Training
Auditions
Wings to Fly believes there is an artist within everyone. If you are inspired to work with Wings to Fly in one of our performances, create new choreography works, sing or play music, or collaborate in any way, please reach out by email. We are presently creating new works, new workshops and more. Wings work all ages. If you are an older dancer that feels a bit rusty, but would like to get back into dance, or a professional dancer looking for a dance community, reach out.
the possibilities are endless
Our Instructors
Committed to excellence
Tara Patterson
Tara Patterson worked as a Physical Therapy Assistant at Martin Memorial/Cleveland Clinic Hospital for over 18 years. She was named “Associate of the Year” in 2017 and featured in the 2016 Annual Report for her exceptional patient care. Tara earned her Advanced Proficiency in Neuromuscular Therapy and certifications in Vestibular Rehabilitation, Watsu Aquatic Therapy, and Myofascial Release. She served as Assistant Supervisor for individuals with disabilities at the ARC of St. Lucie County for over 10 years. Her background as a dancer includes performing with Princess Cruises and artists like Diana Ross and Cyndi Lauper. With her extensive therapy and disability experience, Tara fosters unique experiences for her students. She has taught at South Florida Dance Company, Dance Academy of Stuart, and Ballet Florida, and currently dances and choreographs with Wings to Fly Dance Company, integrating dancers with and without disabilities.
Tasha Shirley
Tasha trained with Royal Acadamey of Dance in her youth. She completed her elementary syllabus. Tasha went on with a scholarship to Joe Tremaine in Los Angeles, California. Performing on Princess Cruises, Tasha got the itch to travel. Landing in Asia, Tasha continued to study many form of dance wherever she was. Injuries, and a deep passion towards healing arts, Tasha's studies took her into Yoga, Mediation, Tai- Chi, Breath-work, dance therapies and more. Tasha feels she is an usher to help people find their own unique passion and artisty, while staying safe with good solid training. Tasha has recently been certified in Progressive Ballet Technique, Sound Therapy, and Transmutational Breathwork.
Tena Patterson
Tena is our founding director. At the age of 79, Tena still loves sharing her years of experience. Bringing her massage therapy, discipline, passion, and choreographic skills, Tena's students are fortunate to have her as a teacher. Tena has been certified in Progressive Ballet Technique and has recently taken up ballroom dancing. At the age of 13, Tena weighed 176 llbs. Tena was ready to quit dance, until she found that one teacher that believed in her. This story's impact is the root of the teaching philosophies for Wings to Fly. "where there is passion, there is a way".
Our Classes
Contemporary
Contemporary:
Contemporary dance includes ballet, modern, jazz movements focusing on mind body connection to use the body to tell a story. This class opens the heart and reminds us of the gift that dance is. Tasha’s wholistic approach allows a dancer at any age or ability, to meet their body where it is to find release, expression and healing to ultimately find their own unique artistry.
Inclusion
Inclusive Dance:
Open integrated dance is open to all abilities creating a safe fun place for everyone to dance. Wheel dancers invited to share even if physical movement is limited. Volunteers welcome.
Progressive Ballet technique
Progressive Ballet Technique:
Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) is an innovative body-conditioning and strengthening program that has been designed to enhance students’ technique by focusing on training the muscle memory required in each exercise in all forms of dance.
The program helps with injury prevention and rehabilitation and enhances the ability of athletes to perform at their best. With the use of an exercise ball, the students gain a great sense of posture and weight-placement whilst feeling each correct muscle group working throughout each exercise, which then stays with them when whilst performing in dance or their chosen field of sport. PBT focuses on core strength, weight placement and alignment of the body with a gradual approach of carefully designed exercises and repetitions of these exercises that trigger their muscle memory.
PBT is not only a program to improve technique in ballet dancers, but also now being appreciated and incorporated in training by all forms of dancers, athletes, physiotherapists and even footballers! Great class for horseback riders to strengthen core.
Private or Group.
Healing Arts
Yoga
Tasha believes in truly knowing one’s needs and uniquely crafting programs and adaptations for that individual. Everyone has different needs, bodies, and capabilities. What are the needs? What are the intentions? What is the level of commitment? Tasha believes in fitting yoga to the individual, not the individual to yoga.
Bollywood
- Raise energy.
- Have fun.
- Cardio workout
- Excellent for brain development.
- Activate balance and healing for Right- Left brain
- Immerse yourself in the art form's techniques, expressions, and cultural significance. These classes will provide a deeper understanding of classical Indian Dance fused with modern dance.
Bollywood is a mixture of Indian folk and classical dance. The word Bollywood comes from the combination of the names Bombay and Hollywood. Mudras are a set of hand gestures used across several classical Indian dance forms. There are about 108 gestures. The hands are essential as they are meant to convey a story of dance as well as showing the background of dance. The names of the mudras (hastas) are derived from Sanskrit poetry. This is a fun upbeat cultural experience.
Presently this class is on hold. If you are interested in taking this class, please contact us and we will contact you when we begin the class.
Wheel-chair class
with caretakers, partners, or family
It is a known fact that music, dance, and meditation are all therapeutic tools to address well- being. A large population is confined to a wheelchair or with use of a walker requiring assistance from a caregiver or family member. Licensed Massage Therapists will offer quality hands on treatment to address soft tissue dysfunction, pain, anxiety, and postural alignment, and simple ways to connect.
The value in offering these services to the community will overall help well-being of both parties. This is an excellent option transitioning from physical therapy or continued need for exercise, interaction, and fun.
Presently this class is on hold. Please contact us if you are interested in this work.
Some of Our Workshops - with many more to come
Back Health Workshop
Purpose of this workshop is to explore the causes and management of back pain. Whether you are in pain now, have suffered it in the past, or want to avoid it in the future, this workshop will help you understand and make changes to benefit your spine and pelvis.
About Tasha As a former professional dancer, she has traveled the world discovering and studying an impressive range of healing arts modalities, will be presenting this back health workshop. Her own physical and health challenges; combating illness to remediating many back issues, her studies have taken her to many modalities. Tasha has studied a wide variety of healing arts modalities: Zen, breath work, Thai Chi, medical Xi Gong, massage, Nutrition, ecstatic dance, sound therapy, reiki, P.B.T. and much more. Using her comprehensive experience and expertise, Tasha will guide with sharing some simple and accessible information for managing back health.
What this workshop will cover: No experience necessary
- Comprehending the basic anatomy of your pelvis
- What is Repetitive Stress Injury
- Acknowledging the role of thoughts and feelings in back pain as well as the power of the mind to heal
- Connecting with the power of breathwork and positioning your body correctly while practicing breathwork
- Using the movement of prana (vital energy) as an essential part of your healing and overall health
- Experiencing therapeutic exercises
- What are Fascia and their relationship with pain and healing
- Understanding the process of repair
- Stabilizing your pelvis, Accessing adaptations
- Hands-on-teaching
Understanding Chakras
An intimate 3 hours exploration and understanding of your chakra system presented by Tasha Patterson Shirley. How to use breath, visualization meditations, affirmations, and sounds to balance your energy centers.
- How is my Chakra health important to my overall health?
- What is Grounding?
- How to tell if Chakras are Blocked?
- How do I open and activate a Chakra?
- How does Sound therapy, Specifically Crystal Bowls, help?
- Basic Use of Crystal Stones or oils for Chakra health.
- Learn specific affirmations for each Chakra.
- What is Reiki? What is a Reiki attunement?
- What is an aura? How do the chakras relate to an aura?
self care for dancers...
We can do privates or groups
Self-Care for the Dancer is a workshop to assist dancers in caring for the body. Dancers will learn how to become more aware of postural alignment and how different tissues can affect healing or lack of. Dancers will also learn effective stretching and self-care techniques specific to their bodies to reduce the possibility of injury. Basic anatomy studies along with an in depth study into your own relationship with your own body. This workshop will be offered soon. Please contact us if you would like this workshop brought to your studio or your teachers.