About Legacy Performing Arts | Lake City, FL

Welcome to Legacy Performing Arts

Legacy Performing Arts is a dance, music, theatre, and art studio located in Lake City, Florida.

We provide high-quality performing arts education in a structured, supportive environment where students can develop strong technique, creativity, confidence, discipline, and character.

Our goal is to develop more than talented performers. We want students to become capable artists, dependable teammates, confident leaders, and people who leave a positive legacy in their communities.

Legacy Performing Arts is located at 1832 SW Tomoka Terrace, near the Southside Sports Complex and next door to the Florida School of Gymnastics.

Meet the legacy team

Founder & Artistic Director
Sarah Chapman is the founder and owner of Legacy Performing Arts. She is married and a mother of three boys and has more than 15 years of experience teaching dance. In 2013, she earned her Associate degree in Dance from Santa Fe College before completing her Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Ministry at Palm Beach Atlantic University in 2016.
Over the next several years, Mrs. Sarah served as the artistic director and choreographer for Dancing Waters, a modern dance company based in West Palm Beach. The company traveled nationally and internationally, giving her opportunities to choreograph, perform, teach, and speak about dance, inner healing, and the arts.
After returning to Lake City, she became the director of Fancy Dancer Studio and founded Phoenix Competitive Dance Company, now known as Legacy Dance Company. In 2024, she opened Legacy Performing Arts. She also serves as the head coach of the Columbia High School Tigerettes.
Mrs. Sarah’s favorite areas of dance include improvisation, ballet, contemporary, choreography, and developing young artists and leaders. At Legacy, she teaches ballet and directs Legacy Dance Company.

Dance Instructor & LDC Coach
Amanda Cason is a passionate choreographer, dance instructor, and certified personal trainer who believes movement is more than an activity—it is a way of life. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from the University of Florida in 2017 and became NASM-certified in 2018, combining her formal dance training with a deep understanding of the body and how it moves.
With more than seven years of teaching experience, Amanda brings a unique blend of artistry and fitness to every class she leads. Her approach focuses on intentional movement, injury prevention, and progressive training while creating an environment where creativity and confidence can thrive.
Outside the studio, Amanda is a devoted wife and mother. Her passion for movement extends into every area of her life and inspires others to move with purpose, passion, and joy.

Dance Instructor & LDC Coach
Ms. Amber is a mother of three and a dance instructor with six years of teaching experience. She also serves as the coach of the Lake City Middle School Falconette Dance Team.
Amber began dancing at the age of three and has continued her dance journey ever since. She also grew up participating in pageants and dance competitions. After attending college in Tampa, she joined the Pro Dance Prep audition training program.
Amber is a former Miss Olustee and has served as an assistant director for a pageant organization benefiting children with leukemia.
In 2023, Amber returned to Lake City as a dance teacher and has since worked with students in local schools and daycares. She loves helping dancers explore their individuality, develop their artistic and emotional skills, and build a lifelong love of dance in a positive learning environment.

Music Program Director, Assistant Teacher Program Lead & Dance Instructor
Horton Certified
Mrs. Lindsay is a pianist, singer, actress, and dancer who lives in Live Oak with her husband and daughter.
Lindsay has trained through MIU University, a professional certification program focused on Horton and Graham modern dance techniques. During her training, she had the opportunity to take master classes from artists including Fana M. Tesfagiorgis, Aleksandr Koynov, Varsha Bansal, and many others.
She has also trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, and musical theatre and has attended dance intensives with the Moscow Russian Ballet and Ballet Magnificat.
Lindsay began classical piano lessons at the age of nine and began operatic vocal training at 16 under Dr. Zink, Director of Opera Theater at Carson-Newman University. She has more than five years of teaching experience. Her performance credits include singing a leading role in The Impresario in Dallas, Texas, and appearing as Maria in The Sound of Music at Florida Gateway College.
At Legacy, Lindsay teaches both dance and music and leads the development of our music program.

Dance Instructor
Charizma Green is a dance instructor with five years of teaching experience. She specializes in advanced tap but has also taught ballet, contemporary, jazz, and pointe at studios throughout Florida. She is passionate about helping students develop their skills, confidence, and individual artistry.
Charizma holds certificates in Intro to Teaching and Dance Psychology for Teachers, and her continuing education also includes the Science of Flexibility. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Science in Management.
In addition to dance, Charizma has taught English horseback riding for eight years, helping her students develop discipline, responsibility, and respect.
At Legacy, Charizma teaches tap, jazz, and ballet.

Dance Instructor & Soloist Coordinator
Leah Stone is a professional dancer and choreographer based in Orlando, Florida. She has trained in a variety of dance styles since the age of four.
Throughout her training and professional career, Leah has assisted leading industry choreographers across the United States and has had opportunities to share her knowledge in Florida, Los Angeles, the United Kingdom, and beyond. Her work has been featured in industrial projects, music videos, and on competitive stages.
Her performance credits include The 407, the Orlando Magic’s official co-ed hip-hop dance team, and work with Penguin Entertainment for Tiger Woods’ TGL Golf.
In addition to performing and choreographing, Leah has a growing passion for education. She encourages her students to develop discipline, integrity, and humble hearts while giving glory to God through movement and artistry.

Studio Operations Lead, Theatre Program Director, Dance Instructor
Mrs. Heidi Haley brings more than 35 years of professional studio experience to Legacy Performing Arts. After taking time away to settle in Live Oak and welcome her first grandchild, she returned to the arts and studio environment with experience extending far beyond the classroom.
Her professional background includes serving as an HOA treasurer, wedding coordinator, vice president of a large homeschool association in Dallas, Texas, and an administrative assistant in real estate.
Heidi’s primary areas of focus have always been choreography, dance, and directing. She began dancing as a child in Southwest Florida and competed in a variety of dance competitions. During high school, she served as captain of her color guard team and incorporated her marching-band training into her choreography. After high school, she received extensive ballet and pointe training under Madame St. Laurent, a former member of the Royal Scottish Ballet.
Heidi has studied ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, Irish dance, and beginner ballroom. She began teaching high school drama in 2004 and has since choreographed numerous theatre productions for students of all ages, as well as community events and local and state-level pageants. Her competitive dance students have earned local, state, and national titles and have performed at Winterfest.
Her experience has also taken her to Uganda, Washington, D.C., and New York City, where she performed and worked with children in the arts. She helped establish the dance program for the Salvation Army Arts School in Texas and served as choreographer and assistant director for Phoenix Repertory Players.
Throughout her career, Heidi has worked on more than 50 productions, including Guys and Dolls, Seussical, Cinderella, and Grease. One of her most meaningful accomplishments was founding her own nonprofit dance company in Dallas and having the company headline at the Uganda National Convention.
Since choreographing her first theatre production in 1997, Heidi’s passion for the arts has continued to grow. At Legacy, she supports studio operations, directs the theatre program, teaches dance, and enjoys mentoring students and families.

Art Instructor & Dance Instructor
Miss Arwen is a painter, dancer, actress, makeup artist, nail technician, and licensed esthetician. She graduated at the top of her class from RiverOak Technical College as a licensed Full Specialist and received the Most Outstanding Student award in both of her programs.
Arwen has been painting for as long as she can remember and began taking private art lessons at the age of five. She has won art competitions throughout Suwannee and Columbia counties.
In 2023, she joined the Walldogs and helped paint murals in downtown High Springs, Florida, depicting the city’s history. She was also commissioned to paint a large photo stand-in displayed at Hearthstone Gardens in Wellborn and has experience creating residential murals.
Arwen has performed in more than 30 productions, showcasing her abilities in both dance and acting. She has trained in ballet, pointe, contemporary, modern, jazz, tap, Horton, and lyrical dance. She received training in Dallas, Texas, and was a member of Studio Arts for Dancers and Go! Contemporary Dance Works in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Her performance credits include The Sound of Music at Florida Gateway College, The Nutcracker with the Moscow Russian Ballet, and productions with Legacy Performing Arts. She has also attended intensives with the Moscow Russian Ballet and Ballet Magnificat and has studied under Eric Lindemer, Marlayna Locklear, and Jere Hunt through RIOULT Dance New York.
At Legacy, Arwen leads art workshops and shares her experience with students through dance instruction and the visual arts.

Front Desk & Studio Coordinator
Carmen Nuetzi serves as the Administrative Assistant at the studio, where she supports both staff and families through organization and communication. She connects with families through Band App and email, helping answer questions and ensure everyone stays informed and up to date. Carmen also assists with scheduling, document formatting, accounting tasks, and day-to-day office operations.
Carmen brings a personal connection to the studio as a dance mom, with her daughter actively involved as a company dancer. She also has a background in dance herself, having trained in ballet, tap, and jazz for 10 years. Her experience both in and out of the studio allows her to support families with understanding, care, and a genuine passion for the dance community.

Social Media Manager & Dance Instructor

Assistant Teacher
Ms. Ashley is a middle school teacher and mother of three. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in 2009 and her master’s degree in agricultural education in 2011.
She has more than 13 years of experience as an educator. A Florida native, Ashley grew up in Palm Beach County and has lived in North Central Florida since 2005.
Ashley also has a personal connection to Legacy as a dance parent, with her daughter actively involved at the studio. Her experience as both a classroom educator and dance mom allows her to support students and teachers with patience, organization, and an understanding of how children learn.

Teacher Training Program

Legacy’s Teacher Training Program gives selected dancers the opportunity to develop leadership, communication, classroom-management, and instructional skills under the mentorship of our teaching staff.

Junior and Senior Assistants support lead instructors during classes while learning how to demonstrate movement, encourage younger dancers, reinforce classroom expectations, and contribute to a positive learning environment.