We pride ourselves in providing highly qualified dance educators for all levels of study. The diverse teaching staff provides expertise in all areas of your dance education. Our main objective is to accommodate you and your children with the best possible dance education in an environment that fosters personal achievement and care from a dedicated teaching staff.
Robin Cotler Dance Center provides each student of all ages and levels with a highly-trained, skilled and caring instructor. In addition, guest artists, who are specialized dance educators, frequently come to teach workshops in order to provide the students with a broad variety of styles and techniques.
ROBIN COTLER: Owner, Artistic Director & Teacher
Robin has been collectively performing, training professionals, and choreographing dance for over 40 years, and is the owner and artistic director of both Images In Dance in New York and The Cotler Dance Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. She attended Point Park College in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania on scholarship for dance and has performed throughout the east coast in productions such as the Miss New York State Pageant, Alvin Slaughter, and at ArtPark.
Robin is a Master Teacher, and has been training professionals throughout the east coast, Canada, and Europe. She served as Regional Director for the Christopher National Dance Teacher Seminars for five years, is a member of Dance Masters of America, and is convention teacher and adjudicator for Bedazzled National Dance Competition. For two consecutive years, Robin lead master classes for European Dance Festivals where her professional company, Evolution Dance Company, was invited to perform. She has directed several dance and theater productions and was selected as one of the 50 Up and Coming Dance Studios by Dance Teacher and Dance Spirit Magazine.
Many of Robin’s students are or have worked professionally in the dance field. Some of her pupils are now dancing in Internationally touring dance companies, on cruise ships, in commercial work, have premiered on shows such as America’s Got Talent, and in other theater or talent productions. Many of her students have gone on to teach at state college’s, in performing arts schools or are teaching dance elsewhere. Robin’s goals are to continue to guide every student in realizing their on potential as an artist and to inspire audiences with innovative new works.
NOELLE COTLER: Co-Director & Teacher
Noelle began her dance training at her mother Robin Cotler’s, dance studio, Images In Dance, in Batavia, New York at the age of 2. While attending grade school Noelle had the opportunity to study at Jacobs Pillow and the New York State Summer School for the Arts (NYSSA) as well as several other intensives and competitions nationally. Noelle continued her studies at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA, where she received her BFA in dance as a ballet major and was awarded outstanding honors in ballet performance. Upon graduation in 2011, Noelle moved to Venice Italy to dance with The Arsenale Della Danza under the direction of Ismael Ivo. She has worked with choreographers such as Francesca Harper, Johaness Wieland, Rosie Herrera, Roni Koresh, Kate Weare, Marrion Ballester, Douglas Becker and many more. Noelle has been blessed to perform, teach and choreograph throughout Italy, Poland, Brazil, Austria and the United States. Prior to moving to South Florida, Noelle worked with contemporary dance company, Groundworks Dance Theater of Cleveland OH, as a performing artist, outreach instructor and program director of ballet studies at The Rainey Institute.
Noelle’s relocation to South Florida has had her busy teaching throughout the area and country. She was the Artist In Residence at Dreyfoos High School of the Performing Arts in the 2016-2017 season and has lead several workshops at state universities and schools through out the country. She is current adjudicator and teacher for Turn It Around Tour and co-director of Robin Cotler Dance Center. Noelle is thrilled to expand her knowledge and artistry in the Florida dance community and beyond.
KASSI ABREU
Dance artist, choreographer, director, and aerialist. Originally from Miami, FL. Kassi trained at Southern Dance Theatre, Magda’s School of Dance and Miami City Ballet and has danced professionally with companies, including Florida Dance Theatre, Central Florida Ballet and Orlando Ballet.
She has also appeared as a finalist on “So you think you can Dance”. Most recent TV appearance has been on the Netflix series, “The Get Down”. Kassi has danced for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and is now rehearsal director at Royal Caribbean Productions where she runs and teaches choreography to the cast to perform on Royal Caribbean Cruise ships sailing out of China.
She is a coach and teacher in styles such as contemporary ballet and Balanchine style, as well as being a YoungArts alum. She has also performed with Florida Grand Opera, Palm Beach Opera and performed in a live filming of “el cyclone” a dance musical opera.
JOE COTLER
Joe grew up in Batavia, NY where he began his formal training under the direction of Robin Cotler at Images in Dance. He graduated from The University of the Arts in May 2009 with his BFA in Jazz Performance. While at school, he had the opportunity to work with numerous choreographers including Scott Jovovich, Roni Koresh and Paul Selwyn-Norton. While furthering his training at UArts, Joe worked as the dance swing at multiple theme parks on the east coast. Upon graduation, he joined Koresh Dance Company and is now going on his 10th season as a full-time member. He currently teaches and choreographs for numerous studios in the area and has had the opportunity to set his choreography on professional companies both in and outside of the Philadelphia area. Whether he’s performing or teaching, Joe will continue sharing the art of dance with people for years to come and is thrilled to be a part of the RCDC family.
MARISA HELTON
Marisa began dancing at the early age of two in Fort Lauderdale, Fl. By the age of five, she began formally training at Debbie’s Dance Company in Jacksonville, with an emphasis in ballet and jazz technique. Marisa has been competing nationwide since she was 6 years old, and continued to do so until her junior year of high school. She has one numerous awards including “Dancer of the Year” in 2013 at Celebration’s Talent Competition. Marisa also attended local performing arts high school, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, with outstanding honors in modern and ballet. In 2015, her senior choreography project was chosen to perform at the National High School Dance Festival. Upon graduating high school, Marisa continued her dance training at Jacksonville university where she received a BFA in dance and minor in kinesiology. She has had the honor of working with prestigious choreographers such as Christopher Huggins, Roni Koresh, Jennifer Archibald, Liana Blackburn and many others. Marisa was also rewarded the “outstanding dance” award her freshman, junior and senior years. Since graduation, Marisa has moved to Palm Beach County where she works as a dance teacher and Solidcore instructor.
ALEXA OLIVIER
Alexa Olivier was born and raised locally in Palm Beach County. She began dancing at the age of 3 and hasn’t stopped ever since. Alexa has attended Bak Middle School and Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts as a Dance Major. She has received her technical training at Atlantic Arts Dance Studio, Palm Beach Ballet, and Florida School for Dance Education. Aside from her local training, Alexa has studied intensively through out the country in places such as Millennium Dance Complex, Edgepac, Debbie Reynolds Legacy, Alonzo King Lines, City Dance San Francisco, Broadway Dance Center and Hubbard Street Chicago and many more. Alexa is also an Intrigue True Performer and was last year’s recipient for Miss Senior Shake the Ground Hollywood. She is also part of Miami’s Elite 305.
Alexa is represented by Go 2 Talent Los Angeles and Tae Talent Miami. She is also a member of Seventh Avenue Crew, which qualified for “in-person” auditions for the TV show World Of Dance. She has performed at major events throughout the South Florida area with Seventh Avenue Crew. Besides being on faculty at RCDC this season, Alexa also teaches at Sean’s Dance Factory and Organized Kaos Dance Academy. She has also taught at Millennium Dance Complex Miami, Dance Legends, and Unique Starz Miami.