Michael James

Michael James, born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, graduated from the University of South Florida where received a BA for Modern Dance Performance. After college, he performed in the American Stage Company’s “Shakespeare in the Park” Series for five seasons, as well as danced and choreographed for the Children’s Theater Tour.

Michael was a scholarship student at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Beckett, Massachusetts, where he studied under Linda Kent and Carolyn Adams. He also danced with The Men Dancers of Jacob’s Pillow International Touring Company, which allowed him to dance and teach in St. Petersburg, Russia. He was also a member of The Repertory Dance Theatre of Utah. After dancing in Utah, he began dancing at Walt Disney World’s Downtown Disney Pleasure Island Explosion Dancers, Animal Kingdom’s “Tarzan Rocks!’, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios “Beauty and the Beast”.

As a color guard designer and choreographer, Michael has worked with Timber Creek HS (FL), Freedom HS (FL), Spring HS (TX), Cypress Creek HS (FL), Seminole HS (FL), Tarpon Springs HS (FL), The Company Winter Colour Guard, Kennesaw Mountain HS (GA), Miamisburg HS (OH), Pope HS (GA), Center Grove HS (IN), and Northmont HS (OH). He’s also been on staff with The Cavaliers, Santa Clara Vanguard, Carolina Crown, Madison Scouts, The Mandarins, and The Magic of Orlando.

Michael’s choreography has also been viewed at Pleasure Island with the Pleasure Island Explosion Dancers, University of Central Florida’s Starlet Knights Danceline, University of South Florida’s Herd of Thunder and winter guard, 1999’s Orlando Fringe Festival, and numerous other high schools and colleges around the country.