| Julie received her B.S. Degree in elementary education, as well as her B.A.degree in dance choreography from the State University of New York at Fredonia. Earning her duel major gave her a broader spectrum for her career. Not only is she trained and certified as an elementary teacher in both New York State and Florida, but she has 8 years of classroom experience working hands on with her students. She is able to understands and appreciated the many learning styles that each child utilizes to succeed. Julie applies these various techniques that worked in the classroom on a daily basis in her approach with the education plan for her dance students. She is able to expose a student to and develop the techniques in a variety of dance forms to ensure complete and total understanding. Julie approaches each students dance training with the guidance of one primary thought... staying "devoted to tradition". The traditional training in the core curriculum of ballet, tap, and jazz are what turns a person who loves to dance into a dancer! In her earlier years in New York, Julie danced with a local dance studio where she later trained as an assistant to the lead instructor. Following her training, she was then hired on staff as a choreographer where she worked with children of various ages teaching tap, jazz, ballet, acro-jazz, and lyrical. Following high school, Julie then began training and performing with the Orchasis Dance Company through her college years. It was during this time that she studied all forms of dance including modern and African. Her studies took her through an education of all the traditional techniques of dance and choreography, as well as the study of written music and the instruments that supports the different styles of song writing. During her college years, Julie also took an active role assisting Miss New York, U.S.A. 1997. She was busy working behind the scenes helping to prepare for the upcoming competition for Miss USA, while accompanying her throughout her travels and appearances during her reign as Miss New York USA. During this time, Julie herself competed in local and state pageants to continue to help develop her stage presence. Upon graduation in 1999, Julie was recruited from NY to teach for Orange County Public Schools in Florida. After two years, she then transferred to Seminole County Public Schools where she taught at Heathrow elementary in 2002. After 6 years at Heathrow, Julie has left teaching to focus on her studio and her two beautiful children. Currently, she is an instructor at the studio and has choreographed award winning routine for our competitive groups. Julie developed her business carefully over time starting with just a handful of students while she was a full time first grade teacher. The early years of her dance academy were very rewarding for her because she could combine her love for teaching with her love of dance! As she enters her 8th dance season with the studio, she feels so proud and privileged to be surrounded by so many wonderful dancers and their families. Their dedication to the studio and our incredible choreographers are what make this school so very special! |
| Ms. Julie Westbrook-Smith Owner Choreographer/Instructor B.S. Elementary Education B.A. Dance Choreography |
| Ms. Lauren Instructor/ Choreographer B.S. Elementary Education |
| Miss Anna Instructor/ Choreographer B.S. Business Administration Graduation 2011 |
| Hi! I am Anastasia. I have been dancing for 15 years. I teach to show kids not just the steps of a dance but the passion behind it. "Dancers aren't made of their technique, but their passion." ~anonymous This is my third year teaching at Westbrook. I graduated from Lake Mary High, where I was the Captain of the dance team. I was honored to be selected into the Hall of Fame at Lake Mary for Dance. |
| Westbrook Dance Academy was established in 2002 solely by Julie Westbrook-Smith. She is the owner and a choreographer at the studio. She was born and raised in upstate New York where she trained in all aspects of dance for eighteen years. |
| Lauren Walthers has been dancing since the age of 3. Lauren has studied in all aspects of dance jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, and hip hop. Lauren competed in many dance competitions winning many numerous titles and awards. Lauren danced in the nutcracker at the age of 10, along with performing at Disney, Universal Studio, and for the Orlando Magic halftime show. Lauren began teaching dance at the age of 16 while winning the title of Most Well Rounded Dancer from Urban Jamm Dance Convention. At this time, Lauren was also a member of a well known hip hop group that performed at Hard Rock Live and the House of Blues with the famous group, the Backstreet Boys. While attending Seminole High, Lauren was a member of Destiny, Seminole's award winning show choir, and a member of the Dazzlers dance team. Lauren's choreography was featured in both Destiny and the Dazzler's competition numbers. Lauren now finds herself teaching here at Westbrook Dance Academy where she loves working with the children and teaching them the art of love of dance. |
| Emily Mickolay started her dance training at the age of 5. She has received training in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical and modern. While living in Missouri she won numerous awards at regional and national competitions with her studio. She was also a company member of Midwest Regional Ballet under the direction of Kaye Lewis. With Midwest Regional Ballet she performed a solo role in their production of the Nutcracker which toured in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. She moved to Gainesville, FL to continue her dance education at Santa Fe Community College where she trained with Alora Haynes (Alabama Ballet) and Alberto Alonso and Sonia Calero-Alonso (National Ballet of Cuba). While at SFCC, she was a part of the Dance Theatre of Santa Fe and performed in works choreographed by Alora Haynes, Mohamed DaCosta, Brian Brooks and Earl Mosley. Emily previously taught at O2B Kids in Gainesville, FL for 3 years. During her last year there she served as the dance director and choreographed award winning pieces for competition. |
| Miss Emily Instructor/ Choreographer B.A. Finance Graduation 2010 |
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