Founder/CEO
Jody-Marie Smith has over Twenty five (25) years’ experience in Dance & performing arts from Fairfield Theatre movement, Wolmer’s Dance Troupe & UWI Dance society as well as over fourteen (14) years business experience in Hospitality, Marketing, Finance and support business sectors from employment with US Airways, Air Jamaica, Compass Cove Resort USA, Scotiabank, National Commercial Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland/Natwest UK & Rainforest Seafoods. She lived and studied in London, where she completed her Master’s degree in Business & Marketing from the University of Wales & also holds a Bachelor of science degree in Hospitality & Tourism Management from the University of West Indies. She has been the CEO for First Dance Studios for the past six (6) years.
Artistic Director
Sheri-Lee Smith is a founding member and Artistic Director of First Dance Studios. With an interest in dance, gymnastics and fine arts from a tender age, she has an accumulation of over twenty years’ experience in performance through Fairfield Theatre's Little People movement, JCDC (Jamaica Cultural Development Commission) festival competitions, Theatrical Artistic Performers and the University Dance Society to name a few. Sheri-Lee continues to share her vision and direction with our students, who always look forward to her unique creations.
Choreographers
Antonio Dennis has been in involved in Performing Arts from a very young age, having won various medals and prizes through competing in music and drama. His professional training came through the Cathy Levy's Little People and Teen Players Club 1992-1996, He has been trained in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Folk and Traditional Dance, Acting, Mime, Puppetry, Sign Language, and Vocal Techniques. In 1996-1997, he joined the ASHE Caribbean Performing Arts Ensemble, and continued training full-time in the arts, touring the Caribbean and America, performing, teaching and mentoring prospective students in the arts. He has been an Entertainment Supervisor and Manager for several 5 star resorts on the Island, including Sandals Resorts, Grand Lido, and Secrets Resorts and Spa. His passion for the arts led him to the Edna Manley College for Visual and Performing Arts 2000-2005, from which he matriculated with a diploma in Dance Theatre and Production. He is also currently the National Director for the Cayman Islands World Championships of the Performing Arts Team.
Kelly-Ann Robinson’s passion for the arts grew from attending and competing in the local JCDC competitions while at St. Hugh’s High school. She was also captain & coach of the cheerleading team. She went on to choreograph and was asked to sit on the judging panel for the deaf talent competition in 2011. She holds a degree in dance from the Edna Manley School of Visual & Performing Arts and was awarded most outstanding dancer of her graduating class in 2012. She has since been trained in gymnastics by Mr. Shin Nishida and has been awarded gold medals in vault, beam, bar and floor routines. She spent four (4) years with Iberostar Resort & Spa honing her skills in Broadway production and other performances. She is presently working with Hyatt where she has been trained by international instructors in yoga, aqua aerobics & spinning and teaches ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop and dancehall part-time to students at First Dance Studios.
