OUR FACULTY:

 

CiGi Shea, Co-Director

CiGi was born in Pinellas Park, Florida. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Pinelas Park High School. After High School she pursued a teaching degree at St. Petersburg College where she graduated with her Bachelors in Education, 2011. Taught Kindergarten and Third Grade in Pinellas County Schools for four years. CiGi began her formal dance training in 1999 at The Ballet Society in St. Petersburg, Fl. In 2004 she began her training at Affirmation Ballet where she studied Ballet, Jazz and Modern dance and danced as a Company member from 2006-2009. In the summer of 2006 CiGi traveled to Jackson, Mississippi to train at Ballet Magnificant's Summer Dance Intensive. In 2007 she was accepted to Sarasota Ballet's Summer Intensive. She has danced various roles with with ABC and leading role in the ballet "Transfiguration" in 2008. She is a gifted teacher and mentor of children of all ages. She has been on faculty for 10 years and headed up our outreach program partnering with the YMCA. She continues to be excited to share her passion for dance and follow God's calling in her life. CiGi, her husband John, son Bradley and daughter Emmalyn, who is now studying dance, live in Clearwater, FL. 

 

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Andrea Sanders, Director

Andrea began her ballet training at the age of seven in Winston Salem, North Carolina. She received her formal training and performance experience with Robert Joffrey, NYC., Edward Vilella, Miami City Ballet, Violet Verdi, Henry Parish, Edith Royal, Martin Friedman and mentor Anzia. Andrea has performed with Tampa Ballet as principal dancer, Spanish Lyric Theater, Baton Rouge Ballet Company, Miami City Ballet and Southern Ballet Theater. Her college focus was Music and Dance at St. Petersburg College and University of South Florida with extensive study, performance experience and directing background in Musical Theater. She has appeared on national TV commercials, exercise videos and Disney children's show. She developed and directed summer theater camps for the City of Largo and Cultural Center for four years and taught Arts Education in Pinellas County private schools for ten years. Andrea was a pioneer in developing the dance program for Pinellas County Center for Performing Arts, Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg, FL. As Artistic and Administrative Director for Affirmation Ballet and Performing Arts Centre she designs programs and curriculum for all levels of dance, theater camps and summer outreach. Partnering with local YMCA's and schools developing dance and theater programs for children of all ages that may not otherwise have the opportunity.  On global mission Andrea has traveled often with the ABC team to Ecuador, Costa Rica and Bosnia to bring the gospel using the medium of dance and theater to the lost. Dedicated to reclaiming the ARTS for the Lord she has helped establish dance and drama ministries in local churches and abroad. She and her husband Don live in St. Petersburg, where they raised two children and now have twelve grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Several being gifted in the ARTS. Andrea is grateful to be a servant of Jesus surrendered to His creative call in the Arts to further the Kingdom.