MEET THE TEAM

Katie began dancing at age three, training in multiple styles and performing in both theater and school productions. With certifications in AFFA group and dance fitness, she built a following teaching movement classes for moms and children before opening her own studio. Blending her passion for dance and education, she created an inclusive space where all dancers can thrive. A member of the Dance Studio Owners Association, National Dance Education Organization, and St. Pete Chamber of Commerce, Katie continues to train with top industry leaders while fostering creativity, confidence, and community through dance.

Courtney is a dancer, choreographer, and fitness professional with a B.S. in Dance from Missouri State University. She has trained in all styles, worked with top programs like Millennium Dance Complex and LADM, and continues to perform with theme parks, theater companies, and entertainment groups across Florida. As an ACE-certified fitness instructor and Orangetheory coach, she blends her passion for dance, strength, and movement to inspire others.

Maddie is a passionate dance educator and choreographer from St. Petersburg with a BFA in Dance from the University of Florida, along with certifications in K–12 Dance Education and Dance Medicine. She has trained extensively across styles, earning recognition for her performance and choreography, with credits including Film Florida, Hallmark Entertainment, Lifetime, and the House of Blues. As both a performer and educator, Maddie has worked with renowned institutions such as Joffrey Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and Broadway Dance Center. She currently teaches at Perkins Elementary Center for the Arts and leads the competition program at Saint Pete Dance Center, where she focuses on technical excellence and artistic growth.

Isabella Hobbs (Miss Bella)  grew up in St. Petersburg. She danced for 16 years competitively, achieving regional and national awards. She has been trained in a wide variety of styles including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, musical theater, and clogging. She is currently attending the University of South Florida and is a dance adjunct at Perkins Elementary Center for the Arts. She enjoys sharing her love for dance with the SPDC family!

Ariel Banfalvy has been immersed in the dance world since the age of two, training and competing at a high level throughout her childhood. Growing up in the competitive dance circuit, she earned multiple overall titles and scholarships while traveling across the country with leading dance conventions and competitions.

Ariel continued her dance career at the University of Florida, where she proudly performed as a member of the Dazzlers, the university's official dance team, while earning her degree in Health Educatuon and Behavior with a certificate in Dance in Medicine. 

Following college, she fulfilled a lifelong dream by becoming a cheerleader for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, performing throughout the NFL season and representing the team at numerous appearances.

In addition to performing, Ariel is passionate about teaching and mentoring the next generation of dancers. She has taught at dance conventions, national competitions, and local studios, working with dancers of all ages and skill levels in a variety of styles. Ariel strives to create a positive and motivating classroom environment where dancers can build confidence, develop strong technique, and discover their love for movement.

She is excited to share her knowledge, experience, and passion for dance with her students and help them reach their fullest potential.

Drew Travis Robinson began training competitively in Largo, Florida, later studying Dance atthe Pinellas County Center for the Arts (PCCA) and the University of Arizona. His collegiatehighlights include choreographing for Chaka Khan, performing at the José Limón InternationalDance Festival, and contributing to motion capture research for dance preservation all beforeearning his BFA.Throughout his career, Drew has had the privilege of both performing and choreographing fornumerous companies across Florida, including Azara Ballet, ATLAS Modern Ballet, and TheSarasota Ballet. A dedicated educator, he currently serves as adjunct faculty at PCCA,rehearsal director for Broadway on the Bay, and a national judge and educator for PrestigeNational Talent as well as co-directing Prestige’s Preps & Prodigies program. Drew is grateful tobalance his time between stage and studio, directing his energy towards performing and helpingthe next generation of artists find their own voice.

Sage has been dancing since the age of six, training extensively in ballet, jazz, contemporary,  pointe and lyrical. She began her competitive dance journey at Dance Extreme Academy where she trained until late 2016. Throughout high school, she continued her training in Atlanta, Georgia, studying contemporary at Atlanta Ballet while also serving as captain for her high school dance team earning the opportunity to train with choreographers such as Debbie Allen and Anthony Burrell.

At the age of 20, she relocated to Los Angeles, California to continue her training as a dancer under industry professionals including Shannon Mather, Kaycee Rice, GiaNina Paolantonio, Sabrina Phillip and more. Sage returned to Florida in 2025 to continue her education and spend time as a Teacher & choreographer in the Tampa Bay Area, Sage is dedicated to growing as an artist and sharing her experiences and love for dance with the next generation of dancers. 

Mallory Banks is a passionate dance instructor from New Jersey who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Dance from The University of Tampa. She began dancing at age two and trained and competed in all styles for many years. Throughout college, she performed in the University of Tampa Spring Dance Concert and furthered her education through coursework in dance pedagogy, technique, anatomy, and kinesiology. Mallory is dedicated to helping dancers build strong technical foundations, confidence, and a lifelong love for dance.

My name is Sierra, and I was born and raised in Northern Virginia before moving to Florida five years ago. I’ve been a lifelong competitive dancer, training in styles such as pom, hip-hop, and jazz, and was a member of the Orlando Magic hype group. Today, I’m passionate about sharing my love for dance by educating the next generation in pom and inspiring adults through dancing.

Jennifer Mehlig is a New Jersey native, tap dance educator, performer, and award-winning choreographer dedicated to preserving and advancing the art of tap dance. She has trained under respected mentors throughout her career, such as Leo Manzari, Karen Calloway Williams, and Jared Grimes etc. Each helping to shape her passion for rhythm, musicality, and storytelling through movement.

Jennifer is a member of Project: Rhythm, and her choreography has earned numerous awards while helping students receive tap scholarships at major dance conventions. 

She is passionate about inspiring the next generation of dancers by building strong technical foundations, fostering confidence, and honoring the rich history and legacy of tap dance in every class she teaches.

Lisa has been part of Saint Pete Dance Center since its very beginning and plays a vital role as our Front Desk Manager. With a warm, welcoming presence, she is passionate about supporting families and helping dancers grow both inside and outside the studio. Her dedication to creating a positive, organized, and friendly environment makes her an invaluable part of the SPDC team.

Nicole Robinson is a professional dancer, educator, choreographer, and adjudicator with 20+
years of experience in concert and competitive dance. Her formal training includes John
Hopkins Middle School’s Dance Magnet Program, the Arts Conservatory for Teens, Pinellas
County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School, a pre-professional ballet program where she
studied Ballet, Pointe, Russian Character, and Modern, and collegiate dance studies. Her
academic training also included Music for Dance, Anatomy, and Kinesiology, providing her with
a well-rounded understanding of musicality, movement, and the body as it relates to dance. She
began her professional career with Brandon Ballet and has extensive training in Ballet, Pointe,
Jazz, Contemporary, Modern, Tap, Hip Hop, and Acrobatics. Nicole has taught and
choreographed all across the state of Florida, with her choreography receiving awards in
competitive dance, and has worked with organizations including Boys & Girls Clubs and Girls
Inc. She is Safe From Harm certified and has experience as a dance, theatre, and
instrumental/vocal music adjudicator and scholarship competition judge for Spotlight National
Talent Competition, Defying Gravity Aerial and Dance Comp, Florida Dance Masters, and more.