Our faculty
Sasha Alvarez, B.F.A
Dance Faculty
Full bio
SASHA ALVAREZ is originally from Tampa, FL, and began dancing at the age of 6, starting her formal dance training at the age of 15 with Next Generation Ballet at the Patel Conservatory under the direction of Peter Stark and Ivonne Lemus. While in Tampa, FL Ms. Alvarez attended Howard W. Blake High School of the Arts where she trained with Albena Arnaudova and Kelly Rayl. After graduating high school Sasha attended Point Park University graduating with a BFA in 2017 led by Rubén Graciani. Sasha continued her training at prestigious Summer programs including Nederlands Dans Theatre, ABT, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Danza Italia and Miami City Ballet. She has performed works by prominent choreographers such as George Balanchine, Emery LeCrone, Septime Webre, Garfield Lemonius, Norbert De La Cruz, Bobbi Jean Smith, Ronin Koresh and James Gregg to name a few. In 2016, Sasha was invited by Ramona De Saa, director of the Cuban National Ballet School, to perform at the Cuban International Dance Festival in Havana, Cuba.
Professionally, Ms. Alvarez has danced with Helen Simoneau Danse at NYU Center for Ballet and Arts, Hammerstep NYC at Mana Contemporary Museum, and most recently joined Parsons Dance Company Fall of 2018 touring the USA and Italy performing various works by David Parsons, Paul Taylor, and Trey McIntyre. Sasha was also a featured dancer in a commercial for Italian designer Loro Piana’s new shoe line, The Rare Walk that debuted in New York City’s Meatpacking District. Alongside her love of dance, Ms. Alvarez is a 200hr RYTT certified Power Vinyasa yoga teacher cultivating her awareness and alignment of dance through her teaching. Sasha is actively teaching yoga and dance in the Tampa Bay area.
Corinne Colon, M.A.
Founder / Artistic Director
Full bio
CORINNE COLON, founder and Artistic Director of Dancebox Studio, is a dance artist and educator. She holds a M.A. in Dance Education from NYU Steinhardt and the New York State Education Department Certification in Dance PK-12. Corinne was an adjunct professor of dance at the University of Tampa from 2013-2017 and served on the Board of Directors for the Florida Dance Education Organization from 2015-2018. A two year veteran and former talent troupe member of the NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders, Corinne has performed and taught dance workshops in Mexico, England, Japan, and Guam.
Corinne is honored to have studied with world-renowned jazz dance educator and creator of Simonson Technique, Lynn Simonson. She is certified in the Simonson Method of Teacher Training and practices its’ organic approach to movement and injury prevention through anatomy and somatic awareness. Corinne has taught at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, Ballet Hispanico, and the 92Y Harkness Dance Center. Her choreography has been shown at the Frederick Loewe Theatre and Tony Bennett Concert Hall in New York, New York. A former University of Miami hurricane, Corinne holds a B.S. in Communication and still works in advertising as an Account Director.
Kristen Downard
Dance Faculty
Full bio
KRISTEN DOWNARD grew up as a competitive gymnast and started dancing in Bluefield, WV at the age of 15. She went on to cheer for 3 seasons at Virginia Tech and 4 seasons in the NFL (Panthers and Cardinals).
Kristen has a degree in public relations and obtained her masters degree last year in behavioral science. She is now a school counselor and serves the community as a member of CASA.
Kristen’s favorite thing about cheerleading and dance is to create a performance that can make the audience forget about their problems for a few minutes and just enjoy the show.
Paul Finocchiaro, M.F.A
Dance Faculty
Full bio
PAUL E. FINOCCHIARO is a Musical Theatre Specialist with a 17-year career in Musical Theatre. His credits include the National tours of West Side Story, the pre-Broadway Ziegfeld…A Night at the Follies, Gypsy, and the European tour of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. He has performed in Major cities such as Seattle, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Lake Tahoe and many more. He was in the original Las Vegas Company of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express where he played 10 roles in 3 years, and has been the lead singer on the Carnival Cruise Ships Sensation and Ecstasy.
Paul has experienced everything from Regional theatre, Dinner theatre, Murder Mystery theatre and Theme parks. He has also had the great fortune to work with and understudy Lord Michael Crawford and David Cassidy of “The Partridge Family”. He’s worked with such stars as Vanessa Williams, Sheena Easton, Jay Leno, John Davidson and Patrick Cassidy. Currently he is a Professor of Theatre & Dance at University of Tampa where he teaches everything from Tap to Jazz to Acting 1 & 2, History of Musical Theatre, Musical Theatre 1, Improvisation and Movement for Actors. Paul received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre with a double minor in Dance and Voice from the Boston Conservatory and his Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Nevada Las Vegas.
Alexis Carra Girbes, B.A.
Dance Faculty
Full bio
ALEXIS CARRA GIRBES, of Cuban and Argentine descent and a graduate of Yale University with a Cum Laude B.A. in Theatre Studies, has been dancing since age 2. Broadway credits include: Wicked, Fosse (1st Nat’l Tour), Sweet Charity, and The Pirate Queen. Favorite Regional roles: “Cassie” in A Chorus Line (3D Theatricals and San Diego Rep), “Louise/Gypsy” in Gypsy at Sacramento Music Circus, and numerous others.
Upon leaving NYC she moved to LA and can be seen on shows like Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS, Anger Management and series regular roles on Mixology (ABC) and Recovery Road (Freeform). She recurred as “Sherry” in Fosse Verdon and was the lead in the Disney Christmas movie, Christmas Again.
Her choreography has been featured on the Discovery Channel, Bravo, HBO, and Musical Theatre West. Alexis taught at The Edge PAC in LA, Millenium Dance Complex, Broadway Dance Center, and Steps on Broadway. She is also the Co-Founder of the performing arts training company, Broadway Arts Community.
Kristen Green
Dance Faculty
Full bio
KRISTEN GREEN is a 2019 graduate of the University of South Florida, receiving degrees in Health Sciences and Dance. Kristen has been dancing since age four and has competed in regional and national dance competitions in Pennsylvania and Florida. Throughout her years of training, Kristen has studied Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, and Hip Hop. After graduating high school, Kristen continued her dance training in college with the USF Dance Program, focusing on Ballet, Modern, and Choreography. During those years, she studied under various esteemed faculty, choreographed and performed for student and faculty dance concerts, and guest taught in Stockholm, Sweden. After graduating college, Kristen completed an Artistic Residency with Sarasota Contemporary Dance Company where her choreographic work was featured in the company’s Summer and Fall 2019 Rising Choreographer showcases. Kristen is currently choreographing and dancing in the St. Petersburg area and is very enthusiastic about continuing to grow as a dancer and teacher while helping young dancers discover their love for the arts!
Sandy McCreery
Dance Faculty
Full bio
SANDY MCCREERY began her ballet training in Raleigh, NC at the Raleigh School of Ballet in 1988 under
the direction of Ann Vorus, Mary Legere Newton, Susan Galdy, and Rebecca Van Dorsten. She continued
her training at summer intensive programs including Atlanta Ballet School, Washington Ballet School and
Richmond Ballet Center for Dance. After attending their summer intensive, Sandy received a full
scholarship to study for the year at Richmond Ballet Center for Dance with several opportunities to
perform with the company. She then returned home to Raleigh, NC to accept a professional position with
Carolina Ballet Theater (now Carolina Ballet) under the direction of Mary Legere Newton. Some of her
favorite roles include soloists in Balanchine’s Raymonda Variations, Coppelia, Swan Lake, Sleeping
Beauty, Leslie Jane Pessimier’s Bows and Beginnings, and Adam Miller’s Dracula.
She later performed with Duke Repertory Ensemble as a guest artist for 5 years under the direction of Joffrey Ballet dancers Tyler Walters and M’Liss Dorannce. Throughout her career she has had the privilege to train under
prominent teachers including Robert Barnett, Lupe Serrano, Melissa Hayden, Alonzo King, Adam Miller,
Li Chou-Cheng, Malcolm Burns, Jasmine Grace, Frank Smith, Amanda Pell, Leslie Peck and Jerry
Schwender. Sandy began teaching ballet in 2001 while still performing and going to school for massage
therapy. Sandy is a licensed massage therapist and 200 HR RYT Yoga Alliance Certified
Yoga Instructor currently teaching around the Tampa Bay area.
Cristina Wright
Assistant Director
Full bio
CRISTINA WRIGHT is a native of Tampa, FL and has been teaching dance and gymnastics since 2010. Cristina began her training at Tampa Gymnastics and Dance at the age of eight. She continued her studies at Blake High School of Performing Arts. Cristina was selected to perform in The Macy’s day Parade in New York City in 2004. Throughout her dance career Cristina has performed at many conventions throughout Florida, and has consistently placed 1st in many high level competitions. Cristina is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at the University of South Florida, with a minor in Dance.
Experienced in jazz, tap, ballet and acrobatics, Cristina is the lead instructor for Dancebox competition teams. Ms. Cristina is happy to share her love of dance with the young people of Dancebox Studio!
Our dress code youth program
Dancewear:
Dancebox enforces a dress code to encourage an atmosphere of professionalism and focus. Wearing the proper dance attire builds each child’s self-confidence and understanding of dance etiquette. Wearing proper dancewear allows the teachers to assess how well the students are implementing the technique being taught, problems with body alignment, and other important aspects of dance training.
Please come prepared and ready to dance. Students are welcome to change at the studio, but should arrive early in order to do so. We suggest wearing dance shoes only in the studio. Wearing dance shoes outside ruins the sole and also tracks dirt, oil and gravel into the studio.
Hair/Jewelry:
Hair should be pulled away from the face and secured in a neat ponytail, braid or bun for all classes. Jewelry should not be worn for safety reasons. Small stud earrings are acceptable.
Attire:
Creative Dance/Pre-Ballet Classes
Lavender leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes.
Ballet Solid black leotard and pink tights are required for ALL ballet classes. Hair must be slicked back in secured bun.
Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre:
Any color leotard, or crop top and dance shorts with caramel or black tights.
Acro/Lyrical/Contemporary
Any color leotard, or crop top and dance shorts with caramel convertible/footless tights. If wearing dance shorts, bare legs are acceptable.
Hip Hop:
Any type of dance shorts or pants with a dance or athletic top.
Footwear:
Ballet
Pink ballet shoes (canvas or leather)
Jazz & Musical Theatre
Caramel/tan jazz shoes
Tap
Black tap shoes. Snaps or pull-on styles only, please. No laces.
Acrobatics
Barefeet, no shoes required.
Lyrical/Contemporary
Half sole shoes are required. (Twylas)
Hip-Hop:
Any type of sneaker is acceptable as long as it is only worn for dance. Sneakers that are also worn outside of the studio are not allowed.
