Ashley Taylor

Ashley has been dancing since the age of three years old. She grew up participating in numerous dance competitions winning many awards and scholarships throughout the years. After graduating high school she moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue a dance career. She worked with many famous choreographers and even participated in music videos. However, in 2017 God shut the door in California and had other plans for Ashley's life. She started attending Bayside Community Church where she was able to combine her love for God with her love for dance. She has choreographed numerous dance productions for church events with audiences of thousands of people. This gave Ashley a deeper meaning and purpose for her passion of dance. In October of 2023 Ashley decided to open up Inspiration Dance Company to create a space where dancers could be a part of a safe environment, receive high level training, and have an outlet to express themselves. Ashley still has dreams for the future, but she is so thankful with where God has her now.

Sara Amick

 

​Sara has been dancing since she was 4 years old. She grew up practicing Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop, and Lyrical. She was also a part of a variety of dance competitions and helped bring one of her numbers to a first place overall. After Elementary, she wanted to focus on her technique so she changed studios to work with Diane Partington. Being there she was a part of their production of The Nutcracker, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty. When high school came along she wanted to compete again so she joined the high school dance team. They performed at all football games, competed, and did many fun functions to raise money for their team. After high school she wanted to make a difference in the dance industry. She’s been going to First Baptist Church of Palmetto her entire life but didn’t find her faith personally until after high school. God has put the passion of dance on her heart and she now wants to use that passion to create a space where everyone can feel comfortable to worship through their dancing. She also wants to make every student feel proud of their progress and learn to lift each other up throughout their progress. Most importantly, she wants everyone to have fun especially when she is teaching Hip-Hop. She believes Hip-Hop is a great way for the students to let loose and learn cool moves to impress their friends and family. 

Lexy Baker

Though Lexy trained for years in Tap, Jazz, HipHop, Modern, and Contemporary, her passion and focus is Ballet. Lexy started at a young age training often 7 days a week. She moved to full time to a pre-professional Conservatory based program, then moved to Sarasota to train further with the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School.  Currently she is a trainee with Gulfcoast Studio Company and has had the honor to perform original choreography and collaborate with professional artists in various performances. When she teaches her students she wants to help them develop transferable life skills such as discipline and focus in addition to beautiful ballet technique. Lexy wants them to enjoy the art of ballet and feel proud of their progress.  The technique and strength they develop in ballet will greatly enhance what your student does in all other dance forms and help them shine when they compete.

Aanika Czajkowski

Aanika has been training in various styles of dance for most of the course of her life. Her dance career is rooted in ballet and technical training. This has broadened over the years, involving contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, and other styles of dance. After her high school years, she graduated with her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology. She also resided in Dallas, Texas and toured with Ingredients Dance Company. She participated in their dance company, as well as traveling with Dance Revolution, dance convention. This played a large role in the beginning of Aanika's teaching journey. She has a strong passion for cultivating a safe and encouraging environment for dancers to seek new heights and express themselves. It is her absolute joy to help dancers reach their goals and flourish in their craft. A dream of Aanika's is to be a certified dance movement therapist, while combing her passion for dance and mental health. 

Britney Freas

Britney has been dancing for 14 years in all styles. She is studying dance in college at Montclair State University. She is in the BFA program for dance and pursuing a minor in business. She has performed in pieces done by Cameron McKinney and other teachers at Montclair. Her goal after college is to travel the world performing on a cruise ship. After, she wants to open her own studio so she can teach and allow the love of dance to spread through her to other kids.

Lexi Kalantzis

Lexi is a local of Sarasota, Florida, and has been involved in the entertainment industry since she was just 17 years old. She grew up in the creative and competitive dance scene which led to her artistic way of thinking. She began dancing at the young age of 2 and is adverse in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Acrobatics, Contemporary, Lyrical and Hip Hop. Lexi has been a dance instructor for over 10 years and was a Dance Studio Director for 4 years. She has since worked for big names such as The Walt Disney World Resort Company, Feld Entertainment and LIFE SURGE. Lexi has taken many Master Classes with names such as Mia Michaels, Nick Lazzarini, Mollee Gray, Robert Roldan, Tyce Diorio, Brian Friedman, Bobby Newberry and “Footloose” Star Kenny Wormald.  She has also worked with several dance competitions as a judge, adjudicating routines and managing backstage as their backstage manager and tabulator. She loves connecting with all the dancers before their routines and helping them get pumped and ready to perform! She has a BA in Communications with a concentration in Culture & Media from The University of South Florida. When she's not dancing she loves to spend time at the local beaches and enjoys spontaneous trips to Disney with her family and friends. 

Makayla Lane

MaKayla Lane was born and raised in Dallas, Texas where she found her love for dance at the

Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts. She then attended Point Park University where she earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts in spring 2023. During her time at Point Park, she has performed in various works by Jason McDole, Jesse Factor, Kiesha Lalama, Kiki Lucas, and others. While in Pittsburgh, she also took part in events within the community. She has performed with the Pittsburgh CLO, Botanic Gardens, and the world renowned Pittsburgh Steelers. As much as she loves the stage, she also loves to teach and choreograph. Working with Dance Masters 2022 as

well as various studios around the area, MaKayla has been able to inspire many young dancers.

After graduation, MaKayla moved to Saint Petersburg to expand her artistic talents as a dancer, instructor, and choreographer. She has joined Sarasota Contemporary Dance as a Company Member, Teaching Artist, and the Administrative team for their 18th Season. MaKayla has had the pleasure of joining the community as a teacher at Woodland Fine Arts Academy and Inspiration Dance Company. She is passionate about inspiring others and will continue to do so through her artistic voice.