CAROL ERKES - FOUNDER of FLORIDA DANCE THEATRE

Ms. Erkes, originally from Cleveland, Ohio, brought 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 Cincinnati Ballet and August Ballet and taught and danced with Southern Ballet Theatre (now Orlando Ballet) and Texas Ballet. She has been featured as a Guest Artist with numerous ballet companies including New Mexico Ballet, Ballet Orlando, San Diego Metropolitan Ballet, Houston Civic Ballet, and Vero Beach Ballet. She has been a faculty member at Augusta Ballet, John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, James Dance Center, University of Houston-Clear Lake, and guest instructor at the School of Performing Arts, Harrison Arts, Rochelle School of the Arts, Dr. Phillips High School, University of South Carolina, Osceola School of the Arts and All Saint’s Academy. She is on faculty each summer at the Masters of Dance Workshop in Connecticut at the Earl Mosley Institute of the Arts. Ms. Erkes is a member of the Polk Arts Alliance, The Lakeland Chamber, the Downtown Lakeland Partnership and a former board member of the Florida Dance Association.

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