Orlando Pena: director and Faculty

Owner / Artistic Director
  • 2024 -present Dunedin Rotarian
  • 2024-present Artist and Residence at Academie da Vinci, Dunedin, FL
  • 2021-present Owner, Artistic Director, & Choreographer at Ovations Dance Academy of Tampa
  • 1997-2020 Artistic Director/Choreographer at Ovations Dance Academy Inc., Bohemia, NY
  • 2013-2020 Artist in Residence at East Woods School
  • Principal Dancer (Soloist) Windermere Ballet Theatre
  • Touring Companies: A Chorus Line, Music Man, Oklahoma, Andrew Webber's Starlight Express - Bochum, Germany
  • Member of The Actors Equity Association
  • Committee Member at Patchogue Theater
  • Board Member of The Brookhaven Arts Council and Humanities
  • Honoree of Patchogue Village Contributor of the Arts
  • Sachem School District, NY

Mr. Orlando Peña is the former Artistic Director/ Choreographer of Ovations Dance Academy, Inc. of Bohemia, NY from 1997-2020, and was an Artist in Residence at East Woods School in Oyster Bay, NY for seven years. Additionally, he founded Ovations Dance Repertory Company, a non-profit organization, in 1997. A member of The Actors Equity Association, Mr. Peña has toured the United States and Europe performing and choreographing with numerous dance companies. His ballet credentials quickly progressed from a corps de ballet to a principal and soloist with The Windermere Ballet Theatre under the direction of the late Sally Hammond. After the company, he continued touring with A Chorus Line, The Music Man, Oklahoma!, and Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express in Bochum, Germany. Since founding Ovations Dance Academy, Mr. Peña has trained and guided students who have been accepted to American Ballet Theatre, The Boston Ballet, American Academy of Ballet, The Joffrey School, The Rock School in Pennsylvania, USDAN, the Vail International Dance Festival, Alvin Ailey, and the Orlando Ballet. His students can be seen on both Broadway and National Broadway Tours, as well as roles in numerous stage productions, national commercials, and television shows. Ovations Dance Repertory Company established a reputation in the tri-state area for the pre-professional quality of his productions. Since 1997, it produced over 20 musicals in addition to the yearly Nutcracker Suite productions, all under the direction of Mr. Peña. As Artistic Director of the fashion show for the charity event, "A World of Pink," Mr. Peña helped raise $100k for breast cancer survivors. Prior to that, he directed and choreographed Did You Talk to Him Today?, which raised $30,000 for local homeless charities. Mr. Peña also directed the Dr. Patrick Dineen Memorial Foundation, whose meaningful mission is to bring happiness to both children and adults who are battling cancer. In December of 2019, Mr. Peña was honored with a proclamation from Mayor Paul Pontieri of The Village of Patchogue, NY for twenty years of his contribution to the Arts within the community. Mr. Peña has also worked with Sachem School District to bring the Performing Arts to schools on Long Island. During the Covid-19 closure in New York, Mr. Peña made the decision that it was time to be closer to his family in Tampa. God opened a new door for him, and he sold his business and home on Long Island to create a new path in the Sunshine State. Ovations Dance Academy of Tampa, LLC was established in the summer of 2021. In less than four years, Ovations has become a community name, and has continued his legacy of charity work here in Tampa Bay with organizations like Hope Villages of America and Oldsmar Cares. The talent and renown of the Tampa studio continue to grow, with a student now on Broadway and seven dancers competing at the Youth America Grand Prix regionals next month at the Straz Center. Orlando is now the Artist in Residence at Academie Da Vinci, helping enhance the charter school experience with Performing Arts curriculum. With his exuberant energy and love for his students and the Arts, it is no wonder why Orlando is highly respected and admired in the industry. Come meet him and get to know him for yourself!
Ovations Staff and Guest Artists: Virginia Archer (Ballet) began her studies in Charleston, SC, before moving to the Tampa Bay Area. Trained under the direction of Robert De Warren, Diane Partington, Rey Dizon, and Ivonne Lemus, she has performed roles such as Cinderella, Black Swan in Swan Lake, Bridesmaid in Don Quixote, and Dew Drop/Snow Queen in the Nutcracker at the Straz Center. She was invited to compete at the New York Finals for Youth America Grand Prix and has trained abroad in Italy. Katie Kunselman (Contemporary, Modern, Jazz) describes herself as a versatile and hard working dancer with lots of drive and dedication towards her work. Kunselman began dancing at the age of nine and has extensive training in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, and Contemporary dance. Recently, Kunselman earned a BFA degree in Modern Dance performance at the University of South Florida. While training in her college years, she became exposed to different modern techniques and had the privilege of working with Guest Choreographers that visited the University in her time there. Some of the notable people Kunselman has worked with include Stephanie Martinez, Marc Brew, and Kate Weare, as well as performing in faculty works. In 2022, Kunselman had the opportunity to travel to Miami, FL with the Arts4All Program which consisted of performing with and assisting disabled dancers in a performance and masterclass setting. Kunselman also had the opportunity to participate in the Paris Abroad Program in the Summer of 2023 where she learned styles of African Dance, elements of William Forsythe, and many other techniques within Master Classes. Carissa Smith (Ballet, Modern) began her training in 2009 at America’s Ballet School. She grew up with an established education of classical ballet and also learned contemporary and modern dance at ABS. She took part in a multitude of classical and neo-classical productions and danced in the ABS modern ensemble. She has danced with Dutch National Ballet Academy, Scapino Ballet in the Netherlands, and P.A.R.T.S in Belgium, which helped her gain a worldly view on dance. She is a member of Tampa City Ballet and Ovations Dance Academy instructor. Bella Archer (Ballet, Contemporary) began dancing in Charleston, SC before relocating to Tampa Bay. Trained under the direction of Diane Partington, Rey Dizon, and Robert De Warren, she has performed roles such as 4 Little Swans in Swan Lake, Little Red Riding Hood in Sleeping Beauty, Cupid in Don Quixote, and Clara in the Nutcracker. Isabella has competed and received awards at the Youth American Grand Prix, such as 2nd place in the Pas de Deux category. Nancy Grissom (Ballet, Tap) Ciara Noe (Acrobatics, Tap, Musical Theatre) is a versatile dance professional and acrobatics specialist blending expertise in acrobatics, tap, jazz, and musical theatre. She has honed her craft through 11 years of performance experience and gymnastics training, and holds an Acrobatic Arts Certification, enabling her to teach students of all ages. Her credits include film appearances with Central Florida Choreographers Collaboration and several music videos. As a passionate choreographer, Ciara has crafted numerous musicals and showcases for high schools, showcasing her distinctive style and artistry. Her background in competitive dance informs her work, having choreographed award-winning group and solo pieces. Ciara shares her passion for dance by fostering a supportive and creative environment, empowering students to grow, build confidence, and unlock their full potential, all while having fun. Junie Marsh (Ballet, Ballroom) is a Caribbean-born, California-raised, dance teaching artist, wife and mother. She holds a BFA in dance choreography from Arizona State University. She has taught technique classes for the past 16 years in New York including ballet, movement therapy, and ballroom. She is the business owner of Enhance Your Dance, instructing private lessons for weddings, and a certified breath work practitioner. Her career as a performer lead her to working with companies such as Delfos Danza Contemporanea of Mazatlan, Pilobolus Dance Theater, Kennedy Dancers, Kathleen Dyer with KDNY, and Vissi Dance theater, touring abroad. She's excited to dance and grow with the Tampa community. Catherine Barnhill (Music Director) graduated from BYU with a Bachelor’s of Music in French Horn Performance with a minor in Public Relations. Prior to transferring to BYU, she was the youngest Field Commander in Vanderbilt Marching Band history. She has played in pit orchestras for numerous musicals and oratorios, as well as a variety of ensembles around Southern CA and in Nashville, TN. She has performed as a soloist in Carnegie Hall, Vienna, and Prague. After becoming a mother, she put her horn away for awhile and focused on sharing music in different ways, such as teaching Primary music at church and directing her church’s annual Christmas concert. She uses her PR minor in her work leading a top sales team for children’s book company PaperPie, and to coordinate marketing for Ovations. She’s grateful for the chance to pass on her love of music, and especially musical theatre, to the next generation of performers at Ovations!