About
HOW TO FIND US/CONTACT US
Julestarz Academy for the Performing Arts is located in Park Square inside Fishhawk Ranch
16132 Churchview Drive
Lithia, FL 33547
MISSION STATEMENT
Julestarz Academy for the Performing Arts is dedicated to educating both children and adults in the fields of dance, music, and theatre. We will provide a warm and friendly environment where students can explore their creative potential. Students will learn self-confidence, self-respect, discipline, self-expression, imagination, and an instilled appreciation for the performing arts. Join our family and become the performer you have always dreamed of being!
MEET THE FACULTY & STAFF
OWNER/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Miss Julie Kenny holds a Masters Degree in Arts and Humanities in Dance and Theatre from The State University of New York at Buffalo and a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from Westminster College. Julie has been a faculty member of the Theatre Studies Program at Niagara University where she taught dance classes for three years. She also taught theatre, acting, and public speaking classes at Daemen College. She is a tenured music teacher for the Buffalo Public School District and the Baltimore County Public School District, where she taught music to grades K through 8. Julie was an NFL cheerleader for the Buffalo Bills for three years, and served as captain for one season. Her dance and music teaching credits include teaching at Dance Dynamics, Country Park Child Care and the Community Music School, all in Buffalo, N.Y. She has worked as a choreographer for many professional theatre and dance companies throughout the northeast region. Some of her choreography credits include: “Will Rogers Follies,” “Godspell,” “The Music Man,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” the Miss Erie County Junior Miss Pageants, and a CO Jones music video produced by the Goo Goo Dolls. Julie also enjoys performing. Some of her favorite roles include: Maria in “The Sound of Music,” Sister Leo in “Nunsense,” Barbara in “Run for your Wife,” and Mazeppa in “Gypsy.” Her singing credits include performing at Westminster Abbey in England, the Notre Dame Cathedral in France and singing the National Anthem for an NFL football game. Julie served as producer and executive director for the first dinner theatre in Buffalo, N.Y., in over twenty years. Julie is a member of the National Dance Educators Organization.
DANCE INSTRUCTORS
Mrs. Mindy Astacio attended the Hanover School of Ballet, in Pennsylvania traveling and performing for 12 years internationally with The Hanover Children’s Ballet Theatre and Company to such places as, Romania, Bulgaria, former Soviet Union, England, Scotland, The Republics of Czech, Slovakia, Hungary and China, along with many other places throughout the United States. She also attended La Roche College in Pittsburgh, PA majoring in Performing Arts and Elementary Education. She has more than 5 years of teaching experience. This is her second season teaching Ballet, Lyrical & Jazz classes at Julestarz.
Mrs. Christa Kirgan is a native of Ansonia, OH. She moved to Indianapolis, IN in 2003 to attend college. She received degrees in Elementary Education and Dance from Indiana University Indianapolis in Dec. 2007. She moved to Florida in June. Miss Christa started as an assistant dance teacher when she was 16 and has been teaching at various studios for 9 years. She has been dancing for 20 years. She has experience in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Lyrical, Irish, Hip Hop, and Cheerleading. Her concentration is ballet, and she has studied and trained with Anderson Young Ballet Theater Academy, Muncie Ballet Studio, Ball State University, Ballet Internationale, The Dance Company of Indianapolis, and The Dance Company of Indiana University Indianapolis. She was the president of her college dance company, and has performed in many ballets and dance recitals throughout her career in dance. She is excited to join the Julestarz Academy family as a ballet and modern instructor. Miss Christa resides in Brandon with her husband Matt, her chocolate lab Roger, and her cat Penelope. This is her first season with Julestarz.
Miss Kimberly May, a native of Dallas, TX, brings with her over 20 years of dance training and performance experience. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance with Emphasis in Modern from Texas Tech University, from which she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She also has extensive training in classical and romantic ballet; she studied with former Kirov Ballet star Galina Panova and the late Madame Natalie Krassovska (Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo). Miss Kimmy has toured and performed nationwide from Dallas to New York to Miami to Long Beach. Miss Kimmy lives in Lakeland and dances with Florida Dance Theatre, Polk County’s resident professional dance company. This is her first season with Julestarz.
MUSIC INSTRUCTORS
Mr. Marc Gaston
Mr. Jesse Guajardo
Mr. Nate Drawdy
Miss Keisha Prime graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is eligible for a Temporary Teaching Certificate in Music K-12 in the State of Florida. Though she majored in voice at UAB, she concurrently studied piano and violin at the college level, and brings over three years of teaching experience through Music Plus Performing Arts Academy, in Birmingham, to her students. Keisha is also an accomplished performer, both as soloist and group member, as well as a published author of music research articles and poetry. She has also donated much time to tutoring dyslexic and low-achieving students.
OFFICE STAFF
Mrs. Jamie Dunn
