Faculty-New | xtreme-dance-studio

XTREME FACULTY

SHERI METCALF

Founder and Artistic Director

Sheri is the Artistic Director and Owner of Xtreme Dance Studio and The Art of Movement ballet and contemporary intensive of Florida. Sheri studied in all genres with and emphasis in traditional techniques. Sheri has worked in film, television, and theatre.

She has choreographed for Nickelodeon and Universal Studio’s Orlando. Some of her credits include A League of Their Own, 90210, Melrose Place, Dooley and Pals, Gullah Gullah Island, Cabaret, and Gypsy. She toured with Denny Terrio from the TV show “Dance Fever” working alongside such classics as the Bee Gees, KC and the Sunshine Band, Donna Summers, Kool & the Gang, Village People and Ed McMahon.

Sheri has a gift and passion for training young dancers. Under her tutelage, Sheri’s students have achieved great success; Paula Abdul’s Live to Dance on CBS, Prix de Lausanne, YAGP Gold, Silver and Bronze medalist, YAGP Grand Prix, World Ballet, ADCIBC, Universal Studios, and Disney. Scholarships awarded to American Ballet Theater, Ballet West, Boston Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, BBSI and more. Students have attended Marymount Manhattan College, PACE University, CLI Studios, and The Julliard School. Students also travel assisting on the national convention circuit.

Sheri is dedicated to share her knowledge and experience mentoring dancers who have a passion for the performing arts.

KATE-LYNN ROBICHAUX

THORNTON

Head of Classical Program

At 13, Kate-Lynn attended her first summer program at Orlando Ballet, where she decided to pursue a career in ballet. She trained at Florida Ballet School with Daniel Deal and then America’s Ballet School with Paula Nunez and Osmany Montano. Robichaux won a gold medal at the 2010 YAGP Regionals. In 2011 she was the Senior Division prize winner at the ADC. She danced in a collaboration with Cirque de Soleil and Orlando Ballet. She also danced Dying Swan at the performance that was dedicated to the victims of the Pulse tragedy, as well as performing Robert Hill’s Meditation for one voice in memorial of the Pulse victims. In 2019, Kate performed Twyla Tharp's Sinatra Suite in Ivan Putrov's international gala "Against The Stream" with world renowned Marcelo Gomes. Since 2011, she continues to perform principal roles with Orlando Ballet such as Juliet in Robert Hill’s Romeo and Juliet, the pads de deux couple in Jerome Robbins’ in Fancy Free, Cupid in Susan Jones’ Don Quixote, Odette/ Odile in Robert Hill’s The Swan Princess, Belle in Arcadian Broad’s Beauty and the Beast, Alice in Arcadian Broad’s Wonderland: Tales of the Mad Hatter, Cinderella in Victoria Morgan’s Cinderella, Nathalie in Jorden Morris’ Moulin Rouge and Wendy in Jorden Morris’ Peter Pan.

AMANDA SMALDONE-LEIMGRUBER

Children’s Dance Curriculum Director

Amanda began dancing at age 3 and trained under Sheri Metcalf from the age of 11-18. Amanda was awarded the inaugural Diane Marie Corino Lifetime Scholarship as well as a scholarship to attend the Giordano Dance Company in Chicago. At the age of 18 she joined the staff at Xtreme where she continued to teach her passion of dance for 8 years prior to relocating to California. She returned in 2022 with her husband and three children and is beyond excited to give back to the studio she grew up dancing in.

BRIANNA "BRI" PURVIS

Assistant Company Director

Brianna Purvis is a professional dancer/ instructor based in Central Florida. She has been dancing since the age of 3, and continues to train in various styles of dance, including ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical/contemporary, ballroom and musical theatre. She trained at Xtreme Dance Studio for 6 years, and was a part of the competitive company during those years. Brianna is currently expanding her career throughout Orlando, FL at Seaworld, Universal Orlando, and Walt Disney World under Actor’s Equity Association. Brianna has also been able to travel and perform for corporate events such as Mary Kay Cosmetics and Catersource, both opportunities through Metropolis Productions.

AUSTEN ACEVEDO

Principal Classical Dance Educator

Austen Andrew Acevedo, began dancing at the age of nine under the direction of the late Deborah Barnes, as well as Audrianna Broad, Natasha Glos, and Sheri Metcalf. At the age of ten, Austen began his training in Classical Ballet at the Orlando Ballet School under the direction of Dierdre Miles Burger, Olivier Munoz and Kim Marsh.

At the age of eleven, he received the Bronze Medal in the Pre-Competitive Category at the YAGP NYC Finals. In the same year, Austen was also a semi-finalist in Paula Abdul’s Live to Dance on CBS, and a finalist for the production of Billie Elliot on Broadway/Touring. The following year he became a National Training Scholar at the American Ballet Theatre's JKO School, in New York City.

In 2014, he was the awarded Silver Medal at the YAGP NYC Finals in the Junior Category being the only American male to win a prize medal and the following year as a Senior Competitor was awarded the same medal again at the YAGP NYC Finals. Austen has earned numerous accolades such as receiving a full scholarship to the American Ballet Theatre's JKO School in New York City, and the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia. In 2015, Austen was the first American Youth Dancer along with Kenedy Kallas, to perform at the Mariinsky (Kirov) Theatre Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia. Yuri Smekalov soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre choreographed a neo-classical repertoire on both dancers. The following year, he continued his training at the American Ballet Theatre's JKO School on a scholarship which he received as a prize winner at the Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland.

Austen has performed in multiple galas around the world and had an article written on him by Dance Spirit Magazine naming him a dancer "You Should Know”. At age seventeen, Austen completed his academic studies at Ellison Ballet in New York City, and the Winter before completion worked with Maina Gielgud OA former director of Australian Ballet at Ellison Ballet on Anton Dolin’s Variations for Four. Shortly after, in the same year he joined the Houston Ballet as a Union Member of AGMA and was the youngest male apprentice of the professional company; debuting in roles such as Amour (Cupid) in Ben Stevenson's Don Quixote, and excerpts from Stanton Welch’s “Clear”. The following year he was promoted to the rank of Corps de Ballet. During his time at Houston Ballet he performed an array of full length ballets; Swan Lake, Sylvia, Tarantella, Coppelia, The Merry Widow, Bolero, Marie, Nutcracker, Mayerling, Giselle, and Sleeping Beauty.

In 2020, Austen formally retired from the Houston Ballet and began teaching Classical Ballet in the Central Florida area. He composed an extensive curriculum for pre-professional students. His students have been awarded medals and scholarships at ADC IBC, and Universal Ballet Competition. Austen's former students are now attending college dance programs such as Julliard, and Pace University.

In May 2023, along with remaining in his position as a Classical Dance Educator, he felt exhilarated to return to the stage as a guest artist. After nearly four years, it is with great pleasure that Austen announces his upcoming return to the stage.

SHAWNA HILLEY
Teacher

Shawna is originally from New Jersey but has been residing in Florida for the past 10 years. She began her dance training at the age of three extensively studying ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and acrobatics. She has a bachelor’s degree from Fordham University, in communications and media studies. She has received scholarships and attended Joffrey Ballet School and The Ailey School. She has performed professionally with the American Dance Company, UPN Morning News, as well as being a Kid of the Kingdom at Disneyworld. She has also been an assistant to Laurie Kanyok while living in New York. Her students in both New Jersey and Florida have won numerous titles including American Dance Awards National Jr. Dancer of the Year, Jr. Miss Dance of CT, Teen Miss Dance of NYC, and Teen Mr. Candance Nationals. For the past seven years she has been a judge for American Dance Awards. Shawna is also a former Teen Miss Dance of PA, Miss and Jr. Miss DEA.

DANIEL HUNALP
Teacher

Born and raised in Deltona, Florida, Daniel Hunalp began taking dance classes at the age of 6 at Mariam and Valerie’s School of Dance Arts in Sanford, Florida. He attended the Sarasota Ballet Summer School for three years, as well as trained for a summer at Ann Reinking’s Broadway Theatre Project. From a very young age, Daniel knew his destiny was to perform on stage and in film, so at age 12, he was part of his first national commercial for Walt Disney World. Daniel’s stage credits then began at the age of 17, when he joined the touring cast of Iron Beats as a tap soloist. From there, he has gone on to perform on many stages across the world. His credits include: I Got Love (off-Broadway), West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, Disney Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Line (where he also choreographed and directed), and many AEA stage shows across Walt Disney World property where he has also backup danced for Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers, and the cast of The Descendants in multiple filmings and special events.

Daniel’s dance career is now geared towards teaching and choreographing tap, ballet, and musical theater at dance studios around the country, and travels with the staff of Intrigue Dance Convention as a tap instructor. He was part of the collaborating team that founded the Orlando Tap Festival in 2017, and has been on faculty with them every year following. His love for sharing his knowledge with the newest generation of dancers has led him to founding his own dance convention, Broadway Unhinged with his wife, Alexa. This convention is where they, along with a small team of instructors, offer classes in all styles and live feedback sessions to prepare kids for their competition season, in hopes that it all one day leads to a future career like Daniel’s one day!

CLARISSA TURNER

Teacher

Clarissa Turner is a dancer/choreographer based out of Orlando, FL, locally known for her precision, versatility, and stage presence. She is versed in many styles, such as contemporary, jazz, tap, and hip-hop. She is currently training in urban dance styles, including waacking, locking, house & breaking foundations.

Her performance credits include the Funkywunks, Universal Studios, Old Navy, Janet Jackson, Street Beatz, and Disney. She has battled underground to win the title of Queen of the Floor, and is a USA Hip Hop International gold medalist.

She’s the captain of the Orlando Magic’s hip hop crew, the 407 & is the Owner/Director of MADance Entertainment.

She strives to educate and encourage her following to be open to learning a variety of styles and to concentrate not only on understanding their craft, but being able to show who they are within it.

HARRISON RUSTAY

Teacher

Harrison Rustay is an accomplished and awarded dancer / choreographer. Growing up competing himself, he is an experienced performer of 17 years - having performed at Disney, multiple fashion shows, and 11 years on stage competing year after year. He won numerous awards at many regional, national, and world competitions. In his years of training he had the privilege to work with and train under many of the industry's most notable choreographers; from technique to street and everything in between - giving him a diverse background which he continues to indulge in. He was a guest dancer, and scholarshipped at the Northwest Florida Ballet Academie for their summer program at the age of 15. Along with this program, he has trained extensively with the renowned Katie Garza and Israel Rodriguez from the Orlando Ballet. Having been able to work with a diverse set of choreographers for years, he has had experience in a myriad of styles of dance, and prides himself on being a versatile artist that doesn’t limit himself to a singular capacity. He has not only thrived as a dancer, but also as a choreographer. Having an injury at 13, he worked within his boundaries during rehabilitation and became enthralled with choreographing. At the age of 15 he won his first student choreography award, and has since continued on that success - winning a multitude of awards at competitions for his choreography.

Not being defined, limited or categorized is the thesis for his mission as an artist. Harrison sets himself apart in this way - pushing the boundaries of what dance is, and can be.

CHRISTINA MARTIN
Teacher

After Christina was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 13 years old, having started dancing 5 years prior, she started a club at her high school that today, is a non-profit organization providing every-day support and dance to Central Florida families impacted by diabetes. She performed professionally and was the exclusive personal trainer for a nationally winning hip hop dance crew, called TheSQUAD, for 6 years. Four years ago, she became the first female with type 1 diabetes to compete on NBC's American Ninja Warrior. Christina now stands and dances on stages around the country where she helps to empower both children and adults to create their own paths to success and help others to do the same. In her spare time, she loves doing this through the art of teaching hip hop and contemporary.

SONJA ROSIGNOL

Teacher

Sonja Marie started her training in a small Florida studio that focused on classical technique. Her love of ballet and modern grew, she had the privilege of dancing with two large companies before her performing years were cut short by injury. Limited mobility inspired the merger of her dance education with psychology and childhood development. She has over 20 years teaching experience with students of varying experience levels as well as multiple dance genres. Sonja whole-heartedly believes dance is beneficial for everyone. It is her goal to use her love of movement to train and inspire the next generations of artists.

ALISON HESH
Teacher

Alison Hesh started her ballet training at the age of 9 when she began studying at the Ballet Academy of Miami. Her summers were spent at the Joffrey Ballet in New York and her adolescent years were spent in the local company, Ballet Theatre of Miami. Upon graduating from high school, Alison went on to join Bay Ballet Theatre where she was a principal dancer as well as Ballet Mistress of a company of 25 dancers. Having been home schooled, Alison auditioned and was accepted on full scholarship to Juilliard but turned it down to attend a full curriculum college to broaden her academics. Graduating from University of Miami with a BA in Art History, Alison went on to receive her Master’s Degree from Florida International University in English Literature. While in school and for many years after, Alison taught English Literature at both UM and FIU. Alison was also the head of the Ballet Department at Dance Empire for ten years. It was also during that time that Alison became a Master Pilates teacher and started her own Pilates curriculum. Owning a ballet studio seemed a logical next step for Alison. Opening its doors in 2008, The Ballet Space in Miami became the place to train in advanced ballet thanks in part to Alison’s very well-respected name in the community. While at The Ballet Space, her dancers achieved multiple gold and platinum awards for their technique and artistry and attended premier summer programs on full scholarship. Alison also wrote, produced, directed and choreographed a major ballet entitled “Nutcracker Dreams” which continues to be performed today. As Artistic Director of The Ballet Space, Alison used her unique style of teaching to guide her students to become better dancers as well as well-rounded humans! She takes equal pride when her dancers go off to dance professionally or attend academic colleges. She is extremely excited to be on staff and share her passion and love for ballet and dance with a new audience of talented dancers!