Meet Our Team

Brittany Howard has been dancing since she was 2 1/2 years old. She started her first year at Deborah Vinton School of Ballet and went on to attend Flex dance Studio of Sarasota for 10 years. Having her first solo at age 9, she was also on their competitive team. Brittany then danced at Starz Choice Dance Academy in Venice Florida as a student, competing with them as well. Brittany attended many competitions and workshops and received numerous awards as a young dancer. She grew up with a strong background in jazz, lyrical, ballet, hip hop, tap and acrobatics. Brittany would also frequent the Sarasota Ballet for drop in classes from time to time. Brittany was a cheerleader in high school and was nominated as captain her senior year. She won All American Awards in dance and leadership from the National Cheerleading Association four years in a row.

Living in a city that was immersed in the arts and having a great love for the stage, Brittany was also very involved in acting. Attending Florida Studio Theater and then continuing on through community theater and furthermore into high school drama, Brittany was cast as the lead in many plays from the age of 6-18. She loved being able to bring her dance experience and knowledge to the musicals she was cast in.

Brittany has taken many workshops in various cities and states including Broadway Dance Center in NYC, many master classes in Miami and all over Florida since she was 8 years old. She has kept up with learning and growing as by attending various conventions and master classes whenever she could, including but not limited to, the Pulse Convention, Tremaine, Monsters of Hip Hop (to name a few). Brittany is always keeping up with current dance trends and is also certified by Dance/Gym USA.

Brittany made the Florida Gulf Coast University Cheer team her freshmen year. She was appointed choreographer for Zeta Tau Alpha sorority at FGCU for her duration Brittany also instructed hip hop at the FGCU Fitness center. In addition, she taught recreational hip hop classes at Fred Astaire studio in Fort Myers. In college, she had also joined an all hip-hop dance studio to fuel her love for the stage and the genre.

Brittany was a public relations major with minors in Marketing and Interdisciplinary studies in college. She excelled at her university and graduated knowing in her heart one day she would own a dance studio. After numerous years teaching at other studios and learning more of the business side, Brittany knew the time was right to open up her very own studio.

As a competitive instructor and choreographer for over 12 YEARS now Brittany has received multiple choreography awards as well as nationally ranking her routines for large cash awards. She has been recognized at Tremaine Gala for her choreography in front of the greats such as, Chita rivera, Derek Hough, Paula Abdul, to name a few. Teaching dance and choreographing is Brittany’s passion because it involves everything she loves to do. Working with children of all ages and inspiring them to be the best they can be is Brittany’s biggest reward. Through positive feedback and actively participating while she teaches, Brittany feels that her students can reach their fullest potential and learn at their greatest capacities. Brittany is so thankful to be able to be own her own dance studio. She is excited to be able to give her students the best training with the most caring instructors.

Christy is a nationally ranked and award-winning choreographer and competition judge with a lifelong passion for dance. Her journey in dance began at the young age of 3, and she has since undergone comprehensive training in various dance genres. Christy has had the privilege of training with multiple dance companies spanning across Florida and Connecticut.
Her dedication to her craft led her to pursue higher education, graduating from Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL. Alongside her academic pursuits, Christy immersed herself in the dance world, gaining invaluable experience by assisting renowned conventions and participating in pre-professional dance programs with a focus on choreography.
Currently serving as the director of Elite Dance Center in Naples, FL, Christy is committed to nurturing the next generation of dancers. Her teaching philosophy revolves around fostering growth and creating an environment where students are both challenged and inspired to reach their full potential. At Elite Dance Center, dancers have gone on to pursue successful professional careers, gracing stages worldwide and joining esteemed dance companies.
Versatility is one of Christy's hallmarks as a choreographer. With expertise in a wide array of dance styles including hip-hop, contemporary, musical theater, jazz, and more, she brings a dynamic and multifaceted approach to her work. Christy's choreographic prowess extends beyond the studio, as she has lent her talent to large-scale musical theater productions and cabarets.
Being a part of the Elite Dance Center family is one of Christy's greatest accomplishments and she can't wait to continue working with such an incredible group of teachers and students!

Born and raised in Central Illinois. She began dancing at the age of 6 with Karen Tjaden of the Turning Pointe School of Dance. At 10, she joined Twin Cities Ballet under the direction of Alexander Bennett. During her time there, she performed various roles in ballets such as Clara in The Nutcracker, Pigtail Girl in Graduation Ball, Four Little Swans in Swan Lake, and Carabosse in Sleeping Beauty. Heather also studied with several local reputable teachers and attended summer programs and workshops, learning from notable teachers and artists including David Howard, Robbie DiCello, Cherie Noble, Gelsey Kirkland, and Cynthia Harvey. Heather's talent and hard work were recognized when she was offered a scholarship for the academic year at the Virginia School of the Arts summer program. She also had the opportunity to perform with the Chicago City Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre. Her teaching career began at Twin Cities Ballet/School of Dance, where she also served as the Ballet Mistress. Heather continued teaching Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Jazz, and Tap, and choreographing for the Dance Attack competition team at Stacy's Dance Factory. After relocating to Fort Myers with her husband, Mike, she joined the staff of Dance Dimensions teaching Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, and Tap and assisting with the Show Troupe. In 2014 at the National Convention in Orlando, Heather passed her Dance Master Exams in Ballet and Jazz. She is a member of Dance Masters of America and Dance Masters of Ohio.Heather joined the staff at Elite Dance Center during their second season. She enjoys not only teaching all levels of ballet but also classical variations for competition. It is an honor and privilege to share her love of ballet with such talented and hard-working dancers.

Meet Allyson Rugarber, a passionate dance instructor whose enchanting journey through the world of dance is as captivating as her dedication to the art. From the tender age of three, Allyson's feet found their rhythm, leading her to embrace ballet, tap, and jazz at the Monmouth Performing Arts Centre in Howell, New Jersey. 

As she grew, so did her dedication, propelling her to audition for the competition team in sixth grade, marking the beginning of her love affair with the competitive dance arena. Through sweat and determination, Allyson expanded her repertoire to encompass ballet, pointe, modern, tap, jazz, contemporary, and hip-hop.

As high school awaited, Allyson answered the call at OCVTS Performing Arts Academy, immersing herself in a curriculum that not only polished her technique but also nurtured her creativity as a choreographer and instructor. Her thesis on the deconstruction of ballet stands as a testament to her scholarly approach to dance, blending theory with artistic expression seamlessly.

Beyond the classroom, Allyson's thirst for knowledge led her to prestigious dance camps and intensives, including the Atlantic City Ballet Winter Intensive and the Joffrey Ballet Intensive. Even amidst her rigorous dance schedule, she dabbled in cheerleading, acting, singing, and musical theatre, showcasing her versatility and love for the performing arts.

Allyson attended Florida Gulf Coast University as an Exercise Science major, where she learned about the biomechanics of the body. While there, she was apart of the E’gals dance team.

With her sights set on the future, Allyson's journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring dancers everywhere, a testament to the transformative power of passion and dedication. Allyson loves teaching technique and incorporating her knowledge in biomechanics to help strengthen dancers and teach them about their connection with the body through movement.

Born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Rachel Horowitz danced competitively at Dance FX in Sunrise, FL since she was 2 years old. Rachel trained in tap, jazz, lyrical, ballet, contemporary, hip hop, and musical theater. At 5 years old, Rachel started attending multiple conventions, competitions, and intensives every year including Tremaine, JUMP, Adrenaline, and Syn.Co.Pate Tap Intensive. Over these years, she earned many scholarships from various conventions and competitions and was later accepted to American Heritage School on a full-ride fine arts scholarship. From a young age, Rachel assisted her dance teachers with classes for those younger than her. Starting at the age of 15, Rachel began teaching and substituting dance classes at her home studio. While being a leader at her dance studio, Rachel was very involved with extracurriculars at her school. In 2017, Rachel earned the George Lather Memorial Scholarship which allowed her to train at Broadway Dance Center.

After graduating high school, Rachel relocated to SWFL to attend Florida Gulf Coast University. During her first year, she assisted Ms. Kristin Juliano at Elite Dance Center. At 22, Rachel graduated from FGCU with a degree in Integrated Studies and Marketing, later becoming a middle school teacher. Rachel’s passion for dance and teaching has been evident since her young start in the arts. She is excited to share that enthusiasm with EDC.

Acro, Aerial, Circus Arts

​Lauren was born and raised in Fort Myers, FL. She began dancing at 5 years old with the majority of her years training at Robin Dawn Academy of Performing Arts. She studied Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, Acro, and Aerial during her time at RDA. She was a member of the competition team, Legends, for several years. Lauren graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. She continued her education at the University of South Florida receiving a Master’s in Medical Science. During her time at FSU, she was a part of the World Renowned Florida State University Flying High Circus for 4 years. She was trained in Tight Wire, Lyra, Triple Trapeze, Single Trapeze, Acrobatic Jump Rope, and Web by world renowned coaches such as the Wallenda's and many others that are well known in the industry. She also was a member of the dance team, Level Dance Company, at FSU where she choreographed and performed in local shows around Tallahassee. Lauren has been teaching Acrobatics and Aerial Arts for the past 9 years. She enjoys sharing her love for dance and Circus Arts with all of her students. . ​​