About Mia Bella

Lynne DiCianni

Lynne DiCianni was born and raised in Chicago, IL. Lynne started dancing at age 3 and became a professional at age 9 performing with the renowned “Kirov Ballet”. She studied with Ruth Page, Richard Arve, Loreeto Rozak, Larry Long, Mimi Rozak-Kelly, Delores Lipinski and Bruce Merrill in Chicago. Lynne was a member of “The Arve Connection” modern dance company, Ruth Page’s “Chicago Ballet”, “Richard Arve Trio” and appeared with the Urban Gateways Educational Theatre Co. which brought dance into Chicago area schools. She performed in Ruth Page’s “The Nutcracker” sponsored by the Chicago Tribune Charities. Also performed with The Chicago Lyric Opera and the Lithuanian Opera Company. Lynne did lecture demonstrations with New York City Ballet’s principal dancer, Maria Tallchief and Dance Magazines Dance Critic, Ann Barzel. Was artistic director of “Arve School of Dance” in Calumet City, IL. And taught for Dance Educators of America in the early 1990’s. And in 2000, was commissioned to set “Naja”, a modern piece from repertoire of “Arve Connection” for Chicago’s Gus Giordano Dance Company. Lynne joined the Mia Bella family in the fall of 2011, currently is a board member of Palm Coast’s City Repertory Theatre. Lynne is also certified in Progressive Ballet Training (PBT).

Kaila Schippani

Ms. Kaila grew up in Oxford, Connecticut and started dancing at the young age of 2. She received her training in ballet, jazz, and tap at Kicks Dance Center in Shelton, CT. When Ms. Kaila entered high school, she joined her school’s dance team where she fell in love with hip hop. Her competitive dance team competed with the Universal Dance Association (UDA) in both local and national competitions as well winning state titles. Following this dance team tradition into her college years, she has both danced for, then coached the Keene State College Dance Team in Keene, NH. In her second year as head coach of this team (2011), Ms. Kaila’s dancers qualified to compete in their first UDA national competition in Orlando, FL. She then graduated with two bachelor’s degrees; Education and Wellness and Movement (a collaboration of Health Science and Dance). At Keene State, Kaila had the opportunity to train under Marcia Murdock, William Seigh, Celine Perron, and attended workshops held by the acclaimed dance theater organization, Pilobolus. ​Since her move to Saint Augustine in 2011, she has taught at various schools and studios throughout St. Johns and Flagler counties. Ms. Kaila continues to teach dance at Mia Bella Academy of Dance in Palm Coast, FL. Ms. Kaila has been the director of the St. John’s County Center for the Arts dance program at St. Augustine High School since 2014. Some of Ms. Kaila’s students have been accepted into dance programs at CLI Conservatory, University of Florida, The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), Elon University, New School of Florida, Nova Southeastern University. She is also a member of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) as well as the ’23-’24 High School District 4 Representative for the National Dance Coaches Association (NDCA) with which she is a certified Level 1 judge. Her love for dance has given her many opportunities that she is very grateful for. Her choreography has won awards at Artists Simply Human as well as American All-Star Dance Championships. She has also been hired to choreograph many musical theatre productions during her tenure at St. Augustine High School. Ms. Kaila was the head coach of the St. Augustine High School Dance Team from 2015-2018. During this time, the team won multiple regional competitions including winning a state championship in Small Varsity Jazz in 2018. After this accomplishment, Ms. Kaila and her honors students created an elite competition team; The Collective. This team, established in 2018, has won multiple titles at the American All-Star Dance/Drill Competition and made it into the “Top 5” at a national competition the Dance Team Union. Ms. Kaila will be pursuing many additional certifications and judging credentials while continuing to teach full time.

Anthony Romeo-Adcock

M. Ed. Curriculum and Instruction, Concentration Theatre Pedagogy, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma B.F.A. Musical Theatre, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania Anthony is currently an Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre with an emphasis in Dance at Western Wyoming Community College located in Rock Springs, WY. Anthony has performed in a myriad of professional theatrical productions including the national touring companies of Seussical (directed by Tony Award Nominee Marcia Milgrom Dodge), Children’s Letters to God, and I Feel Great. His choreography credits include Bright Star, Something’s Afoot, Working (All at Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre), Spamalot, Sweet Charity, The Wizard of Oz, and Willy Wonka. Anthony served as the Director of the St. Johns County Center for the Arts in St. Augustine, Florida from 2021 – 2024, where he was also the musical theatre instructor. Favorite educational theatre credits include Children of Eden (Outstanding Direction, Applause Awards 2023), Newsies, Pippin, Cinderella, and Beauty and the Beast. He has been a faculty member at Mia Bella Academy of Dance since 2014 where he has taught tap, jazz, contemporary, and musical theatre styles, and loves to be able to still teach virtual classes with the MBAD students. Anthony is a proud member of the Actors Equity Association, the professional union for actors and stage managers.

Mekenzie Messamore

Miss Mekenzie has been teaching with Mia Bella since 2019 and Co- Directing our Apprentice Team since 2023. She has a passion for inspiring kids and providing a safe and fun environment for any and everyone. She got her start traveling around the country as an assistant for the prestigious ASH (Artists Simply Human) Faculty, some of which include DJ Smart, Lissette Bustamante, Tovaris Wilson, Gregg Russell and more! She was granted automatic acceptance and multiple scholarships to AMDA, a performing arts/theater college in the heart of NYC. She has also danced backup for a groovy 70’s style band at the Hard Rock Hotel, as well as traveled to different states to choreograph solos for other competition dancers! She loves creating and choreographing, and her work has won countless awards at competitions and conventions alike. She is very proud to be sharing her love of dance with her Mia Bella family, as well as her dedication to shaping the next generation to not only be great dancers, but to be hardworking, strong, and kind!

Tristen Stanley

Tristen Stanley is a dedicated dance instructor with over 13 years of experience in the art of dance. She has trained numerous students in various dance styles including ballet, contemporary, jazz, and acro. Starting her journey at a young age, Tristen quickly developed a love for dance that blossomed into a successful career. Her teaching philosophy revolves around nurturing each student’s unique talents while instilling discipline and a strong technical foundation. Throughout her competitive dance career, Tristen received numerous awards and scholarships. She has traveled across the country studying dance and attended two summer intensives with the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. One of the highlights of her dance career was receiving an acceptance into Florida State University’s dance program. In her professional teaching career, Tristen has been a faculty member at Mia Bella Academy of Dance since 2018. In seeking to further her dance education, Tristen most recently attended a teacher training program offered by Relative Motion. In 2023, she became a teacher for the new Apprentice Program at Mia Bella, which introduces dancers to the competitive aspect of dance. Tristen also works with the competition team at Mia Bella, and has received awards for her choreography. At this time, she is also a senior at the University of Florida completing her Bachelor’s degree. Dance has been Tristen’s passion since a young age and she looks forward to sharing that passion with any and all future dancers!

Lindsey Gaynor

Miss Lindsey, a Mia Bella alumina, was raised in Palm Coast, FL for the majority of her life, and is passionate about the art and aestheticism of dance. She started to dance at the age of 3, and it did not take long before she knew she wanted to teach and dance for the rest of her life by the age of 7 and by 14 it was confirmed by assistant teaching here at Mia Bella. She has been trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip-hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, Acro, Musical Theater, and acting, but her favorite styles are Ballet, Tap, and Lyrical. She has participated in national dance competitions since she was 10 and assisted taught for 3 years at Mia Bella Academy of Dance. After earning her degree in Communication studies at the University of North Florida, she has returned to Mia Bella to teach. While working at Mia Bella she toured as an Assistant Convention Manager for Artists Simply Human (ASH) Productions, a national dance competition and convention. She is certified in Relative Motion (anatomy and technique training) and Progressive Ballet Training (strength and injury prevention/technique training). She was co-director for the Mia Bella Apprentice Team and is now part of our Office Staff as well as a teacher. Miss Lindsey is passionate about teaching and helping your children do what they love, and falls deeper in love with dance every class. Her goals are to create a classroom that produces creativity, discipline, and fun while giving children an activity to release any stress they are going through, learn how to use proper technique, safely stretch, strengthen and protect their bodies while exercising and dancing, but also make an impact on students that will benefit them in and out of the classroom like her teachers had made on her.

Kendra Sosa

Kendra grew up dancing in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Although she always wanted to be a ballerina, her mother put her in gymnastics at the age 3. She then transitioned into rhythmic gymnastics, which required a ballet class. It was there she finally found her passion and began strictly dancing at the age of 11. Kendra quickly mastered technique, and participated in competitive dance for four years; after which she began teaching at the age of 17. After her competition days, she continued her dance education at Pikes Peak Community College, while she also embarked on her teaching career. Kendra’s passion to teach began at a very young age and has continued throughout her life. Her specialties are in Combo Classes, Ballet, Lyrical, Jazz, and Pom; but she has experience in Tap, Acro, and Hip Hop as well. Her choreography has won numerous awards, and her students have gained strength and enthusiasm for dance through her passion and dedication to teaching and technique. Now in Palm Coast, Kendra has continued teaching and choreographing, sharing her love and passion for dance with her students. Kendra’s ambition in life is to help all kids gain confidence, enthusiasm, and to benefit from what they do even beyond the classroom and competition setting.