Our Team
monessa monique salley
South Carolina native, Monessa Monique Salley, began dancing at an early age, training at the Freed’s School of Performing Arts. This free-spirited dancer, creator, teacher, choreographer holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Performance from Winthrop University and a Masters of Education in Divergent Learning from Columbia College. After serving as a Dance Educator and Production Manager/Theater Technician for Richland County School District One for 12 years, she went on to study Dance Performance and New Media at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She has toured and performed professionally on a national level and participated in choreography that won a Bronze Leo Award at Jazz Dance World Congress in Chicago, IL. In 2013-14, she was nominated and awarded South Carolina Dance Educator of the Year by the SC Dance Association. Currently, Salley is in her first season dancing and teaching professionally with the Sarasota Contemporary Dance Company and continues to teach dance at the Sarasota Ballet and in the local community. Salley has a mind, body, spirit approach to dance and relishes in practicing and refining her craft, creating healing through dance, traveling, teaching and performing a variety of dance styles, enhancing community relations, and accompanying outreach programs for all ages. Salley prides herself on passion, community, and creativity and the ability to be a vessel via dance artistry, fellowship with resourceful and imaginative individuals, gain insight and inspiration, and surround herself with positivity is a cherished gift. When not dancing or choreographing, she enjoys nature and outdoor activities, viewing and creating art, being spontaneous and adventurous, spending time with loved ones, and laughing out loud!
cameo ewing
Cameo Ewing is a Florida native and sunshine is her beloved. She helps direct awareness from what to how to why. She creates boundaries that invite exploration of movement with freedom and curiosity. Lesson plans and curriculum come alive with the integration of body and breath. As a craniosacral therapist, she facilitates a return to the body’s natural wisdom and holds a radical inclusive space for self exploration. Cameo sets a foundation to open up to grace. Cameo teachers children with special needs through Karma Yoga, and helps people of all ages drop deeper into bodies through bodywork, breath and dance.
Karim manning
Born in south FL and raised in Arizona, Karim has had a passion for music his whole life. He’s been performing human beatboxing, lyricism, and producing music for over 20 years. He discovered his passion for teaching in 2005 when he began working with developmentally disabled children and adults. In 2017 Karim began teaching at Booker Middle School’s afterschool program. His dynamic skills and ability to build confidence in students through his art forms led to his current position working as a part time instructor at both Booker Middle and Booker Highschool. He now teaches Digital Music Composition and Basic Freestyle Lyricism Skills to 6th-12th grade students. He is passionate about education, and creating experiences for the youth that can help them develop the skills to become confident in themselves as creators.
Jessica dilorenzo
Jessica holds a master’s degree in Elementary Education as well as a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Theater Arts from Rutgers University, New Jersey. Additionally, Jessica has been a creative mover her whole life, and she has received over 500 hours of mindfulness and yoga training. She has been joyfully integrating the arts and facilitating project based learning in elementary school classrooms since 2006, and she’s led professional development workshops for teachers and school leaders since 2013. In 2019, she received an award for Leadership in Arts Education from The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County. She consults with Sarasota County Schools as the Arts Integration and Social Emotional Learning Curriculum Specialist, and leads professional development for teachers, teaching artists and leaders across the nation.
Natalie Ghezzi-Aceves
Natalie Ghezzi-Aceves is a multi-disciplinary movement artist, wellness advocate and visionary currently based along the Gulf coast of Florida. Natalie intersects her affinity for art and wellness through all facets of expression. She serves as a dance artist, fitness instructor, youth mentor, certified masseuse, RYT® 500, self- care specialist and creative designer. From youth to adult, she facilitates the empowerment of those her work speaks to — whether it be dancing, evolving entrepreneurship, transforming one’s life-style, or personal embodiment — all for the purpose of manifesting self-healing, soulfulness and freedom.