DanceMania
Faculty
Lea Willis - Director
Lea is the owner and Artistic Director of DanceMania. She has studied at University of North Carolina School of the Arts, received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from Jacksonville University, and completed her Master of Fine Arts in dance from FSU. She has performed in several outdoor dramas including "Unto These Hills" and "The Lost Colony", and has been an instructor at several area schools.
With over 35 years of teaching and choreography experience, Lea is also the founder and director of "On The Move" Dance Company and creator of River City Science Academy's Dance Club.
Kristen Scandurra​
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Kristen grew up dancing at DanceMania and was a member of the "On The Move" Dance Company. She is a graduate of FSCJ, where she was actively involved in their dance department, of University of Florida with a B.A. in Education, and is currently pursuing a M.A. in Dance Education and certificate in Dance Choreography . She has worked with local dance company Three Hearts Dance as a dancer, choreographer, and production manager, and is a guest artist at LaVilla School of the Arts. She currently teaches Ballet, Contemporary, Tap, Jazz/Hip Hop, choreographs for the 'On The Move' Company, and is the studio manager.
Shawn Schaefer
Shawn received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from North Carolina School of the Arts, where she was featured in several productions. She has danced with several renowned dance companies including Larry Richardson Modern Dance Company (NYC), and Bella Lewitsky Modern Dance Company (LA). She has a very impressive resume of performance history and scholarship awards. After teaching and dancing in New York for many years, she moved back to Jacksonville and has taught at DanceMania for many years. Shawn remains an active participant in the local dance community.
Carmel VanHeusen
With a background in early childhood development and experience teaching children of various ages, Carmel is one of the founders of DanceMania and one of the teachers for our After School Program. We are lucky to have her working with us.
Betty Willis
Betty is the owner of DanceMania; Her extensive education includes a Master of Business Administration, and Master of Public Health (Nutrition). You can frequently walk in to hear the kids chanting "Ms. Betty is the best!"