Florida Ballet Arts Academy
Founded in 1962, Florida Ballet Arts Academy is a landmark for the arts in Sarasota.
Through our commitment to excellence, we provide students with the skills, knowledge, and experience to succeed not only in dance, but in life.
29/11/2022
Our beautiful alumnus, Kayla Miller (DiDonna), will be performing in The Nutcracker in Largo as Dew Drop and in Snow on December 18-20. Click the link for ticket info:
https://larg-internet.choicecrm.net/templates/LARG/index.php?prod=RNUT #/events
23/07/2022
Congratulations, Isabel Gutierrez, on your upcoming graduation from the PA program! 🧑🏻⚕️🎓👏🏻 We know you will be an outstanding medical professional! 💫💕
FBA Student, 1997-2010
16/03/2022
28/07/2021
Ballet isn’t rocket science, but the two aren’t mutually exclusive, either Inpreslotted the spring of 1983, Roger Plaut launched a petition drive of sorts at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. He wasn’t lobbying for a political cause or for better cafeteria food. Plaut wante...
20/06/2021
Throwback! After a long Saturday of class and rehearsals. The gang! 💕
L to R: Christine Gutierrez , Amanda Means, Kate Richmond , Liz Picchietti , Rachel McGannon , Shelby Elsbree
11/06/2021
Congratulations to these two lovely young ladies on their graduation!! Nina and Abbey began training at FBA when they were just tiny little girls and it’s been such a joy to watch them continue their training through the years! The sky is the limit for these outstanding, talented, and brilliant young ladies! 🎓💫💕
Wishing you both the very best in all of your endeavors!giraldo walsh
🎓
27/12/2020
It's that time of year again - AUDITION SEASON for COLLEGES & SUMMER INTENSIVES! If you need to prepare audition footage for auditions and/or need choreography to include, reach out today so we can get you scheduled. We've already begun working with dancers on choreography and filming of class combinations.
Don't leave your future to chance. Allow seasoned professionals to help you properly prepare and present your best self to the organizations of your choice.
FloridaBalletArts.com/services-we-offer
[email protected]
941.330.6200
FBA Alumni! Support your fellow FBA Alum and follow this page! 💕
"Welcome to Shelby Elsbree Yoga. Combining her decade-long career as a professional ballerina, BA in Psychology from Columbia University, 500 hr YTT & genuine love for mindful movement, Shelby meets you where you are, on your mat. Be still & let's flow!"
Shelby Elsbree Yoga
Welcome to Shelby Elsbree Yoga.
Combining her decade-long career as a professional ballerina, BA in
08/04/2020
To all my FBA Alumni / FBA Family: I realize many of you are unable to stick to your regular workout routines because your gyms, yoga studios, Pilates studios, etc have closed. If you would like to join me for a free ballet barre on Friday evening at 7pm through Zoom, email me at [email protected]. We will even do the old therapeutic warmup! 💕☺️ You don’t need a barre - a chair will do and you don’t need a lot of space either!
25/02/2020
MASTER CLASS and Q & A with ADDUL MANZANO!
MASTER CLASS with ADDUL MANZANO | Florida Ballet Arts Ballet Master Class and Q&A with Principal Dancer, Addul Manzano
21/02/2020
09/01/2020
ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS IN FLORIDA!
Arts for Life! is awarding $1,000 Scholarships to 25 High School Seniors in Florida who demonstrate excellence in dance, drama, music, creative writing, or visual arts. Deadline to apply is February 3, 2020. Click the link provided for more information.
Become a Member! | Florida Ballet Arts Arts for Life! annually awards $1,000 scholarships to 25 graduating high school seniors in Florida who demonstrate excellence in one of the following art forms:
02/01/2020
It's that time of year again! Auditions are underway across the nation for Summer Intensive programs and college programs. Are you prepared? Do you have questions? Could you benefit from some one-on-one coaching or consultation? Every small step counts!
Contact us today so we can help you align your goals and skills for success!
27/12/2018
Have you registered yet? Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to take class from Shelby Elsbree! You may also register as an observer for the class, which includes Q & A time with Shelby. Visit AmericanChoreographicFestival.com for detailed info or to reserve your spot in the class. Space may be limited so don’t wait!
Proceeds from this event will be donated to the Children's Guardian Fund, directly benefiting local foster children with opportunities for arts education. If you cannot attend, but would like to donate towards the proceeds, please visit AmericanChoreographicFestival.com and click the "donate" button.
31/07/2018
Congratulations to former FBA student, Topaz Donatella VonWood! We are so proud of you!
Choreographer Spotlight - ACF Finalist:
TOPAZ VONWOOD
for: "On My Mind" and "Dear Love"
Topaz VonWood was born and raised in Sarasota, Florida. Topaz began her training in classical ballet at six years old at Florida Ballet Arts Academy, under the direction of MaryElizabeth Mock. At the age of fourteen, she joined the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School Conservatory under the direction of Ariel Serrano. She has participated in summer intensives with The Ailey School, Joffrey Ballet School, Sarasota Ballet School, and The Carreno Dance Festival. She has performed works by Ray Mercer and Carlos Dos Santos, Jr. After graduating high school through Florida Virtual School, she was accepted into the Ailey School Certificate program where she is currently training.
18/07/2018
FBA teachers reunited during Master Classes today!
What a treat it was having my long time friend and colleague, Ariel Serrano of the Sarasota Cuban Ballet, teach master classes to my students in Venice today! Ariel served on my faculty at Florida Ballet Arts Academy for 8 years before opening the Sarasota Cuban Ballet. How fantastic to observe these kids getting to take class from someone who I worked side by side with for so many years.
29/11/2017
Choreography Competitions Want to enter a choreography competition? Start your search here. If you know of additional opportunities for choreographers, please email information to Lauren Wingenroth at [email protected]. The Choreographers' Ball is a new dance and choreography Competition. The first edition will ...
18/07/2016
Topaz VonWood was a scholarship student of our school for many years, where she trained in Ballet, Modern, and Jazz. She is seeking support in any amount to help her with the expenses she will incur during the 3 year Certificate program at Alvin Ailey.
TOPAZS ROAD TO AILEY--1 STEP CLOSER Support 'TOPAZ'S ROAD TO AILEY--1 STEP CLOSER' by donating or sharing today!
Lovely interview with dance footage of my former student & current Boston Ballet company dancer, Shelby Elsbree, discussing William Forsythe's Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude!
22/04/2015
The Chronicles of a Traveling Ballerina You can follow along with Shelby and her adventures as a traveling ballerina through her blog, Tutus and Tea, and be sure to check out Karolina Kura's instagram for up-to-date photos of more traveling ballerinas!
25/07/2014
This is a must-read interview for all aspiring dancers, as the advice given is probably the most beneficial and astute advice you'll ever hear!
Shelby Elsbree: Exceptionally Talented and Accomplished Ballet Dancer Reveals her Workout, Diet,... Shelby Elsbree is an extraordinary person to have in the studio.
04/05/2014
Too early to start Nutcracker planning? Of course not! We have a beautiful, barely used backdrop for sale / rent. Please watch the entire clip to see how the look of the drop may be easily altered with various lighting plots. Financing may be available for the purchase, if needed.
Nutcracker Backdrop - Act 2 Kingdom of Sweets Nutcracker Backdrop - FOR SALE / FOR RENT ROSE BRAND 126" FR Natural Muslin Height: 24 ft. x Width: 56 ft. Contact: [email protected] www.floridabal...
20/04/2014
http://arts.heraldtribune.com/2014-04-19/uncategorized/sparks-behind-ballet-stars/
The sparks behind ballet's guest stars | April 19, 2014 | Carrie Seidman | Arts Sarasota When audience members take their seats this weekend for the final program of the Sarasota Ballet's regular season — a performance with so many high-profile
30/09/2013
This adorable peasant tutu has just been sold to a new client, along with 12 other costumes!
Tune in tonight to the VMA's to see one of our Master Teachers from Florida Ballet Arts -Professional Dance Alliance perform live with Lady Gaga!!!
I received this email today & wanted to share the opportunity with you all. Octavio Martin worked on the faculty at FBA and I have only amazing things to say about his classes!!
Good Afternoon!
Brandon Ballet would love to offer your ballet dancers an excellent opportunity to partake in a free master class with former Principal dancer of the Cuban National Ballet, and current Artistic Director of the Brandon Ballet, Octavio Martin!
All you have to do to be eligible for the master class is purchase a ticket to our upcoming Mixed Repertory performance of "Spanish Divertissements," on March 1st and 2nd. The performance will feature guest professional artists, Brandon Ballet professional dancers and preprofessional dancers in excerpts from the great ballets such as Paquita and Don Quixote. (See the attached flier for more information) Ticket prices start at just $20.00!
The master class with Octavio Martin will be held on Sunday, March 3rd. All ballet students ages 10 and older, who have purchased a ticket to Spanish Divertissements will be able to sign up for the master class! Just call 813-684-4282 to reserve your spot once you've purchased a ticket, and bring your ticket stub to 161 E. Bloomingdale Ave., Brandon FL 33511 at 2:00 p.m. to participate; we will have an intermediate and advanced level which will be grouped accordingly that day.
Teachers are invited to watch the master class. We hope to see some of your dancers at the performance and master class!
History of Florida Ballet Arts - A Landmark to the Arts in Sarasota
Florida Ballet Arts was first formed in Sarasota in 1962 as the official school of the The Florida Ballet Company, Sarasota’s first professional ballet troupe, both directed by Jean Spear. The professional company folded in the mid-late 1970’s after sixteen seasons, but the school carried on for decades to follow. In the late 1970’s, Lynn Winslow took ownership and direction of Florida Ballet Arts, continuing the traditions of training the top dancers in Sarasota and maintaining the school as Sarasota’s most sought after studio for professional classical training in Ballet, Modern, and Jazz. When Lynn retired in 1995, she passed the baton to Richard Cash, who had come on board as Lynn’s associate director in 1992. The school continued its tradition of serious training and professional performances, but something was missing in the years that followed Lynn Winslow’s retirement. Within four years, the school had dwindled from 150 students down to only 18. In December of 1999, Cash locked the studio doors and walked away for good.
Two weeks later, a determined 24 year old unlocked the studio door and breathed new life into what had been Sarasota’s strongest and longest standing dance studio for nearly four decades. Like so many dancers who grew up in Sarasota, MaryElizabeth Mock had trained at Florida Ballet Arts for her first twelve years of training before she made the move at age 16 to New England to train at a world renowned ballet conservatory while finishing up high school. She had begun her professional ballet career at age 17, dancing for Sarasota Ballet, Classical Ballet Theatre, and guest performances with Ballet South, Southern Ballet Theatre, and Miami City Ballet and had recently returned to Sarasota prior to the school’s closure. She set out on a mission to save the school that she called home for the majority of her childhood and adolescent years.
Upon unlocking the doors and reviving the historic school, MaryElizabeth immediately revamped everything about the studio, from the physical appearance of the studio itself to the literature and forms, while restructuring the business operations as well as the curriculum. Within the first few months, the studio more than quadrupled in size and within the first few years, she had increased enrollment by ten times the number she started with. Having been trained in FBA as a child, MaryElizabeth made sure to continue the traditions that FBA had been long known for, but she brought the school to a much higher level of training and success by incorporating studio principles and business structures she had experienced from her time furthering her training in the northeast, as well as from her professional dance experience. Under the direction of MaryElizabeth, Florida Ballet Arts’ esteemed faculty consisted of MaryElizabeth Mock, Ariel Serrano, Wilmian Hernandez, Sasha Yapparov, Addul Manzano, Sybil Manzano, Octavio Martin, Yaima Franco, Sergiy Mykhaylov, Darya Fedotova, Isabel Dubrocq, Stefan Gernaga, Morgan Rivers, Kristi Gregory, Gloria Gaither, and for Hip Hop, Josiah Steele. Master Classes taught by professional ballet and modern dancers with highly respected companies such as Martha Graham Modern Dance Company were regularly offered to the greater dance community at FBA and the studio became an audition site destination for highly sought after schools and companies traveling through the area in search of promising talent.
During her time as the owner and director of this historic school in Sarasota, MaryElizabeth revived the Florida Ballet Arts Foundation, a nonprofit organization, which brought scholarships to students in financial need while also underwriting performances for the retirement community to be able to attend annual performances of the Nutcracker without charge. She formed the Florida Ballet Arts Ensemble, a student performing company for Intermediate/Advanced - Advanced level students of the school, which further prepared the students for a professional career in dance while allowing them the opportunity to dance alongside seasoned professional dancers. In 2004, she began to lay the foundations of her professional dance troupe, Imaginique Contemporary Ballet.
Contact the business
Opening Hours
| Monday | 16:00 - 20:45 |
| Tuesday | 16:00 - 20:45 |
| Wednesday | 16:00 - 20:45 |
| Thursday | 16:00 - 20:45 |
| Friday | 17:00 - 18:30 |
| Saturday | 09:00 - 17:00 |