Our Talented Instructors

Michelle Verissimo
Michelle VerissimoOwner | Director
Michelle began her dance training at a very young. As a child she was inspired by her mother who studied tap dancing. Michelle attended Ballet Arts Studio where she studied many styles of dance under American ballet dancer, musical theatre, and actor Marc Platt along with Jean Goodall Radio City Music Hall and musical theater performer. Michelle continued to further her training and studies by participating in master classes and workshops held by Cynthia Arenillas, former member of Merce Cunningham and Paul Taylor Dance Companies, Judy Skinner, Director of Dance Alive National Ballet, John Parks, Assistant Professor of Dance at University of South Florida. In addition Michelle has danced in guest performances through Studio Bochette including Gulf Coast Dance Company. Michelle has also danced as a member in Dance Alliance and cofounded the resident dance company. Michelle has over 30 years of dance experience including performance, instruction, and choreography. Michelle is the founder and program director of I.L.T. Dance Studio. Being a dance educator has been an awarding experience for Michelle. She strives to inspire young people through dance and share with them her own passion for the art.
Desi Acacia
Desi AcaciaInstructor | Choreographer
Desi Acacia is from Orlando, Florida and she started dancing at the age of three, and competed in dance when she was just seven years old. For seventeen years she’s trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hiphop, Contemporary, and Acrobatics. She is a national title winner soloist for the junior, teen, and senior age divisions and has received a great amount of scholarships, first place trophies, and special awards while competing in the most competitive and highest category at the competition.

She works along side legendary choreographers such as; Dena Rizzo, Geo Hubela, Charles Roy, Mary Anne Lamb, Arielle Elonys, and Gev Manoukian.
She was also hired to be a protégé at Cathy Roe’s Ultimate Dance Competition, and choreographed a Hiphop piece called “Men In Black” for the Dance Spectacular.
Her main goal as a dance instructor is to make sure her students are not just growing positively as dancers, but as humans as well. She stresses to her students that even though competitions and special performances are great, it’s important to remember that before it became a job, it was your passion, your first love, and you should always hold on to that passion no matter how difficult it gets.

Breanna Barfield
Breanna BarfieldInstructor | Choreographer
Breanna Barfield is the 22 year old daughter of Tommy and Patricia Barfield and has one younger brother, Hunter. She is a graduate of Coker College with a Bachelors in Music with a Voice concentration. Breanna also received a dance scholarship while in her four years at Coker College. She began competition dance at the age of two and has been dancing for 20 years. Among those 20 years Breanna has had the opportunity to take classes from So You Think You Can Dance Winners and Top Ten Contestants, Benji Schwimmer, “Twitch”, Kent Boyd, and Travis Wall. She has also had the opportunity to take classes from Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance’s choreographer, Mandy Moore. Throughout her competition years Breanna won many scholarships, held national titles, performed at Disney World, and performed in shows with numerous professional dancers. Breanna is experienced in many forms of dance including, jazz, ballet, tap, hip-hop, modern, contemporary, lyrical, and pointe. She has been a dance assistant for four years and an instructor for competition and recreational dance for two years, working with all ages. She was also captain of her dance team in college where she was able to choreograph at the collegiate level. Her philosophy that she leaves with her students is, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” Remember to work hard and never give up on your dreams, and most importantly, keep dancing!
Jordian Papp
Jordian PappInstructor | Choreographer
Jordian was introduced to dance from a young and started at a local studio- where I danced for 16 years under the direction of Rita Farmer. Cecchetti Ballet was always a main focus of my training while growing up. Jordian attended High School at Cyrpess Lake Center for the performing Arts under the direction of Pati Gair and Nancy Petro. It was during this time when Jordian started to focus on not just ballet training but modern dance as well. After Graduation I attended Santa Fe College where I was given a dance scholarship. The Dance College was under the direction of Alora Haynes. During my time at Santa Fe Jordian was a member of the Dance Threatre of Santa Fe where I worked with choreographers Like Brain Brooks and Peter Kalivas. Jordian has also studied at the University of South Florida school of theatre and dance with a focus on Modern dance. Dance has always been such a big and fulfilling part of my life. I love being able pass along an art form that is full of such sweet traditions to my students.