Meet the Team

Holly “Rock” Nellis

Serving recreational and professional dance students since 1989, Holly Nellis remains passionate and dedicated to the art of dance.

Holly, the Owner/Artistic Director of Dance by Holly Rock (formerly Holly “Rocks” Dance Factory) has been instructing dancers for 40 years right here in Cocoa, FL. Many of her students have attended prestigious dance colleges including Juilliard and Point Park University. For twenty-one years, Holly was also the Dance & Drama teacher for R. L. Stevenson Elementary School of the Arts, choreographing and directing their school productions. From 1997-2008 she worked as a choreographer for PGT Entertainment, Inc. Her shows were ranked among some of the highest productions seen on cruise ships world wide. Holly has served as a master teacher for numerous dance studios nationwide, also choreographing for regional theaters, as well as high school and university championship dance teams.

Sarah Fancher

Ms. Sarah joined the DBHR family January 2022. She comes to us with a BFA Jazz Dance from Point Park University. She started teaching in Pittsburgh, PA in 2015. She also has experience judging dance competitions and Production Management. Sarah teaches Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz, Modern/Contemporary & Lyrical. Ms. Sarah brings an energy and passion to her classes that keeps her students excited to learn the art of dance.

LeeAnn Powers

LeeAnn started studying the Vaganova method at the age of 3, and while her family traveled across the country, she was able to dance with different studios and companies including the Las Vegas Ballet, Pinkerton Ballet, Boston Ballet, Broward Ballet and many more. During her High School years she lived in a small town there she danced and worked at her local competitive dance studio and drove to the Vero Beach Ballet to maintain her classical training. After high school she went to Stephens College, an all-women’s arts school in Columbia Missouri, to get her BFA in dance. At Stephens she studied under remarkable professors and world dance instructors; every semester a new professor was brought on staff to teach a new study of dance including Thai Chi, East African, Jump Rhythm Jazz and so many more. It was during this incredible time that she injured her Achilles. During her recovery she discovered her artistry in choreography. LeeAnn later moved to Birmingham, AL, which has a beautiful dance community, she spent many years dancing there and eventually went back to choreography. She choreographed for contemporary companies, showcases, and then started teaching at academies. A few years ago she moved back to Florida with her husband and 2 dogs to be closer to the beach and sunshine! In 2021 she had a son named Gabe and she is so excited to teach him the joy in music and movement. LeeAnn strives to provide her students with the technical precision and abilities to pursue a professional dance career, if they wish, but also life skills that can lead to success in whatever they pursue. She hopes that her students can find precision, artistry, and confidence through their exploration and education of classical ballet.

Justin Antonio

DBHR is excited to add Justin Antonio to our amazing faculty. Justin is a professional dancer from L.A. currently living in Orlando. Some of his credits include Pharrell Williams, Lil Wayne, Astroworld, Wingstop, and SPX shoe company. Justin will be teaching Hip Hop, Breaking, and an all boys class on Mondays. Justin hopes to inspire others to find themselves artistically by sharing his passion for movement.

Jackie Lemoine

Ms. Jackie met Ms. Holly in 2018 when she relocated her family from New Hampshire to FL. Growing up a dancer, and a studio owner herself for 10 years prior to moving to FL, it was a top priority to find the perfect studio for her daughter to continue her dance training which is why DBHR became their new “dance home”. Ms. Jackie joined the DBHR staff in August 2021 by helping out Ms. Holly with much of the behind the scenes business transactions, utilizing the BA in Business that she earned at St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH as well as the knowledge she brought from her own studio ownership. Eventually she realized how much she missed teaching so she dusted off her tap shoes and can be found back in the classroom teaching Tap, including the popular Teen/Adult Tap Class! She is excited to teach students of all ages and help “bring tap back”.

Jakki Kenney

Jakki Kenney started dancing when she was three years old at Raskin Dance Studio where she regularly attended dance conventions, competitions, traveled during the summers to study in LA and NYC, and received the best training possible. After graduating high school in 2005, she moved to New York City and entered the Professional Dance Program at Broadway Dance Center ran by Wes Veldink to continue her studies. Jakki has danced for Aaron Carter, was in a movie with Tom Selleck, and has assisted a number of dance teachers at conventions including Jeff Amsden who teaches for Tremaine Dance Convention. She currently travels and judges for Revolution & Believe Talent Competition.

After her time in NYC she has been teaching all styles of dance for the past twenty years all over Central Florida. Along with teaching, she is an established choreographer and has won many awards from all over the US. She is not only an achieved choreographer but her students have gone on to successful careers. She currently has a students in Ailey II, Juilliard, NYU, Boston Conservatory, and Cirque Du Soleil. She prides herself on creating a healthy and balanced environment in her classrooms along with the knowledge of discipline it takes to achieve the goals her students set for themselves. Her craft is her art and her mantra is to lead the way while you enjoy the journey.