Discover the Difference at Star Academy!

We believe in providing exceptional training in a FUN and positive environment.
We are dedicated to fostering individual growth as a
family-oriented studio. Through the art of dance, aerial, music, and beyond - we can help everyone build self-confidence and friendships to last a lifetime!

Our Story

Star Academy of the Performing Arts began in 2019, under the direction of Caitlyn Cobb. It began as just a handful of classes in a dance room of a local gym. In 2021, we grew to our own building with a dance room, aerial room, and piano room - and in 2022, we added on an additional large dance room at almost 1000 square feet. We now consistently have about 250 students at a time, and continue to grow with every season. What began as a small dream just to teach dance again, has now grown to over thousands impacted by the influence of Star Academy in our community.

We provide our students with an appreciation for the performing arts, as well as helping them develop life skills (self-discipline, confidence, self-esteem, discipline) this training can provide.

These are life-long assets that will help students succeed in any career.

Being able to see each and every student achieve their goals as individuals is very important to us.

We are proud to offer high-quality training at all levels.

Star Academy is blessed to have an incredible team of staff - all incredibly talented in their own way, and absolutely

amazing teachers (check out their bios below)!

Our studios each have floating dance floors to prevent injury when training, as well as the highest quality marley floors.

The aerial rigging is all able to withstand 2000+ pounds and is constantly checked to ensure everyone's safety.

We cannot wait to see what else the future holds for our studio!

meet the owner

Caitlyn danced in the Tampa Bay area from the time she was 2 and trained in Aerial Silks and Lyra since she was 16. She trained with many famous dancers and choreographers including Andy Pellick, Mia Michaels, Suzi Taylor, Bradley Bradshaw, & many more. She trained with All American Classical Ballet School 2011-2013, where their traveling competition team place in the top 5 in the New York City Dance Alliance prestigious National Finals.
Caitlyn earned many scholarships to conventions throughout her high school
dancer career, as well as to college her senior year.

In 2017, she earned her Bachelors Degree in Business Management with a Minor in Ballet from the University of South Florida. She performed with the USF Sundolls Dance Team for 2 years, serving both as the Technique Captain and Social Media Manager, while also continuing to teach multiple classes and traveling as the Stage Manager for Step Up 2 Dance Competition.

She has performed dance and aerial acts throughout the country, and you might have even seen her in a few local commercials for MOR TV and Moreno Bakery. One of her favorite performances was at the IIFA Awards performing on stage with John Travolta & Priyanka Chopra.

In 2019, Caitlyn opened Star Academy of the Performing Arts, where she shares her love for dance with students of all ages. She actively gives back to her community through volunteer work with the Pace Center for Girls. In 2023, she founded Star Community Arts, a non-profit initiative aimed at bringing the performing arts to those who might not otherwise have access. This year, 7 families received scholarships due to family hardships. In 2024, she won both the Manatee Young Professionals Entrepreneur of the Year Award as well as the Business Observer's 40 under 40 Award.

Caitlyn teaches all styles of dance and aerial arts, though she especially loves lyrical and acro. She finds joy in building meaningful connections with every student and family who walks through the doors of her studio.