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Meet Our Staff
Stephanie Ford
Owner/Creative Director
Stephanie started dancing with Char-Mar at her preschool when she was 2 ½ years old. With Mrs. Mary Jane as her teacher, Stephanie fell in love with dance. Char-Mar School of Dance provided her with a loving, warm, and guiding environment that she will always be thankful for. Mrs. Mary Jane’s energy and light-hearted approach to life and getting through tough times inspired Stephanie, as did Charlie’s frequent teaching of important life lessons.
The teachers at Char-Mar helped train Stephanie for her audition process at Bak Middle School of the Arts. Attending this prestigious art-based middle school opened Stephanie’s eyes to a world of possibilities in dance. From there, Stephanie continued to dance at Dreyfoos School of the Arts and in college.
Stephanie has been a teacher at Char-Mar School of Dance since she was 22. In 2014, Stephanie was offered the opportunity to take over the studio and business and has been proudly representing the Char-Mar name ever since.
Stephanie places a large emphasis on embracing the old with the new and continues the same family-friendly environment as created by Char-Mar’s founders, Charlie and Mary Jane Grant. As the new owner and director of Char-Mar School of Dance, Stephanie works hard to encourage and push students to the next level of their dance education. Stephanie loves working with kids and sharing her passion for dance with the next generation. She lives her every dream every day through her work.
Dance Education
Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale
Art Institute of Pittsburgh
Academy of Art University
Sean’s Dance Factory
Fun Fact: Maria has taught Venus Williams!
Dance/Teaching Experience:
Sean’s Dance Factory
Debbie Reynolds, LA
Broadway Dance Center, NYC
ML Convention, Chicago
Florida Training in Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville
Florida School for Dance Education
Burns Road Community Center
Precision Dance Conservatory
Organized Kaos Dance Academy
Dance Unlimited
Dance Universe
Muse Center for the Arts
Spotlight Dance Studio
MAria Hernandez
Hip-Hop Instructor
TRACY BAILEY
Instructor
Toni lipscher
Acro-dance Instructor
Dance Education:
Florida State University
Dance/Teaching Experience:
Florida State University’s Golden Girls
Miami Heat Dancer
Philadephia Eagles Cheerleader
New Jersey Nets Dancer
REACH Dance Company
Tracy has been teaching for 25+ years in South Florida. She started her dance and acrobatic training at the age of 5 and danced competitively until college. Tracy has certifications from Dance Educators of America, Acrobatic Arts and Progressing Ballet Technique, and holds a degree in Sociology from the University of Florida. While at UF, Tracy minored in Dance and performed with Danza, Floridance, Soundstage companies as well as Pofahl Studios, the home of Dance Alive! National Ballet. After moving back to South Florida, Tracy started teaching full time and has choreographed many award winning competition pieces and more importantly, helped her students grow and safely develop their artistry and strength. Ms Tracy is continuously exploring new methods and approaches to introduce to her students to keep them motivated and learning in a positive atmosphere.
JASMINE WRIGHT
Instructor
Jasmine grew up competitively dancing in Rochester NY. She was trained competitively in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical, Modern, Acro and Musical Theater from the age of 2 . During her training, she traveled to numerous workshops and conventions such as NYCDA, ADA, and DMA to be trained under master teachers and attended many regional and national competitions. She attended the University at Buffalo where she expanded her dance training, and was additionally trained in choreography, improvisation, and Aerial Arts. During her time in college, she was given the opportunity to perform with their in house dance company as well as set choreography. She graduated with her Bachelors in Dance in 2016. Since then, she has continued her dance education through Dance Masters of America’s Teacher Training School and relocated to Northern Virginia where she taught at various studios, choreographed for competitive dance companies, and was a choreographer in residence for a local theater troupe! Jasmine is so excited to continue her journey as a choreographer and dance educator here in South Florida, and cannot wait to share her passion for dance with our students.
Dance Education:
New World School of the Arts; BFA Dance
Dance/Teaching Experience:
American Dance Theatre of Miami
Heidi & Joe Melchiona’s Dance Center
Freddick Bratcher & Company
Palm Beach Ballet Center
Ballet Florida
Bak Middle School of the Arts
Holland Schiller-Romaine
Instructor
After dancing at char-mar for 14 years, reece attended the University of Miami where she graduated with a b.a. in psychology and b.s.ed in community and applied psychological studies.
Reece's experience ranges from web design for small businesses in South Florida to speech writing for prominent politicians on Capitol Hill. Her successful projects and ventures include large-scale event planning, social media management, communications, and non-profit planning.
Each dance season, reece coordinates the logistics for char-mar's students, instructors, and classes. she manages the studio's virtual presence through cha-mar's website, social media, advertisements, and more. throughout the covid-19 pandemic, reece has facilitated virtual classes and consulted Char-mar's health and safety policies.
Reece Haire
Communications & Program
Manager
Mycaela is a Jupiter local and Florida native. She was part of the first class of dance minors at Florida Atlantic University and she is also an English major and a studio art photography minor. She graduated with her bachelor's degree and a professional and technical writing certificate. Mycaela has been dancing since the age of 3 and is a Dreyfoos School of the Arts alumni. She has trained and danced with choreographers from around the globe including Christopher Huggins, Margo Sappington, Levi Marsman, Ryan Redmond and more.
MYCAELA McCorry
Instructor
Evie Borden
Instructor
Evie Borden is a product of the South Florida dance community. She began her dance training in all styles of dance. In middle school she began focused training in classical ballet and contemporary. She attended Bak MSOA. She performed with the Ballet East youth ensemble, placed in contemporary and ballet at competitions.
Evie continued with pre-professional training at The Art of Classical Ballet in Pompano Beach with world renowned ballet mistress, choreographer, Magaly Suarez. She danced with Florida Classical Ballet in corps de ballet and soloist roles for ballets such as Swan Lake, La Bayadere, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Raymonda and more. She trained summers with Orlando Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, The Harid Conservatory and The Art of Classical Ballet. She is currently studying Performance/ Choreography and Exercise Science at Palm Beach Atlantic University on academic and dance scholarship under the guidance of artist in residence, Eileen Houghton-Hebron. She will be graduating in May 2024 and continuing her studies in Physical Therapy.
TBA
Evan James
Instructor