Directors & Artists

Allesandra has known Tasha and her family for 15 years. Allseandra said,” Whenever I am involved with Wings to Fly I find my creativity goes beyond my imagination. I love the fact that they teach the inclusion of children and adults and give them the opportunity to perform on stage.” She is an extremely talented costume designer, and presently runs the treasure coast tap group. Allesandra is not just backstage with her needle and thread, she throws on her taps shoes and joins us on stage.

Amanda began her professional training at the Palm Beach Ballet Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. After continuing her training at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, she danced with North Carolina Dance Theatre (currently Charlotte Ballet). There, she had the opportunity to work with Patricia McBride and Jean Pierre Bonnefoux, Mark Diamond, Michael Vernon, Dwight Rhoden, and Mark Godden. She spent time with American Contemporary Ballet in LA and Reach Dance Company in West Palm Beach before joining Dance Theatre of Tennessee in Nashville. Amanda is currently teaching ballet in the Treasure Coast area, and is passionate about sharing her knowledge and wisdom with younger generations. This is Amanda’s fourth year with Wings to Fly Dance Company. She is excited to have a platform for developing her own artistic expression. Amanda is presently the head Ballet teacher and Choreographer At South Florida Ballet Company, and is presently working on her Spring Ballet, “The Little Mermaid”.

Ana Bolt-Turrall is a Wife, Mother, Dancer, Educator, consummate Artist and Mentor. She has spent a lifetime refining her craft and combining the art of dance and fitness with her heart for service. Ana’s years of professional dance training include studying with such renown teachers as Alonzo King, Michael Kliën, Jüri Nael, Ana Sanchez Colberg, Dmitri Peskov, Gerard Ebitz, Frank Hatchett, Fred Bratcher, Gerry Houlihan, Judith Newman, Mariana Alvarez, Rosita Segovia, Horton technique at The Alvin Ailey School, Limon technique with Daniel Lewis and mentor, Graham technique with Peter London and Laban Movement with Bill Evans. Ana is a professional movement specialist who strives to condition and strengthen her students and clients through mind, body and spirit connections. She is a certified Polestar® Pilates CPT and PMA® certified instructor as well as fully certified in dance and physical education for grades K-12. In addition, her repertoire of movement and fitness knowledge includes AIS-Active Isolated Stretching, Gyrokinesis, TRX suspension system and the Eric Franklin Method. She is a graduate of New World School of the Arts and Florida International University. She attended University of Miami School of Communications for continuing education courses and holds an MFA in Choreography Education/Research PAR (Practice as Research) from Jacksonville University with a residency at White Oak. Ana is an active and well-respected performing artist, always learning and presently working on “The Bolt Movement.” This movement concept involves working with older/mature dancers. Her leadership, training and expert coaching, have prepared many students to attend prestigious schools such as Juilliard in New York, Ailey/Fordham University, New World School of the Arts in Miami, Boston Conservatory, Florida State University, Broadway Theatre Project, Miami City Ballet and Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. She is known for her integrity, her desire to serve others and her un-dying commitment to building the community’s youth through the Arts. Through ‘The Bolt Movement’ she is encouraging adult dancers/artists with the desire to dance to continue to share their ideas or life’s stories through movement. Her holistic approach to teaching, builds not only dance technique and athletic skills, but confidence, self-esteem and character in her students and clients. Ana has been able to help students transform their lives not only into artists, art-enthusiasts or athletes, but into wholesome professional individuals. She believes that the arts serve a bigger purpose in an individual’s life that goes beyond the stage! She is available for Pilates training and Modern dance workshops for dancers of all ages.

Crystal spent 10 years as a competitive gymnast. She later went on to receive her BFA in Dance performance from the University of South Florida. During her studies, she performed works by choreographers such as Doug Varone, Jenifer Salk, Maurice Causey, Colleen Thomas, Andrew Carrol, and Andy Scott. During this time, she studied abroad in the Dance in Paris Program performing her own solo work. In addition, Crystal was selected to perform in the International Creative Dance Seminar held in Beijing, China. Crystal has danced professionally with companies such as Staib Dance, Moving Current Dance Collective, and Rogue Dance and is currently dancing with Demetrius Klein Dance Company. Crystal has performed works by noted choreographers Adele Myers, Doug Gillespie, Bliss Kohlmyer, Jeanne Travers, Kristin O’Neal, Lauren Slone, Paula Kramer, Kyle & Gina Bolas, Victoria Marks, and Loren Davidson. 

Crystal has taught master classes throughout Florida at Sarasota Contemporary Dance, St. Petersburg College, South Florida Dance Company, and Tree CoLab. She has also taught and performed internationally at the Soul Music & Performance Arts Academy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Crystal has worked as a guest choreographer for places such as St. Petersburg College, Sarasota Contemporary summer intensive program, and Sarasota Dance Contemporary. Most recently,  she coproduced and performed solo work to promote artists in all fields in the Agape Project in Stuart, FL. Crystal currently holds a RYT 200hr yoga certification and continues to build her repertoire of work as a freelance dancer, choreographer, yoga instructor, and advocate for all art forms. 

Jennifer started her training in Palm Beach county with Linda White, Charles Russell and Joan Miller studying Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern and Pointe. She went on to study dance at Dreyoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach Florida as a ballet major under the instruction of Jeffrey Satinoff and Garry Lewis and Stacy Porcher. At the age of 16 Jennifer attended Pennsylvania’s Ballet Company’s 6 week summer intensive program. Upon graduating from Dreyfoos, she taught Ballet, jazz, lyrical and modern throughout Palm Beach County as well as U.B. Kinsey/ Palmview Elementary school of the arts. She also was an instructor for ESOL students to help prepare them and choreograph audition pieces for Bach Middle School of the Arts. Jennifer relocated to Port Saint Lucie and has continued to teach her passion through out the treasure coast. This is her second year at South Florida Dance Company teaching ballet, leaps and turns,and choreography through the school year, summer intensives and the annual spring ballet. This is her first year dancing with Wings to Fly Dance Company. She is also a licensed and certified occupational therapy assistant working in pediatrics with clients who have disabilities such as, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, cerebral Palsy and learning disabilities. At the occupational therapy office, she teaches a special needs ballet class as well!

JP has performed in three shows with Wings to Fly. The Joy JP brings to the stage is infectious.
You may hear him sometimes singing along with the songs.

Dance holds a special place in my heart, from the moment I started dancing until now. When I dance I feel like I can suddenly breathe, I feel as if I’m invincible, reborn. Dance is my life and has indeed changed my life in numerous ways. One thing I have learned as a dancer is perseverance. When you fall or make a mistake, courage is needed for you to get back up and try again. Dance to me means ‘freedom’, freedom to move and express yourself in ways you didn’t think was possible. Working with Wings to Fly Dance Company has taught me the true meaning of freedom. Freedom is the condition of being free from restraints. Dancing with people in wheelchairs has brought the statement of ‘anyone can dance’ to life for me. They have taught me to slow down, and take the time to just look around and take in this beautiful world and all of the simple joys we are blessed to encounter every day. Seeing a smile on their faces every chance they get to dance makes me as a person even more grateful for dance myself. Working with Wings to Fly has changed me for the better.

Kaileigh Bates was born in Connecticut and started to study dance at the age of 2 shortly after her family made the move to Florida. She began her studies at Florida Arts and Dance Company one of her teachers being Tasha Patterson Shirley, then moved to Dance Academy of Stuart, and then finally made the move back to Tasha under Wings to Fly Dance Company! She was very active within the local theatre area performing in shows with Shiloh Theatrical productions. She now finds herself spreading her love of Dance teaching at Florida Arts and Dance Company and Danceworks! Through Florida Arts and Dance, she gets to go into the local high schools and teach dance to the special needs classes! Wings to Fly has given her a way to follow her dreams in integrating individuals with and without disabilities through dance. Not only is she lucky enough to work along side these wonderful individuals, she finds herself at the heart of the essence of Wings to Fly by getting the chance to follow in Tara Anstensen’s footsteps in harnessing someone! She will be forever grateful for such a heartwarming opportunity! For Kaileigh, there is nothing better than sharing the stage with these incredible individuals and showing the world that anything is possible!

Karin Leone, a Stuart native and music theater veteran started her lifelong love affair with the performing arts at The Barn Theatre at age 4 in a production of Oliver. At Martin County High School, Ms. Leone was a proud member of OPUS and continued her studies at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia. Following college, Karin toured the country performingand developed and produced new works in Florida, Los Angeles and Chicago. Karin has been twice nominated by the Star Ledger for Best Actress in a Musical as well as a nomination for the Los Angeles Ovation Award. Local audiences will remember Karin from her dramatic turn as Diana Goodman in The Lyric Theatre’s production of rock musical, Next to Normal, or as Mama Rose in StarStruck’s production of Gypsy. In 2016, the Arts Council of Martin County awarded Karin the mARTie Award for Outstanding Performing Artist.

While Karin continues to perform, her focus shifted to sharing her love of theater through Arts and Education. After returning home to Stuart in 2012, Karin worked as Director of Education as well as Operations
Coordinator for The Lyric Theatre. In October 2017, Karin joined StarStruck Theatre as Director of Community Outreach and Development where she will continue to focus her passion as an arts advocate to help to ensure the success of this vital community resource.

Hailing from Denver, CO, Lisa was a dance major at the Denver School of the Arts and the University of Northern Colorado. She has danced with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Kim Robards Dance (Denver), the National Broadway Touring Company of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat!, UCF Knightmoves, Voci Dance (Orlando, FL) and Walt Disney World. Dancing with WTFDC has been a beacon of hope, helping to bring ideals of dance as communication and community involvement into realization. Lisa is currently a Physical Therapist Assistant for Martin Health System by day, mom to a beautiful, little dancer by night and is honored to grace the stage of the Lyric Theatre with Wings To Fly Dance Company once again.

Mary Weeks has received her training from South Florida Dance Company over the years as
well has attended workshops at Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, Massachusetts. Also,
she has taken part of many performances with SFDC, community shows, and performances
with Wings To Fly Dance Company. Mary is currently working in the community of Stuart as a
Licensed Esthetician at Skin Serenity in Stuart, and enjoys her time and energy with Wings To
Fly.

“Being a part of Wings To Fly Dance Company is a blessing and an honor. I love the energy
and connection we have with each other, and the ability to release and breathe through the
movement of dance.”

Performance – Education – Media Design

Moses’ recording credits include diverse and exotic percussion contributions on twelve internationally released CDs. His work can be heard on Pursuit of Happiness, Pagan Saints, Xmas Ecstasy – A Native American Christmas, and 2003 Grammy nominated; Red Moon with Peter Kater; and Lifeblood with Native singer songwriter Joanne Shenandoah. Additional credits include work on the soundtracks for two television series aired on The Discovery Channel – How The West Was Lost [vol.2] and the Eco – Challenge; along with the title music for the PBS Series Mythos [1997]. He is a founding member of Spideroot Theater, an innovative, multicultural theater company based in Ithaca, NY [1986 – 1990]. Performance tours included New England Universities and the 1989 Syracuse Jazz Festival Rivers of Time: Original music ensemble based in ancient traditions of Rhythm, Ritual and Spoken Word. Winner of “Global Rhythms” Magazine 2007 World Music Song Competition. Moses composed and performed the music for the 2 hour closing ceremony of Harmonia Mundi – a week long celebration in honor of the Nobel Peace Prize announcement for H.H. The Dalai Lama of Tibet. [1989] Moses’ skills as a percussionist have kept him in demand as a Composer and Accompanist for major dance companies and universities throughout the country as well as an immersion in non-western traditions and forms of dance. His music has supported Master Classes and performances for twenty years, including over fifteen years in residence with the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies in Rhinebeck, NY. Art, as a tool for healing, has been introduced into centers as varied as The Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, The Hippocrates Institute & National Recovery Programs using the Drum Circle as a primary tool and creative model with therapeutic results and benefits. Moses was recently invited to contribute an article exploring the relationship between sound, rhythm, and the healing arts to the Encyclopedia of Alternative Therapies.

This is Mikayla’s seventh year with Wings to Fly, having previously preformed in WTFD’s shows Hope, Life and Journey. Her dance training began at age 16 with South Florida Dance Company. She has a degree in Fine Arts for Dance from Indian River State College and is currently working as a certified dental assistant in Port St. Lucie. The experience of dancing alongside the wheelchair bound dancers has shaped Mikayla’s perspective of not just her own dancing, but her overall outlook on life and people.

“Working with Casey, Sabrina, Alex, and everyone else in HOPE changes how you look at yourself and the people around you. You start to realize how unimportant it is to be able to kick your leg as high or do as many turns as your fellow dancers, and you learn to appreciate the privilege to just move and express through dance. Wings To Fly has given me the opportunity to work with individuals that I would have never otherwise known, but who have made such a powerful positive impact on my day to day life, and for that I am eternally grateful.”

Samara began studying dance at The Dance Academy of Stuart at the age of three. She continued her dance education at Florida Arts & Dance Company, and later became a member of Wings To Fly Dance Company under the instruction of Tasha Patterson. She has performed in local productions as well as with The Rock School of Ballet in Pennsylvania, and The Joffrey South in Georgia, and Broadway Dance Center in NYC.
In 2013 Samara was accepted to The Joffrey Ballet School in NYC where she studied, choreographed, and performed under the instruction of artistic director Michael Blake until 2015. Here she studied with principal dancers, teachers and choreographers stemming from New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Alvin Ailey, as well as master classes from award winning choreographers such as Sonya Tayeh and Ellenore Scott at Broadway Dance Center.

She currently dances and choreographs with Wings To Fly Dance Company and teaches contemporary, ballet, and jazz at Florida Arts & Dance Company.

“I am forever grateful for all that Wings To Fly Dance Company has taught me, and the impact it’s made on my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for creating a space to become and to be an artist.”

Sara Todd attended the Joffrey ballet school as a ballet and contemporary trainee in Texas. Sara has performed with Wings to Fly in past shows. Sara has been active with South Florida Dance Company, and teaches at the Renaissance school in Port St. Lucie. Sara is passionate about her dance career and is thankful for the opportunity to perform and study with Tasha Shirley and WTFDC.