FOCUS
STAFF
Owner/Director
Jenny Smith
Jenny has been teaching for over 30 years in Central FL. She has owned Focus since 2004 and is still excited to share her passion with each incoming generation of dancers. She is truly grateful that God has given her this opportunity to have a career doing what she loves.
Nikki Clevinger
Studio Manager
Nikki has been our studio manager for over 10 years. Her attention to detail, ability to keep everyone informed and organized as well as being a multitasking queen…. is a big part of why our studio is such a success. Not to mention her role as a second mom to all of our dancers when they have a boo boo, are unsure about trying a new class or just being a listening ear for a new knock knock joke.
Jessica Smith
Dance Instructor
Jessica has been teaching at Focus since our doors opened back in 2004. Jessica has been an asset to our studio from the very beginning. Her ability to train, motivate and invest in each and every one of our dancers from beginner to advanced, preschool to high school, is what makes Miss Jessica a stand out. She has won countless awards for her choreography, entertainment and storytelling. Her attention to detail and ability to perfect and clean choreography is second to none. We are grateful to have Miss Jessica on staff, and are excited to see what the next 20 years bring.
Karen Heartt
Ballet Instructor
Karen is a graduate of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Ballet. She was a company member of Utah Ballet and a recipient of the William F. Christensen Scholarship. Karen is certified in the American Ballet Theatre's ABT® National Training Curriculum in levels Pre-Primary through Level 5. She has been teaching and choreographing for over 20 years and has received many teaching and choreography credits. Her previous students have been accepted into University Dance Programs and dance professionally in various companies around the United States. She enjoys sharing her passion for ballet through positive methods and her goal is to develop dancers with a strong technical and artistic foundation of ballet.
Chris "Casper" Lupis
Hip-Hop Instructor
Casper has more than 25 years of experience in the field of entertainment. His first step onto the floor as a dancer came when he joined his high school step team, Chi Theta Omega. Around the same time, he started DJ’ing and MC’ing for his parents entertainment company, J&R Productions. His clients over the years have included Nike, Disney, Tyra Banks, the Orlando Magic Dancers, Movie Park in Germany & the ‘I Can Dance’ TV Show in Kenya. Focus has been his home studio for almost 20 years now, dating back to 2006. Teaching is definitely his passion, as he hopes to continue working with dancers around the world.
Ashley Fay Thomas
Acro/Dance Instructor
Ashley was born and raised in Florida. She began her competitive dancing career at the age of 4. Ashley has trained in various styles of dance including contemporary, tap, jazz, lyrical, progressions and more. Through the course of her training, she has achieved several overall wins and multiple scholarships. At the age of 16 she began teaching and choreographing for studios throughout Central Florida. Ashley is Acrobatic Arts and Muvmethod certified. Ashley is passionate about the art of dance and spreading her love to fellow dancers!
Dance Instructor
Georgia Clevinger
Georgia trained at Focus for 15 years. She started as a tiny tot with Ms Jessica and was invited to joined Focus Dance Company at the age of 4. She began assisting classes at the age of 7 and realized her passion for working with younger dancers and enjoys sharing her love of dance with them. She is dependable, hard working and goes above and beyond for her students and our studio. Georgia will be furthering her education at the University of Central Florida where she will be majoring in psychology with a minor in dance.