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The dreams of tomorrow begin today
For dancers who want to be encouraged to be their best and inspired to dream. For friends and families who want to be part of a growing community that rises by lifting each other up.
Zoika’s Dance is a comprehensive dance school that welcomes dancers of all ages and skill levels!
Try a FREE Class!
Zoika Garcia
Zoika Garcia is the founder of Zoika's Dance in St. Augustine, Florida. A professional dancer, choreographer and teacher, Zoika is a former principal dancer with the National Opera of Cuba and Capezio Ballet of Bolivia. She has travelled extensively as a dancer and choreographer, participating in festivals and winning awards at international competitions in ballet and contemporary genres. Zoika is the former artistic director and choreographer of Capezio Ballet in La Paz, Bolivia, and the former owner, artistic director and choreographer of ZoikaDance in Guatamala.
A native of Cuba, Zoika attended the Superior Institute of Art in Havana, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Ballet and Fine Arts with honors. She continued her studies as a teacher, dancer, and choreographer, receiving a post-graduate teaching degree in Ballet and Character Dance Methodology, and a certificate in Musical Theater and Dance from Opera Lyrical of Cuba. Zoika is also a Certified Fitness Instructor and personal trainer with in-depth knowledge and experience in conditioning for dancers. Always growing as an artist, Zoika is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in Choreography at Jacksonville University.
As a teacher, Zoika has taught ballet at the school of the National Ballet of Cuba and the Superior Institute of Art in Havana, Capezio Ballet Studio in Bolivia, and ZoikaDance in Guatemala. In the United States, Zoika has choreographed and taught for the Saint Augustine Ballet.
A bundle of warmth and energy in a tiny package, Zoika is committed to nurturing her students’ growth as dancers, as well as their confidence in every aspect of life. Zoika’s students have received awards at international dance competitions and invitations to pursue dance at professional ballet and contemporary companies. Her students have also received scholarships to continue their dance studies at universities and colleges.
Zoika's Dance Instructors
Amaani Grant
Hip Hop
Amaani Grant is a dancer and choreographer who was born in Kingston, Jamaica. She graduated from Florida School of the Arts and Jacksonville University, earning her A.S. and B.A. in Dance. Amaani was featured in a music video alongside popular Jamaican artist, Ding Dong. In addition to works by Zoika's Dance, she has choreographed works performed at the American College Dance Association, Florida School of the Arts, The Romanza Showcase, and Pedro Menendez High School. Amaani competed with the SAHS dance team and SJCCA Dance in Hip Hop and Jazz throughout the state of Florida. She also competed in the Dancing with the Stars of St. Augustine raising money for the Boys and Girls Club.
Jenne Vermes
Tap and Contemporary
Jenne Vermes is a professional tap dancer and choreographer from Jacksonville, FL. She is the Artistic Director of professional tap dance companies Noise Complaint Tap Dance Theatre and Rhythm Theory Tap Ensemble, currently performing across the US. She is also a Professor of Tap Dance at Florida School of the Arts, and a music and math teacher for Duval Public Schools. She holds a B.A. in Music and two Master's degrees in education from Florida State University. From 2010-2012 she toured as a dancer/singer for the internationally acclaimed band, The Crüxshadows, traveling across Europe, the Caribbean and North America. From 2014-2018 she was a member of the "#Taplife" Tap Dance Company based in New York City.
Katie DeAcutis is a dancer and choreographer and was a part of the BFA program at the University of Florida. She has worked with and trained under Zoika Garcia, Dante Puleio (Limon Dance Company Artistic Director), Trent Williams, Augusto Soledade, Xan Burley and Alex Springer (formally from the Doug Varone and Dancers Company), Elizabeth Johnson, Andrew Cao, and many others. Her choreography has been displayed in various showcases. For 4 years, she was a member and performance coordinator for a K-Pop cover group in Gainesville, Genesis Dance Crew. During her tenure, Genesis performed live for many organizations, competing at conventions, and filming covers. Recently, you could see her choreography in Cinderella by Zoika's Dance. She is excited to bring her original and unique style to Zoika's Dance.
Katie DeAcutis
Hip Hop and Contemporary
Grace Karger
Ballet and Pointe
Grace Karger is a musician and former ballet dancer whose roles included Sugar Plum Fairy with partner Julio Concepción (Ballet Nacional de Cuba, Cincinnati Ballet, OK City Ballet), Dew Drop, Snow Queen, and Arabian in the Nutcracker; Tiger Lily in Peter Pan; Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz; Caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland; and solo variations including Paquita Etoile, Kitri Act III, Gamzatti Act III, Sleeping Beauty Aurora Act II and Lilac Fairy. Grace trained with Zoika Garcia and spent summers training with American Ballet Theatre, Irina Dvorovenko & Maxim Beloserkovsky (ABT), and Steps on Broadway.
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Peter Larson
Conditioning for Dancers
Peter Larson graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion. He is a Brookbush Institute Certified Personal Trainer, with a specialization in Sports Performance through the American Council on Exercise (ACE). He is crrently working toward a Human Movement Specialist certification from the Brookbush Institute. In addition to teaching students at Zoika's Dance, Peter is employed as a persoanl Trainer at Marsh Creek Country Club in
St. Augustine.
Raquel Clory
Raquel Clory is a singer, actress, and dancer with a BFA in Musical Theater from Jacksonville University and Florida School of the Arts. She has been singing professionally for over 10 years, and studied with a wide array of teachers, including Natalie Weiss, in a variety of styles. Raquel toured with an off-Broadway theater company from 2012-2015 and performed in summer stock productions during the off season in New York. Some of her roles ncluded Anita (West Side Story), Cathy (The Last Five Years), and Joanne (Rent). She has also performed in many community theater productions in the Jacksonville area. Her performances included Camilla (In The Heights) and Queenie (The Wild Party). She taught acting, singing, and dance for Infinity Visual and Perfoming Arts in New York, and she is very excited to be teaching again.
Voice and Musical Theater
Emily Masson
Tap, Ballet, and Jazz
Emily Masson is a dancer and instructor with a degree in dance from Florida School of the Arts. Beginning at just five years old, Emily’s passion for classical ballet, which grew over the years to include tap, jazz, and modern dance, has influenced her every move. After earning her degree, Emily took her talents to Atlanta and Boston before returning to her hometown of St. Augustine. With over a decade of experience as a dance and fitness instructor, as well as working as a full-time teacher at Island Prep Elementary, Emily is excited to be joining the team at Zoika’s Dance!
Tegan Bracewell
Tegan Bracewell is a long-time student of Zoika’s, and has been dancing her whole life. She was a competitive gymnast from 2012-2017, winning several first place titles. She has danced with several companies, including the Joffrey Ballet School of New York, and is currently a part
of Dance Alive National Ballet in Gainesville, FL. Tegan has extended
her expertise by sharing her knowledge across Florida. Teaching is her passion and she throws her heart and soul into everything she does.
She is excited to be apart of the Zoika’s team and share her love of dance and acrobatics.
Acro Dance
Desi Andriotis
Desi Andriotis is a dancer and instructor with an Associate Degree in Dietetics. Desi specializes in Greek dancing and ballroom dancing, and has appeared regularly as a dancer in the St. Augustine Greek Festival and in ballroom competitions. She is also a recreational gymnastics coach, and coach of St. Augustine’s Greek Dance Ministry.
Acro Dance
Lisa Lockhart
Lisa Lockhart is a professional soprano and instructor with over 25 years of experience and a great love for helping students of all ages to grow and reach their fullest potential as singing actors. Ms. Lockhart is also an adjunct vocal instructor at Florida State College in Jacksonville and a frequent musical director for the Limelight Theatre in St. Augustine, Florida. An active performer, Ms. Lockhart enjoys singing opera, musical theatre and in concert, and has appeared on stages across the U.S. and throughout Europe. Since moving to St. Augustine from the NYC area 9 years ago, she has been featured in many local productions. To see where she is performing next and to learn more, visit her website at www.lisalockhartsoprano.com.
Voice and Musical Theater
Claudia Ruby
Instructor
Claudia Ruby is Founder and Owner of the largest Performing Dance Center in her native country of Bolivia. She studied Classical Ballet in the Ukraine and later on graduated from PennState University with a degree in Education. She continued her education at the University of South Florida in Dance Education and worked for Hillsborough County Public system for many years. She now directs Ruby Dance Center in Riverview, Florida and offers a unique After School Program to 15 local schools.
Melanie Anastacia Van Allen,
Ph.D, M.A., M.F.A
A New York City-based choreographer, dancer, teaching artist, and emerging scholar of dance. Melanie holds a Ph.D. in Dance Studies from Texas Woman's University. She also hold a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from the Draper Program of Social Thought at New York University and a Master of Arts in Performance Studies from the Tisch School of the Arts of New York University. She also holds Master of Fine Arts in Dance Choreography/Perfomance from the University of Michigan. Melanie has presented her research and choreography internationally at various academic conferences and performance venues. She is a certified Yoga Instructor, completeing her 200-hour yoga teacher certification at Pure Yoga in New York City.
Instructor
Zoika's Dance Guest Instructors
Devin Mantei
Ballet, Pointe, and Contemporary
Florida Southern College
BFA - Dance
BS - Exercise Science
Harlow Anne Hatin
Ballet, Contemporary, and Modern
University of South Florida
BFA - Ballet
Minor - Marketing
Announcement Coming