Meet our Dance Teachers

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Laura Schmidt is a graduate of Oklahoma City University with a Bachelor of Science degree in American Dance Pedagogy. After graduation, Laura moved to Washington DC where she performed and choreographed professionally for 12 years with Dancin’ Unlimited Jazz Dance Company as well as guest appearances with various companies in the area. 

On top of performing, Laura taught technique and choreography at various studios in the area and worked with students of all ages and levels in tap, ballet, jazz, contemporary, musical theatre, lyrical, partnering, and pointe. She has helped many graduating seniors with college audition preparations for various musical theatre and dance programs nationwide.  

This preparation included solo choreography, prescreen videos, and individual technique training. Laura has had a passion for dance since she began dancing at 3 years old and she is looking forward to teaching the next generation of dancers. 

Tim did not actually start out as a dancer, but as a martial artist and musician. While highly successful in both, he reached a point of burnout during high-school and wanted to try something new. It was because of this that he took his understanding of movement and music, merged them, and discovered dance as the perfect bridge between the two. He taught himself simple choreographies and basic moves through YouTube for fun before quickly realizing he wanted to pursue dance professionally. However, it wasn't until college that Tim's dance journey would rapidly and suddenly begin picking up momentum. He immediately immersed himself in the dance scene and worked towards a fine arts degree with a minor in dance. Before, after, and between classes, he was constantly practicing and sharpening his skill set. When he wasn’t dancing, he was researching and studying all of the ins-and-outs of dance, including technique, culture, science, as well as history. 

He also became the captain of the on-campus breaking crew and was heavily involved with the theater and film programs, making a name for himself in the local arts community. Since then, Tim has danced, choreographed, and instructed for multiple dance studios in Virginia, New York, and now Florida. While he loves the creative and performance aspects of dance, Tim's true passion lies in teaching. Some of the most influential people in his life were teachers, and he wants to mirror the same intentionality and genuineness that was shown to him growing up. Tim's goals as an educator are to guide students to authenticity in their art, dedication to their craft, and appreciation for life through movement. Outside of dance, he is still an active musician and has taken up yet another hobby in culinary arts. 

Tim is so excited to share his love for dance and eager to invest in each of his student’s own personal dance journey.

Evelyn Zangrillo was a studio owner in New York for over 20 years and has taught all over Long Island for many years. Evelyn trained with Vic D’Amore Studio of Dance, Broadway Dance Center in NYC and STEPS. 

She has choreographed in the competition circuit which lead her to win numerous choreography awards, excellence in technique awards and high score awards for groups, solos and duo/trios. Her versatility in many styles of dance allows her to adapt easily in the dance room and create a fun and energetic environment for dancers of any age.

Ms. Belanger holds a M.Ed. in Education from the University of New Hampshire and a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Psychology from the State University of New York, College at New Paltz.  She continued her studies in New York City where she was a scholarship student and apprentice company member with the Mary Anthony Dance Theatre. She was a student at the Peridance Center and trained in Ballet, Modern and Jazz Dance. She performed with the Mary Anthony Dance Theatre and several other independent choreographers while in New York.  In addition, she was a certified New York State teacher in dance education and instructed students in modern, ballet, jazz, contemporary and hip-hop while directing the Creative Arts Mini-School at the Elizabeth Barrett Browning Middle School in the Bronx, NY for 6 years.  Upon returning to NH she taught technique classes at Portsmouth School of Ballet, Ballet New England, Bedford Dance Center, Brooks School in North Andover, MA and the Kathy Blake Dance Studio in Amherst, NH.  

She has shown choreography at the New England Inspirational Dance Collective presented by Saving Grace Dance Ensemble in Milford, NH for the past 9 seasons along with Dance to Your Own Rhythm in Providence, RI and participated in the “Artfulness” performance at Windhover in Rockport, Massachusetts for several years as a choreographer. She moved to Poughkeepsie NY and studied Modern Dance at the New York Academy of Ballet with Mr. Steve Rooks, former Graham company member and Faculty member at Vassar College. She has also guest taught modern dance throughout her stay in Poughkeepsie. She has recently moved to the Palm Bay/Melbourne area to be with her family and looks forward to being able to share her experience and passion for dance education with a wonderful group of new students here in Palm Bay.