Stage Door Studios
Dance and theater for Sarasota kids, 9 months to 18 years, 19 seasons strong
Stage Door Studios has served the Sarasota community for 19 seasons with an original curriculum designed to grow with dancers from their very first steps at 9 months old through age 18.
Photo: Stage Door Studios via Google
Before your first class
All new students are welcome to try their first class for free; the studio meets every child where they are and helps them grow with patience and care.
About this studio
Stage Door Studios has served the Sarasota community for 19 seasons with an original curriculum designed to grow with dancers from their very first steps at 9 months old through age 18. The studio now teaches over 800 students across two locations: the primary Cattlemen Road location and Stage Door University on University and Lockwood Ridge Road.
Classes span ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, lyrical, hip hop, acrobatics, tumbling, musical theatre, and competition dance. Whether a child takes classes once a week or unlimited sessions per week, the studio offers training for everyone from beginners to competitive stars. All new students can try their first class for free. Programs include Children's Classes (nurturing movement for youngest dancers), Academy & Teen (focused training for ages 7 and up across multiple styles), Acro (strength and control through acrobatic technique), Competitive (dedicated training and performance opportunities), Summer Programs (camps, classes, and intensives), and Birthday Parties.
The Cattlemen Road facility spans 12,000 square feet with six large dance rooms, each with sprung floors designed to reduce injury risk to knees and ankles. Rooms are themed—London, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Boston, and Las Vegas—and feature wooden floors for tap shoes, barres, mirrors, mats, and stall bars. Beyond the dance spaces, the studio includes a parent viewing lounge where families can watch live on studio cameras, a kids corner, a dancewear boutique, and a front office.
The instructional team includes founder and CEO Jill Athridge, Artistic Director Geena Larson, and instructors Lisa McCarroll, Andrea Pino, Annabelle Hamilton, Zoe Ahl, Patricia Strauss, Courtney Wyatt, Lauren Weiler, Kathryn Saienni, and Emily Herbert. The studio emphasizes encouragement, creativity, and community—meeting every child where they are and helping them grow with patience and care. Families repeatedly praise the patient instructors, welcoming atmosphere, clean facility, and sense of community.
What to expect
Your first visit
Your child can attend their first class for free to find the right level and style. Classes introduce dancers to movement through music, props, costumes, and creative activities, building rhythm, coordination, musicality, and self-confidence in a fun, supportive environment. The studio is clean, spacious, and staffed by instructors who greet children by name.
Instructors
Who teaches here
The team includes founder and CEO Jill Athridge, Artistic Director Geena Larson, Executive Director Sue Patchett, and instructors Lisa McCarroll, Andrea Pino, Annabelle Hamilton, Zoe Ahl, Patricia Strauss, Courtney Wyatt, Lauren Weiler, Kathryn Saienni, and Emily Herbert. All bring years of training, performance, and teaching experience.
New to dancing?
What beginners can expect
All new students are welcome to try their first class for free; the studio meets every child where they are and helps them grow with patience and care.
Studio history
Stage Door Studios has been serving the Sarasota community for 19 seasons with an original curriculum designed to grow with dancers from 9 months old through age 18.
Styles offered
10 dance styles taught here
Gallery
The people, the parties and the dancing here
Amenities
Class schedule
Weekly classes and workshops
Stage Door Studioshasn't set up a public class schedule yet.
If you own Stage Door Studios, claiming the studio lets you add a public schedule in about 2 minutes. A free Google Calendar is the easiest path — visitors see your class times inline + can add events to their own calendar.
Frequently asked about Stage Door Studios
Quick answers to the most common questions
What dance styles does Stage Door Studios teach?
Stage Door Studios teaches General, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Pointe, Lyrical Jazz and 4 more. The full list of styles is shown above on this page along with each genre's classes and lesson options.
Where is Stage Door Studios located?
Stage Door Studios is located in Sarasota, FL. See the map above for the exact address and one-tap directions.
Does Stage Door Studios offer private lessons?
Contact Stage Door Studios directly to ask about private lessons and current class options — their website has the latest details.
Does Stage Door Studios teach kids and adults?
Stage Door Studios welcomes students of varied ages and experience levels. Contact the studio to learn which classes fit your age group and level.
How do I sign up for classes at Stage Door Studios?
The fastest path is to visit Stage Door Studios via their website or check the class schedule above. Many studios offer a free or discounted intro lesson — contact them directly to ask.