Ultimate Dance Center is a team of highly skilled and motivated individuals who are passionate about dance as an art form! UDC employs only dedicated individuals who love what they do and whose primary goal is to support the growth and vitality of our dancers and studio at large. Our elite Staff & Instructors are well trained to ensure that each student has the Ultimate Dance Center Experience! Take a look at our dance family here at Polk County’s premiere dance studio!
Freddie De Jesus has been involved with dance since he was 12 years old. He has been involved with various successful dance productions and is passionate about exposing all persons to the world of dance. Freddie is currently the Creative Artistic Director of Ultimate Dance Center . Freddie has studied at prestigious companies such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and Dance Theater of Harlem. His performance credits include work with such companies as Philadanco, New World Dance Company, Joyce Trisler Dance Company, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Rebecca Kelly Ballet, Annabella Gonzales Dance Theater, Dance Compass, Donald Byrd The Group, DANCESAIS, Bruce Wood Dance Company and Florida Dance Theater. With a dance career spanning more than 20 years, De Jesus has had the honor of working with many well-known and widely acclaimed choreographers and company directors. He is formerly the Resident Choreographer and Associate Artistic Director of Florida Dance Theater since 2003. He is also a Jazz Dance Professor at Florida Southern College and Resident Life Assistant and faculty member in the Earl Mosley Institute of the Arts SUMMER INTENSIVE (EMIA). Freddie is the founding Artistic Director of NY/FL Based Contemporary Dance Company FrediDanceProject.
To learn more about Freddie please check out this video on YouTube:
Alicia Allen is a 35 year-old mother of 3. She started gymnastic training at 3 years old, and began taking ballet, jazz, and hip hop classes at age 4, by 13 she reached level 9 gymnast with a few elite tumbling skills under her belt. She joined the George Jenkins Wind Dancers in High School and began coaching gymnastics and competitive cheer at Gymtek in 2004 as well as coaching all-star cheer teams and co-choreographing the routines with Jose Santa. They won national champs in 2006! Then in 2014 she started working at Kidzdance as the acro teacher for their studio (which she has done choreography for) as well as coaching gymnastics and tumbling classes at Champion Athletic Center. Recently Alicia has performed in With Love Productions & choreographs for The Ultimate Nightmare Before Christmas as well continuing her coaching career at Gymtek & the George Jenkins Wind Dancers. Alicia is an Acrobat Arts Certification Level 2 instructor & teaches Acrobat Arts (Acro) at the Beginners / Intermediate & Advanced Levels as well as Baby Acro (2-5 years).
Kristen Jones is from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and moved to Lakeland 5 years ago to attend Southeastern University. She is currently working there while pursuing her Master’s degree. Kristen loves the unique combination of dance, acting, and singing that musical theater brings. Kristen started dancing and performing at the age of 5. She has studied various forms of dance, while also participating in numerous theatrical productions. Her acting background includes roles and productions such as Belle in Beauty and the Beast, The White Witch in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardobe, and The Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She has also directed and co-write two original productions at the collegiate level. Kristen started teaching at Ultimate Dance Center in 2016, and she loves getting to watch her students grow in their talents and love for the musical theater arts. Kristen teaches Ballet 4-6 years & Musical Theater 7-11yrs.
My name is Saffera ( an Egyptian name for ambassador), I’ve lived in Lakeland for 18 years now, I started to learn the ancient art of Belly Dance back in 2005, I was invited to performed professionally for the first time in 2008. I’m an Egyptian style Belly Dance performer, I incorporate props while dancing like silk veils, isis wings, candelabra, silk fans, candles, cane and sword. I’m a former Belly dancer from The Hookah Palace, several local events and some other venues in Tampa and Orlando as well, along with private events and theater productions. I started to teach in 2015 and I’ve been teaching since then; the ancient art of Belly Dance is a beautiful and fun way to exercise, while learning to use abdominal muscles, along with balance and strength, many of the moves involve isolations which improves flexibility of the torso.
“I’m from Mexico and I’ve been dancing for 10 years and teaching for over a year now. I often perform at the Hookah Palace in downtown Lakeland and participate in as many community events as I can! I specialize in traditional Egyptian/Arabic style Belly Dance! I’m very excited to be a part of the UDC Team!!”
Daniel Z Smith Jr is a Chicago native, graduating from Columbia College Chicago with a B.A. in
Performing Arts Marketing and Media Management. Daniel got his start teaching dance in
Chicago’s inner city. He’s danced professionally with notable companies such as Walt Disney
World, Busch Gardens Tampa, toured as Chad in Feld Entertainment’s High School Musical,
performed in Cirque Dreams’ Jungle Fantasy, served as Artistic Director of Fredi Dance Projects’
Youth Ensemble and currently is a Principal Dancer for Norwegian Cruise Lines. He continues to
spread his love for dance as a teacher and choreographer throughout the United States.
Contact Us
Our Location
2980 Lakeland Highlands Rd.
Lakeland, FL 33803
Our Hours
Monday – Friday:
3:00pm – 8:00pm
Saturday:
10am – 2:00pm
Summer Camp Hours
Monday – Friday:
8:00 am – 4:00 pm