Meet Our Staff
Alyssa Bonomo
Artistic Director
Alyssa has brought with her over 30 years of dance experience. She was selected and began her dance career with the nationally and internationally recognized Noretta Dunworth’s School of Dance where she performed as one of their featured artists. Under the direction of Noretta Dunworth, Alyssa performed with the Dearborn Ballet Company and played lead roles in Coppelia and The Nutcracker. She is recognized, graded and pass commended in the Checetti method of ballet. As a national dance champion, Alyssa was recognized and trained under Tap Master, Henry LeTang, who taught such greats as Gregory Hines and Debbie Allen. As Alyssa continued to expand her dance expertise, she has worked with nationally recognized choreographer, Ray Leeper, where she began integrating her style with his powerful, passionate and inspirational form of jazz. She has completed summer and winter intensive workshops at Gus Giordano’s Dance Company in Evanston, Illinois and STEPS on Broadway in New York. Alyssa was selected into the University of South Florida’s Fine Arts Dance Company where she has trained under many contemporary artists.
Alyssa was recognized and awarded as one of the youngest artists to be inducted into Who’s Who in American Dance. Over the years she has received numerous national and international awards. With her pageantry experience, Alyssa has held many titles including Miss Teen Citrus Country Runner–Up, Miss Teen Sunburst Citrus County and Miss Sweetheart Citrus County. Alyssa also participated and received runner up in the Miss Florida USA preliminary pageants and was honored and featured in an article by Pageantry Magazine with the Spirit Award for her unquestionable deeds, generous actions and role to promote the noble causes and personal growth opportunities which the pageant, fashion, talent, dance and modeling industries have to offer.
Alyssa is a 2002 Summa Cum Laude graduate from Lecanto High School where she was involved in numerous varsity sports and activities. Alyssa then attended Central Florida Community College through the Community of Scholars honors program. There she graduated top honors with her Associate Degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Dance Education. Alyssa graduated with honors from Saint Leo University where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Dance Arts. With her education degree, Alyssa taught in the Citrus County School System for 7 years and is still currently certified.
As the Director of Sharper Image, Alyssa takes pride in her teachers and student’s success. Sharper Image has been awarded such titles as Best Choreographer, Most Entertaining, Best Debut Dance School at Access Broadway, recipients of numerous judge’s choice awards and overall high scores. Her students have also been invited to Hollywood and New York due to being the highest scoring routines of the day. Sharper Image has also been recognized by Citrus County as Best of the Best numerous times in dance and the performing arts.
Alyssa’s personal philosophy that she instills in her students is that success is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. It takes a minute to dream it, but with persistence and dedication anyone can achieve their future goals.
Beth Bedee
Acting Director
Ms. Beth is an educator with a long history in the performing arts. As a child, she took dance and piano lessons, and in high school transitioned into drama and chorus. She graduated from Florida State University and is certified to teach Drama to grades K-12.
Ms. Beth has performed in community theatre and regional summer repertory productions around the state of Florida. She has over 20 years experience serving as a director and acting coach. In Citrus County, she taught Drama and Musical Theatre at Lecanto High School where her Thespian troupe was nationally-recognized. A number of her former students are currently pursuing professional careers in the arts, most notably, actor Miles Teller. Some of her favorite productions she's directed are Footloose, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Damn Yankees, The Boys Next Door, The Diary of Anne Frank, Jekyll and Hyde, Godspell, and Fame.
Ms. Beth serves as the Theatre Director at Sharper Image Performance Dance Studio in Crystal River. Her acting troupe has competed at the Florida Theatre Conference and various acting competitions around the state. Her actors have received overall highest scores at all competitions, were named members of all-star casts, and received scholarships to collegiate summer acting programs. In April 2019, her troupe was named the Best Acting Cast at the Turn it Around Tour.
Ms. Beth describes her approach to acting and directing as simply realistic with a blend of classical techniques where the actor creates an honest and believable character that evokes a natural response from the audience. Actors will learn to relax and value the power in stillness as they connect with and convey the message of the piece. The actor's intention is to create an immediate audience reaction, whether it be anger, disgust, laughter, empathy, etc. She believes in pushing actors beyond their comfort zones in order to grow as well-rounded performers.
Miles Teller Endorsement:
I wouldn’t have become a professional actor as quickly as I did had I not
studied with Beth Bedee in high school. My respect, love and commitment
to excellence in my work is connected to her. As a young thespian, she
embraced my talents and challenged me to go beyond my comfort zone. As
a 16 yr old drama student, we were training at a collegiate and professional
level. When I went to Tisch, I felt my skill level was ahead of my peers
because of Beth’s advanced teachings and my experiences performing
and competing theatrically under her direction . I believe any young actor
who is fortunate enough to work with Beth is getting the absolute best
there is. She was and has been absolutely instrumental in my development
as an actor in both my preparation and performances still to this day. Any
one who is thinking about a career on stage or screen should work with
Beth, she is a big reason why I’m at where I am today, and if I could go right
back to being 16 yrs old taking my very first drama class with her and start
all over again, I would. I loved it that much.
Miles Teller
Lecanto High School (2005)
Tisch School of the Arts, NYU (2009)
Member of the Academy of Motion Pictures (2018)
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1886602/
Mandy Brown
Vocal Instructor
Mandy Brown has newly relocated to Florida from California and has been singing professionally since the age of 18. She has performed in a disco band, jazz bands, rock/pop bands and led worship at her church. She sang at Disneyland in a big band for 10 years until Covid closed down live music in CA. She has a teaching degree and has taught kids of all ages to learn to sing their best! She is a boy mom of 3 and has been homeschooling for over 15 years. She enjoys paddle boarding, snorkeling, running and chilling at the beach whenever possible. Her favorite genre of music is Motown/R&B, but loves all styles...even country! Her advice to young singers is: listen to a variety of styles and sing along. Listening is a huge part of developing your own voice! She looks forward to helping the students at Sharper Image!
Rachel Tapley
Acro Coach
Rachel Tapley is the head of our competitive acro teams and our recreational acro and tumbling classes. She is a former gymnast, cheerleader, and dancer. She is never without a smile or willingness to help athletes advance their skills.
As an acro instructor, Coach Rachel enjoys blending various dance styles with storytelling and challenging tricks. From 2021-2022, Coach Rachel's competitive acro teams won several awards, including Best Teamwork (two times); 2nd Place Overall; 3rd Place Overall; and Top 5 Overall (multiple times).
As a cheer coach for 20+ years, Coach Rachel has choreographed routines, partner stunts and pyramids, as well as individual and synchronized jumps and tumbling. Her teams have won European Championships, Regional Championships, Choreography Awards, Spirit Awards, and have even finished Top 10 in the nation. Several of her athletes have also received scholarships to cheer in college.
As a former gymnast, Coach Rachel is able to safely spot and demonstrate novice through advanced tumbling skills. She focuses on fundamentals, technique and core strength. Whether students tumble to elevate their dance or cheer talents, or just because, Coach Rachel makes sure they learn progressively and tailors her instruction to best suit the personalities and needs of individual athletes.
In her spare time, Coach Rachel enjoys adventuring with her husband and daughter. She also enjoys hiking, fishing, being outdoors, and doing arts & crafts. She is a homeschool mom, cancer survivor, and veteran of the United States Air Force.
*Fun Fact: Coach Rachel is bilingual. She learned to speak German while living in Germany for 21 years.
Sandra Hatto
Dance Instructor
Sandra Hatto graduated from Crystal River High School in 2020! Aside from dance, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, going to concerts, and playing with her dogs! Ms. Sandra has been dancing since the age of 3 and started to competitively dance at age 11! Over the years Sandra has been awarded many accolades from Dancing as well as Acting that she's very proud of! These accolades include: numerous judge's choice awards for her solos such as "Most Entertaining," "Best All Around," multiple scholarships and consistant overalls. Sandra's favorite style of dance is Jazz! Ms.Sandra's goals for being a teacher are to instill confidence in all her students and to help them shine as well as offer support and motivation so they can be best they can be on and off stage as well as in everyday life!
Crystal Lee
Tiny Tumbling Coach
Crystal Lee started gymnastics at five years old because she was the only girl in her area that couldn’t do a cartwheel. Crystal had very little flexibility, however she was very fearless, stubborn and determined. At the age of 6, she was invited to a high level gymnastics center and by the age of 8, she was competing as a level 5 gymnast. By age 13, she competed as a level nine gymnast and competed regionally and nationally along with doing competitive dance. At age 15, she successfully competed as a level ten gymnast.
Crystal continued to show adversity throughout her career. During the end of her level ten season, she had major reconstructive surgery on both knees. It took nine months to rehabilitate and relearn how to walk. Luckily, Crystal was able to make a comeback to competitive gymnastics at age 16 and competed nationally, but unfortunately had another setback with surgery on her hand. Crystal retired from gymnastics after her competitive season at age 17 and after reinjuring her knees.
Beyond those amazing milestones, Crystal's accomplishments cannot go unnoticed. She competed for six years as a varsity gymnast because she was allowed on the varsity team in middle school. She was the MVP for five years (missing a season due to her injury).
Crystal broke and still holds all the varsity gymnastics records at her high school. She started her coaching career at age 14 under the guidance of her personal coaches. While in college she attended several USAG coaching seminars. She became certified as a USAG Competitive Gymnastics Coach and worked as a Assistant Director and Assistant Head Coach throughout college. Crystal retired from coaching temporarily when she received her degree as a Health and Wellness Professional in college with a focus on nutrition and athletic training and minoring in Gerontology. Crystal later coached at Legendz gymnastics as the Competitive Balance Beam and Floor Dance coach. After Covid shut down Legendz gym permanently, her girls started dancing at Sharper Image. Crystal began volunteering at Sharper Image as a Tumbling and Acro coach in 2020. "I love working with children of all ages. I started the Tiny Tumbling classes because I have always been fond of working with 5-6 year olds and inspiring tiny humans."
Hermioney Young
Dance Instructor
Hermioney Young has been dancing since 2006. She started at the age of three in the genres of ballet and tap. Hermioney worked her way through the many genres of performing arts such as tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, singing, acting, etc. While attending Sharper Image Performance Dance Studio, she later became a demonstrator for the company and fell in love. Teaching dance has always been a passion she holds deep in her heart. While spending many years in recreational and competitive performing, Hermioney never lost passion for the arts. She now minors in dance at her local college and aspires to always hold performing in her heart. While her and her many teammates have collected numerous awards, Hermioney chose to never forget the meaning of her performance pieces, they are what meant the most to her. Hermioney loves that the arts provide a story through them and she hopes to pass down the connection she has with the arts to others.