The Difference...
Destination Dance of Oviedo (DDO) is not your ordinary dance studio. One of the things that makes us unique is our approach to performances. Rather than one recital at the end of the year, our dancers will perform on stage twice each year in our fall and spring productions. Different than a traditional recital, where your child would dance for 2-3 minutes during a series of unrelated dances, our productions are very entertaining! Your child will dance as part of a story told to the audience through music and movement. This type of production allows dancers to show theatrical ability in addition to dancing ability and creates a connection between the dancers, the teachers and the audience that is missing with traditional recital formats.
We do not have a competition team here at DDO. Instead, we have our DDO Performance Team. This team will perform at different events around Central Florida. Our mission is to provide quality dance instruction to all dancers, regardless of how many hours per week they dance, without an extreme time or financial commitment. Since dancers are not required to take specific classes, our students find themselves amongst peers all dedicated to that class and what it has to offer, creating a positive class environment!
The atmosphere at DDO is welcoming to dancers and parents. We want you and your child to look forward to the time you spend with us. State of the art studios, comfortable lobby seating, large viewing windows, a work station and our friendly staff help to provide this welcoming atmosphere.
Come see us soon and discover the difference at Destination Dance!
Our Wonderful Staff:
Sheila Smith
Studio Owner
Sheila has a BS in Chemical Engineering from Auburn University, where she was a gymnast from 1987 to 1990, specializing in balance beam and vault. She is married and a mother to three dancers. After several years of competition dance for her girls, Sheila’s family made the decision to stay with dance, but to find a better balance. She made the decision to open Destination Dance with the mission of providing a welcoming atmosphere to all levels of dancers and to provide quality instruction for the advanced dancer without requiring an extreme time and financial commitment. When Sheila is not busy running the business, you will occasionally find her assisting acro classes, getting to use her love of gymnastics in a small way at the studio! Her husband Tim is a big help to the business (maintenance man and all things props for productions)!
Candace Isaacs
Artistic Director
Performance Team Director
Candace is a graduate of the University of Central Florida with degrees in both Theatre and Dance. She has been dancing for over 25 years, training in ballet, jazz, modern, tap, hip hop, musical theatre, lyrical, and contemporary. Along with dance, Candace began singing and acting at a young age and fell in love with performing. As a competition dancer, she attended many competitions throughout her early dance career and now adjudicates for competitions all over the country.
She started teaching and choreographing when she was fifteen years old and continues to teach dancers from pre-k to adult levels. She is the dance team coach for the Lawton Chiles Pantherettes, as well as the choreographer for the Timber Creek High School Theatre Department. She has choreographed for numerous middle school, high school, and college dance teams, musicals, and show choirs as well as choreographed for professional & college Theatres throughout Florida.
Candace has taught several dance classes in Ballet, Jazz, and Hip Hop at The University of Central Florida as well as master classes for Broadway Unhinged, Knights and Damsels Dance Company, Broadway Lights Dance Center, Chance to Dance, and many others across the state of FL. She originally moved to Central Florida to attend college at UCF but stayed to dance and perform in the parades and shows at Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, & Sea World in Orlando, Florida. Candace directs all the shows at DDO and loves being able to share her love for the Arts with all of her students!
Rachel Warender
Ballet Academy Director
Originally from Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, Rachel Aimee began her career in the arts at a young age. After several years of voice & piano lessons she was taken by an overwhelming love for the art of classical ballet. At 9 she began her training with Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet studying Balanchine technique. After 5 years of intense training at CPYB she was accepted into The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia. After two years at the Rock and three summer’s with the Miami City Ballet and studying with Madame Adrienne Dellas Thornton she was accepted into The Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington DC.
Upon graduation Rachel spent a year dancing for The Nashville Ballet. The following season she was offered a position with The Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Boston Ballet II and several other classical ballet companies but opportunity called elsewhere. A position with ME Dance of Orlando was the next step and she danced with the troop for two seasons until finding her true passion for teaching.
Rachel has worked with choreographers such as Nicole Tongue of the English National Ballet, Darla Hoover of New York City Ballet, Edward Villella from Miami City Ballet, Violet Verdi of The Paris Opera Ballet & many more over the years. Rachel has an overwhelming love for classical ballet & is thrilled to be able to use her experience to fuel her classroom. Through thorough education and a sturdy classical base the most incredible well dancers can be born.
Allie Bath
Instructor
Allie Bath is dancer and choreographer originally from Cincinnati, OH. Allie began dancing at a young age before beginning her professional career at age 15 . She furthered her dance education at Point Park University where she received her B.A. in Dance, concentrating in Jazz. Throughout college, Allie performed with many reputable choreographers, in a touring burlesque inspired show, and was a part of multiple music videos. Allie completed internship programs at Steps NYC and Broadway Dance Center. Allie is a member of the Actors Equity Association and performed as Equity dancer in “Dream Along With Mickey” at Walt Disney World. Allie has toured the world with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as a dancer and aerialist. She has also enjoyed working, teaching, and adjudicating for Starpower, Power Pak, The World Dance Pageant, Encore Talent, Pro Artist Series and more. You can catch her now at the Edison in Disney Springs! Allie is very excited to share her passion and knowledge of dance with the students at Destination Dance!
Kinsey Hughey
Pom/Dance Team Instructor
Kinsey grew up training in Oak Ridge, TN at the Oak Ridge Academy of dance. She attended the University of Memphis where she was a part of the Memphis Dance Team from 2015-2020. This past year she made the move to Orlando after being chosen as a member of The Orlando Magic's Dance Team, The 407. Along with Kinsey's love for performing, she also finds great enjoyment in creating. She has been traveling the last few years choreographing for both high school and college dance teams. She comes to Orlando with a wealth of talent and knowledge.
Colleen Madden
Acro Instructor
Colleen Madden is a Dancer and Acrobat who grew up in the Oviedo area. She has been dancing for 15 years, training in Acrobatics, Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre and Hip-hop dance styles as well as some gymnastics training. As a competition dancer, she attended many competitions throughout her dance career and continues to compete in swing and line dancing competitions. She started teaching acrobatics classes in her junior year of high school and has been teaching ever since. She loves to share her passion for acrobatics and help her students find that same passion that she has!
Starr-Simone Mckenzie
Instructor
Starr is from south Florida going into her junior year at UCF. She is majoring in Entertainment Management with minors in Theater, Dance, and Education. Starr is a member of the Knights and Damsels Dance Company at UCF.
Kelsey Eckerson
Instructor
Kelsey grew up in south Florida where she trained at her local dance studio for 15 years in the styles of ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, pointe, and acrobatics. During this time, she was also a part of Expressions Dance Company, a nonprofit dance company that produced seasonal dance performances and participated in initiatives throughout the community. During high school, Kelsey gained training in the styles of contemporary and hip hop, and she served as her school’s dance team captain. Upon graduating from high school, Kelsey moved to Orlando and attended the University of Central Florida. While at UCF, she was a part of the KnightMoves Dance Team, and the Knights & Damsels Dance Company. She graduated with a BS in Elementary Education and a minor in Dance. Kelsey is so excited to be a part of the Destination Dance family and loves sharing her knowledge and passion for dance with her students!
Courtney Luton
Instructor
Courtney was born and raised in the central Florida dance community and has been teaching since graduating high school. Currently, she is a member of the Crawford Jazz Project and a performer at Universal Orlando. Courtney specializes in tap, jazz, and leaps and technique.
