Jere James

Jere James is a graduate of the Ailey/Fordham program in New York City, Ms. James comes to us with the fire and passion of classical modern dance in Horton and Graham techniques. She is the owner and founder of Inez Patricia School of Dance in Orlando Florida. Ms. James will be working with both FDT professional company and academy students this season. Ms. James began training at Palm Beach Ballet Center in Palm Beach, FL, under the direction of Joan Miller. She also attended A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, FL as a dance major. During summers in high school, Ms. James furthered her training in New York City with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater summer intensive programs where she was offered an opportunity to remain and develop her craft. Ms. James holds a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business from the University of Central Florida. She has taught for various dance institutions such as the Orlando School of Cultural Dance and The Center For Contemporary Dance. In 2016, Ms. Jere opened her very own studio, Inez Patricia School of Dance, named after her late mother. Now in its sixth year, Inez Patricia School of Dance has reached over 500 students, empowering them through arts education and performance opportunities. Many students have gone on to graduate and be accepted to professional dance companies and collegiate dance programs.

​Joey-Lynn Mann

With her sharp eye, beautiful lines, and keen attention to detail, Ms. Joey-Lynn Mann joins FDT for the 2022-2023 season. Ms. Mann began her training at the National Ballet of Canada, continuing her studies at Pacific Northwest Ballet, where she graduated. Ms. Mann danced with Ballet Idaho and Nevada Ballet Theatre before joining Orlando Ballet (then Southern Ballet Theatre), under the direction of founding director, Barbara Riggins, as well as, Fernando Bujones, and Bruce Marks. She danced the leading role in works including Carmen, Coppelia, La Bayadere, La Fille Malle Gardee, The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Balanchine’s Agon, Concerto Barocco, and Serenade, among others. As a Certified, ABT Curriculum teacher, Ms. Mann has guest taught throughout the United States and Canada and continues to work as a freelance Master Teacher. She has served on the full-time faculty of Orlando Ballet School, was the children’s cast director of The Nutcracker, and leader of educational outreach programs in conjunction with Orange County Public Schools. Ms. Mann held the position of the shoe coordinator for the Orlando Ballet, managing all shoes for the professional company dancers, second company, and trainee program, and opened the first boutique at Orlando Ballet, furnishing all uniforms for the Orlando Ballet School. Upon her retirement from full-time performing as a Principal dancer with Orlando Ballet, Ms. Mann has been Ballet Master under the direction of Bruce Marks, and served as Assistant to the Artistic Director for Robert Hill for a decade. She is embarking on her favorite role yet, being a mom to her son, Jack, and is excited to be able to share her knowledge and experience with the dancers at Florida Dance Theatre.