6870 E. Fowler Ave., Temple Terrace, Florida 33617
Lee Virgillio
Artistic Director, Ballet Master
Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Lee Virgillio received his early training and performance experience with the Louisiana Concert Ballet Company and the Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre. He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance from Florida State University and has performed and choreographed for numerous dance companies throughout Florida including the Tallahassee Ballet and Southern Ballet Theatre in Orlando. Mr. Virgillio has danced principal roles in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle, Coppelia, Les Sylphides, Paquita, Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, along with numerous contemporary works and his own choreographic repertoire. He has performed as a guest artist with companies in Tennessee, Maryland, Virginia, and La Paz, Bolivia. In addition to teaching Ballet technique - including pointe and partnering, acrobatics, and serving as director for several dance programs, he has also served as a coach, choreographer and program director for women’s competitive gymnastics teams. In addition to his experience as a dance artist and instructor, Lee has additional experiences performing as a musician and in theatre, as well as all aspects of stagecraft and theatrical production. He owns and operates Verge Video Productions, specializing in video and photography services for the arts. Examples of his work can be viewed on his web-site, www.vergevideo.com.
Marlo Hilton Almonte
Hip-Hop; Tap; Modern
"Dance less out of habit and more out of intent," is the expression symbolic to Marlo's formula for a well-rounded dance class. A native to Florida, she has been dancing for 38 years and a dance teacher for 22 years. She has studied dance at Broadway Dance Centre in New York, Jacksonville University, and the University of South Florida. While at USF, she received a Bachelor of Science in Dance Education and was certified to teach in the public school system. She has studied dance styles including ballet, modern, contemporary, lyrical, pointe, hip hop, jazz, tap, clogging, musical theatre, baton, acrobatics, gymnastics, african dance, belly dance, ethnic and folk dance, improvisation, choreography, and movement analysis. She has studied with artists such as Madam Darvash, Tony Coppola, Michael Foley, Laurie Ann Gibson, Geri Houlihan, Sifiso Kweyama, Liz Lerman, Finis Jhung, Chris Judd, Mia Michaels, Brice Mousset, Sandra Robinson, Shane Sparks, Gretchen Ward, and Ms. Vee. She has performed for Walt Disney World, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the National Football League, the University of South Florida, and several college bowl games, as well as televised events. She has received numerous titles, choreography awards, and other recognitions as an educator, teacher, choreographer, and director. She has also choreographed for other venues including television commercials, plays, musicals, art schools, cheerleading squads, pageants and church functions. Marlo was the Artistic Director, Choreographer, and Dancer for Asher Dance Eclectic, a professional dance company that incorporates and encourages persons with disabilities. Marlo is looking forward to sharing her passion by educating and training dancers at the Performing Arts Center of Temple Terrace in a professional environment that is full of fun, hard work, and dedication.
Daniela Charco
Jazz, Jazz/Tap Combo, Hip Hop
Starting at the age of 3, Daniela fell in love with ballet and began her dance journey. She was born and raised in Orlando, FL, where she focused solely on ballet and later moved to Miami, FL, where she began to fall in love with pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop, and more. She competed in various styles of dance for 6 years and has now been dancing for a total of 16 years. She is currently studying Exercise Science at the University of South Florida and continuing her dance journey by teaching all styles of dance, being co-captain of the USF Latin Dance Performance Team, and pursuing a Dance Medicine Certificate. Daniela is looking forward to teaching and sharing her love for dance with her students this year!
Kayla Fitzpatrick-Holt
Pre-Ballet; Tap
Ms. Kayla is a passionate dancer with over 13 years of experience in the various styles of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and lyrical. She recently graduated from Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School and will be starting at the University of South Florida in the fall as a health sciences major. She has been a class assistant for four years and a teacher for three at the Wayne C Papy Athletic Center. She also danced with the Tampa Gymnastics and Dance Showstars Performance Team for 8 years and the Hillsborough High School Dancerettes for two. Her notable performances include dancing in the 97th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Children’s Gasparilla Parade, Tampa Santa Fest, the Mayor’s Annual Hispanic Heritage Festival, Relay for Life North Tampa, the USF Men’s Basketball Halftime Show, the Krewe of Saint Yago Knight Parade, and the Rough Riders St Patrick’s Day Parade. As a member of the HHS Dancerettes, she served as co-captain in 2023. She served as a team lead for the last three years of her time with Tampa Gymnastics and Dance Showstars. Excited to join the TTB team, she lives by the guiding quote, "If you don’t leap, you’ll never know what it’s like to fly."
Brea Carbert
Pre-Ballet; Mini-Acro, Ballet I
Brea Carbert has attended a performing arts school studying dance since kindergarten and graduated high school from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville, FL. In high school she served in many roles, being a leader amongst her peers. She is very passionate about dance and has chosen to continue her dance education at the University of South Florida pursuing a Bachelor of fine arts with a ballet concentration. She has studied with many influential figures in the ballet world including teachers from the School of American Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and the Complexions company. She has performed in many lead roles through her years, a favorite being Lead Marzipan in the Nutcracker, as well as twice being featured in a pas de deux at the National High school dance festival. She has exceeded greatly within all her goals and hopes to see herself in either a classical or contemporary ballet company. She is very excited to see what her future holds and we are delighted to have her join our staff.
Phillip jackson
Guitar
Phillip Jackson was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in San Diego, California. After serving in the Army, he rejoined his family who had relocated to Central Florida, and soon found his way to the University of Tampa where he earned a B.A. degree in Psychology. He then established a career as a behavioral and mental health professional, specializing in the field of addiction and recovery.
During his time in college, Phillip became interested in the guitar. While his primary focus was on academics and career development he continued to explore and play the guitar. Eventually he attended guitar courses at Hillsborough Community College, School of Musicology, followed by one-on-one and online guitar courses, additionally honing his craft and performing experience by joining in with Gospel and Jazz musicians in the area.
Phillip's preferred teaching hours are on Tuesdays (but he can arrange to meet on other days if needed). He is generally spending time at the PACTT music studio on Tuesdays for anyone who would like to meet him and discuss the possibility of signing up for lessons. He will certainly welcome school age children along with the 'young at heart' who, like himself, wish as an adult to pursue a passion for music.
Gary Flannery
Professor Emeritus
Gary Flannery, is a professional performer who toured the world as Shirley MacLaine’s partner; was a Principal Dancer on many TV Shows and Hollywood movies; and was Bob Fosse’s LEAD dancer on Broadway in “PIPPIN” and “DANCIN”. He was also Fosse’s Principal Dancer in the movie “ALL THAT JAZZ!” Gary serves as a strong leader, teaching Master Classes, Lectures, and Seminars at Universities, Dance Schools and Colleges around the world! He teaches ANY level of **FOSSE REP** along with Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Tap, Musical Theatre & hip-hop, as well as giving lectures on Dance and Musical Theatre History. He is passionate about choreographing, directing & writing for plays, musicals, and revues. Gary Flannery received scholarships in ballet to Balanchine’s School of American Ballet and the Juilliard School, and while still training as a teenager, became Bob Fosse’s protégé. Bob Fosse called him the “Bull” for the shear non-stop, dance-till-you-drop attitude he took into rehearsals and performances. Fred Astaire, upon seeing Gary perform in the Fosse musical Dancin' in 1979 proclaimed, “It was one of the greatest dance performances he had ever seen!” Gary is now working on finishing and promoting his 23 years of work on a historically revealing project "The Great American Revue.” Books, documentaries and revivals are currently being planned. We are extremely fortunate and honored to have Mr. Flannery share his knowledge and experience with our dancers.
Mr. Gary is currently taking a break from teaching to focus on family matters. We hope to have him back with us as fortunes allow.
