Jennifer Hazelwood, Director/owner
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Jennifer has been teaching dance for over 20 years. She holds a Bachelor's degree in education and attended Ohio University's dance teaching program. In 2015, she opened First Landing Dance Center with the forethought to create a unique dance studio where dancers can flourish in their technique and individual talents. She has skillfully orchestrated numerous production numbers, dance showcases, and created countless dances for competition performances winning multiple regional and National accolades and awards. Jennifer is talented in instructing multiple styles of dance including ballet, modern, tap, jazz, lyrical, and contemporary. Additionally, she is intimately familiar with the dance competition community and continually strives to learn the newest and most challenging movements in the current dance world so that she may share her knowledge with her students.
"It is my belief that a dancer should always feel they are a welcome and important part of every class they take. Each time a dancer steps into a classroom, they should feel energized and motivated to take on new challenges. It is my job to make that environment a reality." -Jennifer Hazelwood |
Jessica Hazelwood, instructor/choreographer
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Jessica Hazelwood is a graduate of the Governor's School for the Arts. She is a national dance competition winner, solo title winner, and accomplished dancer. After earning multiple scholarships, she competed at the World Dance Championship in the summer of 2019 and 2021. Jessica has created numerous award winning works of choreography including the styles of jazz, contemporary, hip hop, lyrical, and more.
Currently, she is a licensed personal trainer and yoga instructor. She has worked for multiple dance competitions as a tabulator, backstage manager, store manager, and MC . In 2022 she moved to Miami to pursue her love for dance. She was able to train under and with some of the best in the Miami dance industry, such as the Miami Heat Dancers.While there she was able to do commercial and modeling work for multiple companies. Jessica has a great report with her students. She is able to draw each dancers talent out to highlight their strengths. |
George Carr, Instructor/ Choreographer
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George Carr graduated from Governor's School for the Arts in June of 2019. While training there he specalized in ballet and modern in the styles of Hawkins, Horton, and Graham. He trained at multiple summer intensives such as Point Park University and Nutmeg Conservatory.
His dance training continued in Garden City, NY at Adelphi University where he obtained his Bachelor's of Fine Arts. While there he was able to study under many classically trained dancers, including Frank Augustyn and Orion Duckstein. The school granted him many performance opportunities in various styles of dance. His senior year he was able to choreograph a piece for student showcase called "Sustained Loss of Backing". George has performed alongside multiple professional dance companies over the years, including The Royal Birmingham Ballet, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Sir Richard Alston, and the Richmond Ballet. |
Makayla Moore, instructor
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Makayla was born and raised in Virginia Beach and started dancing at the age of 5. She's had experience training in acting, art, piano, and dance lessons and ultimately fell in love with dance. Her extensive time spent performing in dance competitions helped her gain a wealth of knowledge concerning movement execution and how proper technique leads to success. In 2021, Makayla graduated from the Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Salem High School. While she is trained in all styles of dance, she specializes in hip-hop. Throughout her dance career, she has assisted/ taught for 5 years and worked with Art Thru Muvmnt to put on “Muvmnt Dance Day," a successful, yearly community dance event!
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Elizabeth hazelwood, instructor/choreographer
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Elizabeth brings a very demanding demeanor to the classroom here at FLDC; pushing her students to succeed in many areas. She specializes in coaching ballet, stretch/conditioning, turns/leaps, contemporary, and is widely known for her award-winning choreography.
Elizabeth was born and raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia and is a 2017 graduate from the Governor’s School for the Arts. Throughout her well-rounded dance training she specialized in ballet. Elizabeth performed in numerous classical works such as La Bayadere, Swan Lake, and Les Sylphides; while also participating in several contemporary and neoclassical pointe pieces, and performing with the Richmond Ballet three years in a row. At FLDC, Elizabeth had the opportunity to choreograph her first national winning group dance at the age of 15, which expanded her focus to the field of choreography. In 2017, she was undefeated, winning the overall highest scoring routine at every competition attended by FLDC as a soloist; along with choreographing two group dances that were undefeated as well. This success allowed her to be featured in Dance Spirit Magazine as a “Future Star.” She continues to choreograph regional and National winning competition numbers as she strives to challenge her FLDC dancers every day! |
Lauren Sinclair, Master Class Ballet Instructor
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Lauren Sinclair began her ballet training at Eastern Virginia School for the Performing Arts. She is a graduate of the Kirov Academy of Ballet. Lauren danced professionally with Ballet Austin, Virginia Ballet Theatre, Todd Rosenlieb Dance, and Elbert Watson Dance Company. She received her Bachelor degree from Old Dominion University in Communication and Psychology. Lauren is a Registered Yoga Teacher and Certified Pilates Mat instructor. She teaches at the Governor’s School for the Arts in the Dance, Musical Theater, and Vocal Departments.
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