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OWNER/DIRECTOR - MARIA ELLIS: Maria began her dance training with Delia Foley R.A.D. and then joined the Mohawk Valley Ballet as a company member. While with the MVB Maria performed in such classical works as The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella, as well as many New York State Premiers including Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. Maria later became Ballet Mistress of the MVB where she organized and ran company classes, auditions, rehearsals, and performances. Maria graduated from Mercyhurst College with a B.A. degree in Dance Teaching and Choreography, and a minor in Arts Administration. She then pursued a Masters Degree in Business Administration, graduating from Everglades University. As a member of the Mercyhurst Dancers, Maria performed as well as choreographed both classical and contemporary works for main stage productions. She was part of a liturgical group ensemble, both dancing and choreographing. She also worked for the Erie, PA Arts Council. Maria has been teaching and choreographing in New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida for the last ten years. Maria teaches technique based classes and focuses on guiding each student to perform to their fullest potential.
LISA DAY: Lisa graduated from the "FAME" High School of Performing Arts in New York City, and was a Dance major under June Lewis at Brooklyn College. She has also studied at Joffrey in New York City. She has been teacing for 22 years, children 18 months all the way thru senior citizens, and is a graduate of Dance Educators of America. Lisa relocated here from Ft. Lauderdale where she had been teaching for Mrs. P's Dance and Acrobatics studios in Weston, Boca Raton, and Coral Springs for ten years, as well as teaching and choreographing for the Coral Springs Institute of the Performing Arts Musical Theatre program. Her students have won numerous awards at dance competitions and Lisa continues to give private lessons to students to prepare students for competition. Lisa improves her teaching skills through conventions and competitions. Lisa teaches all combo classes and many first year full hour classes. Lisa's energetic classes are loved by all her students.
MINDY HALL: Mindy began her training at Robin Dawn Performing Arts Center in Cape Coral at the early age of four. Her talent and love of dance was prevalent as she continued her training in New York and California. She was a featured perfomer in the 1990 MGM Grand opening television special with Smokey Robinson. In 1991 she traveled to Tokyo Disneyland to join the cast of "One Man's Dream". She has been teaching throughout South Florida for the past thirteen years. Her creative choreography is well known and has received many awards. Mindy has been a special guest teacher at the University of South Carolina Conservatory. She has a Masters Degree in Mental Health. Mindy teaches advanced lyrical, a strong eclectic and emotional style of dance.
MICHELLE KERAUS: Michelle started dancing at the age of three. She studied dance at several studios until she landed at the studio that she owes her dance training to, Moore School of Dance in Ankeny, Iowa. Michelle studied ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, broadway style, hip hop, and tumbling. Michelle won numerous competitions at both the state and the national level. She holds many dance titles for her solo routines, including Miss Dance of Iowa 1997. Michelle has studied in New York City at Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, Alvin Ailey, and the Joffrey Ballet. She has also attended numerous workshops at Giordano Dance Center: Chicago, and “Jazz in AZ” at the University of Arizona. Michelle attended Northwest Missouri State University where she was the captain for the Bearcat Steppers Dance Team for two of her four years on the team. She also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology/Criminal Justice. Michelle has taught for the National Dance Association as well as choreographed for Furman University’s Danzers Dance Team. Michelle teaches all styles of full hour classes, does company choreography, and is also a high school varsity cheerleading coach.
KRISTA LORD: Krista began her dance training in New York with the Chenango Ballet Theater and Wendy Wade Dance Studio at the age of three, where she studied ballet, lyrical, jazz, modern, and hip-hop. She performed in such classical works as Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, La Bayadere, The Sleeping Beauty, Rodeo, and Stars and Stripes. She has also trained with several modern dance companies such as Alvin Ailey II, Limon, Sean Curran, and Paul Taylor II in summer dance intensives, as well as with dancers from The Warsaw Ballet, New York City Ballet, and Kansas City Ballet Companies. Krista began instructing at her studio at the age of fourteen and was the choreographer for the Oneonta High School Dance Team for four years. She also choreographed for the South Kortright Dance Team that competed statewide and brought home first place two years in a row. Krista attended Point Park University on scholarship as a modern dance major before she relocated to Naples in the fall of 2006. Krista teaches all styles of full hour classes and does all styles of company choreography.
ABBY ONUSKA: Abby began her dance career at the age of two in western Pennsylvania at Paula Scriva Dance Studio. She received rigorous training in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, and musical theatre from owner/director Paula Scriva Jersey for 16 years. She also trained with Russian ballet master Mansur Kamaletdinov in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and at the Dance Educators of America Summer Ballet Seminar at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Abby went on to study dance performance at Kent State University for two years after being awarded the Creative Artist Scholarship. There she performed with the Kent Dance Ensemble and participated in lecture/demonstrations at public and private schools. In 2004 she graduated from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. Degree in Elementary Education and Dance. Abby has been a teacher with Collier County Public Schools for four years. She holds professional certification through the State of Florida in elementary, pre-kindergarten, educational leadership, and physical education. In 2007 she completed a Masters Degree in School Administration from Florida Gulf Coast University. She was named a 2009 Golden Apple "Teacher of Distinction" by the Collier County Education Foundation. Abby is a member of The Naples Players and was most recently seen in "Thoroughly Modern Millie" (Gloria) at the Sudgen Community Theater in downtown Naples. Also with TNP she performed in "Anything Goes" (Virtue Angel), "Goodbye Girl" (Donna/dance captain), "Cabaret" (Rosie/dance captain) and "Smokey Joe's Cafe" (dance ensemble). For the theater's KidzAct Program she choreographed "Dear Edwina, Jr." in the summer of 2008. Abby desires to share her love for dance while developing the talent and self-confidence of every dancer.
