STAFF

Nationally Recognized Graduate Instructors

3021 W. Waters Ave.
Tampa, Florida 33614
P: 813.933.9321

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Mary Frances Leto Granell (owner/director) was born and raised in Tampa. She began her dance training at the Frank Rey Dance Studio in 1960. After graduating from Chamberlain High School, Mary Frances continued her dance studies at the University of South Florida while pursuing a BA in Secondary Social Studies and Humanities Education. In 1973 Mary Frances became a soloist with the Florida Ballet Theatre and performed roles such as the Spanish Variation in The Nutcracker, the Empress in The Emperor's New Clothes, Little Bo Peep in Babes In Toyland and Swan Lake, staged by Bill Martin-Viscount. She also had the pleasure of working with the great Myra Kynch, performing in Giselle's Revenge and dancing the role of Anne in The Six Mrs. Tudors. Over the years Mary Frances has studied tap with Charles Kelley and Flamenco with Jose Molina. Mary Frances has worked with the Spanish Lyric Theater as a performer and as choreographer for SLT productions of Fiddler on the Roof, The King and I, and No No Nanette. For the past 30 years Mary Frances has been a teacher with Hillsborough County Schools. She is currently teaching at Gaither High School where she is a charter faculty member and was voted Teacher of the Year in 2003.. She began Gaither's dance team, the Starettes 24 years ago and has continued to choreograph for them as well as productions for Gaither's Musical Theatre Department. In 2001 Mary Frances became owner of the Frank Rey Dance Studio where she continues to carry on the Tradition of Quality established by her teacher and mentor, Frank Rey.

April Foreman - has studied with the Frank Rey Dance Studio since 1985. She has appeared in many local events with the Studio including holiday parades, Festival of Trees and Guavaween. April has also participated in numerous national events, such as Superbowl XXV and has performed several self-choreographed solos for church functions and workshops for the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers. She was also invited on several occasions to perform with the former Bay Ballet Theatre in their renditions of "The Nutcracker Ballet".

Ms. Foreman has attended many workshops to enhance her knowledge of the arts. These workshops include the studies of tap, jazz, hip-hop, modern, character, liturgical, and classical ballet. She has also studied musical theatre and interpretive dance using sign language. April is also an accomplished vocalist.

Marchele Cornish - was born in Tampa, Florida. She began dancing at the age of four, and began her study with the Frank Rey Dance Studio at the age of six. Marchele was a member of the Florida Ballet Theatre where she performed in the Nutcracker ballet, Babes in Toyland and many other productions. She studied under Bill Martin Vicount of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Master teachers from the Joffrey Ballet, as well as having the opportunity to study in England while a member of The Florida Ballet Theatre. Marchele did a two year internship under Frank Rey and Richard Rader, upon completion she received her Dance Teacher Certification. Marchele also attended the University of South Florida where she continued to study dance. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Marchele currently lives in Brandon with her husband and two daughters. She is also a teacher at Foundation Christian Academy where she teaches the first grade. Marchele continues to share her love of dance with the students she has the pleasure to teach.

Stefanie Vargas-Espinosa - A native of Tampa, Stefanie began her dance training as a child at the Frank Rey Dance Studio. A certified graduate instructor, Stefanie was a member of the Florida Ballet Theatre for five years and has many classical roles to her credit. She is a former SWASH-BUC-LER with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and also a cheerleader for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Mrs. Espinosa is a graduate of the University of South Florida and is currently a middle-school teacher in Hillsborough County. She is the proud mother of Frank Rey Dancers, Victoria and Miranda.

Heather Price - began dancing at the age of four, and has been dancing ever since! She danced and competed all through high school, then , after graduating, began dancing professionally. Her career took her to many exotic and exciting places, such as, Guam, South Korea, China, Japan, Atlantic City, and, Las Vegas where she resided and danced for almost seven years. After returning home to Florida in 1999, she was rehired at Busch Gardens, (she worked there for a few months at age eighteen), where she danced and sang up until January 2008. Heather also started teaching at age seventeen, and has taught off and on for fifteen years at various studios. As of March 2009, Heather became ZUMBA licensed.She’s very happy to be a part of the fantastic faculty at Frank Rey Dance Studio! Heather would like to thank her family and her husband Jason for all of their support.

Jennifer - has enjoyed all aspects of dance & theater since the age of five. She has been sharing her love of the arts with her students for 17 years. She has studied all fields of dance, tap, jazz, ballet, acrobatics and lyrical, with a specialization in tap. Jennifer has studied with various well known teachers around the country including, Thommie Walsh, Gus Giordano, Al Gilbert and Luigi to name a few. Her training included a tour of the US and Canada with Hoctor’s Dance Caravan, where she assisted such teachers as Sonya Livingston of the Rockettes and tap legend, Al Gilbert. She earned her Certification for Teaching and became a member of the Dance Masters of Florida in 1995. She has received accolades for her tap abilities from Gregory Hines while at Ruth Eckerd Hall, where she danced side by side with the late Mr. Hines during his performance. Jennifer’s choreography has received numerous awards at national competitions and her past performance groups have had the privilege of dancing at Walt Disney World Magic Music Days eight times. She also provides her talents to the community by choreographing many theater productions, including A Chorus Line, Grease, The Sound of Music, Smokey Joe’s Café & most recently Blake High School’s production of Gypsy. Jennifer enjoys helping students set goals and realize they have what it takes to achieve them.

The curriculum of this school is taught by a nationally recognized faculty of graduate instructors and guest teachers.  All classes are taught by fully qualified instructors, who have earned national board certification.