Judges

Donna Roberts Mitchell

Donna Roberts Mitchell is not known locally as a dancer, but she is an actress/singer, and a person with the ability to know what it takes to perform on stage. As co-owner of Idea Garden Advertising and Planet Vero Radio, Donna has been in the local media since 1978. She is astute in media sales, promotions, as a popular voice-over artist and as a radio show host. Her comic timing makes her, not only the hit of the party, but well-seasoned as an emcee, announcer and on stage, in such highly acclaimed character roles such as Gypsy Rose Lee’s mama Rose in Gypsy, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, Mother Superior in the Sound of Music and Rizzo in Grease. Her community affiliations are wide including work with the Chamber of Commerce, American Red Cross, Vero Beach Theatre Guild and Riverside Theatre. An award recipient for advertising, writing, and voice, as well as for acting in the theatre, she is a proud grandmother and mother, and wife to fellow thespian Jim Mitchell. This is Donna’s first trip to Dancing with Vero’s Star’s judge’s chair, but we expect the event audience to enjoy her as much as the dancing competition itself.

Adam Schnell

Adam Schnell graduated from Walnut Hill School for the Arts as a ballet major in 1999 and in 2009 he completed his BA from Empire State College with a double major in Arts Management and Dance Education.  As a professional dancer he has performed with the Channel Islands Ballet, Omaha Theater Ballet, Sarasota Ballet of Florida, and Nevada Ballet Theater. He has performed as a guest artist with Southhold Dance Theater, Lone Star Ballet, and with the world famous Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo. His dance and theater choreography has been seen all over the United States and he has served as resident choreographer for both the Omaha Theater Ballet and Sarasota Ballet of Florida. He has been teaching in the disciplines of both dance and theater for over a decade and is a sought after master teacher throughout the country. Since moving to Vero Beach in 2009 he has served as a faculty member for Riverside Children’s Theatre and director of The Dance Conservatory at Riverside. Adam, who is the director of The Riverside Dance Festival, was a Dancing with Vero’s Stars judge in 2011 and we are happy for his return and outstanding expertise in the art of dance!

Lance Sexton

Owner of Melbourne Ballroom, Lance Sexton, grew up in the dance business with both parents professional dance teachers. He brings over 25 years of top professional dance experience with him to Melbourne Ballroom. In recent years Melbourne Ballroom has grown to a 3000 square foot facility with 2 ballrooms for private lessons, group classes, dance parties and showcase events. Lance’s background includes extensive training with World and U.S. champions. He is certified as a Master by the former National Director and World Top Instructor of Arthur Murray (see below). Lance competed professionally for 10 years and has won numerous championships and titles during his career. He is one of only a few professionals to win large competitions in all four styles of dancing. Lance is registered as Professional Dance Teachers with the National Dance Council of America (NDCA) and USA Dance, Inc. This is Lance’s 5^th year as a judge for Dancing with Vero’s Stars.