Elite Arts Academy

Coming Soon!!

Vanessa — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:27:24 +0000

Hi everyone! We will soon have our blog section filling up with lots of interesting articles and information. Stay tuned!!

Kelly Vasquez

admin — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 16:48:45 +0000

Kelly Vasquez:
Began dancing at the age of 9 training in Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary. Kelly’s training began with Ms. Dee when she was part of the Porter Dancers at Dr. Gilbert L. Porter Elementary in 2001. She started competing at

Regional Competitions and soon after at Nationals where she achieved high scores, titles and judges awards. Kelly continued dancing through Middle School where she became the president of her team. In 2011, she graduated from Coral Reef Senior High School where she was part of the Dance Magnet Program and co-captain of her team during senior year. Kelly recently joined the Dance Elite team and is currently studying at Miami Dade College to become a physician’s assistant.

Irma Gloria

admin — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 16:41:28 +0000

Irma Gloria:
Started her formal training as an Opera singer in the conservatoire New World School of the Arts. She continued her training in music at the prestigious conservatoire of Manhattan School Music in New York, where she was privately trained by

Emmy winning Opera legend Catherine Malfitano. Along with singing, Irma has been training in the theater arts since the young age of 13 and has been in countless theater productions including musical theater. Irma has an extensive technique for various styles of singing. Her technique includes Opera, Musical Theater, Jazz, Pop and Rock. Along with her primary instrument of voice, Irma has had extensive training in Piano. She began teaching voice, drama, and piano at the age of 17 and has worked with countless students from New York to Miami. Several of her voice/drama students have auditioned and been accepted into conservatoires such as AMDA (American Musical and Dramatic Academy) in Manhattan New York, and NWSA (New World School of the Arts) in Miami Florida. Irma Is thrilled to be a part of the EAA Family

Rachel Matos

admin — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 15:40:21 +0000

Rachel Matos:
Introduced to the world of art by her parents and started painting at the age of five. She immediately began to take private art lessons in San Juan Puerto Rico where she learned the basics of all art mediums. By her Senior Year of High School, she was awarded first place for the

Florida Congressional Art Competition. Her winning piece hung in the hallways of the Congress office in Washington D.C for a full year. Rachel graduated from Felix Varela and was accepted into the Art Program at the University of South Florida in Tampa where she graduated with my Bachelors in Fine Arts and a concentration in painting. Rachel is now part of EAA family as the art instructor while she pursues a career as an accomplished artist.

Nichole Costales

admin — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 01:07:15 +0000

Nichole Costales:
Started dancing at the age of eight. She was part of the dance program throughout middle school and all four years of high school. During these years, she participated in many shows and performances. She taught dance classes at the Little Gym, where she was in charge of teaching ballet and tap

to younger students. Her favorite style of dance is Hip-Hop because it’s fun and upbeat. Nichole graduated from Felix Varela Senior High School and is currently attending Miami Dade College, where she is pursuing a career in interior design. She is now our Hip-Hop teacher and she looks forward to continuing to teach our students at Dance Elite.

Pre- Dance

admin — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:55:43 +0000

Pre- Dance is designed to continue the concept of tap and ballet where the basic techniques will be taught. In this class students can build discipline and confidence. Guided by our Rising Stars Program. (pls link to Rising Stars Program) Read more about Ballet and Tap. VANESSA PLS MAKE SURE THE WORDS BALLET AND TAP LINK TO THE PAGE WHERE THE DESCRIPTION OF THOSE CLASSES ARE.

Pointe

admin — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:53:14 +0000

Pointe is an advanced type of ballet that is performed on the tips of the toes. Pointe means “on the tip” and is a part of classical ballet technique, usually practiced using specially reinforced shoes called Pointe shoes or toe shoes. The technique developed from the desire for dancers to appear weightless and has evolved to enable dancers to dance on the tips of their toes for extended periods of time. Although both men and women are capable of dancing on Pointe, it is more commonly performed by women.

Little Steps

admin — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:52:20 +0000

Little Steps A “Mommy & Me” class designed to introduce our 2 year old students to the concepts of tap and ballet. Basic Pre-Tap and Pre-Ballet skills will be introduced. (Maximum eight students per class.) Guided by our Rising Stars Program. (Pls link to the Rising Stars Program). Read more about Ballet and Tap. VANESSA PLS MAKE SURE THE WORDS BALLET AND TAP LINK TO THE PAGE WHERE THE DESCRIPTION OF THOSE CLASSES ARE!

Latin Dance

admin — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:51:09 +0000

Latin Dance is a style of dance that consists of different Latin dances such as Salsa, Merengue, and Ballroom. Latin dance includes a wide range of dances originating in Latin America, Puerto Rico and Cuba. Examples include the Cha-cha-cha, Rumba, Samba, Salsa, Mambo, Merengue, Bachata, and Bolero. Some styles of Latin Dance also include tango although it differs from the rest in their style. The term Latin Dance has two meanings, depending on whether the context is Social or Ballroom Dance.

Jazz

admin — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:50:29 +0000

Jazz dance is a style of dance that requires flexibility and ballet foundation. It is characterized by syncopated rhythms, ensemble playing, and varying degrees of improvisation. Jazz is considered a form of dance shared by a broad range of dance styles. Before the 1950s, Jazz dance referred to dance styles that originated from African American dance. In the 1950s, a new genre of Jazz dance—modern jazz dance—emerged, with roots in Caribbean traditional dance. Every individual style of Jazz dance has roots traceable to one of these two distinct origins.
With the growing domination of other forms of entertainment music, Jazz dance evolved on Broadway into the new, smooth style that is taught today and known as modern Jazz.
Jazz dancers wear leather jazz shoes, to help them move smoothly when executing turns. They also typically perform exercises prior to dancing in order to warm up and stretch muscles so as to prevent injuries. It is frequently influenced by other dance styles such as Acro, Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, and Hip-Hop.
Last, as in most forms of dance, technique is the foundation for all Jazz movements and Jazz dancers benefit from Ballet work and technique.

Hip-Hop

admin — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:49:38 +0000

Hip-Hop is a mix of today’s high-energy street dancing. It is designed to teach coordination, strength, and endurance. It refers to a style of dance primarily danced to Hip-Hop music or that have evolved as part of Hip-Hop culture. This includes a wide range of styles notably breaking, locking, and popping which were developed in the 1970s by Black and Latino Americans. What separates Hip-Hop dance from other forms of dance is that it is often improvised and Hip-Hop dancers frequently engage in battles (informal freestyle dance competitions). Informal freestyle sessions and battles are usually performed in a cipher, “a circular dance space that forms naturally once the dancing begins”. Freestyle, battles, and ciphers are key components of Hip-Hop dance.
The dance industry responded with a studio-based version of Hip-Hop sometimes called new style and jazz funk. These styles were developed by technically trained dancers who wanted to create choreography for Hip-Hop music. Because of this development, Hip-Hop dance is now practiced at both studios and outside spaces.
To some, Hip-Hop dance may only be a form of entertainment or a hobby. To others it has become a lifestyle: a way to be active in physical fitness or competitive dance and a way to make a living by dancing professionally.

Flamenco

admin — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:48:51 +0000

Flamenco is dance style of the Andalusia Gypsies characterized by forceful, often improvised rhythms. Flamenco is known by the grace movement of the hands as well as the controlled rhythmical movements of the feet. Flamenco is considered a Spanish genre of music and dance, which originated in the 18th century. The singing, guitar playing and the dance are the principal facets of Flamenco. In recent years the popularity of flamenco in Latin America is such that in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama and El Salvador several ensembles and today Flamenco has grown to be one most popular dance styles.

Belly Dance

admin — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:48:01 +0000

Belly Dance is a Middle Eastern dance in which the dancer makes sensuous movements of the hips and abdomen. It is sometimes also called Middle Eastern dance or Arabic dance in the West. The term “Belly Dance” is a translation of the French “danse du ventre” which was applied to the dance in the Victorian era. It is something of a misnomer as every part of the body is involved in the dance; the most featured body part usually is the hips. Belly Dance takes many different forms depending on country and region; both in costume and dance style, and new styles have evolved in the West as its popularity has spread globally. Although contemporary forms of Belly Dance have generally been performed by women, some of the dances, particularly the cane dance, have origins in male forms of performance.

Ballet

admin — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:47:18 +0000

Ballet is a Classical type of dance characterized by the grace of movement. It is considered the foundation of all other forms of dance. Its meticulous attention to technical detail makes it invaluable for any serious dancer.
Ballet is a formalized kind of performance dance, which originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France, Russia, and Britain as a concert dance form. Ballet has since become a highly technical form of dance with its own vocabulary. It is primarily performed with the accompaniment of classical music and has been influential as a form of dance globally. Ballet is known to be choreographed and performed by trained artists. It can include mime and acting, and are set to music (usually orchestral but occasionally vocal). It is a poised style of dance that incorporates the foundational techniques for many other dance forms. This genre of dance is very hard to master and requires much practice. Ballet is best known in the form of Late Romantic Ballet or Ballet Blanc, which preoccupies itself with the female dancer to the exclusion of almost all else, focusing on pointe work, flowing, precise acrobatic movements, and often presenting the dancers in the conventional short white French tutu.
Ballet technique can refer to the foundational principles and steps on which ballet steps are built. These foundational principles and steps include “pulling up” (a popular term used in Ballet used to describe proper posture and lifting the muscles to increase turnout, quantity and quality of turns, and proper alignment), posture, pointing the toe, and flexibility. In general, referring to the execution of dance, a ballet dancer with good technique requires good placement, and turnout. Where alignment refers to the dancer’s ability to keep the head, shoulders, and hips aligned vertically, turnout refers to the dancer’s ability to complete movements with the legs rotated outward. This can be in areas such as clean footwork, graceful port de bras, and overall correct positions and lines/angles.
Ballet technique is traditionally very strict because perfection in key principles and steps is considered its foundation. Finally, Ballet is encouraged strongly at a young age to build good habits and protect the dancer’s muscles, limbs, bones, and health.

Acro

admin — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:46:13 +0000

Acro is a style of dance that combines classical dance technique with precision acrobatic elements. It is defined by its athletic character, its unique choreography, which seamlessly blends dance and acrobatics, and its use of acrobatics in a dance context. Acro dance is known by various other names including Acrobatic Dance and Gymnastic Dance, though it is most commonly referred to simply as Acro by dancers and dance professionals.
Acro is an especially challenging dance style for dancers, as it requires them to be trained in both dance and acrobatic skills. Acro dancers must be in excellent physical condition as well, because Acro is a physically demanding activity. Although Acro is a popular dance style, many dance schools do not teach it, often due to lack of facilities or expertise needed for acrobatic training.

Hip-Hop Dance

admin — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:13 +0000

The dance industry responded with a studio-based version of Hip-Hop sometimes called new style and jazz funk. These styles were developed by technically trained dancers who wanted to create choreography for Hip-Hop music. Because of this development, Hip-Hop dance is now practiced at both studios and outside spaces.

To some, Hip-Hop dance may only be a form of entertainment or a hobby. To others it has become a lifestyle: a way to be active in physical fitness or competitive dance and a way to make a living by dancing professionally.

Classical ballet

admin — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 13:47:56 +0000

Classical Ballet

Elianne Moreno

admin — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:52:34 +0000

Elianne Moreno:
Began her Ballet training at an early age. She graduated from the National School of Ballet in Havana, Cuba where she got the opportunity to perform in major shows and events. At the age of 16 she began her career as a professional dancer of one of the most recognized Ballet companies in Havana, Cuba.

Elianne gained international exposure byperforming as a soloist in several courtiers and also had the opportunity to dance with some of the best dancing talent worldwide. She has been teaching Ballet to students with special needs since 1998, and she now has the opportunity to share her dancing and teaching talent with our students.

Dania Hernandez

admin — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:34:19 +0000

Dania Hernandez:

Born in Habana, Cuba, Dania began dancing Flamenco at the age of 7. At 15, she was part of the Lizt Alfonso Ballet Company, where she developed her technique and became a soloist dancer. Due to her success and talent as a soloist, she was trained to teach and choreograph for the company.

As the main teacher and choreo-grapher, she performed in different countries such as Spain, Venezuela and USA, where she danced in major events. Dania now teaches Flamenco to our students.

Daniela Boada Chavarriaga

admin — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:02:13 +0000

Daniela Boada-Chavarriaga (Director)
Started dancing at the age of two. She also became a gymnast when she was 4 years old. Her career as a gymnast lasted for 16 years as she participated in various Regional and National Competitions. By the age of 5, she was performing in TV shows and appearing in TV commercials.

Daniela continued dancing and at the age of 12, was participating in National Dance Competitions and receiving various awards for her solo performances.
She graduated from Coral Reef Senior High School with a diploma in Fine Arts where she was enrolled in the Dance Magnet Program and was also a participant of the dance team. She was Dance Director at Dr. Gilbert L.Porter Elementary for three years,where she was responsible for teaching and directing dance competitions and performances. She continued to teach dance at a local dance studio while she was pursuing her career in Elementary Education.
Daniela graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. She is now living her dream as a dancer and educator teaching 2nd grade at Somerset City Arts Conservatory, and sharing with her students her passion and love for dance.