Florida Dance Theatre

Artistic/Founding Director

Carol Krajacic Erkes, originally from Cleveland, Ohio, brings to Lakeland a world of experience as both a professional dancer and teacher. She began her professional career at the age of 15 performing with the Ohio Chamber Ballet/Ohio Ballet in Akron. She was a soloist with the Cincinnati Ballet and the August Ballet and has taught and danced with Southern Ballet Theatre (now Orlando Ballet) and Texas Ballet. She has also been featured as a Guest Artist with numerous ballet companies including New Mexico Ballet, Ballet Orlando, San Diego Metropolitan Ballet, Houston Civic Ballet, the Ron Jones Company, and Vero Beach Ballet. She has been on faculty at Augusta Ballet, John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, James Dance Center, University of Houston-Clear Lake, as well as been a guest instructor at the School of Performing Arts, Harrison School of the Arts, Rochelle School of the Arts, Dr. Phillips High School, University of South Carolina, Raskin Dance Studio, and most recently, Osceola School for the Arts in Kissimmee. As Artistic Director, Ms. Erkes wears many hats in order to maintain the continual growth of the professional company and the training Academy. The

Academy has shown tremendous growth, and now offers close to 50 classes weekly to students ranging in age from three years old to adult. She has had the pleasure of seeing many of her students grow and achieve many honors, and her ability to create such a rich atmosphere for learning will inevitably continue to assist all students that come to Florida Dance Theatre, instilling in them the knowledge that they have the ability to achieve any goal, whether it be to dance or pursue other endeavors.

Associate Artistic Director/Resident Choreographer

Ferdinand De Jesus, otherwise known as "Freddie," began his dance training with Nannette Bearden (wife of the acclaimed Harlem Renaissance painter Romare Bearden, in her Contemporary Dance Theatre when he was 14 years old. In 1987, his family relocated to Hollywood, FL where he completed his academic education at McArthur High School of Performing Arts. He then returned to New York City and received a full scholarship to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Later on, he also received a merit scholarship to train at the Dance Theatre of Harlem. His extensive professional experience includes Dayton Contemporary Dance Co., Donald Byrd/The Group, Philadanco, and most recently Bruce Wood Dance Company in Dallas, TX. Mr. De Jesus has also served as faculty at Rochelle School of the Arts, Florida Dance Theatre, and Raskin Dance Studio, to name a few, and has been a guest teacher for the Florida Dance Association’s “Young Dancer’s Workshop” and “Performing Arts High School’s Dance Workshop.” Mr. De Jesus’ affiliation with Florida Dance Theatre began in 1998 during a hiatus in his extensive 15 year stage career, and his ongoing

mission for the organization is to present the highest quality professional dance performances and improve the skills of emerging professional dancers and to help them find their own artistic voices.