JULESTARZ ACADEMY - Key Persons
Abrien W. Nelson is a vocal and acting coach, piano and guitar instructor at Julestarz Academy of the Performing Arts. He is also a certified K-12 music educator and a second-year K-5 music teacher at Valrico Academy. Mr. Abrien holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical theater with a concentration in vocal performance from Jacksonville University. Mr. Abrien is a strong advocate for encouraging students to become lifelong learners and creatives. He employs a diverse range of teaching methods and resources to engage and inspire all types of learners. He believes that each student possesses unique talents and will contribute something distinctive to the community county, and the world. Mr. Abrien fosters confidence and encourages his students to develop their skills. He derives great satisfaction from witnessing his students blossom with innovation and creativity. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Mr. Abrien is an accomplished actor, singer, songwriter, and producer. His aspiration is to share his insights and knowledge with the next generation of artists.
Duc Anh Tran is a professional musician and passionate educator. Growing up in Vietnam, he spent most of his schooling years receiving professional training in piano performance at the Vietnam National Academy of Music. In 2018, he moved to the United States to pursue his American dream. Mr. Tran graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Music Education….
is a lifelong gymnastics enthusiast that will bring more than 15 years of competitive experience and 25 years of coaching knowledge to Julestarz Academy. Many of her earliest and fondest childhood memories are of teaching neighbors how to cartwheel and building lasting friendships with gymnastics teammates. Throughout her career June has worked with hundreds of recreational and high level competitive athletes while serving in a number of Gymnastics Director roles for private gyms and public and nonprofit organizations. June is motivated by helping all athletes achieve their personal goals in the sport whether they are for the competition floor or to learn a cool trick…
Lily Grace Cummings, originally from Clemson, SC, moved to New York City at the age of 14 years old to be a Jazz & Contemporary trainee with Joffrey Ballet School, receiving a four-year dance certificate. Following her time at Joffrey, Lily received her BFA in Dance from New Jersey City University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Lily has since relocated to Tampa, FL after a decade of working professionally in the arts and entertainment industry in the Big Apple, and two years in Upstate South Carolina, as both performer and dance teacher. Read more…
Mr. David Cannistraci received his Bachelors Degree in Music from the The City College of New York, minoring in Education. He spent four years teaching piano, music theory, and music history at the New York learning Center in New York City and has extensive experience as a percussionist for Broadway Musicals and jazz sets. Mr. David has received the prestigious Barnet Award for Composition as well as the Sidney Zolot Graduation Award. This is his sixth season at Julestarz teaching private music lessons in piano and drums.
Mr. Hamilton Ortiz is an active music teacher, currently working for Dr.Kiran Patel Elementary. He holds a Masters Degree in Arts in Music Education from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico. He has been a music teacher for more than 10 years in which he had taught music from K-12 for diverse populations in group and individual settings. Hamilton loves to interact with the students in a personal way, creating strategies to develop rapport and an individualized plan of learning for the students. His love for the arts and socialization through music creates a unique experience that is fun and enthusiastic for all students of all ages. His background in classical piano, latin percussion and popular guitar, give him the ability to have a well-rounded knowledge to teach diverse genres and instruments. He had been a music conductor for several schools and churches in Florida and Puerto Rico, in which he conducted choirs, concert bands, rock bands and worship bands. He currently performs at his church as the piano/keys and bass player, as soloist for private events, and for several bands as a drummer bass and guitar player.
Mr. Hamilton Ortiz is an active music teacher, currently working for Dr.Kiran Patel Elementary. He holds a Masters Degree in Arts in Music Education from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico. He has been a music teacher for more than 10 years in which he had taught music from K-12 for diverse populations in group and individual settings. Read more…
Ms. Candice Cunningham is from Mesa, AZ, where she graduated from MCC with her AFA in dance, highest distinction. She continued her Dance Education at Cornish College of the Arts where she graduated with her BFA in Dance. While at MCC she performed with the MCC Dance Company for two years, during which time she displayed her choreographic works alongside faculty in shows. During her many years of training she has studied various styles of dance consisting of but not limited to Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Modern, Lyrical, Flamenco, and Ballroom. She recently completed Level 1 and 2 of Aerial Yoga Training at Circusoul Yoga. She has been training in Aerial Silks, Lyra and Aerial Hammock for several years. This is her 9th year teaching at Julestarz.
Ms. Julie Kenny holds a Masters Degree in Arts and Humanities in Dance and Theatre from The State University of New York at Buffalo and a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from Westminster College. Julie has been a faculty member of the Theatre Studies Program at Niagara University where she taught dance classes for three years. She also taught theatre, acting, and public speaking classes at Daemen College. She is a tenured music teacher for the Buffalo Public School District and the Baltimore County Public School District, where she taught music to grades K through 8. Julie was an NFL cheerleader for the Buffalo Bills for three years, and served as captain for one season. She has worked as a choreographer for many professional theatre and dance companies throughout the northeast region. Some of her choreography credits include: "Will Rogers Follies," "Godspell," "The Music Man," "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," the Miss Erie County Junior Miss Pageants, and a CO Jones music video produced by the Goo Goo Dolls. Julie also enjoys performing. Some of her favorite roles include: Maria in "The Sound of Music," Sister Leo in "Nunsense," Barbara in "Run for your Wife," and Mazeppa in "Gypsy." Her singing credits include performing at Westminster Abbey in England, the Notre Dame Cathedral in France and singing the National Anthem for an NFL football game. Julie served as producer and executive director for the first dinner theatre in Buffalo, N.Y., in over twenty years. Julie is a member of the National Dance Educators Organization.
Ms. Kay was born in Tokyo and began learning music at a very young age at the Yamaha Music Institute in Kanagawa Japan. A couple years later her mother placed her in a music academy to learn classical piano. She learned to play serious classical piano music throughout her childhood and into adulthood, graduating the academy and continued with professional private lessons. She has studied different genres in America and has traveled to Austria to study music history. Throughout the years she has taught young children, teens and adults. She has performed professionally for various bands, organizations and orchestras. She came to Tampa with her husband and four children in 2012 from Santa Barbara, California due to her husband's job.
Krystal Huot is a dancer, instructor and choreographer originally from Miami, FL. She has a strong ballet foundation and has trained in various styles, including pointe, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, modern, and hip-hop. She began her training at Academy of Arts and as part of the Senior Company performed lead and pas de deux roles, including Nutcracker's Arabian and Snow.
Krystal's passion for versatility led her to compete in Atlanta for World of Dance with a local Orlando team. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business and a minor in Dance from UCF, where she served as President of Knights and Damsels Dance Company. Under her leadership, the company expanded into two performance teams, with over 60 dancers, and showcased their talent at notable events such as Orlando Magic, Creative City Project, Dancing for Diabetes, and semester team showcases.
Continuing her commitment to education, Krystal is certified in Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT) and completed the National Curriculum Teacher Training for Pre-Primary-Level 3 at American Ballet Theatre. She has also modeled for dance events, including ballerina Tiler Peck's leotard collection and Pas de Deux photography conference.
Ms. Livia Astacio has been a dancer for 16 years. She was a competitive dancer for 12 years, and has won multiple national championships with the Star Dance Alliance. During her training she has experience in ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, tap and arial silks. She is currently working on getting her bachelors degree in Communications. Ms Livia is so excited to be a part of Julestarz team and share her love and passion with her students!
Job Titles:
- Competition Team Director / Dance Instructor
Ms. Liz Strehle started dance at age three and has had nineteen years of dance training in Ballet, Tap, Modern, Lyrical, Hip Hop and Jazz. She has been teaching dance classes for five years. She is from Pensacola,FL and recently moved to Tampa in June to pursue her bachlor of arts in Dance. Liz has danced for Pensacola School of Ballet and the Emerald Coast Ballet Company, training under Anthea Nader and Marrol Hiederaly. She then taught dance at In His Steps Christian Dance Studio and The Dance Academy of Santa Rosa. Liz has choreographed numerous pieces for Chaddah Dance Company as well as performing in it. She has choreographed for showcases, workshops, Center Stage Nutcracker, and conventions. This is her sixth year at Julestarz Academy and is very excited to work with all the dancers!
For the past 24 years Lora Pfeiffer has been shaping the lives of children and adults through dance and movement. A native of Florida, she began her dance training at the age of 10. Her training continued at Palisades Performing Arts Center in Nyack, NY under the direction of Bill Hastings, Lisa Lockwood and GeoffreyDoig-Marx. She also has the privilege of studying under Debbie Wilson and Joe Orrach. She has worked professionally in the performing arts industry for many years as a dancer actor and educator. Some of her professional work includes the Elan Awards, Kiss Me Kate, Turnadot, Back to Manhattan and several TV appearances. Upon returning home from New York, she continued her love for movement with Pilates through the Physical Mind Institute. She enjoyed 7 years of educating and inspiring people to use movement as a preventative to many health problems. Lora was also a member of the faculty at the Theatre Arts and Dance Alliance for 8 years. Her training and teaching experience includes ballet, modern, jazz, tap, hip hop and creative movement. She is excited to continue to share her love for dance and the arts.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Competition Director / Dance Instructor
Sarah Lochridge has been dancing for 32 years, and has had the opportunity to teach at studios across the country and beyond. Her career began at Cheryl's Dance Studio of Baytown, Texas where she studied and competed in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical and Musical Theatre. As a dance scholarship recipient, Sarah studied modern dance under Dr. Suzanne Oliver and Rob Davidson at San Jacinto College in Houston, Texas. While completing school, Sarah was on staff at Premier Dance Academy as the Mini Company director and Teen Company assistant director as well as continuing her ballet studies under Molly Snell-Witt in College Station, Texas. Sarah was also on the staff of ADTS for six years. She received her Associate's Degree in Small Business Management from Blinn College. Sarah then began to teach dance full time at Cheryl's Dance Studio before moving with her husband to Oklahoma where she taught dance for Star Steps of Edmond. After moving to Virginia she became the advanced and competitive tap instructor at Dance and Gym Expressions of Stafford, Virginia. Sarah previously taught competitive dance at Julestarz for 3 years before moving to Ramstein,Germany where she taught all levels of ballet and tap as well as helped organize classes and events for dance, music, gymnastics and karate within the Ramstein Youth Instructional Program. After Germany she went on to teach in Montgomery, AL for Tonya Speeds Dance Connection. Sarah is excited to be back in Florida teaching for Julestarz Academy once again!
Miss Shani is originally from a small town in New Hampshire. She started her training at Kathy Blake's Dance studio at the age of eight. Starting with Jazz she quickly grew to love dance and continued training in more styles such as Ballet, Modern, Lyrical, Musical Theatre and Hip-hop. At the young age of 13, she was chosen to join the studios dance company and was able to travel to New York and L.A. for different intensives. After graduating high school in 2009, Shani attended The University of Tampa majoring in Business Management and Minoring in Applied Dance. During college she was captain of the Spanish Dance Team and choreographed for the University's Fall and Spring Dance Happenings. In the summer of 2011, she taught dance at Camp Vega for girls Maine. In 2012 she made her debut as a Tampa Bay Storm Cheerleader. After graduating college in 2013 she continued as a Storm Cheerleader for a second season. During this time she also continued to take classes and perform in various community shows. In 2015 Miss Shani started teaching at Dance Theatre of New Bern in North Carolina. During her time in NC, she also had the opportunity to work with New Bern Civic Theatres the choreography for Evita and Catch Me If You Can. In 2017 Miss Shani had the opportunity to work for a new studio Power House Dance where she worked with their recreational and competitive students. Besides her strong love for teaching and performing, Shani enjoys spending time with children Ava and Deckard.
Ms. Tanya Ortiz comes to Julestarz with experience from the famous music conservatory, madeo Roldán and Paulita Concepcion in Cuba. She began studying at the age of 4 and continued through the duration of her years in elementary and high school. She is now studying music at Hillsborough Community College and finds passion in teaching her students piano and voice.