Our PROFESSIONAL Faculty

Ms. Annette Alvarez-Gutches

Owner, Artistic Director

Ms. Annette began dancing at the age of 2 and has never stopped! While opportunity for performance was abundant, she chose to educate and choreograph, where her true passion lies. Ms. Annette has been educating students and teachers professionally since 1982. For the past 17 years, she has owned ULTIMATE DANCE, Inc., a competition studio in Florida. As a Master level teacher, Ms. Annette’s dance students consistently earn top scores (regionally and nationally), titles, scholarships, and special awards. Her students are invited to New York with scholarships to Broadway Dance Center, selected at competitions for summer study and intensive groups, headed up elite college dance teams, opened studios of their own, danced on world cruises and dance professionally in Miami, New York, and LA. Ms. Annette is recognized for her cutting edge choreography at dance competitions both regionally and nationally! Her dances win Entertainment Awards, Technique Excellence Awards, Clean Lines Awards, Emotion Awards- the list goes on. She loves judging and judges for national educational dance organizations as well as the professional competition circuit. She also teaches master jazz and lyrical classes at conventions and studios around the country. Ms. Annette is asked to choreograph for many venues, including MTV. The producers personally sought her out to teach a ballroom dance to a couple for the premier episode of MTV’s series, Engaged & Underage. Ms. Annette is also an ABT® Certified teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive for Primary – Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum, and is continuing with the next levels. She regularly takes master classes with many outstanding teachers to stay on top of new material. A member of Florida Dance Masters since 1987, she is a dance test examiner and an active member on the Board of Directors. Additionally, Ms. Annette is a member of Dance Masters of America, Chapter 2. Over and above her extensive knowledge and background in dance, she also holds a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education and a Masters degree from Nova Southeastern University in Educational Leadership. She is currently a Reading Coach with Brevard Schools during the day, and studio owner by night! In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband Brad. You can contact Ms. Annette at annette@ultimatedanceflorida.com .

Miss Katie Davis

Katie is in her fifth season with UDF and has been a part of the Brevard dance scene since 2001. She was trained and raised in Homestead, Florida. Katie has sixteen years of training from Donna Lee Studio of Dance competing and embracing all styles of dance including: Ballet/Pointe, Jazz, Acrobatics, Tap, Modern, Lyrical, Hip-Hop, and more. For twelve years Katie was a member of Expressions Dance Company of South Dade with roles ranging from the Sugar Plum Fairy to a Christmas Cat. In addition to her years of competitive dance she has also held the title of Miss Homestead in the Miss America Scholarship Pageant two different years and went on to compete for the title of Miss Florida. Miss Katie recently became a Disney dancer and you might just see her on your next visit! She continues to take classes and attend conventions while pursuing her dream of performing and teaching dance at UDF.

Miss Aisha Alexis

Miss Aisha is originally from Long Island, New York. She has studied dance for over 25 years in the "Big Apple" at such prestigious schools as Broadway Dance Center with the great Frank Hatchett, and was a member of his dance group, The Hatchett Junior Dance Troop. Miss Aisha also studied tapping from the tender age of three.She attended The Professional Children Program at Broadway Dance Center in Manhattan. She was taught by Black and Blue star Savion Glover and River Dance star Tarik Winston.She has danced on the tv show What's Up Doctor Ruth, Paul Nemien's Benefits and MTV's LipService and won it!!! She was also a member of TWAPA, Team With a Positive Attitude. Miss Aisha took summer studies at Alvin Ailey Summer Workshops and attended the University of Arts in Philadelphia as well. She is well versed in competition expectations. She has also appeared in music videos! Miss Aisha believes you have to be a triple threat to be the best! Aisha is looking forward to working again this year with our Ultimate Dancers. WORK IT!!!

Miss April Shock

April aquired a love for dance at a young age. At 10, she began cleaning a studio in Matthews, VA in exchange for dance classes and has been sleeping and breathing dance ever since. April went on to become the youngest member of the performing comapany at Diggs School of Dance in Virginia. She attended Eastern Virginia School of Dance before moving to Florida where she began dancing at The Orlando Ballet. She is trained in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, Contemporary, and Hip Hop. She is the recipient of two dance scholarships from Dance Educators of America, and has taught for many studios. Additionally, she has danced professionally as a main stage performer with Disney Magic Cruise Line. She believes God has given her the gift of dance and seeks to share this gift with others, hoping to inspire people of all ages with self confidence, respect, and inspiration.

Miss Joan Bryan

Joan Bryan is originally from St. Louis, Mo. She has recently moved with her children to Melbourne, Fl. for the beautiful weather and extraordinary beaches. As a young woman, Joan competed nationally as a gymnast and has an extensive background in sports acrobats, tumbling, ballet, tap and choreography. She became the first sports acrobat women’s pair to win a Junior Olympic gold medal. As a coach, Joan has owned and operated two dance & tumbling studios in Missouri. She has been the recipient of countless awards and honors for her dedication and coaching skills. She has attended many safety clinics and stays current with the dance world and trends. She has been a certified judge and board member of the Apollo Acrobat Association. As a coach her students have won over 400 State and National championships. Her students competed in AAU, USAF and Apollo Acrobat Association. Although she has had many star students, one of her most memorable accomplishments was coaching her own daughter starting at the age of two, and by the age of 4 she was a National champion. Her students performed in many parades, sporting events at Busch stadium, telethons and malls throughout the Midwest. Joan believes in giving back to her community. She donated many hours to coaching cheerleading at the middle school and varsity level. Joan Bryan is a licensed career and behavioral foster parent. Joan has over 30 years of experience in competing, coaching/teaching, and mentoring young people.

Miss Kassidy Silva (apprentice, under the direction of Ms. Annette)

Kassidy found her passion for dance at age 3 and has never stopped since. She began her career at a local dance studio taking a jazz class once a week. As classes began to grow and hours of dance added up, Kassidy decided to broaden her studies in dance and enrolled at the Space Coast Ballet where she spent several seasons training with top ballet instructors from the Kirov Ballet. After the ballet she found herself ‘at home’ at Ultimate Dance. She has trained and competed with the UDF team and won numerous high scores, special awards, and scholarships to dance with top choreographers and programs. Kassidy has been a teacher’s assistant for two years and has worked numerous summers with the Ultimate Dance Summer Camp. Currently she attends West Shore Jr/Sr High School and is captain of the varsity dance team. Kassidy will graduate in the spring and hopes to attend George Washington University for International Affairs and Political Science in the fall.

Miss Sammy Jo Morales guest teacher

Sammy’s love for dance began at the age of 9. She was introduced to dance while pursuing gymnastics. When she was invited to be a member of the compulsory gymnastic team at her academy, she was required to take a ballet class once a week. She immediately fell in love with the art and now studies all genres of dance. She began to compete in dance at the age of 12, and has continued to pursue competitions, master classes and conventions today. She has received platinum awards, top score, special judge’s recognition, as well as scholarships and honorary invitations to National competitions and conventions. Sammy has been a teacher’s assistant for 3 years and loves sharing her passion for dance with younger enthusiastic dancers. She is attending Florida State University. She will be teaching dance classes at a studio in Tallahassee and coming back to teach at UDF when she is in town!

Miss Shayna Slayton guest teacher

Shayna’s dance career began at the early age of 3 years old. She began competing dance at the age of 8 and continued through high school and college. She has been with our studio since it first opened and was 1 of 5 girls on the first Ultimate Dance Team (Melbourne)! She was on the Harbour City Gymnastics Team, competing as a USAG for 7 years. She was also a member of the Sunrise Springboard Diving Team and competed for 3 years. Today she attends the University of Florida and is studying what she loves- Psychology. Her little sister Alyssa has kept her coming back to the studio for recitals and competitions. She is now our current acro teacher, her favorite job yet!! Shayna also substitutes for any UDF class we need her to! We are excited she is with us!

Miss Julie McKenzie, Office Assistant

Miss Julie has been a parent at Ultimate Dance since her daughter was just 3 years old. Since she has been at UDF, she has taken on many projects and activities to assist in any way she can! Whether you need Powerhouse Team information, need to pay tuition, or we just need a floor quickly vacuumed, she is on it! She also heads up our UDF Volunteers, which includes our academic tutors for all grade levels as well as out Team parents.

Miss Carolyn Alvarez, Owner/Business Manager

Miss Carolyn is the ULTIMATE DANCE office manager. She has been involved in the dance business for over 40 years in some capacity and the office manager of Ultimate Dance for 15 years! Miss Carolyn is available to answer any of your scheduling or financial questions relating to your dancer at Ultimate Dance. Please feel free to email her your questions at carolyn@ultimatedanceflorida.com for a speedy response, or see her at the studio and she can answer all of your questions for you!