Staff Bios:

Meredith Dreyfuss – Dance Director/Owner

Meredith Dreyfuss, founder and director of Dance Through the Ages, has been dancing for over 20 years.  Her training began in Miami Beach at The British Academy of Theatrical Arts under the direction of Jeanne Hichcliffe.  After studying tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, and the hip hop genres of dance, Meredith went on to win numerous awards in both local and national competitions.  She was also selected as a dancer in the SuperBowl XXIX Pre-Game show.  She has studied with master teachers and choreographers, always striving to learn more about the technical and current trends in the dance world.

At the age of 18, Meredith began teaching.  Meredith has been instructing in studios and schools for over 10 years. This led her to the position of Assistant Director of a dance studio.  While managing, teaching, and assisting in the direction of shows, Meredith developed Studio Success—a series of guides and scripted themes dedicated to helping dance studio owners and instructors organize a successful school and recital.  Studio Success has become well known among those in the dance world, and scripts are sold to studios both nationally and internationally.  After receiving her B.A. in English Literature from Florida Atlantic University, Meredith developed Just For You Publications—a personalized book business for both children and adult occasion themed books.  Meredith has earned her teaching certification, and has taught in preschools, elementary schools, and middle schools.  She is also a member of the International Dance Teachers Association. 

Because of her love for dance, and her belief that all extracurricular activities are an essential part of building a child’s confidence in themselves and others, she founded Dance Through the Ages.  Meredith believes that there is nothing better than seeing a child excel at something they at first found impossible to do.   When children are exposed to dance through school enrichments, they are learning within a comfort zone they are familiar with.  This enables them to enjoy dance, and all of its benefits to the fullest extent. With loving instruction, and a positive atmosphere, there is little a child cannot accomplish.  Because of this philosophy, Dance Through the Ages is dedicated to sharing that love of dance with children and adults alike.

Gabriela Mor – Assistant Director

Gabriela Mor, known to our dancers as “Miss Gaby”, is an integral part of the DTTA family! Now in her second year as the Assistant Director, she is responsible for managing and instructing students in both school & studio locations.  Born and raised in Florida, she started dancing at the Emerald Hills Dance Studio under the instruction of Debbie Montgomery. Miss Gaby excelled in tap and modern dance, and is eager to instruct our young dancers. During her training, she participated in various charity events, and parades throughout Broward County. In high school, her love of dance and theater enticed her to get involved with the drama club. She provided choreography and make-up artistry for her school’s performances, while lending her time to teach dance to elementary school students. Since the age of 18, Miss Gaby has excelled in leadership as she has held the title of Office Manager for a prominent veterinary clinic.  Miss Gaby is currently working and studying to further pursue her passion for cosmetology and theater.

Michele Artiz – Instructor (Preschool / Ballet)

Michele Artiz, a native South Floridian has been dancing for 18 years beginning at the age of 2.  She began under the instruction of Susana Prieto at Ballet Etudes.  At the age of 12, she decided to pursue her love for ballet and auditioned for the Miami City Ballet School and was accepted.  As a student, she performed in Miami City Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker”.  Throughout her training with the Miami City Ballet she auditioned and was accepted to several highly prestigious summer intensive programs.  Besides being accepted into Miami City Ballet’s Summer Intensive, she was also accepted to the Summer Intensive program at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and American Ballet Theatre in New York City.  She has taken classes under the instruction of Ballet Master Vladimir Issaev at his school of Classical Ballet, as well as participating in several classes at the Broadway Dance Center in New York City.  Michele was on a competitive dance team while attending high school at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy in Miami, Florida.  She competed in various local competitions in Dade and Broward County--winning awards of High Gold and Platinum for performing numerous Jazz, Hip Hop and Lyrical/Modern numbers.  She has competed in Orlando at the National Contest of Champions and has competed in the Big Apple Classic held in New York winning a National title.  She was granted an Award of Merit and Appreciation by the former Mayor of Miami, Alex Panelas, for being named the leading choreographer of the World Premiere Tour of “The Opera of Bernadette” where she also participated by singing and dancing.  She performed in Paris, France in the Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris Grand Opera House and in Lourdes, France.  She is currently enrolled as a full time student at Florida International University majoring in Elementary Education along with a Minor in Dance.  She is also currently employed as the Head Dance Team Coach for Archbishop McCarthy High School.  Michele is very excited to be a part of the Dance Through the Ages family and is happy to introduce children of all ages to the joy and self-expression that is brought about through dance.

Christine Pacetti, born in New York, but raised in Florida, has been a patron of the arts since the age of 4.  Her love of showmanship has driven her to study everything from ballet, modern dance, jazz, lyrical, cheerleading, gymnastics, ballroom, & Middle Eastern dance to acting & theater.  She has been teaching others since the age of 16, having served as a volunteer coach for the local optimists, which was one of her many teaching experiences.  THis included instruction at the City of Tamarac, McCarther HIgh School and Walter C. Young.  Christine always found that she had a love of teaching children, whether it be choreography, dance technique or cheerleading.  She has always found the time to share her broad array of dance experience with others.  While studying dance theater and acting in college, she also found time to choreograph for her cheerleading team (Nova and The University of Florida).  She would go on to excel in many performances, including commercials for Disney, back up dancing for Jessica Simpson and numerous ballet & dance theater productions.  She is thrilled to be with Dance Through the Ages and excited to share her passion for dance.

Katina Nigro – Instructor (Preschool)

Katina comes to Dance Through the Ages from Michigan. She brings with her an extensive background in performance, choreography and instruction. Her performance credits include recording artist Kristine W. , Country Tonight, Legends in Concert, American Superstars and The Dream King, which she also choreographed, to name a few. She has choreographed for, been on faculty and has taught master classes at some of the top dance studios in Las Vegas, Michigan and Florida. She has studied and performed with the dance industry’s finest choreographers. Her style of teaching and choreography is invigorating and fresh. Katina’s students have won numerous awards in the nation’s top dance competitions. She is certified by Dance Masters of America in jazz and tap and also is a certified Zumba instructor. When she's not teaching, Katina enjoys spending time with her two sons, Alek and Joshua.

Silvia Barbagallo-Young – Instructor (Preschool / Ballet / Tap / Zumba)

Silvia Barbagallo-Young was born and raised in Rome, Italy. She moved to the United States at the age of 19 to pursue a degree in Theatre and Dance at Lindenwood University in Missouri. She started teaching dance during her college years and married in 2004 to  Jay, who is in the Army as active duty. Soon after their wedding, they moved to Seattle and Silvia continued teaching dance for the length of their 4 year stay. There she achieved a Master in Education with the dream to teach Theatre at a Secondary level. Their daughter Elena was born in 2006. An sudden deployment sent Jay to Iraq at the end of 2008, so Silvia and her daughter moved back to Missouri to stay closer to family. There she worked as a substitute teacher, paraprofessional and Dance Coach. After dancing, choreographing, directing and experiencing some voiceover, Silvia was thrilled to add Zumba to her resume’. She certified in March 2009 and loves the energy it gives her.

Patricia Wallace – Instructor (Yoga)

Paty Renda Wallace remembers “playing” yoga with her mom as a young child in her native country, Brazil. Although yoga has always been present in her life, her professional path started only when she moved to the US and received her training as a Yoga Fitness instructor and Nutrition consultant. She has been teaching yoga for the past seven years and throughout this time she has taken several workshops and courses, become a trainer for the Yoga Fitness certification, taught seniors, mommies and babies, powerful yoga classes as well as de-stressing yoga classes. She has certifications in Baby Om Yoga, Kids Yoga, Seniors Yoga and Yoga Nidra meditation. Her wish is to make yoga playful, relaxing and appealing to every person in the world. “One person at a time” is her goal. “And we will all have lots of fun together”.