It is our mission to provide the dancers of Volusia County with a performing venue to showcase their talent, hard work and dedication to dance while giving the community many opportunities to view and appreciate this art.
Teaching &
Production Biography
After many years of student and guest teaching at various ballet companies and schools, Ms. Long began a permanent teaching career in 1999 after deciding to start a family. She accepted a position at Seminole Community College as an adjunct dance instructor. She then accepted a position at Fit Club Dance Academy in 2001 as the Ballet Director and later, the Dance Director.
Ms. Long continued to teach at many local dance schools until deciding to use her experience to open her own dance training facility in 2011, Dance Conservatory of Volusia. She has staged and choreographed for her local students excerpts from Paquita, La Bayadere, Les Sylphide, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Coppelia and Giselle.
Ms. Long founded Volusia Dance Theatre in 2002 after realizing the absence of a pre-professional dance company in the West Volusia area. She first produced the full-length ballet The Nutcracker in 2002 and has continued for 10 seasons. Giving dance students the opportunity to perform is Ms. Long's primary focus and passion.
Artistic Director
Wendy Long
Training &
Performance Biography
Ms. Long began her dance career in Phoenix Arizona under the direction of Mrs. Michelle C. Cote and Mrs. L. Blase. Upon relocation to Florida, she began studying at the Children's Community Theatre and Ballet Theatre of Brevard in Rockledge under the direction of Grecia Knopf American Ballet Theatre.
While at BTB, Ms. Long was trained and coached by Mavis Rae, former assistant to Agnes DeMille and of the Royal Ballet of England, and Marat Daukayev of the Kirov Ballet. She supplemented her dance training with workshops at Southern Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and Paul Taylor.
Ms. Long performed as a Principal dancer with Ballet Theatre of Brevard, Orlando City Ballet and Springfield City Ballet. Her performance repertoire includes such Principal roles as Kitri in Don Quixote, Phyrgia in Spartacus Morning Adagio, Tsarina in Firebird, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Juliet in Romeo & Juliet, Paquita, Carmen, the Golden Age pas de deux, Nikiya in La Bayadere and the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. Her soloist roles include roles in Giselle, Merry Widow, Great Galloping Gottschalk, as well as off-Broadway productions of Cats and The Phantom of the Opera.
Ms. Long began performing again in 2006 with Wilde Coward Company in Nightscapes, in 2007 as Glinda in Wicked, in 2008 in Control, in 2009 in Tour de Force and in 2010 in Musical Montage. She was also accepted as a dancer in the Cinedance Jazz Dance Company in 2008.
Julie Yadanza - Guest ChoreographerMs. Yadanza began dancing at age 11 and has been active in the local theatre community since she was a student at Pine Ridge High School. Ms. Yadanza furthered her education at Seminole Community College with an AA degree with a concentration in theatre. At age 20, she became head choreographer for Shoestring Theatre’s production of Guys and Dolls. After an introduction to Heather Comeau through Shoestring Theatre, Ms. Yadanza began teaching at locally at A Class Apart School of Dance from 2005-2011. Ms. Yadanza currently serves as the primary jazz & lyrical teacher at Dance Conservatory of Volusia. In 2006, Ms. Yadanza created her own theatre production company, Wilde Coward, which presents both theatric and choreographic works throughout the year.
Deidra Despard - Guest ChoreographerMs. Despard has been studying dance since age 4 and has extensive knowledge of ballet, pointe, jazz, modern and lyrical dance. Deidra was a member of the Avant Garde dance team at DeLand High School for 4 years serving as Captain for the 2008-2009 season. This is Deidra’s eighth season as a company member with VDT and is an original founding member. She has performed almost every role in The Nutcracker from Clara’s friend to Sugar Plum Fairy. Her extensive knowledge of The Nutcracker made her a valuable asset to the Company and to Ms. Long. Deidra has conducted rehearsals and substituted when needed providing essential support to the Company. Ms. Despard has also furthered her artistic training by choreographing Trepak from Russia in 2008, Angels in 2009 and Chinese & Bon-Bons in 2010. Deidra served as an Artistic Assistant to Ms. Long for 3 seasons. Deidra also teaches dance at Kemper Dance in DeLand. Deidra is currently a student at Daytona State College where she is pursuing her degree in Elementary Education.
Haley Singleton - Guest ChoreographerMs. Singleton began her dance career at Miriam & Valerie’s School of Dance Arts in Sanford where she trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap and lyrical. She continued dancing while at Deltona High School at Deltona Dance Academy and then with Wendy Long at Fit Club Dance Academy. Haley was a cast member in The Nutcracker for the 2003-2005 seasons dancing roles such as Jack-in-the-Box, Snow soloist, Spanish and Russian. She also served as Ms. Long’s Artistic Assistant for the 2004 & 2005 seasons. Haley graduated high school in 2005 and moved to Tallahassee to attend Florida State University where she obtained her Political Science degree. Haley relocated back to the Central Florida area after the birth of her son Landon in 2008 and rejoined VDT as a guest choreographer for the 2008-2009 season continuing in 2010. Ms. Singleton joined the staff at Dance Conservatory of Volusia in 2011 as the primary tap teacher and beginning/intermediate jazz and lyrical teacher.
