Guest Instructors & Specialty Workshops
Paulo Manso de Sousa, Guest Faculty (Ballet & Contemporary)
Born on the island of Madeira, Portugal, Mr. Manso has an extensive repertory in classical and contemporary ballet as well as modern works. He joined the Oakland Ballet Company at the age of 15 and there received his ballet training, later studying with the San Francisco Ballet School and New York's School of American Ballet. Mr. Manso also trained under the tutelage of many dance greats including David Howard, Melissa Hayden and Edward Villella. Over the years, Mr. Manso has perfected his craft by dancing with numerous internationally known dance companies including Metropolitan Opera Ballet and Columbia City Ballet. To Register for a Workshop please call
(850) 562-1430
Mr. Manso has given master classes, directed his own dance group, MAN-SO-DANCE, and has won a bronze medal for Scottish Highland Dancing. As a choreographer, he has collaborated with flautist Nestor Torres.In conjunction with his choreographic credits, Mr. Manso created a finale for the Red Cross Dance for Life Gala at the Gussman Theater in 2001, 2002, and 2003. Recently Mr. Manso has choreographed for the Dia Mundial da Danca for the Auditorio Municipal Eunice Munoz, Hansel & Gretel Voorhees Ballet Theatre, and Companhia De Danca De Aveiro. He has appeared in MTV music videos with Gloria Estefan and the late Laura Brannigan and has also been featured in Indoor Life and Puma commercials. Mr. Manso de Sousa currently resides in Miami , Florida , and teaches at several dance companies and schools, including the Escola De Danca do Conservatorio Nacional, Escola Superior de Danca, and the Companhia de Bailado Contemporaneo. To Register for a Workshop please call
(850) 562-1430
Performing Arts Center of Tallahassee
2028 North Point Blvd.
850-562-1430
Across from Carrabba's & Calico Jack's
A graduate of North Carolina School of the Arts and trained with the Joffrey Ballet, Mr. Lake performed professionally for 10 years in the ballet world throughout the U.S., Mexico, Puerto Rico, Asia and Canada. He was a principal dancer for Santa Barbara Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Lexington Ballet, Norfolk Ballet, Taipei City Ballet and San Diego Ballet and was a member of the Corps de Ballet of the National Ballet de Mexico. Thom Lake, Summer Guest Faculty (Ballet, Partnering & Conditioning)
Additionally, Mr. Lake served as Ballet Master for Santa Barbara Ballet. He was the featured performer in the world famous "Jubilee" and "Follies Bergere" in Las Vegas. Television and film credits include "The Drew Carey Show," "Rent," "Mystery Men," "The Affair of the Necklace," and "The Closer." Mr. Lake's teaching credits include guest faculty for Cedar Lakes Dance Ensemble NYC, Dance Educators of America, Dance Masters of America, Florida Dance Masters, Florida School of the Arts, Dr. Philips High School in Orlando and Marygrove College in Detroit. He currently resides in Lake Mary, Florida and is a resident teacher/choreographer for the School of Dance Arts in Sanford, Florida. 
