Our Staff
Michelle Mandile
Michelle is an award-winning choreographer, teacher, and competition judge with 32 years of industry experience. Michelle grew up in her mother’s dance studio, Franklin Dance Workshop, in Boston. She has trained thousands of dancers, many of whom have embarked on professional dance careers on Broadway, Cruise Ships, Professional Sports Teams, Movies, and Television. Her students have won numerous competition Titles at the Regional and National levels and college dance scholarships. The National Foundation for the Arts has recognized her choreography, and she was the official choreographer for the Miss Teen USA Florida pageant two years in a row. Michelle is certified by test to teach in all dance styles by the prestigious Dance Masters of America and received injury prevention and dance training through the Dance Teacher’s Club of Boston. She continues the legacy of over 50 years of dance passed on through her mother and Florida Dance Workshop’s founder and professional dancer, Susan Labousier Kickbush.
Class: Advanced Ballet II ● Pointe II ● Ovations Competition Team
Holly Legare
Holly Legare is an award-winning teacher, performer and choreographer with over 20 years of teaching experience. Holly received her primary dance training at Florida Dance Workshop under Michelle Labousier Mandile at age 4 and was proud to rejoin the studio in 2016. In 2022 Holly began to perform professionally and was featured in Cirque Du Voix, the Summer Circus Spectacular, and the Kids Beating Cancer event. In addition to her training with FDW, Holly continued her performance education at Florida Atlantic University, the Houston Metropolitan Dance Center, Cirque La Vie Company, and the Circus Arts Conservatory. Holly holds a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and holds certificates from the National Strength & Conditioning Association and the American College of Sports Medicine. Holly is board certified by test to teach Ballet, Jazz, Acrobatics, and Tap from the prestigious Dance Masters of America and has completed the Teachers Training School training program. Holly loves continuing the legacy and traditions from the first Dance Workshop in 1978.
Class: Strength & Conditioning Coaching ● Intermediate Tap ● Advanced Tap ● Ovations Competition Team ● Aerial Silks
Alicia Baughman
Alicia is an award-winning dancer, teacher, and choreographer with over 15 years of experience. Alicia grew up in Florida Dance Workshop, training under Michelle Labousier Mandile. During her dance years of training, she won many Overall Top Score Awards and Scholarship Awards. Alicia was named “Best in Show” out of all other entries at the I Love Dance International Competition. She competed throughout the country, including in New York City, where she spent summers taking classes at the Broadway Dance Center. Alicia continued her dance education at the University of Central Florida and holds Bachelor’s and Masters degrees in Criminal Justice. While in college, Alicia auditioned and was accepted to be part of the traveling hip hop crew “Rukus” performing throughout the state. Alicia has completed 2 years of the Teachers Training School in Buffalo, New York with the prestigious Dance Masters of America. She has been teaching and choreographing for the Florida Dance Workshop for over ten years, and her choreography has received many Judges Awards for solos, duo/trios and group dances. Alicia is very passionate about teaching and loves to inspire the next generation of dancers.
Class: Beginner Ballet/Tap ● Intermediate Contemporary Lyrical I ● Advanced Jazz II ● Ovations Competition Team ● Intermediate Jazz I ● Intermediate Jazz II ● Kinderdance ● Advanced Jazz I ● Florida Dance Company ● Ovations Competition Team
Andréa Popielarz
Andréa is an award-winning teacher with over 20 years of teaching experience. While growing up in Florida Dance Workshop, training under Michelle Labousier Mandile, Andréa earned numerous top scores as a performer, including 1st Place Overall Highest Score of the day as a soloist, held lead roles in the Nutcracker and other productions, including performing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and has led FDW students in the same direction. Her choreography has been recognized and granted numerous Judges Awards throughout Florida. Andréa was the recipient of a full Dance Scholarship to Franklin Pearce University, is a board-certified member of Dance Master’s of America, is proud to be the only Acrobatic Arts Certified Teacher in our area. She has been a teacher with FDW for 20 years and the proud mother of 4 beautiful children.
Class: Intermediate I Acro ● Intermediate Acro II ● Kinder Acro ● Beginner Acro ● Advanced Turns & Leaps ● Advanced Acro ● Advanced Ballet I ● Pre Pointe/ Pointe I
Kate Chalone
Kate is an award-winning teacher and choreographer with 5 years of teaching experience. She began dancing at 4 with Florida Dance Workshop training in all dance styles. She was an award-winning member of our Ovations Competition Team and Florida Dance Company, performing for community and charitable events such as the Mistletoe Ball, The Veterans Parade, Charlotte County Christmas Parade, and Relay for Life. In addition to dance, Miss Chalone was also an active member of the Charlotte Players' summer programs and performed in musicals such as “The Lion King”, “Singing in the Rain”, “High School Musical” and “Anything Goes”. Kate spent many of her formative years as a class demonstrator. Since graduating high school, Kate has studied as a teaching apprentice at Florida Dance Workshop and began rigorous training with Dance Masters of America’s Teacher Training School’s 3-year program. Kate loves working with students of all ages and enjoys teaching beginning and intermediate levels and finding her niche as a small-group choreographer.
Class: Kinderdance ● Intermediate I Acro ● Intermediate Acro II ●Kinder Acro ● Beginner Ballet/Tap ● Beginner Ballet/Jazz ● Intermediate Ballet I ● Intermediate Ballet II ● Ovations Competition Team ● Intermediate Jazz I ● Intermediate Jazz II ● Beginner Acro ● Advanced Contemporary Lyrical I ● Kinder Acro
Samantha DiRienzo
Samantha is a dancer, choreographer, and educator based out of SouthWest Florida. She grew up dancing competitively since the age of 6 and went on to graduate from Dean College where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Choreography. During her time at Dean she choreographed and performed in many shows all four of her years on and off campus, and was involved in multiple dance teams including Pom Team, The Collective, and Synergy, where she served as President. Samantha’s professional performance credits include RWS Entertainment Group and Femmes & Follies Burlesque. Her studio credits include being a part of in house faculty at Tina’s Dance Academy and Florida Dance Workshop in addition to teaching at numerous studio held intensives across the country. She also works with dance competitions, and conventions, judging and teaching. These include: Nexstar National Dance Competition, Headliners Dance Championships, ID Dance Competition, Fusion National Dance Competition, and Exhale Dance Convention. She was choreographed multiple award-winning routines for studios in multiple genres, age groups, and ability levels including but not limited to: Regional and National Championship winners, Entertainment Awards, Choreography Awards, Choreographer of the Year Nomination, Scholarships, and more.