Student Spotlight: Charlotte DiMercurio-Ruiz

Nine-year-old Charlotte DiMercurio-Ruiz has been a student at Dr. Phillips Center’s AdventHealth School of the Arts since November 2024, and in that short time, she has found her voice—literally!  

Charlotte always loved the idea of performing, but it was watching other students take the stage that inspired her to pursue that dream herself. "When I first started, I was always nervous, but I got more comfortable being on stage," she says. "Now when I perform, I still feel nervous, but I'm excited too." This summer, she took the stage in three musical theatre camps including Best of Broadway, Undersea Adventure and Villain Vibes—bringing her total to six School of the Arts programs.

She's also found inspiration by attending performances at Dr. Phillips Center, including Orlando Ballet's The Nutcracker, Baby Shark on Stage and & Juliet. It was & Juliet that introduced her to one of her favorite performers, Fabiola Caraballo Quijada.

Of all the classes she's taken through Dr. Phillips Center's AdventHealth School of the Arts, Frozen Kids remains her favorite. She loved the classes and the friendships she built along the way. One of her favorite memories is meeting two girls in class who are still close friends today.

The confidence Charlotte has gained reaches far beyond the stage. Whether she's giving a presentation at school or preparing for a performance, she relies on the lessons she's learned through the arts.

"Two big tools I've learned from being on stage are telling myself, 'I've got this,' and taking deep breaths," she says. As Charlotte continues her journey at AdventHealth School of the Arts, she's excited to keep growing as both a singer and an actress.

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