Choreographers, Guest

Daryl Gray studied acting and the violin as a child and made his professional debut at age 14 in the role of “Toby” in the St. Louis Opera Guild’s production of “The Medium”. He was trained in a full dance curriculum under David Howard, as well as at the School of American Ballet and ABT, and studied acting at the HB Studios in NYC. He was a B’way cast member in Bob Fosse’s Dancin’ and a soloist in On Your Toes and other shows. He also appeared with Maurice Bejart and as a guest artist with numerous dance companies in the US and abroad, touring worldwide. Daryl had an early interest in choreography and musical staging and has gone on creating shows coast to coast in addition to more than 70 works on five continents.

Choreographer: Ladies In Waiting (w/ Megan Mullaly)/Chicago Civic Theater, A Tribute To Richard Rodgers/St. Louis Muny Opera, Carmen/NYCO Lincoln Center, Columbus, the Musical/Playhouse 91, Amerika (w/ Madeline Kahn)/Santa Fe Festival Theater, Irma La Douce/Miami Coconut Grove Theater, The King & I, Grease, No, No Nanette, Brigadoon, Kiss Me Kate, Annie Get Your Gun, Once Upon A Mattress, Camelot/California Musical Theatre, Company/Playwrights Horizons, A Celebration of the American Musical/Paul Gemianganni (Musical Director)/Televised Live From Lincoln Center, Disney Extravaganza for the Recording Industry/Washington, D.C., Winter Dreams/Ice Theater of NY (ice- dancing) at Rockefeller Center, The Body Human/CBS TV, Bat Boy/USF, DanceBreak/AlvinAiley Theater, Wild About Harry/New York Musical Theater Festival, Andy Warhol Was Right/NY Musical Theater Festival.

Director/Choreographer: Broadway Holiday (High Fashion Industrial)/Dallas Apparel Mart, Associate Director/Choreographer; Patience/NY Gilbert & Sullivan Players, Dir./Choreographer; Daryl Gray’s The Pirates of Penzance!/Australian & American dance productions with singers- coast-to-coast, 26-city US tour by Columbia Artists- other productions San Jose Performing Arts Center/Bob Carr Theater Orlando/Straz Performing Arts Center Tampa; Brimstone/Stamford Arts Center, Associate Director to Julie Ann Boyd.

Original works for the concert stage: Joffrey, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, American Ballet Theater Workshop, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Atlanta Ballet, Ballet San Jose and numerous other dance companies across the U.S. His choreography has also been featured by the Bejart Ballet of the 20th Century, Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal, Batsheva Dance Co. of Israel, as well as by other companies in Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Australia, Korea, former Yugoslavia and South America.

Awards and grants include: NY Musical Theater Festival Award for Best Choreography; Best of the Bay/ San Francisco; Winner Koln International Choreographic Competition; Fulbright Fellowship; Jerome Robbins Foundation; Harkness Foundation; The NEA; NYS; and Massachusetts Council of the Arts Grants and more. He has taught for and/or lectured about Dance at the United Nations, Harvard and Washington Universities, Ann Reinking’s Broadway Theater Project and dance organizations and companies worldwide.

More of our team

Ovations Dance Academy of Tampa was created to be more than a place to take dance classes. It is a space where young artists are supported, challenged, and celebrated as they grow, both on and off the stage.

Orlando Peña

Owner

Mr. Orlando Peña is the former Artistic Director/ Choreographer of Ovations Dance Academy, Inc. of Bohemia, NY from 1997-2020, and was an Artist in Residence at East Woods School in Oyster Bay, NY for seven years. Additionally, he founded Ovations Dance Repertory Company, a non-profit organization, in 1997. A member...

Ivonne Lemes-Mendez

Instructor

BALLET MISTRESS Ivonne Lemus-Mendez began her dance studies at the Provincial Arts School in Pinar del Rio, Cuba and then was selected to continue her training at the National School of Ballet in Havana, Cuba. After graduating she joined the Ballet National of Cuba, where she was trained by Alicia...

Osmany Montano

Instructor

BALLET MAESTRO Born in Cuba, Osmany Montano trained at the Escuela Nacional de Ballet in La Habana under Alicia Alonso, Ramona De Saá, and Magda Campo, earning a Silver Medallion at the Cuban Ballet Festival. He danced with the Cuban National Ballet, Ballet of Santiago de Cuba, Ballet of Camagüey,...

Iliana Babadjanova

Instructor

Ms. Bababjanova is a performer, pedagogue, choreographer, and director. She graduated Cum Laude from the Sofia National School of Dance Arts, Sofia, Bulgaria. During the last two years at the school, she was selected to perform in the corps de ballet with the National Ballet and Opera Theater. Upon graduation,...

Kali Bartasavich

Instructor

Kali Bartasavich is a North Carolina native whose training began at age three with a focus on ballet. She spent four years in the professional training program at Cary Ballet Conservatory, earning a Top 24 placement in Senior Women Classical at the 2020 Youth America Grand Prix, one of the...

Marina Ehab

Instructor

Marina started her dance journey from a young age where she trained in ballet, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, modern, jazz, and acro. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in May 2025 from the University of South Florida with her degrees in studio art and dance, where she trained professionally in numerous...

Danielle Jones

Instructor

For Danielle Jones, the spark began early: a nine‑year‑old in a Broadway seat, wide‑eyed as Wicked unfolded before her. That moment set her on a lifelong path toward performance. A seasoned artist, Danielle has spent much of her life in front of audiences, most notably as a competitive figure skater...

Deborah Latimer

Instructor

Deborah Latimer was born in 1980 in Mexico City, Mexico. Graduated in 1999 from the Royal Academy of Dance in London, Mexico, in classical ballet. At the age of 21, she participated as an apprentice at Ballet Nacional de Cuba under the direction of Alicia Alonso. In 2002, she was...

CATALINA MOORE

Instructor

Catalina Moore trained in classical ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, musical theatre, and modern, and, has completed the University of Iowa’s dance major program. Catalina lived in Los Angeles for four years, where she filmed in the dance commercial and industry. During her time in LA, she was a...

Anna Oglesby

Instructor

Anna Oglesby brings more than fourteen years of Pilates experience to Ovations, along with a lifelong foundation in dance and movement. Originally from Denver, she began dancing and participating in gymnastics at the age of two and went on to train and compete in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, hip hop,...

Guest Artists & Visiting Professionals

Throughout the season, Ovations welcomes accomplished guest artists who offer dancers valuable exposure to diverse styles, perspectives, and professional insight. These visits enrich training while inspiring students to explore what’s possible beyond the studio.

Madison Pineda Bender

Guest

Madison Pineda Bender began her early dance training in Sacramento, CA, and Keller, TX. At 16, she moved to New York City to attend The Joffrey Ballet School Jazz and Contemporary Program. In 2021, she earned her B.F.A. in Dance from The Juilliard School, and was awarded the Martha Hill...

Kennedy Brown

Guest

Named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” in 2021, Kennedy Brown received her formal training at Master Ballet Academy in Arizona, A & A Ballet in Chicago, and from Magaly Suarez at The Art of Classical Ballet in Florida. Throughout her career, Brown has been awarded several opportunities to...

Kelly King

Guest

After completing her time with the Alvin Ailey Dance Center, Kelly King became a Radio City Rockette for 12 years and performed extensively on television, stage, and film. She toured nationally with the Broadway show Fosse. Her other credits include Dancing With the Stars, The Tonight Show, the MTV Music...

Ensel Ramos

Guest

Esnel Ramos -International Guest Artist -Cavalier Mr. Ramos began his studies from his native country at The Natioanl Ballet Company at The Great Theatre of Havana under the direction of Madam Alicia Alonso and the Director Carlos Acosta. A well resspected dancer Mr. Ramos has danced with The Natioanl Theatre...

Nathan Smith

Guest

Nathan Smith is a professional ballet dancer currently performing with The Sarasota Ballet. Born in Buffalo, NY, he trained at the American Academy of Ballet and later continued his pre-professional studies at Miami City Ballet School. He began his professional career with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre before joining The Sarasota Ballet...

James Monroe Stevko

Guest

James Monroe Števko is a NY-based dancer, actor and choreographer. Originally a trumpet player with his sights set on music, he began dancing in college at the age of 18. He has danced with: the Rockettes in The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Milwaukee Ballet, The MUNY, The Met Gala and...

Daniel Ulbricht

Guest

Daniel Ulbricht was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, and began his dance training at the age of 11 at the Judith Lee Johnson Studio of Dance, studying with Lenny Holmes. He also studied at Les Jeunes Danseurs with Javier Dubraq and attended the Chautauqua Summer Dance Program, training with Jean...

Noah Haeussner (Filmmaker)

Guest

Noah C. Haeussner, a veteran producer with more than twenty years in film, television, and documentary work, is partnering with Orlando Pena and Ovations Dance Academy to create a documentary during the 2026 Summer Intensives. With experience spanning major studios such as Warner Bros., Paramount, Sony Pictures, and 20th Century...

Why Ovations Dance Academy

At Ovations Dance Academy of Tampa, we combine supportive instruction with structured training so dancers can grow with confidence. Our Acro program emphasizes proper technique, safe progressions, and a positive classroom environment, helping students develop skills that support dance performance and overall athletic ability.

Daryl Gray