Meghan Barry is thrilled to share her passion for dance!   Meghan has been dancing since age three and has been performing, teaching, choreographing, and judging ever since.  During her competitive dance years with the Robin Dawn Academy of Performing Arts Competition Team,  Meghan received numerous High Score and 1^st Place Overall awards and is a former MISS SHOWBIZ,  MISS STARPOWER , Florida Dance Masters Scholarship recipient in Jazz, Tap, and Acrobatics, New York City’s Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway Scholarship recipient, and winner of numerous local performing arts competitions. Meghan furthered her arts training by being accepted to the audition only Cypress Lake Center for the Performing Arts High School in Ft. Myers, FL.  Meghan was accepted in both the Theatre and Dance Arts Departments and was a featured performer in numerous productions including 42^nd Street, Barnum (where she was professionally trained and chosen to perform on the double and triple trapeze), as the lead role in Thorton Wilder’s, The Skin of Our Teeth, as well as member of the award winning cast of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, chosen to perform at the Florida State Thespian Competition.  Meghan has performed in the MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE and the NFL’S PROBOWL HALFTIME SHOW IN HAWAII. She began performing professionally during high school in such shows as A Chorus Line, Annie, and White Christmas Revue at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre in Ft. Myers, FL.

                While keeping busy with the Arts, Meghan never lost focus on her education.  Graduating with a 4.4 GPA, Meghan decided to continue her college education on a full scholarship to The Florida State

    University.   While majoring in Media Production/Television Journalism and Theatre, Meghan performed on FSU’s Mainstage and was a recipient of FSU School of Theatre’s Patron’s Scholarship. For two years, Meghan was a lead anchor for FSU’s cable news program, FSULive.  Meghan was employed during undergrad at NBCNews 40 as an Assistant Producer for  the 6 and 11 o'clock newscasts. She was  also a teaching assistant for Principles of Advertising, one of FSU’s most popular communication classes.   In her spare time, Meghan created an afterschool Arts Education program and taught at a local elementary school several days a week.  She was also an active volunteer with the Tallahassee Boys and Girls Club, teaching and mentoring underprivileged children.   

 As an opportunity for college scholarships, performance experience,  and to promote arts education, Meghan participated in the Miss America Pageant system.  She won the titles of “MISS FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY”, “MISS TALLAHASSEE”, “MISS GULF COAST”, and “MISS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FAIR” and competed in the MISS FLORIDA PAGEANT four times.  Meghan was the MISS FLORIDA  2^nd Runner-Up to Lisette Gonzalez, who went on to become the 2^nd Runner-Up at Miss America.  Meghan also won numerous Talent, Swimsuit, and Interview awards. Meghan was selected four times as the only State recipient to receive the MISS AMERICA PAGEANT Educational Excellence Scholarship.  Meghan’s pageant experience was unforgettable and invaluable and she was able to perform alongside Wayne Brady, Barbara Eden, Leanza Cornett, and Debbye Turner.  Meghan has also performed and had featured roles in television commercials for BUSCH GARDENS, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE, as well as promotional work for MATTEL, TOYS R US, and TARGET.

After graduating from FSU with a 3.9 GPA, Meghan was accepted into Florida State University’s College of Law.  Meghan received the Bedell-Standley Scholarship awarded to a deserving female student, was chosen "Editor of the Year" for the FSU Journal of Land Use and Environmental Law, and worked at FSU's nationally recognized Children's Advocacy Center.  Meghan was also a proud member of FSU’s award winning Moot Court Team. She traveled to competitions in New York City and New Orleans and received top scoring awards.  While in law school, Meghan continued her involvement in the arts and was the Dance Caravan Kid Assistant Coordinator for the national traveling Hoctor’s Dance Caravan Competition and Convention. 

Meghan is an Attorney practicing law in the State of Florida.   She loves the energy of the courtroom and helping people with challenging legal issues.  
             Outside of the courtroom and the dance studio, Meghan stays active in the community by volunteering her time with local elementary and middle schools, serving as a member on the Board of Directors for the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra, and by judging local and national dance competitions and pageants, most recently serving as a judge throughout the United States and Canada for the StarPower Talent Competition and Revolution Talent Competition.

Meghan is a true believer that her arts education has given her the skills necessary to become a successful student in the classroom.   Meghan opened Studio M Dance to be a training ground for all levels of dancers and an outlet for expression in a positive and passionate environment.   
             Meghan welcomes students and parents to visit Studio M
and experience the very best in dance education!

        ERICA WHITING

           With over twenty years of experience as a dance instructor, choreographer, and certified aerobics instructor, Studio M is overjoyed to have Miss Erica as part of our professional staff!   Erica began dancing at the the young age of three.   After trying out different local studios, Erica found her real passion for dance at  “Patricia’s School of Dance” (owned by Patricia Laflin Snellman).     She joined the “Melbourne Dance Company” by the age ten. She performed in numerous  musicals and dance performances, such as “Up on Your Toes”, “Sylvia”, “Rodeo” “All that Jazz”, “Dancers at the Gathering”, and “42nd Street” throughout Brevard County.
          During Erica’s younger years she attended numerous dance workshops throughout Florida, including the “Nilo Toledo Camp of Fine Arts” in Tampa every summer. Here she studied acting, drama, singing, and dance with professionals such as Joan and Barry Lather and Jo Rowan. She also took many classes from Frank Hatchett, David Howard, Robbie Mackey and Scott Conway, from Walt Disney Productions.  
          Erica competed at numerous dance competitions such as Dance Masters of America, Dance Educators of America, Starpower, Dance America, and Dance Caravan, during her teen years. She received several first place awards for groups and solos. Erica’s group routine won first place overall throughout Florida, which qualified them for Nationals in New York City.  Erica also danced for local school drill teams where she won the special award of “Super Star Girl” at Rollin’s College dance camp in Orlando. She has performed at numerous festivals and events throughout Florida.
           Erica was given the opportunity to begin teaching and doing choreography for ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and contemporary during high school.  This is where she found her true calling.  She worked right out of high school teaching dance classes at “Patricia’s School of Dance” and continued for over ten years. Erica trained throughout her career with Kim Cole. She also taught for her at “Kim Cole Dance Studio” for eight years. She has had many students go on to become wonderful, talented dancers receiving college dance scholarships and performing for professional NFL and NBA dance teams.
           Erica continues her dance education by attending dance conventions throughout  Florida such as “The Pulse” and “Tremaine”; learning from teachers such as Mia Michaels, Tice Diorio, Wade Robson, and Joe Tremaine. Erica is also a certified aerobics instructor with AFAA. She has taught countless aerobics and strength classes at gyms throughout Brevard.
            Erica is the proud mother of two children Ashley (18, currently a student at Florida State University) and Steven (11). Her daughter also shares her mother’s love of dance and has been in ballet shoes since the age of three. Erica’s passion for dance has shown through for almost thirty five years! Her experience in teaching and patience with the younger students are truly unique gifts.  Erica is dedicated to sharing her love and knowledge of dance to all ages. She is looking forward to the future and the new adventures with Studio M!
        

           Studio M is very excited to welcome Cheryl to our dance family!  Cheryl's amazing dance career began when she opened up her own studio at the age of 18, Rochester Academy of Dance Arts, in Rochester, New York, where she taught hundreds of successful students for 16 years. She then moved to Florida and opened up the Brevard Dance Academy. She directed BDA for 20 years and 5 years ago sold it to join the workplace in the school system.  She has judged all over the country for many dance organizations and currently is in her 34th year of owning and directing the Rochester Invitational Dance Competition held in Rochester, NY each spring. Five years ago, Cheryl started the Florida Invitational dance competition.  Cheryl has many former students dancing all over the USA and is a sought after judge for many dance organizations. She was the choreographer for the Fifth Dimensions hit single "Love Hangover" and just finished tap training the newest Billy Elliot for the hit Tony award winning musical on Broadway. Cheryl keeps busy with her three children, four granddaughters, working full time at an intermediate school, and teaching dance.  Cheryl is thrilled to share her expertise with Studio M!