INSTRUCTORS

Mira is a graduate of UNC Greensboro with a BFA in Dance and has more than 25 years of teaching and choreographic experience. Mira traveled with the Hoctor Dance Caravan throughout the US and Canada for 10 years and worked with such greats as Tommy Tune, Danny Hoctor, Barry Lather and Henry LeTang. Choreographing for South Pacific at Thalian Hall, being on set of Dawson’s Creek and working with the Hoggard Voyagers are among some of Mira’s other achievements. She worked as the assistant choreographer for the Miss NC Pageant, High Steppin’ Country, The Pro Bowl half time show, as well as the Aloha Bowl in Hawaii. She also appeared as a principle dancer in the major motion picture, “Super Mario Brothers.” Mira owned and operated Danceworks for 18 years and is beginning her 21st season as the director of her performance company, Fox Troupe Dancers! She has directed and choreographed many award winning numbers, receiving national recognition for excellence in technique and artistry. Her training has placed a multitude of dancers into the dance profession. You will find her former Fox Troupers on Broadway, Television, Movies, Commercials, Theme Parks, Cruise Ships, Theaters, Award Shows, International Touring Companies, National Ballet Companies and the Radio City Rockettes. Mira is very excited to be joining the SEDA family, meeting new dancers and she is looking forward to continuing her teaching and training. Mira resides in Wilmington with her husband, Ed Lamendola, their two sons, Coleman and Nicholas and their 2 year old mini goldendoodle, Kirby.

James DeVita is originally from Owego, NY where he began his training in ballet, tap, and jazz at age 3 at Kathy Hansen’s School of Dance. At age 12, he continued his technical training at Ballet Arts Theatre in Endicott, NY under the direction of Tina Christina-Price. Throughout his time at both studios,James competed at numerous regional and national competitions, and performed in several regional performances of The Nutcracker and other originally choreographed works. He also attended Joffrey Ballet’s summer sessions in New York City. James continued his training while attending Colgate University where he also taught ballet, jazz, and technique classes at the United Academy of Dance in Oneida, NY. Since completing his undergraduate degree, he has performed with and taught for several regional companies in the Northeast, including New England Ballet Company, Ithaca Ballet, and Hangar Theater Company. While working on his graduate degrees at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, James performed with, and taught and choreographed for the UT Dance Company. In 2010-2011 he was the primary ballet instructor with Charlee’s Elite School of Dance in Waukee, IA. James also works as an Assistant Professor of Higher Education at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington.

LaVonda Howard is a graduate of East Carolina University where she received a BFA in dance and was the recipient of the Marie Wallace Dance Scholarship. While at ECU, she was a member of the “5678” Musical Theater performances. She also appeared in the musical “Gypsy” with Barbara Bosson of Hill Street Blues. LaVonda danced professionally and traveled throughout North and South America on various cruise lines such of Royal Caribbean, Costa, Holland America and Celebrity. Being a veteran of the stage, she also performed on stages in San Diego, CA at the Coronado Resort, Showboat and Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, and the Newport Hotel and Resort in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

LaVonda has appeared in local theater productions in the Wilmington area including “42nd Street”, “Guys and Dolls” and “A Chorus Line”. Film credits include “Track 29”, “Cats Eye”, “Firestarter” and most recently onset of the film “Adrenaline”. Industrial credits include Daisytek, Ross Stores and IBM.

For the past 17 years, she has taught dance to recreational and competitive students. LaVonda is a 6-year Breast Cancer Survivor. In her spare time she is very dedicated to volunteering for charity organizations such as Women of Hope, Susan G. Komen and Pretty in Pink Foundation. LaVonda is a single mom of two beautiful children Brooke (15) and Trevor (11) of whom she shares life’s treasurable moments! She is excited for the “new” chapter in her life and delighted to share her passion and love of dance to children of all ages!

Sarah Davis is from Wilmington, North Carolina. She studied for a BFA in Dance Performance at East Carolina Univeristy. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and with honors. She was an active member and Senior Representative for the East Carolina Dance Association. She is also a member of the North Carolina Dance Education Association and a part of the National Honors Society for Dance Arts.

Sarah has trained for 19 years under instructors including Tommi Galaska, Galina Panova, Dirk Lumbard, John Dixon, David Ingram and Teal Darkenwald. She has been dancing professionally during her summers off of school at the Tony Award winning The Lost Colony. There, she played the role of Elizabeth Glane in 2016 and in 2018 she acted as dance captain.  Sarah has a passion for musical theater as well as dance. She has also performed in numerous theater productions with Opera House Theater Company in Wilmington, including Hairspray and The King and I. She is excited to be back in Wilmington and returning to her old stomping grounds!

Anthony is a native to Wilmington and grew up training with Mira Fox-Lamendola. At 18 he moved to Los Angeles where he danced professionally with Bloc Talent Agency. He has taught and performed all over the country in genres such as tap, hip hop, contemporary, and jazz. Currently, he is working for Revive Dance Convention and is a Remix teacher for Adrenaline Dance Convention. He is very excited to be in Wilmington this summer to teach and share with everyone!

Audrey Brown relocated to Wilmington, NC when she was ten years old and quickly found a home inside the walls of South East Dance Academy. She was a member of our SEDA Performing Team for five years. In that time, she studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical and Hip Hop. Audrey has also studied dance at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and was featured on the cover of the “Livin’ Out Loud” magazine. She is currently getting her Associates in Fine Arts from Cape Fear Community College and is excited to be a part of the wonderful SEDA Family.

Elizabeth Mongo began her dance education at Tamala Taylor’s Academy of Dance located in Wooster, Ohio at age 5. She then joined competitive team at age 6. In 2006 Elizabeth relocated to Wilmington, NC where she continued competing as a member of the South East Dance Academy Performing Team. Throughout her 12 years of competitions she won multiple overall awards as well as special judges awards and was selected by her instructors to compete for the Miss Dance of North Carolina pageant in 2011. Elizabeth enjoyed performing all genres of dance including ballet, lyrical, pointe, jazz, tap, hip-hop, contemporary, modern and acrobatics- Acrobatics being her favorite. Elizabeth has proceeded to extend her education at Cape Fear Community College where she will receive her Associates degree in Fine Arts. She has been working as an assistant at SEDA since she was 13 in our preschool and acrobatics lessons. She is also currently employed at Civil Works Contracting as an Administrative Assistant. Elizabeth plans to reside in Wilmington for a while and continue to help our students reach their goals, as well as her own.

Sean Tinkler was born in St Petersburg Florida and moved to Wilmington at the age of 3.  He started teaching himself gymnastics at the age of 8 and specialized in trampoline and floor tumbling.  Sean started teaching at Gymnastics Unlimited in 2002 and has continued to teach privately till the present. He has 15 years teaching experience. When he is not teaching, he also owns and operates an automotive paint and body refinishing business. Sean is very excited to be working with South East Dance Academy.