"An understanding heart is everything in a teacher, and cannot be esteemed enough.   One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those that touched the human feeling.  The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and the soul of the child." ~ Carl Jung

Mia Alicea - Owner/Artistic Director

Mia has been a dance educator for over two decades.  She became a member of Florida Dance Masters, Inc. in 1989 passing her exams in both tap and jazz.  She has taught in Florida, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and California.  

She was Cecchetti trained at Florida Academy of Ballet with Natasha Derbonova.  She later cross-trained in jazz, tap, lyrical and hip-hop.  She has studied with numerous Master teachers at Broadway Dance Center in NYC, Steps in NYC, The Edge in LA and at various dance conventions and competitions around the country.  She has taken classes with Frank Hatchett, Gus Giordano, Luigi, Sheila Barker, Bob Karl and many others.  She was cast by Disney for a group of featured tappers in the Superbowl XIX Halftime Show and served as choreographer for the Columbia University cheerleaders in 1993.

She ran a successful dance studio on Martha’s Vineyard from 1998 - 2006.  Her in-house dance company made yearly trips to Broadway Dance Center/NYC to train.  They competed at New York City Dance Alliance Conventions and won numerous awards including OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN HIP-HOP, OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN MUSICAL THEATRE and HIGHEST SCORE in their categories.  Their adjudicators included industry leaders such as Dan Karaty, Andy Blankenbuehler, Gil Stroming, Nick Bass, AC Ciulla and Rhonda Miller.  Her dance students have been accepted into a variety of dance programs including Interlochen School of the Arts and Bates. 

In addition to her dance background, she is a professionally trained actress.  She has theatrical training with Herbert Berghof, William Hickey, Gene Frankel, Michael Howard, Ed Morehouse, Arthur French.  She has commercial training with Actors in Advertising in NYC. She co-wrote and produced the two man comedy "Journey to Jupiter" that played for several months at Don't Tell Mama Cabaret / NYC.  She has also played "Dorine" in "Tartuffe" and Lady MacBeth in "Macbeth".  She is experienced in the technical aspects of production and served as the Stage Manager for Herbert Berghof's last production at HB Studio of Strinberg's "Easter".

 Mia currently continues to train at The Edge in LA and at Jimmie DeFore and is certified as a Zumba® Fitness instructor in both Zumba® and Zumba® Gold.

Zachary Groenewold

Zach began dancing at a young age and has trained professionally in Ballet, Jazz, and Hip Hop. He spent 2 ½ years at the Orange County High School of the Arts dancing in the Commercial Dance Department. During his time at OCHSA Zach was fortunate enough to work with such choreographers as Dee Caspary, Andy Vaca, and Alexandre Magno. For the past ten years Zach has been resident choreographer at McPherson Magnet School. In addition to his duties as choreographer at McPherson, Zach created a2z, a junior high hip hop performance troupe focused on artistic expression and personal growth. Zach has taught various workshops, and choreographed for schools throughout the country. In 2010 his work was showcased at Santa Ana College. Zach spent 5 years a Co-Artistic Director of Canyon School of the Arts. As a performer, Zach has been a member of the San Diego based dance company Axxiom Dance
Collective since 2008. Zach is also currently a member of the competitive hip hop team, Team Millennia.