Meet Our Instructors | Attitudes in Dance, Venice, Florida

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

Renata Gaona, Co-Artistic Director

Renata began her dance career 33 years ago as a classical ballet and jazz dancer. She majored in classical ballet in 1985 and graduated in physical education in 1991. She has spent more than 20 years working as a jazz choreographer, and won the ENDA prize for the Best Jazz Group in Brazil in 1989. Renata worked as a jazz instructor at the RT Academy in Brazil and became the studio's director shortly after.

Rita Farmer

Rita Farmer is a certified advanced Professional Ballet teacher and Fellow Member of the Cecchetti Council of America. Ms Farmer has presented dancers and teachers for examinations in the Cecchetti Method of Ballet and been a member of CCA since 1997.

Rita graduated from Marshall University located in Huntington, West Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts in secondary Education. Throughout her college years, she performed as a member of the Huntington Dance Workshop a civic ballet company. Rita has taught Pointe, Ballet, Jazz, Acrobatics, Lyrical and Tap in many different states including Florida, New York, Colorado and West Virginia. She owned a studio for 14 years and directed ballet performances of Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Coppelia and annual Nutcracker performances.

Chris Lee

Chris Lee is an international dance instructor, choreographer. and master class teacher in Tap, Jazz, and Lyrical. His teaching credits include: Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, Performing Arts Academy, plus several other studios in New York, New Jersey and Florida.

Chris has been a guest artist and teacher at the Ailey School Dance Masters of America, Dance Awards and Starquest. Chris has performed with "Johnny James and the Jammers", Star Search, New Generation Dance Company in Romania and Belgium, and was a finalist with Mr. Dance of America.

Kiersten Kurtz

Kiersten Kurtz began her dance training at LeeAnne Ashley Studio of Dance, Bedford Virginia and Dance Theatre of Lynchburg, Virginia. Kiersten continued her training at Attitudes In Dance under the direction of Ms. Connee Winslow, Ms. Renata Gaona, Ms. Rita Farmer, Mr. Chris Lee and Ms. Sonja Romanski. 

 Her studies include Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Tap, Hip Hop, Acrobatics and Modern. Kiersten’s senior year of High School she was captain of the Competition Team and the lead in the Stars and Stripes Ballet at Attitudes In Dance. Kiersten began her Cecchetti Ballet training in 2016 under the direction of Ms. Rita Farmer. 

 As a student Kiersten has passed the Graded Levels (I – IV) with the Cecchetti Council of America receiving Highly Commended and is currently preparing for the Elementary Professional Level Examination. As a teacher she is coached by Ms. Rita and has completed examinations through Grade II Teacher’s Level with CCA receiving Highly Commended. In 2019, The Cecchetti Council of America Florida Committee presented Kiersten with the Matching Scholarship to the Cecchetti International Teacher’s Seminar held at Hope College in Holland Michigan. 

Phoenix Shipley

Pre-Ballet
Cecc Primary 1/2
Ballet/Tap 6-9 y/o
Attitudes In Dance
CALL US 
TODAY!
(941) 488-3664
674 Tamiami Trail, Venice, FL 34285
 WHY CHOOSE US:
  • 3 DANCE STUDIOS
  • SPRUNG FLOORS
  • 2 DRESSING ROOMS
  • HOMEWORK ROOM
  • WORLD-RENOWNED STAFF

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

Meet Our Instructors | Attitudes in Dance, Venice, Florida

    Renata Gaona, Artistic Director

    Renata began her dance career 33 years ago as a classical ballet and jazz dancer. She majored in classical ballet in 1985 and graduated in physical education in 1991. She has spent more than 20 years working as a jazz choreographer, and won the ENDA prize for the Best Jazz Group in Brazil in 1989. Renata worked as a jazz instructor at the RT Academy in Brazil and became the studio's director shortly after.

    Rita Farmer

    Rita Farmer is a certified advanced Professional Ballet teacher and Fellow Member of the Cecchetti Council of America. Ms Farmer has presented dancers and teachers for examinations in the Cecchetti Method of Ballet and been a member of CCA since 1997.

    Rita graduated from Marshall University located in Huntington, West Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts in secondary Education. Throughout her college years, she performed as a member of the Huntington Dance Workshop a civic ballet company. Rita has taught Pointe, Ballet, Jazz, Acrobatics, Lyrical and Tap in many different states including Florida, New York, Colorado and West Virginia. She owned a studio for 14 years and directed ballet performances of Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Coppelia and annual Nutcracker performances.

    Chris Lee

    Chris Lee is an international dance instructor, choreographer. and master class teacher in Tap, Jazz, and Lyrical. His teaching credits include: Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, Performing Arts Academy, plus several other studios in New York, New Jersey and Florida.

    Chris has been a guest artist and teacher at the Ailey School Dance Masters of America, Dance Awards and Starquest. Chris has performed with "Johnny James and the Jammers", Star Search, New Generation Dance Company in Romania and Belgium, and was a finalist with Mr. Dance of America.

    Makenna Finley

    Cecchetti Primary 3
    Ballet/Tap 4-5 yrs
    Cecchetti Primary 1/2
    Ballet/Tap 6-9 yrs
    Creative Movement

    Veda Kushman

    Pre-Ballet

    Victoria Gaona

    Co-Artistic Director
    Aerial Instructor
    Share by: