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Peyton Blair, Managing Director
Peyton was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, and started dancing at the age of three at a local dance studio, Julie’s School of Dance, later to become Burlingame Studios. Her dance training and professional career has taken her to Nashville, Chattanooga, New York, Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville. She has the pleasure of training under excellent instructors such as Julie Bryant, Michelle Burlingame, Trisha Metelka, Debra Perry, Rebecca Levy, Jay Fagon, Jared Jenkins, Katee Shean, Nick Bass, Emily Bufferd, Ginger Cox, and many more. Peyton has always had a passion for strong technique and artistry and still pushes that with her students today.
A graduate of Florida State College at Jacksonville, Peyton received her Associate of Arts degree in Dance Repertory on a full dance scholarship. She was also accepted as a member of the audition-only dance company, danceWORKS. Throughout her time there, she learned from incredible faculty and guest artist. She also had the privilege of performing in thirteen performances, including dance concerts and countless student-led performances. During her time as a member of danceWORKS, Peyton found a passion for teaching and choreography.
After College, Peyton has devoted her time to pushing dancers outside of their comfort zones to help them become the best artist they can be. She believes a dancer with a strong technical background can accomplish any style or technique of dance. Her goal is to train dancers in a way that encourages them always to do their best and notice their improvements. Peyton promotes a positive atmosphere with positive attitudes and healthy competition.
Peyton has coached dance teams in elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and colleges. Peyton has choreographed and coached many award-winning teams and been featured in various dance films, commercials, and advertisements. She is dedicated to her work and has found great success in her training programs.
Peyton is a certified Acrobatic Arts instructor in levels pre-primary through level 6. She is also an accredited coach through the National Dance Coaches Association (NDCA) and a member of the U.S. All-Star Federation (USASF), USA Cheer, and National Dance Education Organization (NDEO). She is currently working on becoming a certified Progressive Ballet Technique instructor.
Peyton has been an instructor with Grace Conservatory since its opening in 2016. She is Lead Acro Teacher and a choreographer for the Grace Conservatory Dance Company (GCDC).
In April of 2021, Peyton accepted the position of Dance Commissioner for the St. John’s Middle School Athletic Association (SJMSAA). Peyton created and developed a dance team program that partners with St. John’s county to provide dance teams for their middle schools. Her program currently offers dance teams at all 14 middle schools in St. John’s County.
Peyton is thrilled to be a part of Campus Dance Academy as the Managing Director.
Carlie Benson, Teaching Artist
Carlie Benson is a Florida native growing up in Navarre, FL. She received her training early at the Northwest Florida Ballet Academie with Todd Allen throughout high school where she accepted scholarships with the Joffrey Ballet School. She later transitioned to the competitive world joining her high school dance team, where multiple state championships were earned. Carlie went on to study at Northwest Florida State College where she joined their dance program and was Captain of the 2016-2017 Raider Rhythms. Some of her appearances include the NWFSC Soundsation ensemble on the Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas along with the annual Dance Facets Concert which she had the honor to choreograph for. After obtaining her Associate in Science Theatre Technology Dance and Associates of the Arts from NWFSC, she had the privilege of teaching Kids on Campus at the college for two years. Carlie received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performing Arts with an emphasis in Dance Performance and Choreography from Wichita State University in the fall of 2019 where she trained daily with Nick Johnson, Sabrina Vasquez, Cheyla Classen-Chandler, Denise Celestine, and Amy Pollard. During her time at Wichita State, she was honored to work with guest artists such as Darell Grand Moultrie, Jammie Walker, and Kendall Brown. She was a part of Wichita Contemporary Dance Theatre while they attended a Gibney Dance Workshop in New York City and performed at the American College Dance Association earning an opening spot in the Gala. She had the privilege of performing with Duo Petrof as a part of WCDT. She has also performed as a guest artist for Wheat State Dance Collective and performed with The Wichita Opera in La Traviata. Carlie has taught at multiple studios in northwest Florida and the Wichita area the past years including, Brite Starz Dance Studio, Alfonso Academy, and Set Free Dance Studios. She recently has become an Acrobatic Arts certified instructor. She has earned many personal awards including Outstanding Student in dance at NWFSC, Outstanding hip hop performance from IHD Dance Workshop and a Teacher Scholarship Award from The Dance Effect. She is excited for her move to Jacksonville and looks forward to working with Campus Dance Academy. Carlie’s mission is to share her passion for dance with everyone she encounters.
Chelsea Pecko, Teaching Artist
Chelsea Pecko has been sharing the art of dance with children and adults for over 15 years. As a performer, dance instructor, choreographer, proud wife and mother, Chelsea has spent most of her adolescent and adulthood in the dance world. She has successfully worked as the dance director for the Perrine Academy of the Arts in Miami, Florida at along with teaching at many different dance studios in the Miami area. Once Chelsea relocated to Jacksonville, she joined Emily Gray at Jacksonville Country Day School teaching Ballet, Modern, Jazz classes as well as private lessons.
Chelsea’s Ballet training began at The Ballet Conservatory under Pirkko Lawlor and Kaarlo Lawlor, and her modern dance training with Michael Lawlor. In addition, she also trained at Florida Dance Theatre under Carol Erkes and Freddie DeJesus’ instruction. During High School, Chelsea Pecko attended All Saints’ Academy where her primary focus was dance. With Jeanine Wright as the dance director, Chelsea quickly became a student teacher during her high school years as well as lead dancer and choreographer for the ASA dance ensemble. Chelsea then studied Dance at Miami Dade College where she completed her Associate of Arts Degree in Dance.
In addition to training and teaching, Chelsea has enjoyed performing and participating with SimpCity Adult Dance Company where she performed at sport and community events such as Miami Heat Basketball halftime shows, Florida Marlins Baseball Pre-game shows, holiday parades, and more.
The passion and joy of teaching dance has lead Emily Gray and Chelsea Pecko to this dream of bringing dance to schools all throughout the Jacksonville area.
Nicole McCann, Teaching Artist
Nicole McCann has over fifteen years teaching experience, ten of them in teaching dance. Nicole's dance experience truly started in High School. She danced for Leon High School Dance Team for 3 years and became captain her senior year. Being passionate about performance and dance, Nicole was determined to make the Roar Cheerleading Team for the Jacksonville Jaguars. During her four years of cheering for the Jaguars she has traveled to Egypt, Bahrain, Germany and Greenland to perform for our military.
For five years Nicole worked with Emily Gray as Assistant Dance and Cheer Director for Jacksonville Country Day School. She then had the opportunity to serve as a preschool teacher at the Celebration Church Day School. During her time at Celebration she became the Director of the preschool and served there for five years.
Nicole is a proud wife to her husband for 14 years and mother of two sweet girls. With a huge heart for dance and children she is honored to invest her time, talents and love into all children.