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About

Dance Theater of Florida is a non-profit pre-professional dance company, and a premier dance education center located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Dance Theater offers a full complement of dance instruction to all levels of students with diverse backgrounds. The acclaimed Florida School for Dance Education has recently merged with Dance Theater of Florida to offer students even greater training opportunities.

History

Dance Theater of Florida was founded by Michele Zehner and Maria Konrad in 2012 to address numerous educational needs in the local community of Palm Beach Gardens and in the broader community of South Florida. Dance Theater provides local dance students the opportunity to further their artistic development and training through performing classical and contemporary repertoire.

Mission

The mission of the organization is to promote and advance the art of dance by providing training and performance opportunities, superior dance productions for the community, and the chance for underserved groups to experience the arts.  
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Dance Theater of Florida is committed to changing access to performing arts training here in Palm Beach County. Scholarships are provided to deserving students each year. Community outreach efforts like our Elevé program provide access to dance training and teach appreciation for the performing arts.

Educational Philosophy

Specialized Training from Seasoned Professionals

Our highly trained, professional teachers have extensive performance experience in each of their dance disciplines. Our teachers provide instruction in their specific area of expertise. Our Executive Director and Artistic Directors have extensive dance production experience. We offer training in classical ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, hip hop, and musical theater.

Pre-Professional Company:

The Dance Theater pre-professional company was founded with the idea that participation would serve as a springboard to prepare students for the next stage of their professional development. For some, this means attending a collegiate dance program. For others, it means auditioning for an entry-level position with a ballet company or a Broadway production. The members of the company perform in a proscenium theater equipped with professional lighting, sound, and crew. For those dancers with professional performing ambitions, this experience is invaluable; however, it is also important to students with other professional and personal aspirations.

Skills Gained from Performing Arts and Dance Training

All students gain skills that are transferable to their school life, family life, and work life. Dance improves self-discipline, focus, concentration, confidence, physical health, creativity, social skills, and cognitive abilities. The process of learning dance choreography and refining it in rehearsal builds confidence by teaching students about teamwork, group dynamics, creative problem solving, self-awareness, and resilience.

Holistic Approach

Dance Theater of Florida aims to develop well rounded dancers. If a student is just being introduced to dance or is performing with the pre-professional company, our goal is to see students grow as dancers and as individuals.  
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In addition to their in-studio training, students have opportunities to develop teaching skills, to participate in community service projects, to receive coaching on the preparation of audition videos and professional resumes, and to participate in the Dance Theater of Florida Student Board. Our students are prepared for success no matter the professional setting.

Community Outreach

Elevé Program

The Elevé Program is designed to introduce second-grade students from Title I schools to classical ballet through three components: in-school workshops, a lecture demonstration, and attendance at a live performance. Students at Lake Park Elementary, Northboro Elementary, and Jupiter Elementary participate in the program. We are looking to expand the program to Grove Park Elementary and other locations in the coming year.

Scholarship Programs

Dance Theater of Florida seeks to provide dance training to students of all backgrounds and income levels. Therefore, the organization raises funds from events and individual donors to cover the cost of tuition for qualified students.

Community Dance Productions

Dance Theater presents two mainstage productions each season and offers additional performance opportunities throughout the community.  Free tickets are provided to Title 1 schools to allow children and their families an opportunity to experience a dance production and to gain appreciation for the performing arts.

Results & Impact

The rigorous training and exposure to challenging repertoire make our students stand-out candidates for prestigious programs and professional opportunities.  Dance Theater of Florida’s alumni have received scholarships to top training programs and universities, including:

  • Alvin Ailey/Fordham University
  • Juilliard School
  • Indiana University Ballet Theater
  • Paris Opera Ballet School
  • John Cranko School at Stuttgart Ballet
  • Indiana University Ballet Theater
  • Meadows School of the Arts
  • U. Michigan School of Music, Theater, Dance
  • Princess Grace Academy in Monaco
  • European School of Ballet in Amsterdam
  • Tisch School of the Arts / NYU


Our alumni perform professionally throughout the country and internationally.
You can see them perform with:

  • Stuttgart Ballet
  • Philadelphia Ballet
  • Batsheva Dance Co.
  • Radio City Rockettes
  • Numerous Broadway Productions


Individual Giving Levels & Benefits:

Principal Dancer ($10,000+)

  • Eight tickets to the VIP reception at both performances
  • Eight complimentary VIP tickets for each performance.
  • Recognition in press releases and media coverage.
  • Full page ad in the performance programs.
  • Exclusive access to behind-the-scenes rehearsals.
  • Recognition on our website, in promotional materials, and at the performances.
  • Four tickets to our Grand Opening Celebration in January 2025.

Soloist ($5,000 - $9,999)

  • Four tickets to the VIP reception at both performances.
  • Four complimentary tickets for each performance.
  • VIP seating at both Dance Theater of Florida performances.
  • Recognition in press releases and media coverage.
  • Half page ad in the performance programs.
  • Exclusive access to behind-the-scenes rehearsals.
  • Recognition on our website, in promotional materials, and at the performances.
  • Two tickets to our Grand Opening Celebration in January 2025.

First Artist ($2,500 - $4,999)

  • Two tickets to the VIP reception at one performance.
  • Two complimentary VIP tickets to one performance.
  • Recognition in press releases and media coverage.
  • Quarter page ad in one of the performance programs.
  • Recognition on our website and promotional materials for one performance.
  • Advance ticket sales for performances.
  • Two tickets to our Grand Opening Celebration in January 2025.

Corps de Ballet ($1,000 - $2,499)

  • Two complimentary Preferred tickets to one performance.
  • Two tickets to our Grand Opening Celebration in January 2025.
  • Recognition in press releases and media coverage.
  • Recognition in one performance program.

Raise the Curtain Campaign - Naming Opportunities ($25,000 +)

Ask us about the options to name a studio at Dance Theater of Florida’s new location.

Scholarship Opportunities ($1,250 - $5,000)

We hope you consider providing a deserving student with the opportunity to receive dance training at Dance Theater of Florida. Scholarships include the dancer’s uniforms, dance shoes & costumes.

Leadership

Michele Zehner, Founder, Executive Director

Ms. Zehner began her studies with Edmund and Nina Novak and then continued with John White and Margarita De Saa. She also studied with Pennsylvania Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Violette Verdi, as well as in New York with Madame Darvash, David Howard, and Robert Denver. Ms. Zehner performed with San Antonio Ballet and Ballet Klos. During her 30-plus years of professional teaching experience, she studied pedagogy with Gilbert Mayer, Ruth Petronovic, and John White, and holds a teaching certification from American Ballet Theater and Progressing Ballet Technique. Ms. Zehner has taught at Westchester Ballet Theater, Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet, and The Rock School. She served as owner and instructor at the Pennsylvania Centre for Ballet and as founder and artistic director of Delaware County Ballet. Ms. Zehner holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in arts administration from University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and was an Artist in Residence at A.W. Dreyfoos School for the Arts for four years. She sat on the board of the Florida Dance Association, and guest teaches nationally when time permits.

Jerry Opdenaker, Artistic Director and Production Director

Mr. Jerry hails from Philadelphia Pa. and has a BFA in Dance from the University of the Arts and a MFA in Choreography from Jacksonville University. During his 22-year professional dancing career, he worked as a principal company member for Pennsylvania Ballet, Kansas City Ballet and Ballet Florida. He served as the Director of the Nationally recognized STEP Ahead, Ballet Florida’s choreographic workshop where he was declared as a “Jewel of the Palm Beaches” for his dedication. He has choreographed for the Ballet Florida, New York City Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, National Ballet del Peru, Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami to list just a few ballet, dance and opera companies. He founded and directed his own company O DANCE where multi medium artists collaborated to create a unique dance theater experience. He serves as a Character Artist, Ballet Master and Stage Manager for the Boca Ballet Theatre among other arts organizations. He was an adjunct Professor for Florida Southern College and was guest faculty for University of Utah, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Ballet Conceirto and Cincinnati Ballet.=

Carol Pakri, Outreach Program Director and Children’s Division Director

Mrs. Pakri began her dance training at the David Taylor Dance Theatre in Littleton, Colorado. After earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in ballet performance (with honors) at the University of Oklahoma, Mrs. Pakri danced with the Oklahoma Festival Ballet, David Taylor Dance Theatre, and Colorado Ballet. Mrs. Pakri has been teaching for 20 years. She served as director for the youth ballet company at Spotlight Performing Arts Academy, school principal/principal teacher at the Academy of Colorado Ballet South and was on the staff of Houston Ballet Academy. In 2006, Mrs. Pakri joined the staff at The Royal Ballet School in London, England, where she taught for seven years and directed their outreach program. While there, she graduated from The Royal Ballet School Professional Dancers Teachers Course, with distinction.

Diane McNeal, Finance and Advancement Director

Ms. McNeal is an accomplished sales, fundraising, financial strategy, risk management, and business transformation professional with over 40 years of corporate and nonprofit board experience. Ms. McNeal has an MBA in Legal Compliance and Risk Management from Florida Atlantic University, a Master Certificate in Transformational Nonprofit Management from Kellog Graduate School at Notre Dame University, and a BBA from Adelphi University in management with a double concentration in finance and marketing. She retired from her commercial banking and private banking career at the end of 2023 and sought an opportunity to join a nonprofit organization whose mission truly resonated with her. Dance has been a part of her life since she was 4 years old. She has enjoyed ballet, jazz, tap, and ballroom dancing as an avocation and an audience member her entire life. She believes dance changes lives.