About Us


Sybil Manzano (photograph by MaryElizabeth Mock)


FBA HISTORY

In 1962, Jean Spear founded Sarasota’s first professional ballet troupe, the Florida Ballet Company and its official school, Florida Ballet Arts (“FBA”). Eager to keep the FBA fire burning, MaryElizabeth Mock came on board in January of 2000 as the Artistic/Executive Director of Florida Ballet Arts Academy and Artistic Director of the Florida Ballet Arts Ensemble. Through Ms. Mock’s commitment to excellence, she not only carried on the traditions of the company and school that first introduced the art of dance to Sarasota, but has taken the school to a higher level of training and performing for the enrichment of its students, while dazzling Sarasota audiences with cutting edge performances and choreography for more than a decade.



FBA TODAY

Recognizing the need for a resource organization for dance, MaryElizabeth Mock has transformed FBA into just that, while building an alliance of like-minded individuals and organizations. FBA is now Florida Ballet Arts – Professional Dance Alliance, offering Training, Coaching & Consultation, bringing Master Classes and Workshops to the dance arena, as well as providing Guest Dancers, Costumes, Scenery, Studio & Stage Flooring, and Audiovisual services including Video Production, Sound Engineering, and Lighting Design for performances on a nation-wide scale.

As a prominent landmark in Sarasota’s introduction to the arts, we proudly continue to produce dancers and choreography of the highest caliber, while providing the most professional resources to the world of dance and entertainment!

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As a Resource Organization, we offer the following services to Dance Studios, Dance Professionals, Students and Parents:

TEACHING & COACHING
- Placing Highly Qualified Teachers in Dance Studios Desiring Effective, Long-Term Results
– For Serious Students Who Desire to be Coached Privately or Semi-Privately, Whether for Audition Preparation, Competition Preparation, or as a Supplement to Ongoing Training
– Body Conditioning Through the Use of Active-Isolated Stretch Techniques, Pilates, Yoga, and Zumba Cardio Dance Fitness

STUDENT CONSULTATION
- Student/Parent Consultation to Assist Aspiring Dancers in Mapping Out the Best Path to Fit Their Needs and Fulfill their College and/or Career Goals

PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS CONSULTATION
– Professional Business Consultation for Dance Studios Who Need Real Solutions for Effective Management, Marketing, & Operating Success
– Professional Business Forms, Contracts, & Other Administrative / Marketing Material Available for Your Operating Needs
– Fundraising Plans

MASTER CLASSES / WORKSHOPS / SEMINARS
- Master Classes for Students – We Travel to Your Location
(Choose from our list of Master Teachers in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Contemporary, & Hip Hop!)
– Weekend Workshops for Serious-Minded Students & Professional Dancers
– Pedagogical Seminars for Teaching Professionals
– Business Seminars for Studio Owners

AUDITION SERVICES
- Booking Auditions / Conducting Auditions for Your Summer Intensives or Performances

CHOREOGRAPHY
- Classical Ballet, Contemporary Ballet, Modern, Contemporary Dance, & Jazz Choreographic Works Available

GUEST DANCERS
- Providing Professional Dancers for Studios & Companies in Need of Guest Performers

RENTAL SERVICES & SALES
– Professionally Made Costumes & Scenery Available to Studios, Companies, & Individuals for Rent or Purchase
– Marley Flooring Available for Performances to Studios, Companies, & Individuals for Rental Needs
– Professionally crafted sprung wood flooring for studios

AUDIOVISUAL SERVICES
- Professional, high quality Video Production, Sound Engineering, and Lighting Design

REFERRAL SERVICES
- The Ability to Effectively Refer Individuals and Organizations to One Another Through Our Many Solid Connections in the Professional Dance Industry




L to R: Melanie Hamrick (Dancer, American Ballet Theatre), Dea Hall (Student of MaryElizabeth), Jose Manuel Carreno (Principal Dancer, American Ballet Theatre), Andrea Roche (Student of MaryElizabeth), MaryElizabeth Mock (Florida Ballet Arts-Professional Dance Alliance)


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Emily Kadow partnered by Addul Manzano, during Dress Rehearsal for Snow Pas de Deux, in MaryElizabeth Mock's original production of The Nutcracker, performed by the Florida Ballet Arts Ensemble in 2006 at the Sarasota Opera House

OUR MISSION

To educate and inspire dance students, professionals, and enthusiasts through a superior level of training, choreography and performing that is unmatched.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

It is our belief that anything worth doing, is worth doing well. Whether a student is training for a professional career in dance or just dances for the love of the art, we believe in giving the very best training and preparation to each student. We believe all students should learn discipline, self responsibility, proper technique, terminology and theory, classroom etiquette, backstage theater etiquette, and develop artistic abilities for performing in addition to their physical conditioning.

The rewards of proper training are priceless. The training and consultation students receive from our faculty is unparalleled, supplying them with the discipline, work ethics, life skills and preparation needed to pursue any career or academic path.

To produce physical results on an athlete (dancer), you must properly condition the mind of the athlete. We firmly believe that the best athletes are those who actively condition their minds, as well as their bodies and who understand the mind-body connection where mental focus and body kinetics work harmoniously and simultaneously, resulting in optimal technical and artistic performance abilities.

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FORMS OF DANCE TAUGHT BY OUR RENOWNED TEAM OF MASTER TEACHERS

Ballet
Our Ballet training is by the Vaganova Syllabus. Vaganova, also known as the Russian Method, has been the preferred and for most, the only accepted method of training for students and professional dancers in Russia, Cuba, most European countries, and in America’s top schools and companies. Vaganova training creates not only a technically stronger, more proficient dancer, but also a more polished, finished one.

Pas de Deux
Translated as the “step of two”, Pas de Deux involves partnering steps between a male and female such as turns, promenades, and lifts. This class is strictly for students in Intermediate and Advanced Pointe levels.

Modern
Our Modern training is based on the Graham technique with eclectic influences from various other styles and methods such as Horton, Limon, Taylor, and Afro Cuban Modern.

Jazz
An ever-changing style, usually danced to modern music and requiring technical training for executing turns and leaps.

Contemporary
An eclectic style combining Ballet, Modern, and Jazz. One of the hottest styles today, as seen on the TV show “So You Think You Can Dance”!

Hip Hop
A rhythmic form of dance born from music and dance trends in the 1970’s and is now the most popular form of dance today.

Zumba Fitness
Cardio Dance Fitness, based on International Rhythms. Mostly Latin, it involves Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Cumbia, Flamenco, Soca, Hip Hop, Belly Dancing, Samba and more! Participants are not required to have dance experience – this is a feel-good fitness class for adults and teens who want to get in shape or stay in shape, and have an absolute blast while doing it! Zumba Fitness is highly recommended for serious dance students as an effective tool to cross train, building much needed stamina, rhythm, coordination, and body conditioning.

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