about sda
Rachel winsler, artistic director/owner/dance educator
Rachel is a Florida native. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising with a concentration in Dance from the University of Florida. She is a member and certified teacher of the Cecchetti Council of America and attended the Dance Masters of America Teacher Training School.
Her dance training began at age five at Dancemoves Studios in Seminole, Florida when she started acrobatics. Rachel moved to Inverness, Florida and continued her dance education under the direction of Heather Hagar at Step ’N Time Dance Studio. Through the years her love of dance grew and she expanded her training to include jazz, modern/contemporary, ballet (Royal Academy of Dance methodology) and pointe. She worked as a teacher’s assistant through high school. After college she returned home to join the faculty of Step ’N Time teaching creative, contemporary, ballet, tap, jazz, and acrobatics classes to various levels. She began studying the Cecchetti ballet method and holds teachers certifications in Grades I, II, III, and IV.
Rachel directed Citrus County’s Nutcracker Ballet in 2011 and was a co-director for six years prior to that. She attended the contemporary ballet summer dance intensive at University of Florida with the Neta Dance Company, the American Academy of Ballet as a teacher’s assistance in jazz, numerous Florida Dance Masters (FDM) Conventions as a student and a teacher, FDM Teacher Workshops, and Cecchetti teacher workshops. Not only has she danced at the Central Florida Celebration of Dance for years but her works have also been performed.
Rachel’s love and passion for dance are the driving forces behind her dance career. Her vision for the studio places its emphasis on the technical and artistic aspects of dance. Rachel wants to cultivate and inspire dancers to be disciplined, self-reliant, well-mannered and self-motivated so they can grow and thrive.
Her dance training began at age five at Dancemoves Studios in Seminole, Florida when she started acrobatics. Rachel moved to Inverness, Florida and continued her dance education under the direction of Heather Hagar at Step ’N Time Dance Studio. Through the years her love of dance grew and she expanded her training to include jazz, modern/contemporary, ballet (Royal Academy of Dance methodology) and pointe. She worked as a teacher’s assistant through high school. After college she returned home to join the faculty of Step ’N Time teaching creative, contemporary, ballet, tap, jazz, and acrobatics classes to various levels. She began studying the Cecchetti ballet method and holds teachers certifications in Grades I, II, III, and IV.
Rachel directed Citrus County’s Nutcracker Ballet in 2011 and was a co-director for six years prior to that. She attended the contemporary ballet summer dance intensive at University of Florida with the Neta Dance Company, the American Academy of Ballet as a teacher’s assistance in jazz, numerous Florida Dance Masters (FDM) Conventions as a student and a teacher, FDM Teacher Workshops, and Cecchetti teacher workshops. Not only has she danced at the Central Florida Celebration of Dance for years but her works have also been performed.
Rachel’s love and passion for dance are the driving forces behind her dance career. Her vision for the studio places its emphasis on the technical and artistic aspects of dance. Rachel wants to cultivate and inspire dancers to be disciplined, self-reliant, well-mannered and self-motivated so they can grow and thrive.
history of the studio
School of Dance Arts was founded as Step 'N Time, Inc. in 1991 by Heather Hagar in downtown Inverness. Step 'N Time grew to the School of Dance Arts (SDA) to give students a proper dance facility and excellent dance training. In 2017 Rachel Winsler, a former student of SDA, took over as the owner and director of the school. In the summer of 2019 SDA moved to its current location in Lecanto.
Wood-Sprung Dance Floor
Dancing on a specific wood sprung floor is essential to protect the growing bodies of dancers from lifelong injuries. While no movement activity is without risk, the type of surface you are moving on can help reduce risk. Dance creates impact energy. If the energy generated by dance is returned to the body, it can result in shin splints, fractures, and an array of knee problems, tendonitis, and ankle sprains. A dance floor that is both impact absorbent and provides lateral foot support is essential.
Therefore, our dance floor has been built special for our dancers. The subfloor is concrete that is sealed with a moisture barrier. From there foam blocks were laid and a “basket weave” type framework built on top of the blocks providing cushion and spring for the floor. Each one of the boards was screwed down and once in place, the plywood went on top. The plywood was also screwed down but because the dance flooring is thin, each one of the screws and seams had to be sealed and then sanded to make the floor smooth and even. The floor is thoroughly cleaned after that and we roll out the dance floor. The dance flooring is specifically designed for ballet, tap, jazz, modern and in this case, tap. It provides the perfect traction for dance activities - not too sticky or too slippery.
ONLY CLEAN DANCE SHOES will be permitted to enter the studio space.
Therefore, our dance floor has been built special for our dancers. The subfloor is concrete that is sealed with a moisture barrier. From there foam blocks were laid and a “basket weave” type framework built on top of the blocks providing cushion and spring for the floor. Each one of the boards was screwed down and once in place, the plywood went on top. The plywood was also screwed down but because the dance flooring is thin, each one of the screws and seams had to be sealed and then sanded to make the floor smooth and even. The floor is thoroughly cleaned after that and we roll out the dance floor. The dance flooring is specifically designed for ballet, tap, jazz, modern and in this case, tap. It provides the perfect traction for dance activities - not too sticky or too slippery.
ONLY CLEAN DANCE SHOES will be permitted to enter the studio space.