Miss Elena
Education
- Cary-Grove High School Graduate (1997)
- University of Illinois – Bachelor of Arts in English Secondary Education/ Endorsement in Dance (2002)
- Laban School of Dance, London, England – Professional Degree in Community Dance Studies (2003)
- DePaul University – Master’s degree in Liberal Studies (2009)
Training & Performance Highlights
- Elena was a four-year member of Cary-Grove’s Swing Choir and a Captain of the state champion pom squad. She also had several lead roles in the musicals including Damn Yankees, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and 42nd Street.
- She was a member of the Legend Dance Company at the University of Illinois.
- While studying at the Laban School of Dance in London, England, she performed in the premier of Degrees of Freedom and choreographed Celebrating Sondheim.
Teaching Experience
- Naperville North High School English Teacher – Dance team coach, Orchesis director, Urban Revolution - Crew hip hop/break dance coach
- Peoria Central High School’s Preparatory Academy for the Fine Arts – Dance Department Head
- Internships with both the Hubbard Street Dance Company and the Joel Hall Dance Company, Chicago
- Just for Kix National Dance Camp – Instructor
- Elk Grove Park District – Director of youth summer theater camps
- CGPAC – teacher since 1999
- Has choreographed for: University of Illinois Illini Union Board musicals Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, A Chorus Line, Damn Yankees, and Little Shop of Horrors. Also for Prospect High School Show Choir, Eastern Illinois University Show Choir Camp, White Horse Theatre Company, Celebration Theater Company, Cutting Edge Show Choir, Mt. Zion Show Choir, Homestead Show Choir, Antioch Competition Pom Squad and Cary-Grove Swing Choir.
Personal
Elena lives in Barrington Hills with her husband, Bretton, and their three boys, Dane, Torben, and Axel. Elena is honored to have the opportunity to share her love of dance with the students of CGPAC.