ROCKY DUVALL, Owner/Executive Director
Rocky has been performing all of his life. He got his start at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco and completed his training on full scholarship with Gus Giordano Jazz Dance in Chicago. He has travelled extensively performing with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and worked successfully in all facets of the South Florida professional theater community as a member of Actors Equity Association. In recognition of Rocky’s choreography in the year 2000, he was nominated for a Carbonell Award (a South Florida Theater Critics Award). In addition to his career as a performer, Rocky has taught master classes at prestigious dance studios all over South Florida. He has also held the position of Director of the Dance Department at the North Broward Preparatory School in Coconut Creek, instructed and choreographed for Olympic Heights High School in Boca Raton, the Palm Beach Principal Players, the Wellington High School Dance Team and for Avi Hoffman’s New Vista Theater Company in Boca Raton. Since moving to Wellington in 2004, in support of the arts in the Western communities, he has participated in the "Wellington Idol" events as a judge and MC, and co-produced Rock'n the Mike Productions. For the past 12 years he has owned and operated the Dance Arts Conservatory Center for the Performing Arts in Wellington, Florida with his wife Dorie. Their combined artistic vision at Dance Arts Conservatory Center for the Performing Arts has created a diverse dance program from which their students emerge with a powerfully rounded dance experience. Committed to bringing the arts to the community on a significant level, they co-founded Wellington Ballet Theatre in 2011, a not for profit 501(c)3 company and charitable organization providing cultural enrichment through the art of dance and innovative performance, staging three full-length ballets annually. Inspired by the tremendous response to this performance based programming, in 2015 they also launched "Broadway Stars", an outstanding musical theater program where students are emerged in learning the art of performing Broadway musicals in professional theaters. In 2019 with a focus on ensemble performance, they launched W.A.V.E (Wellington Artists Vocal Ensemble) to locally perform fully staged Broadway musical numbers. Rocky serves as the Executive Artistic Director of Dance Arts Conservatory and is a professional member of Actors Equity Association and Dance Educators of America.
DORIE DUVALL , Owner/Director
Dorie has been teaching dance for over 35 years. Originally from the east coast, her love affair with dance began at the Hillside Studio in Long Island with her first dance teacher Ellen Cretti. Her arts education continued in South Florida at the Dance Academy of Deerfield Beach and the Dillard High School of Performing Arts, studying under Janet Mathie, Luanne Lavoy and Debbi Dee. In New York, she continued her education at STEPS, studying with Susie Taylor, Joe Lanteri and Michelle Assaf, but was primarily and soulfully inspired by the works of Douglas Caldwell. Dorie enjoyed travelling the world by sea performing as a featured dancer with Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines and on land, spent many years performing in professional regional theater as member of Actors Equity. In 2004, she opened Dance Arts Conservatory Center for the Performing Arts in Wellington, Florida with her husband Rocky Duvall. For nearly two decades they provided powerful programming for the arts through their performing companies; “Wellington Ballet Theatre” a nonprofit 501(c)3 charitable organization providing cultural enrichment through the art of classical dance and innovative performance, "Broadway Stars" a musical theater program in which students learn the art of performing Broadway musicals with professional directors, musical directors and choreographers, W.A.V.E. (Wellington Artists Vocal Ensemble) a vocal performance company showcasing young performers on local community stages and Momentum Dance Company. In recent years, she launched Duvall Arts, LLC, a company focused in partnering with local schools to provide Arts education and programming. In 2022, after relocating to the West Coast with her husband and three children, she now joins the dance faculty of Northern California Dance Conservatory under the directorships of Jen Bradford, Michael Levine and Maia Wilkins and also Elevation Dance Center with Sara Wardell. She is a professional member Actors Equity Association and Dance Educators of America. In addition to celebrating her work in the Arts, Dorie enjoys Tai Chi, is a licensed massage therapist specializing in Traditional Thai Massage, a yoga teacher RYT-200, and an absolutely passionate sourdough bread baker. She believes that each day is a gift and looks forward to serving her community and sharing her joy of life through her work.
MELISSA MCCOY, Artistic Director | Director of Ballet
Melissa grew up in sunny South Florida. She attended Palm Beach County School of the Arts for ballet and modern dance. She attended several schools including Jon Mullen’s, Florida Dance Conservatory, Boca Ballet Theater, and Klein Dance for deeper concentration in ballet and modern dance. She also had the opportunity to study the Royal Academy of Dance (R.A.D.) syllabus early in her teaching career. She danced with several companies throughout South Florida including Boca Ballet Theater, Corps Chameleon, Millennium Dance Syndicate, and performed as a guest artist with several companies as well. She was also accepted to North Carolina School of the Arts for college, but declined and continued dancing and teaching locally in South Florida.
In 2007, Melissa moved to Los Angeles to teach and continue her training. She was on scholarship with many great teachers, while continuing to teach. While training in Los Angeles, she built a ballet program and two performing ballet companies at Le Studio Dance in Pasadena. She choreographed an hour long Nutcracker and a short ballet "Alice in Wonderland", along with many other short ballets and contemporary pieces. Le Studio was later voted “Best Dance Studio” of Pasadena.
Melissa moved back to South Florida in 2011 and continues her work as an active choreographer and as the Director of Ballet for Wellington Ballet Theatre, choreographing several full-length ballets each year. She has also been teaching for Dance Arts Conservatory Center for the Performing Arts since 2011 and is now director of their ballet program as well.
Melissa has had students accepted into many programs such as American Ballet Theater (ABT), Boston Ballet trainee program, Gelsey Kirland's Academy, Julliard, Los Angeles School of the Arts, Arizona University, The Rock School, Joffrey Chicago, Orlando Ballet, BAK school of the Arts and The Colburn Pre-Professional Training Program. She is also wrapping up her Bachelor of Arts in psychology and believes these studies have been a tremendous help in understanding her students and their development. Melissa is an ABT Certified teacher who has successfully completed the ABT Teaceher Training intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT National Training Curriculum.
DEVI MASTER Managing Director/Musical Theatre Director
Devi Master is the Managing Director for Dance Arts Conservatory. She serves as the director for Broadway Stars Musical Theater program, WAVE (Wellington Artists Vocal Ensemble) and CAST (Collaborative Artists Singing Troupe). Devi has a Bachelor Degree from the University at Stony Brook and a Master’s in Education from C.W. Post. She has over 30 years of experience working with children of all ages from infants to high school as an educator, mentor, social worker, cheerleading coach and director of youth programs. Her experience in Performing Arts started in high school and continued through college as a thespian and member of Dance Team. She studied vocals with Cathy Jean Giordano and was offered opportunities to perform at Carnegie Hall. Her passion for theater and dance was rekindled once her own children started showing interest in performing arts. Devi and her husband Jake have 4 amazing and talented children and as a family they have been featured on several As Seen on TV Commercials and on Season 1 of “David Makes Man’ on the OWN Network. Performing Arts is a passion for their entire family, even their dogs have taken part of theater having played “Toto” for The Wiz and and “Bruiser” for Legally Blonde. As a teacher Devi used art, music and movement throughout the day and found it a highly effective tool for teaching concepts. Devi finds she is happiest working behind the scenes as a Stage Manager, Makeup Artist and Costume Designer or in front of the stage as the Director because her true passion is teaching. Giving encouragement and support to budding thespians and dancers and helping them look and feel their best on stage helps elevate their performance. She enjoys watching the growth of her students and her ultimate goal is for them to feel a sense of pride for their work, progress and accomplishments which will give them an overall boost in confidence. She believes that there are many valuable skills that students will gain through Performing Arts that will serve them well beyond the stage.
SAMANTHA GARBODEN Children's Primary Program Coordinator | Social Media Manager
Born and raised in Florida, Samantha has danced all her life beginning when she was three. During her formative years she received her dance education in the South Florida area training extensively in classical ballet and pointe, with a focus in modern, contemporary, jazz, lyrical, tap and acrobatics. While in high school, she continued to pursue dance on the pre-professional level, and recognized for her commitment to the arts, was awarded an Assistant Teaching internship at Dance Arts Conservatory, in Wellington, FL. During her final years of high school, Samantha also went on to perform as a company member with Wellington Ballet Theatre, featuring in their full-length company ballets in roles such as The Snow Queen from The Nutcracker and The White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. In addition to performing with WBT, she serves as an Assistant Choreographer to the Director of Ballet and was also credited with title of costume designer to oversee and build costumes for several of the ballet productions. After graduating from Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts with a major in Communications and an AA in Early Childhood Education through dual enrollment at Palm Beach State, Samantha transferred to attend Florida Atlantic University, working towards a degree in Exceptional Student Education to help children with disabilities progress in school and prepare for life after. While she attends FAU, Samantha continues to dance and work on faculty with the Dance Arts Conservatory, where she oversees the studio’s Primary Program Levels, instructing in ballet, tap, jazz and acrobatics. Currently, Samantha is in the process of training to be certified with the Acro Dance Teacher Association. Her life is full of many passions, but watching her students from the wings are still some of her favorite moments.
CHRISSI ARDITO
Born in Brooklyn, Chrissi Ardito started dancing at the age of four, and performing at the age of ten. Through the years, she studied extensively under many well-known teachers and choreographers. At the age of eighteen, she became a certified dance instructor with Dance Educators of America. Before she was teaching full-time, her many years of training led her to performance in dance companies, theme parks, around the world on cruise ships, and finally professional theatre, where she joined the Actors' Equity Association. As a union member, Chrissi performed such roles as Anita in "West Side Story", Morales in "A Chorus Line", Peggy Sawyer in "42nd Street". Taking the next step , Chrissi pursued a career in choreography. To date, she has choreographed numerous productions for professional regional theatre in South Florida, in which she has received multiple nominations and awards for her work.
ISABELLA "IZZY" MAIN
Isabella "Izzy" Main has been dancing since she was 4 years old and a part of the DAC family for 11 years and counting. She attended BAK Middle School for the Arts for dance and is currently a student of dance at Dreyfoos School of the Arts. She has been a part of many professional trainings/performances and has had the privilege of working with such notable instructors and choreographers including John Leher, Levi Marsman, Heather Lescaille, Garry Q Lewis, Ricardo Pena, and Brandi Lewis. She was invited to and attended the highly esteemed Alvin Ailey Professional Division Summer Intensive and also the John Leher Summer Intensive. Izzy’s performance experience took shape with The Momentum Dance Company, where she danced in community performances such as nursing homes and school festivals and at venues such as City Place and the South Florida Fair. And, for the past 10 years she has also danced with Wellington Ballet Theatre and Dance Arts Conservatory performing in full length ballets with notable roles including Belle (Beauty and the Beast), Tinkerbell (Peter Pan), Gerta (Snow Queen), and Cindy Lou Who (The Grinch). Other performance opportunities she remembers fondly were dancing at the Humane Arts Society of Broward County, and with the Miami City Ballet in The Nutcracker when she was nine years old. Izzy also loves to teach and after spending many seasons with Dance Arts Conservatory assisting young performers backstage, she became a celebrated Teachers Assistant for the Children’s Primary Program, assisting classes and also helping facilitate summer camps and intensives. With such great success as a TA, this year she was invited to launch the Hip Hop program for 2024/25 and is thrilled to join the DAC Faculty, taking her passion and love of dance to share it with the next generation. She plans to continue dancing for as long as she can, and once graduated from high school she hopes to continue teaching and/or performing.
HALLE SCHWARTZ
Isa
DEMI MASTER
Demi Ciena Master is a Singer, Dancer, Actor and Choreographer. She is a theater alumni of BAK Middle School of the Arts and Dreyfoos School of the Arts and is an Actors Equity Membership Candidate. She has been training and performing since the age of 6, starting as a member of an award winning dance company, before switching her focus to Musical Theatre. She’s a founding member and choreographer for CAST (Collaborative Artists Singing Troupe) and WAVE (Wellington Artists Vocal Ensemble). She has been cast in many Community and Regional Theatre productions and has performed in venues such as The Maltz Jupiter Theatre and Crest Theatre. As a solo pop/country artist she has performed at venues such as BB Kings and the Borland Theatre. She has been featured in several As Seen on TV commercials for Kevin Harrington (Shark Tank) and as a student on Season 1 of “David Makes Man” starring Phylicia Rashad on the OWN Network. Demi is an accomplished artist and has used her talents backstage as a Hair & Make-Up Artist and Costume & Props Designer. She has also served as a Stage Manager and Light & Sound Technician. She plans on pursuing a degree in Child Psychology while continuing to be involved in the theater community. She hopes to use her knowledge and diverse artistic background to find creative ways to integrate visual and performing arts as therapy for her clients and make performing arts accessible for everyone.
JADE MASTER
Jade Evori Master is a Singer, Dancer, Actor and Writer. She is a Theater Alumni of BAK Middle School of the Arts and Dreyfoos School of the Arts. She has won an impressive number of titles including Miss Access Broadway, Palm Beach Idol, Wellington Idol and Future Stars just to name a few. Jade has been performing since the tender age of 5 and was a member of an award-winning dance company before switching her focus to Singing and Musical Theater. She is a founding member and musical director of CAST (Collaborative Artists Singing Troupe) and WAVE (Wellington Artists Vocal Ensemble). She has toured the US and Canada as a Solo Artist and has performed in venues such as BB Kings, The Nashville Palace and The Hard Rock Cafe. She has been cast in numerous community and regional productions throughout South Florida at The Maltz Jupiter Theater, The Crest Theater, Borland Theater, Plaza Theater and The Kelsey Theater. She has has been featured on several As Seen On TV commercials for Kevin Harrington (Shark Tank) and can be heard in the Original Cast Recording of Through The Looking Glass. Jade had the unique opportunity to study abroad with Semester at Sea which allowed her to study various forms of art and theater from many countries. She is continuing her studies at the University of Central Florida as an Integrated Business Major. She hopes to combine her business knowledge and artistic background to become an Entertainment Entrepreneur in the future while continuing to empower the next generation of young thespians.