Hayley Amis-Stewart is a former student of HSD and became the owner and director of Highland School of Dance in 2008. She apprenticed with Southern Ballet Theater from 1995-1997. After graduating high school in 1997, she went on to study dance at New World School of the Arts on full scholarship. She has also danced with Hardrive Productions in Orlando, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Moving People Dance Theater in Santa Fe, New Mexico and has taught throughout the United States. She returned as a faculty member at Highland School of Dance in 2002. She is currently serving as President of Florida Dance Masters and is also a certified teacher with the Cecchetti Council of America.

Robbie Mundy has studied dance since she was a young child and has been affiliated with HSD as a student and teacher for many years. In 1992, Robbie left the teaching world to open Dance Closet. Robbie returned to HSD in 1995 to teach pre-ballet and beginning ballet. Robbie is a certified teacher through the Cecchetti Council of America. She takes great pleasure in showing her students the responsibilities as well as the joys of dance.

Erica Garcia Peek is a graduate of the University of South Florida and alumni of Harrison Center for the Performing Arts dance department. While at USF she studied with John Parks, Jeanne Travers, and Lynne Wimmer, focusing her modern training on the Horton and Limon techniques. She performed with Moving Current, and was a founding artist of the performance company Dance, Music, Design. Erica spent four years dancing as a company dancer with a professional company in Florida. She also danced with Vital Spark for three years and competed in Spain at the Dance Grand Pix.  In 2015 Erica became a certified member of Florida Dance Masters.

Adrianne Patton is a former student of HSD. After graduating high school, she went on to study psychology at University of South Florida. She returned as a faculty member at Highland School of Dance in 2010. She is currently a performer for Walt Disney and the head dance coach for the George Jenkins High School Wind Dancers. She is a member of  Florida Dance Masters.  Adrianne Patton is committed to teaching the disciplines and principles of dance to her dancers.

Alex Jones is a graduate of the University of South Florida's Dance Department with a BFA in Dance Performance. In addition to his collegiate training, Alex received his dance training from The Dance Center at Satya Life, Highlands School of Dance, Harrison Arts Center, and LINES Ballet BFA Program. He has had the opportunity to work with Alonzo King, Bill T. Jones in Serenade/The Proposition, and Doug Varone in The Rite of Spring. He has performed in Tunisia, Africa with the University of South Florida on behalf of the American Embassy and the Tunisian Dance Federation. He is currently an equity dancer at Walt Disney World and has performed in Dream Along with Mickey and Beauty and the Beast Live On Stage. He teaches partnering and contemporary jazz at Highlands School of Dance. He is an alumnus of ArchCore40 in NYC and works closely with choreographer Jennifer Archibald as her choreographer assistant. In 2012, he has choreographed and directed his first evening length work entitled “First You, Then The Rest” at the Studio@620 in St. Petersburg, FL. In the Spring of 2013, Alex joined Yow Dance Company and had the honor of choreographing works on the company for both Spring Into Dance and the Orlando International Fringe Festival. Later that Fall, he returned to the Studio@620 to premiere his second evening-length work, "Contact." Alex was a proud member of Project GenYes! at the Studio@620 made possible by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Through this project, Alex will be premiering his third evening-length work, "Uncovered: Power of the Being” at the Studio@620. Alex is now the new artistic director of Collective Soles Dance Company and is honored to take the company and the Tampa Bay Area to new heights.

Kyle Coleman was born and raised in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Growing up, Kyle pursued athletics for the majority of his life,but at the age of 15, was introduced to the art of Hip Hop. Wanting to be like the superstars on Americas Best Dance Crew, Kyle trained indivudally for two years before becoming a member of LCD2 competitive dance crew in Stuart, Florida. Working alongside choreographers and performers such as Taylor Bennett, Kyle branched off and began working at Studio 6 Academy of Dance in 2013 as a hip hop instructor and assistant director. Since then, Kyle has graduated with his BA in physical education from Warner Unviersity, competed in multiple national competitions such as Starpower and Showstoppers, choreographed for performances at the Kravis Center, and even collaborated on music videos. With several years of experience as a dance teacher and performer, Kyle is trained in every artistic form of the Hip Hop culture and is known throughout south Florida at studios such as Sean's Dance Factory, U4ria, and Focal Pointe. He is excited to join our staff this year and hopes to not only assist in growing the hip hop department, but expanding it so that more young men will join.

Sarah Oepen received her early training at the Academy of Dance Arts in DeLand, Florida and then went on to train at the Orlando Ballet School under the direction of Peter Stark.  She has also spent summers studying at the Sarasota Ballet and the Peridance Capezio Center in New York, NY.  As a graduate of the University of Central Florida she holds a B.S. in Event Management and a minor in Dance.  Sarah was a company member with Florida Dance Theatre where she later moved into management. There she performed in both contemporary and classical ballets including The Nutcracker, Firebird, Swan Lake, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. She has been a parade performer for Walt Disney World Entertainment for the past ten years where she has had the honor of opening several new shows and parades. Sarah has been teaching and setting shows throughout the Central Florida area for the past seven years.  In addition to teaching at HSD, Sarah is the Director of the HSD Homeschool Dance Enrichment Program.

Olivia McCartney began her athletic training as a competitive gymnast, and participated in both dance and gymnastics to aid in achieving a unique combination of artistry and athleticism that she would later take into her career as a professional dancer. She began her dance studies under the instruction of Hayley Stewart at Highland School of Dance during the school year, and spent her summers training with institutions such as Patel Conservatory and Modas Dance, while also working on earning her grade four certification in the Cecchetti technique. During High School, Olivia gained an apprenticeship with Collective Soles Dance Company under the instruction of Alexander Jones and performed at many events with the company in the Tampa and St. Pete area. In 2022, Olivia gained her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography at Florida Southern College and during her time there, got to work with notable guest choreographers and faculty such as Douglas Gilespie, Gregory Dolbashian, Doricha Sales, Sadie Lemker, Sarah Walston, Leah Pinder, Allison J. Baber, and CJ Inzinillo. Since graduating, Olivia has gained teaching positions at Highland School of Dance, All Saints Academy, and Wendy’s Dance Company, and she is currently dancing and performing with RAKR Dance Company in New Smyrna Beach, FL.  

Tyler Forman has been training over the past 15 years in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop, and musical theater.  He has performed as an Equity performer at Disney in "Beauty and the Beast-Live on Stage!" and has showcased his talents at Universal Studios and SeaWorld.  On television, he has appeared in productions like the Nashville Holiday Music Special and the Dunkin' Thanksgiving Parade. As a backstage manager at Starpower, he has had the privilege of sharing his passion for dance with students of all levels nationwide.  He holds a BS in Biology and a minor in Dance from the University of Central Florida where he is also a NCAA Student Athlete.  His specialized skills include advanced partnering, tricks, tapping, and 10 years of music theory experience playing the alto saxophone.