Cheryl Steinthal, Director/Choreographer for The New Florida Follies
My dance life began at the Tony Grant Stars of Tomorrow dance studio in New Jersey at the age of 4 & 1/2, and that has led to a lifelong love of working as a dancer, dance instructor, and choreographer.
A highlight was dancing as a Rockette at New York's Radio City Music Hall! Other highlights were working as a dancer in the Ziegfeld Girls Gala, featuring Liza Minelli; stage director and choreographer for the Miss and Mrs. New York and New Jersey pageants; dance coach to Ann Miller's understudy in "Anything Goes" (Papermill Playhouse, NJ); dancer and choreographer at Lakewood Musical Playhouse (Barnesville, PA); Show Choir choreographer for the Pinelands Regional Jr. High and Sr. High schools, and for Atlantic City High School; and choreographer for Atlantic City High School Drama Club, Showmakers, and JCC Players in NJ, and Long Beach Guild and Queens Community theater groups in NY. In addition, I was a dance instructor at various dance schools in the New York and New Jersey areas, teaching young children through adult classes.
Since moving south to Florida in 2007, I have choreographed for Delray Beach Playhouse and for the following communities: Floral Lakes, Rainberry Bay, Valencia Palms, Valencia Pointe, and Valencia Shores. Also, I currently enjoy sharing the joy of dance here in Florida, teaching a tap class for adults at Standing Ovation Performing Arts School.
It was upon arriving in Florida that I first heard of a wonderful dance-filled show that I had to see. That show was The Original Florida Follies, directed by Cathy Dooley. Seeing the Follies on stage sparked something inside of me. I had been working as a dance instructor and choreographer for the past 40 years. I decided it was time to go back and complete the circle, cross over to the other side of the footlights and become a dancer again!
That was 2015. Many things have changed since then. Cathy Dooley retired, The Original Florida Follies disbanded, and the dancers decided that the Follies needed to continue. A Board of Directors was formed, and I was named Artistic Director/Choreographer of The New Florida Follies.
I am thrilled, honored, and humbled to be the leader of these talented performers, and together we have the privilege of raising funds to donate to children in need through our many wonderful charities.