Krisha Despenas is a Tampa native and distinguished alumni graduate of Mary Jo’s Performing Arts Academy. She began dancing with Mary Jo in 1985, was a member of Dance Encore and has been teaching numerous disciplines of dance at the academy since 1991. She recently earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. Krisha is a member of Dance Masters of America. She has participated in Florida Dance Masters Intensive Training Seminars and studied with Frank Hatchett, Joe Tremaine and New York City Dance Alliance. Krisha is the Junior Division Director of Universal Movement Performing Arts Company and serves on the Board of the Tampa Bay Triple Threat Theatre. She has received numerous choreography awards at both Regional and National Competitions.

Krisha performed as an Imagineer with the renowned Cirque Productions in Paris, France and Amelia Island. Her other performing credits include: The Busch Gardens Olympic Send Off Show, a singer/dancer abroad the MS Tropic Star of Starlite Cruise Lines, and in local productions of South Pacific, Fiddler on the Roof, Follies and Jesus Christ Superstar. Krisha served as Assistant Choreographer and Dance Captain of Fiddler on the Roof, Nunsense and Jesus Christ Superstar for St. Paul Summer Theatre Productions. She also choreographs for Universal Movement and has also choreographed for Children of the Day, Bye, Bye Birdie and Fabulous Fifties. She has choreographed productions of The Music Man, Fame, and Godspell for Tampa Bay Triple Threat Theatre.