Meet our teachers
Centerstage Dance Academy takes pride in bringing you a diverse group of talented, passionate individuals who, together as a unified team, are committed to bringing out the very best in each individual student. Our goal is to pass on the gift of Dance to each child wanting to set their artistic minds free. Through hands-on, constant mind/body training, our teachers will help you to achieve your goals and reach your fullest potential: our success comes from your success. Centerstage selects their staff based on the highest quality of education, training, experiences, personal resumes, passion, and abilities: their commitment, as well as their personal drive/passion, sets Centerstage apart from the rest. Given the opportunity, our teachers will train your body, feed your passion, and nurture your soul: we will develop you into a well-rounded, hard-working, passionate artist ready to take on the Dance World ahead. If you commit to us, we will commit to you. After all, not only do you become our students...you also become our family.
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Yvette Breheney
Owner/Director Yvette Breheney, born and raised in Tampa, Florida, is the Owner/Director of Centerstage Dance Academy in Tampa, Florida. Yvette began her dance training at the young age of 6 and specializes in jazz, lyrical and special needs classes. With over 35 years of teaching and choreography experience, Yvette has seen many of her students rise to their fullest potential… from the Broadway Stage, Television, Commercials, Movies and more! In addition, Yvette has judged all over the country and taught master classes for several Florida collegiate dance teams.
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Danielle Dominguez
Creative Director/Company Choreographer Born and raised in Tampa, FL, Danielle Dominguez has trained for over 20 years in the styles of contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, and ballet. She quickly found her love and passion for teaching and has been molding young dancers and choreographing since the age of 16. Some might know Danielle from season 9 of SYTYCD as the “bacon girl” with her unique style of dancing; however, many people can recognize her elsewhere. Under the instruction of Travis wall, one of Danielle’s proudest accomplishments include being cast for a part in “Step Up 4” the movie, as contemporary dancer Vera Williams where she danced along side some of the best dancers in the commercial world including, Nick Lazzarini, Billy Bell, Teddy Forance, and Kathryn McCormick. Other credits include dancing for Booty Firm with Mark Ballas (DWTS), Choreographing and dancing in Set It Off’s Music Video, “Ancient History”, Joshua Cruz’s Music Video, “Shutting it Down”, MAC Cosmetics, Bright House, Publix, Kash n’ Karry, BMW, Porsche, Audi, Nickelodeon's Ever-Girl , and Disney. While finding time in her schedule to pursue other dance opportunities, Danielle is apart of the faculty at The Tampa Modern Dance Company as well as The Urban Dance Experience Convention and devotes her time to teaching and choreographing for her home studio, Centerstage Dance Academy in Tampa, FL in addition to other studios around the country.
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Shawn Martini
Creative Director/Company Choreographer Shawn Martini (Dancer, Choreographer, Adjudicator) is a graduate from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pa, where he received his Bachelors Degree in Dance. He is trained in several forms/styles of dance(ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern) and has his 'Acrobatic Arts' certification. He is a Teacher/Choreographer, as well as a performing member, for Tampa Modern Dance Company. He has been a regional/national adjudicator for In10sity Dance Challenge, Hall of Fame Dance Challenge, Kids Artistic Revue, Showbiz, International Dance Challenge, Encore Talent Productions and the Dance Masters of America Organization. He has choreographed Endicott College's UDA Nationals jazz routines, has been a judge for the University of Central Florida "Knights and Damsels" Dance Company, as well as a judge for the Orlando "Magic Minis". He was a Master Teacher/Choreographer for Evolve Productions/Continuum Dance Theater, in Pittsburgh PA., as well as is currently a choreographer/teacher for several Orlando/Tampa based competitive studios. He spent 4 years as a principle dancer in numerous performances staged by the 'Conservatory Dance Company', and 2 years as a principle dancer in the ‘Pillow Project Dance Company’. Along with numerous choreography/teaching credits in various states, Shawn has been seen performing in principle/soloist roles with the Tampa Modern Dance Company, Byham Theater in Pittsburgh, Pa, Busch Gardens Amusement Park in Williamsburg, Va, 'Pillow Project Dance Company' in Pittsburgh, Pa, Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA, Pittsburgh's Civic Light Opera(CLO), and has performed for 'Miss Kentucky' for the 'Miss America Scholarship Organization'.
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Lourdes Santos
Ballet Maitre Lourdes Santos is a Cuban professional ballet dancer and Ballet Maitre. Mrs. Santos began her studies at the Arts School of Holguin, sponsored by Cuban National Ballet. At age 9, for her interpretation of Colombina in “Toy Shop, ”she received the first of many dance awards; at 16, she won the Cuban National Ballet Competition for her performance of “La Bella Cubana” (Cuban Beauty, choreography by Alberto Mendez).Lourdes has more than 30 years of professional experience, both as a ballet dancer and as an instructor. She represented the Holguin Ballet Theater Company as a soloist in three international dance festivals. During her tenure there, she acquired a vast repertoire of choreographies, and had the opportunity to work with different recognized icons such as Alicia Alonso, Fernando Alonso, Jorge Vega, Alberto Mendez, Hugo Bufanty, and Azari Plisetsky. Lourdes later became an active member of the Cuban Ballet School where she trained several generations of ballet dancers. In 1991, she was promoted to Director for “The Center for the Arts” in the Province of Holguin. It was there that she developed different ballet programs for gymnasts and young children, and directed several musical and dance shows. She later earned a B.A. from the National Institute of Arts of Cuba, and eventually created her own school where she trained several generations of pre professional dancers. Lourdes came to Tampa in December of 2012 and has been sharing her knowledge with the local talent ever since.
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Lauren Blakeney
Ballet/Daytime Program Lauren grew up dancing in the Houston area under Kingwood Jazz and Company, and International Ballet of Houston. She was a finalist on Season 9 of “So You Think You Can Dance”, making it all the way to Top 30 girls of Vegas week. She then went on to perform as a principle dancer, touring over 20 countries with Rasta Thomas's Rock the Ballet and “Bad Boys of Dance”. Lauren next performed with Stacey Tookey’s Still Motion Dance Company, as well as assisting her on convention, and for So You Think You Can Dance. Getting the opportunity to do aerial work, Lauren joined Norwegian Cruise Lines as a principal dancer, and became aerial captain for 2 European contracts. She then went on to London, and starred in a national ad for Wowcher, and her commercial is still running today. Upon returning back to the United States, she joined NUVO Dance Convention as a judge, teacher, and assistant. Her choreography has been recognized and won many awards in the regional and national competition, including Youth American Grand Prix and Break the Floor Production conventions. She also continues to perform today, dancing in the past two Capezio Ace Award competitions, as well as working for choreographers around the world.
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Lisa Acebo
Tap Instructor Lisa Acebo, born and raised in Tampa is the former owner and artistic director of Rizing Starz Dance Academy. Upon closing RSDA in 2016, Lisa has remained involved the Tampa Bay area dance community. Lisa is on staff at Bay Area School of Dance Arts, is a certified Zumba instructor teaching weekly classes and loves being a private coach to several bay area competitive dancers. Lisa brings her love of Tap to the students of CDA.
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Kris Tetris
Hip-Hop Instructor
Hip-Hop Instructor
Kristofer Powell also known as "Tetris" started his training at Booker High school. After really taking to it, the athlete turned dancer received a scholarship to attend The New World School of the Arts in Miami, Florida. During his intense training in Miami Kris was introduced to the fundamentals of hip hop dance and started a well known Dance crew "N3K8" (pronounced Intricate). After only a year in college Kris was scene in music videos with artists including T-Pain, Trina, Lil Chuckee and others, as well as back up dancing for such artists as "J-Shock." With the combined technical skills that he was given from New World School of the Arts and the contrasted hip hop style he had obtained, Kris began to create his own mix of the two worlds.
Kris is the 1st physical education Hip Hop dance teacher for the Sarasota County School Board as well as a choreographer for Booker High School, bringing the beautiful things he learned back to Sarasota's youth. He is known as one of the most sought out Hip-Hop teachers in the Tampa Bay area and recently traveled intermationally teaching and performing throughout Europe.
Kris is the 1st physical education Hip Hop dance teacher for the Sarasota County School Board as well as a choreographer for Booker High School, bringing the beautiful things he learned back to Sarasota's youth. He is known as one of the most sought out Hip-Hop teachers in the Tampa Bay area and recently traveled intermationally teaching and performing throughout Europe.
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Lisa Antinori
Pre-School/Combo Classes With over 35 years of expertise, Lisa specializes in the technical and artistic development of our preschool and combo class students.
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Samantha Falcone
Office Manager |