Administrative Staff

Joseé Garant
Teacher/Choreographer/Art Administrator

Ms. Garant is the founder and artistic director of Josee Garant Dance a Miami based contemporary dance company

A native of Canada, Ms. Garant received an MFA in Dance from Hollins University/American Dance Festival, a BFA (honors) degree in Dance from York University, and graduated from the National Ballet School of Canada Teacher Training Program.

In South Florida, her work has been performed by Josee Garant Dance; the Momentum Dance Company, by the Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida and by the Artistic Dance Theatre Company.

In 2008-2009 Ms. Garant was awarded a Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs Choreographer Fellowship Award and was elected to the Board of Directors of the Florida Dance Association.

Ms. Garant is an adjunct faculty member at New World School of the Arts and at Harid Conservatory.

www.joseegarantdance.com

josee@joseegarantdance.com

(305) 619-2266

David Dacquisto, Executive Director

(See bio below)

Board Members

Lissette Salgado Lucas, President

Assistant Director and Ballet Instructor for Artistic Dance Center

In 1985 Ms Salgado was a !nalist in the Prix de Lausanne Competition which led her to joining the Jo"rey Ballet as a principal dancer where she danced for 7 years before joining the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. As principal dancer she has danced many classical roles including roles as Louisa in John Neumeier’s Nutcracker, Balanchine’s Allegro Brilliante, Ballo della Regina, Tchaikovsky’s pas de deux, Serenade, Swan Lake as Odette/Odile, Rudi van Danzig’s Romeo and Juliet. She has also performed with the Daring Project based in New York under the direction of Margo Appington and Valentina Kozlova. Ms Salgado currently teaches and is assistant Director at Artistic Dance Center.

Audra Santoro, Vice-President

Entrepreneur

Ms. Santoro holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and International Business from Hillsdale College and a Master of International Management from The American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird). She spent 12 years in investment banking in Europe and South Africa.

Ms. Santoro is very active with several non-profit organizations. She sits on the Board of Treasure Village Montessori, where she is currently focused on building an endowment for the arts for the school.

She has also served on the Black and White Ball Committee, a formal event benefiting the Florida Keys Children’s Shelter.

David Dacquisto, Executive Director and Treasurer

Municipal Government, Planning Director

David is a graduate of the University of Manitoba, Canada with a BA in Political Studies and is also a graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato with both a BS and MA in Urban and Regional Studies.

David comes to Josee Garant Dance with twenty years of successful management experience including budgeting, grants writing and grants administration.

Grizel M. Arencibia, EdD - Director

Dr. Arencibia is the owner/director of Partners for Advanced Learning, an educational center dedicated to developing academic confidence and independence in their students and guiding them in becoming successful, life-long learners who are better prepared for today’s challenging workforce environment.

She and her team provide students in grades K – 12 with educational programs and academic tutoring designed to improve their academic progress and success in school, including their transition into college.

Prior to owning her own business, Dr. Arencibia was the Director of Program Development and Innovation at Take Stock in Children where she developed and implemented program standards to enhance and expand the statewide student/mentor grade specific curriculum and college transition and retention services. Her career includes over 12 years of instructional experience in public and private schools.

Dr. Arencibia’s education includes a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, summa cum laude, from Florida International University; a Master of Science in Reading Education from Barry University; and a Doctor of Education, Organizational Leadership concentration, from Nova Southeastern.

Michael Cowles, Board Member

Film and Television Consultant

An independent producer, Michael has worked primarily on developing series television in Canada. He was the Film Program Manager for the Province of Manitoba where he oversaw !lm and television production and tax incentives.

He has served with Canada’s federal agency dealing with overseas development and aid in their television and communications branch, specifically working with African media and television, and overseeing Canadian productions on documentaries and events supporting African development.

Michael was more recently Director of Training Programs for the National Screen Institute, Canada’s oldest training school for writers, producers and directors.

Nancy Dunn, Board Member

On Your Toes Dance Studio, Owner/Director

Nancy has taught the art of dance to the young people of the Upper Keys for the past 20 years as Owner and Director of On your Toes Dance Studio in Tavernier.

Nancy teaches ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, and acrobatics. She is a proud member of Florida Dance Masters, an organization of dance teachers from all over the country who promote the arts and offer scholarships to dancers from across the state of Florida.

On your Toes Dance studio’s Elite competition team has been awarded numerous Platinum and gold honors at competitions across the state of Florida. Her students have also been awarded top honors in Florida Dance Masters Scholarship auditions.

Dr. Harry Doweiko, Board Member

Doctor, Gundersen-Lutheran Medical Center

Dr. Doweiko grew up in Cranston, Rhode Island, although he currently now resides in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Dr. Doweiko earned his B.A. and M.A. degree from Rhode Island College, a M.S. degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and an earned doctorate from the University of South Dakota.

Dr. Doweiko is an accomplished author and teacher, being the author of various articles in professional journals, college textbooks and as an invited contributor for other publications. Dr. Doweiko is also an avid amateur astronomer.

Professionally, he specializes in the treatment of addictive disorders, and has been on staff at Gundersen-Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin since September of 1991.

Design and Publicity

Patricia San Pedro, Publicity

Michael Cowles, Graphic Design

Jon Dacquisto, Website Design/Writer