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 of The Actors Equity Association, Mr. Peña has toured the United States and Europe performing and choreographing with numerous dance companies. His ballet credentials quickly progressed from a corps de ballet to a principal and soloist with The Windermere Ballet Theatre under the direction of the late Sally Hammond.

After the company, he continued touring with A Chorus Line, The Music Man, Oklahoma!, and Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express in Bochum, Germany.

Since founding Ovations Dance Academy, Mr. Peña has trained and guided students who have been accepted to American Ballet Theatre, The Boston Ballet, American Academy of Ballet, The Joffrey School, The Rock School in Pennsylvania, USDAN, the Vail International Dance Festival, Alvin Ailey, and the Orlando Ballet. His students can be seen on both Broadway and National Broadway Tours, as well as roles in numerous stage productions, national commercials, and television shows.

Ovations Dance Repertory Company established a reputation in the tri-state area for the pre-professional quality of his productions. Since 1997, it produced over 20 musicals in addition to the yearly Nutcracker Suite productions, all under the direction of Mr. Peña. As Artistic Director of the fashion show for the charity event, “A World of Pink,” Mr. Peña helped raise $100k for breast cancer survivors. Prior to that, he directed and choreographed Did You Talk to Him Today?, which raised $30,000 for local homeless charities. Mr. Peña also directed the Dr. Patrick Dineen Memorial Foundation, whose meaningful mission is to bring happiness to both children and adults who are battling cancer.

In December of 2019, Mr. Peña was honored with a proclamation from Mayor Paul Pontieri of The Village of Patchogue, NY for twenty years of his contribution to the Arts within the community. Mr. Peña has also worked with Sachem School District to bring the Performing Arts to schools on Long Island. During the Covid-19 closure in New York, Mr. Peña made the decision that it was time to be closer to his family in Tampa. God opened a new door for him, and he sold his business and home on Long Island to create a new path in the Sunshine State.

Ovations Dance Academy of Tampa, LLC was established in the summer of 2021. In less than four years, Ovations has become a community name, and has continued his legacy of charity work here in Tampa Bay with organizations like Hope Villages of America and Oldsmar Cares and The Polo Charity Gala. The talent and renown of the Tampa studio continue to grow, with a student currently on Broadway as Young Simba on Broadway and Kenneth Michael Murry in Moulan Rouge national Tour. Matilda as Matilda on Broadway and Kyla Carter in The Sound of Music in the national Tour. This past season his ballet dancers competing at the Youth America Grand Prix regionals next month at the Straz Center.

Orlando is now the Artist in Residence at Academie Da Vinci in Dunedin, helping enhance the charter school experience with Performing Arts curriculum. With his exuberant energy and love for his students and the Arts, it is no wonder why Orlando is highly respected and admired in the industry.

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.

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,...

Nicole Assaad

Instructor

Nicole Assaad began her ballet training at age eight at the Patel Conservatory under the instruction of Julio Montano and Sandra Robinson. After one year, she moved to All American Classical Ballet School in Tampa, Florida, where she continued six years of rigorous classical ballet training with Julio Montano and...

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...

Amy Jo Walter

Instructor

With a career shaped by training alongside legends like Gregory Hines and Mikhail Baryshnikov, Amy Jo brings a world-class perspective to the studio. As a multi-award-winning choreographer, Amy Jo has been recognized for technical excellence and stagecraft, earning numerous honors for Best Choreography, Technique, and Most Entertaining performance. For Amy Jo, the ultimate reward is the success...

Catherine Barnhill

Music Director

Music Director Catherine Barnhill graduated from BYU with a Bachelor’s of Music in French Horn Performance with a minor in Public Relations. Prior to transferring to BYU, she was the youngest Field Commander in Vanderbilt Marching Band history. She has played in pit orchestras for numerous musicals and oratorios, as...

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...

Brian Gonzales

Guest

Brian Gonzales began his classical training in 2003 at the Elementary Ballet School Alejo Carpentier and continued his studies at the National School of Ballet Fernando Alonso. In 2013, he joined the National Ballet of Cuba under the direction of Alicia Alonso. As a member of the company’s artistic cast,...

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...

Makena Oglesby

Guest

Makena Oglesby is a dancer, choreographer, and instructor based in Clearwater, Florida, with over five years of teaching experience. She has trained in ballroom, latin, social, and contemporary styles—including studying at Florida Gulf Coast University under former Paul Taylor Dance Company dancer Francis Huber—and has competitive dance experience, including successfully earning...

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...

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.

Orlando Peña