choreography were showcased at various locations including The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, LOVE Park, and The Media Theatre. Katie has taught dance in the Philadelphia public school system and in private charter schools, while also directing an annual Nutrcracker production with over 200 young performers. Katie now loves teaching dance alongside her daughter and she is thrilled to grow and be a part of Grace Conservatory!
Fun Facts
“Snow” is her absolutely favorite scene in the Nutcracker and her favorite music to listen to at Christmastime!
Ashley Nelson
Preschool | Jazz | Acro | Tap
Early Dance Life
Ashley began dancing in Preschool and was a member of her studio’s dance company for eight years, performing at dance conventions and performances along the east coast, gaining a love for Hip Hop and Contemporary.
Education / Training
While attending Florida State College with a focus in Modern Dance, Ashley also became certified in Progressive Ballet Technique. She was a member of danceWORKS repertory company to continue to hone her skills.
Professional Dancing
For nearly a decade, Ashley has been teaching dance and doing choreography. She currently is a dance instructor and dance team choreographer/coach at a local private school in Jacksonville.
Fun Facts
Some of Ashley’s favorite dance companies that she has seen perform are Ballet Hispanico and Alvin Ailey Dance Company. Her favorite Broadway musical is Newsies.
Harley Williams
Jazz | Hip Hop | Preschool | Acro
Early Dance Life
Harley is from Maryland, and she began dancing at the age of 2 years old. In middle and high school, she performed throughout the Northeast United States.
Education / Training
Harley was accepted in the the AACPS program at 12 years old, and she trained with the Apex program for the next 6 years. Harley is also certified by Acrobatic Arts in Acro facilitation and training.
Professional Dancing
Harley performed with the Apex Dance Company in Maryland and beyond for four years culminating with a dance showcase featuring her original choreography.
Fun Facts
An avid reader, Harley wants to own a bookstore one day here in the Northeast Florida area.
Tanya Wright
Broadway | Preschool | Contemporary
Early Dance Life
Raised in Ohio, Tanya performed in talent shows, musical theatre, color guard, and center stage during choir performances.
Education / Training
Tanya was a dance major where her main focus was Modern dance and later added West African and other cultural dances to her list of dance passions.
Professional Dancing
Performed with Toledo Operas in Aida. Dance companies include Real People Moving, Hajera and Alma. She has also worked as a performer and choreographer with musical theatre.
Fun Facts
Tanya truly enjoys working with kids of all ages, experiencing their hearts through dance. She can now also share her passion with her lovely daughter whom has been attending Grace for the last few years.
