Lucia A. Rivadeneira
Lucia was raised on the Southwest coast of Florida,
embarking on her artistic journey at the age of two years old. Immersed in the world of the performing arts, Lucia trained proficiently in the areas of ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, musical theatre, hip-hop, contemporary, modern, acrobatics, Latin, Polynesian, voice, and acting. In high school she invested her time performing in concerts, competitions, showcases, and musical productions with the North Fort Myers High School Theatre, Dance and Choir Departments along with Studio Seven Center for Creative Studies. In addition to performing she also discovered a passion for teaching and choreographing. She assisted and taught classes at her home studio, while also serving as a dance captain and choreographer for select events, pieces and productions at school such as the Southwest Florida Theatrical Society, Wicked Walk, Disney's Magic Performer Program, Aladdin Jr, Moana Jr, Something Rotten and The Little Mermaid Jr. Lucia was honored to be awarded Choreographer of the Year through the Theatre Department in 2022 and graduated later that year from NFMHS Summa Cum Laude with her Cambridge AICE Diploma.
Lucia continued her education after high school, attending Florida Southern College, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography. Throughout her college career, she played vital roles in the FSC|Dance Program, including performing all eight semesters; being cast in guest artist residencies (Fredrick “Earl” Mosley, Hannah Grace Weinmaster, Autumn Eckman, Jackie Nowicki, Michelle Petrucci, Jon Lehrer, Carolyn Dorfman, Theresa Jimmerson, Alexandra Tiso, Jerry Opadenaker, Leah Pinder); performing and taking classes at the American College Dance Association Southeast Conference; speaking at admissions events promoting the program; presenting her own artistry at prestigious donor events; and serving as the student director for the Emerging Artist Showcase in 2024 and the BFA Concert in 2026.
Over the course of her last three years in the program, Lucia was awarded Emerging Choreographer of the Year 2024, Dance Major of the Year 2025, and Outstanding Leadership of the Year 2026. She served as PR and Social Media Manager of the FSC|Dance Student Organization from 2024–2025 and President of the organization from 2025–2026. Through these roles, Lucia gracefully led the dancers in the program, ensuring a fun and welcoming atmosphere among her fellow colleagues.
She continued immersing herself in the theatrical side of the industry through the Department of Theatre and Dance, taking additional Theatre Arts courses, voice lessons, and even performing in the musical, Carousel, her senior year. While investing her efforts into programs within the school, Lucia simultaneously was given opportunities to perform outside the walls of Florida Southern. She performed in various dance festivals and showcases such as The Naples International Dance Festival, The Barnett Nutcracker Christmas Performance, and The Butterfly Effect Showcase. Choreographically, she was honored to present her work with notable organizations such as the Ogunquit Playhouse Youth Program and the North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts Jr. Thespian Troupe.
Lucia is eagerly looking forward to taking her leap into the professional dance scene, with a goal of pursuing her diverse passions in both performance and choreography, spanning the worlds of concert dance and theatrical commercial styles.
