Parent Category: About MAS
Mia Pacitto - MAS Dance Director
If you dance with your heart your body will follow ~ Mia Michaels
Miss Mia’s passion for dance started as a child in London, England, taking examinations with the ISTD and performing at grand theatres such as the London Palladium. After immigrating to the US in her teens, Mia’s dance world went from a strict syllabus to a traveling, competitive scene.
Whilst majoring in dance at VCC, Mia’s love for travel led her to a career upon sea with Disney Cruise Line, dancing and performing lead acting and singing roles. Mia also joined an activities team, running all onboard entertainment events, with Celebrity Cruise Line. Mia has performed for all major Florida theme parks including, Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, and Busch Gardens, and has taught at dance and gymnastic studios in North Carolina and Florida. Mia’s choreography has been awarded for national dance competition team performances as well as gymnastic meet floor routines. Currently, along with teaching dance for Dance Arts Centre, Mia educates children in Brevard county schools and community centers. Mia has toured nationally and internationally with Vee Corporation’s Sesame Street Live and Feld Entertainment’s Disney Live shows. Mia’s feel for the urban dance scene expanded when she danced for the NBA, with the NBDL Fayetteville Patriots, leading her to pass the Les Mills Body Jam aerobic training.
Aside from dance, Mia has worked in the health and fitness industry. Mia managed LA Fitness health clubs and she obtained her license in facial aesthetics and acupressure. Mia feels that her vast exposure to cultures and styles has enabled her to show students a well rounded perspective on movement.
Mia is proud to share her talents and expertise as the Dance Director for Michael A. Smith’s (MAS), Rockledge, Florida.
Patti Sturgill
Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life ~ Confucius
Patti Sturgill has been a part of the dance community for the past 37 years. Dance has been an integral part of her life, beginning at the age of three. She grew up performing with a local dance troupe in many venues along the East Coast before starting her teaching career. She has trained under Al Gilbert, Janice Barringer, Darryl Retter, Greg Russell, Tabitha and Napoleon D’Umo, Maryland Youth Ballet, Joy of Motion, Feet First, and Lynchburg School of the Arts just to name a few. She has also furthered her studies by attending many classes, workshops, intensives, and teaching conventions along the East Coast from New York to Florida over the years. She is experienced in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Pointe, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Gymnastics. After teaching for ten years at various dance and gymnastics schools in Virginia, she opened her own studio in 1998. For twelve years, she was dedicated to sharing her love of dance with her students at Patti Sturgill School of Dance. After moving to Florida this past year, Patti has had the privilege of teaching at area dance studios, Brevard Public Schools, Brevard County Parks and Rec,Patrick AFB, and Area Preschools. Her focus is to give each child the chance to find their own potential in every area of dance they choose to explore at a pace that suits them individually. She feels that every child should have the chance to work at their own skill level and speed to accomplish the goals they have for themselves.
April Dianne Shock
Dancers are the athletes of God ~ Albert Einstein
Miss April acquired a love for dance at a young age. At age 10, she began cleaning a dance studio in Matthews, VA in exchange for dance classes 
and has been sleeping and breathing dance ever since. April continued on to become the youngest member of the performing company at Diggs School of Dance in Virginia. She attended the Eastern Virginia School of Performing Arts before moving to Florida where she began dancing at The Orlando Ballet. April is trained in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, Contemporary, and Hip Hop, and is the recipient of two dance scholarships for Dance Educators of America. April has taught dance at numerous local dance studios in Florida. Additionally, she has danced professionally as a main stage performer with Disney Cruise Line. She has served as Artistic Director at The Dancers Studio and Festival of Dance where her duties included, Stage Manager, scheduling, programming, advertising, event planning, as well as teaching.
April believes God has given her the gift of dance and seeks to share this gift with others, hoping to inspire people of all ages with self confidence, respect and inspiration.
Brynn A. Johnson (Substitute Teacher)
Do it big, do it right, and do it with style ~ Fred Astaire
Brynn Johnson began dancing at the age of 4 and hasn’t stopped since. She grew up in Indiana where she studied tap, jazz, and ballet at Stage I Dance Academy and The Academy of the Indianapolis Ballet Theatre. Starting at an early age, she performed at events such as charity galas, amusement parks, and competitions. She also performed and toured the Midwest with ballets such as The Nutcracker and Cinderella. While earning her mechanical engineering degree at Purdue University, Brynn performed with the tap club and eventually became director of Dance 2XS Purdue, a collegiate branch of an international hip hop crew. Through Dance2XS she performed weekly at various basketball games, cultural events, and Purdue orientation events.
After moving to Brevard County in 2006, Brynn performed for a season with the Lady Warriors for a semi pro football team, the Brevard County Warriors, and she continues to take classes around Melbourne. She is excited to share her love and passion for dance with her students.