![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Mackenzie-Mclean.jpg\")
Mackenzie Mclean Credit: Courtesy<\/p>\nMackenzie Mclean Credit: Courtesy<\/p>\n
Creative Loafing Tampa Bay\u2019s spring arts issue features more than a dozen artists to watch this year and beyond. Meet Mackenzie Mclean<\/a>.<\/p>\n California called, but she stayed in St. Pete: Graduating from PCCA in 2023, the now-20-year-old won a scholarship to her dream school in California but decided to stay in St. Pete.<\/p>\n Now you see her everywhere: Tampa City Ballet, Atlas Modern Ballet, projectAlchemy, \u201cA Very Broadway Christmas\u201d and more<\/p>\n And she\u2019s teaching at PCCA: \u201cAt first I thought it\u2019d be really hard\u2014I was just in school with these people. But it was not an issue.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Miss P is her mentor: That\u2019s Suzanne Pomerantzeff, co-founder of the Academy of Ballet Arts in St. Pete and former PCCA dance chair. \u201cShe has this way of nurturing students. I think that\u2019s really where I found that there\u2019s beauty not only in perfecting your own stuff but in helping other people.\u201d<\/p>\n How Pinellas Dance Collective was born: \u201cThe only place where younger dancers were meeting each other was at competitions. I wanted to make a space where we can just all come dance.\u201d She also realized from attending workshops that she could make a little bank, too. And, as a nonprofit, award scholarships.<\/p>\n A performing highlight: Dancing in Italy for the DAP Festival, a summer intensive, \u201con this huge stage out in the forest.\u201d<\/p>\n A memorable audition: For The Rockettes! She couldn\u2019t complete the process because it conflicted with her first performance with Atlas. But \u201cIt was definitely the most magical audition of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n The secret to her success: \u201cI\u2019m a talker. So whenever I go into a new space I always become friends with the people around me.\u201d<\/p>\n Next up: She\u2019ll be performing at Beacon March 6 in a piece by Justin Brock.<\/p>\n Pitch in to help make the Tampa Bay Journalism Project a success.<\/a><\/p>\n Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us:\u00a0Google News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0NewsBreak<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Reddit<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Facebook\u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0BlueSky<\/a><\/p>\n This article appears in Jan. 22 \u2013 28, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n \t