Elise Flagg
Founder and Artistic Director
Visit our Gallery for a peek into Elise’s amazing career!
Elise has been pursuing excellence in dance for years. She is the founder and director of Elise Flagg Academy of Dance as the main ballet instructor of the Academy's classes.
Elise Flagg was born in Detroit to Colonel John Flagg and Miriam Flagg, a music teacher with a trained operatic voice. Her cultured household exposed Ms. Elise Flagg to classical music and dance. The family moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where Ms. Flagg started ballet lessons under the direction of Linda Lorimer, who suggested that she audition for The School of American Ballet (SAB) in New York City. At the age of twelve, Ms. Flagg was selected by George Balanchine to attend SAB with a Ford Foundation Scholarship.
Elise spent the next four years training diligently at SAB. She was privileged to study with Alexandra Danilova, Felia Doubrovska, Pierre Vladimarov, and Stanley Williams. Later on in her career, she studied with David Howard, Rudolf Nureyev, and George Balanchine.
At sixteen, Ms. Flagg joined the New York City Ballet where she spent the next nine years advancing from corps de ballet, to soloist. She danced solo and principal roles with New York City Ballet until the time she left to join the Zurich Ballet as a principal artist. Principal roles Ms. Flagg performed include Giselle, Don Quixote (with Rudolf Nureyev), Swan Lake, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™, Serenade, Symphony in C, Jewels, Agon, Square Dance, Episodes, La Sonnambula, Apollo, and Concerto Barocco, among numerous others. Ms. Flagg partners included Rudolf Nureyev, Edward Villella, Peter Schaufuss, John Clifford, Robert Weiss, and Maximiliano Guerra, and Jonas Kage.
Ms. Flagg achieved pilates certification with Romana and Juanita Lopez at the Chicago Pilates Studio. Today, Ms. Flagg teaches a unique combination of classical ballet enhanced by her knowledge of pilates to achieve maximum grace and strength for her dancers. Ms. Flagg’s students have been awarded scholarships for summer intensives at major ballet schools including the School of American Ballet, the Pacific Northwest Ballet. She has had students accepted to the School of American Ballet and the Pacific Northwest Ballet for the full year program. One of her students was accepted to the second professional company of the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam. Ms. Flagg continues to pass on what she learned in the thirty years of her professional careers in dancing and pilates.
Judith Chitwood
Instructor
Judith Chitwood is a Professor and Coordinator of Dance at Northern Illinois University, School of Theatre and Dance. She began her training in the Chicago area at the Academy of Movement and Music, Ruth Page Center for Dance, and the Evanston School of Ballet. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music where she studied the Horton technique of modern dance under James Truitte. Her performing career includes member of Cincinnati/New Orleans City Ballet Company, guest artist with MOMENTA in reconstructions of Doris Humphrey/Charles Weidman works and guest artist throughout Chicago. Ms. Chitwood is a certified Pilates instructor in Romana’s Pilates, studying with Juanita Lopez. She is a member of the American College Dance Association, International Association for Dance Medicine and Science, and Illinois Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Doris Humphrey Society.
Leah Diamond
Instructor
Leah began her dance training at the age of three. By twelve, she was studying under Susan Snider at the City Center of the Performing Arts. The school later established the Pre-Professional Company Cassandra Manning Ballet Theater, of which Leah became a member. She performed in numerous ballets, including The Nutcracker, Giselle, Paquita, and Stars and Stripes. At seventeen, Leah relocated to Virginia to attend the Virginia School of the Arts, led by Artistic Director Petrus Bosman, a former member of the Royal Ballet. After graduating, she was accepted into the University of Arizona Dance Program, where she trained with Jory Hancock, Melissa Lowe, and Susan Quinn Williams. During this time, she began working with Kyria Sabin, who introduced her to Ron Fletcher, one of Joseph Pilates’ original students. Leah began her Pilates teacher training with Kyria and Ron, and has now been a Pilates instructor for 26 years. She has also completed Marcia Daley’s CPYB teacher training program and is a Level 3 Progressive Ballet Instructor.
Leah has passionately shared her expertise in dance and Pilates throughout the Fox Valley area, all while cherishing her time with her two children.
Kaleigh Schock
Instructor
Kaleigh Schock was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. She started training for her professional career at the age of 14, at the Faubourg School of Ballet in Hanover Park, IL; under the guidance of Watmora Casey and Tatyana Mazur.
At 16, Kaleigh moved to NYC to continue her training at Ellison Ballet-Professional Training Program with Edward Ellison. She continued to study at Ellison Ballet for three years. During her time at Ellison Ballet, she was a supplemental dancer with Cincinnati Ballet in 2007, and competed in the Youth American Grand Prix, where she was awarded a contract with Ballet West. Kaleigh joined their second company after graduation in 2008.
After two seasons with Ballet West, Kaleigh went to school at the University of Cincinnati. While there, she attained a BFA in Dance, a minor in Communications, and joined the Nevada Ballet Theatre her Junior year in 2012.
While with Nevada Ballet, Kaleigh has danced roles that include: the Lead Russian Girl in Balanchine's 'Serenade,' Striptease Girl in Balanchine's, 'Slaughter on 10th Avenue,' Lilac Fairy from 'Sleeping Beauty,' Zelma from 'Giselle,' and Summer Fairy in James Canfield's production of 'The Nutcracker.'
Since retiring, Kaleigh has been teaching and freelancing in the Chicagoland area.
Awards include: final round and top 12 in YAGP finals in 2007 and 2008, as well as top 12 in YAGP in the pas de deux category. In 2007, Kaleigh was awarded a scholarship to the Royal Ballet School of England's Graduate Level at the YAGP.
Guest Faculty
Debra Austin
Ballet Master
Debra Austin received a scholarship to the School of American Ballet when she was 12. At 16, she was handpicked by George Balanchine to join the New York City Ballet. While at New York City Ballet, Debra danced many principal roles by both Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, one of which was filmed for a PBS television special, Live From Lincoln Center. She later joined the Zurich Ballet in Switzerland where she danced principal roles in works by all of the major choreographers. Ms. Austin toured with the company throughout Europe. After her return to the United States, she was invited to join Pennsylvania Ballet as a principal dancer where she danced roles in Swan Lake, Coppelia, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Giselle and La Sylphide. She went on to assist Lynne Taylor-Corbett in Ms. Taylor-Corbett’s ballet The Dancing Princesses, and in Florida was a preliminary judge for the National Foundation for the Advancement of the
Therese Davis
Therese Davis, from Naperville, Illinois, currently dances with the Grand Rapids Ballet. She previously danced with the Dutch National Ballet’s Junior Company. She studied on scholarship in Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Professional Division, where she performed with the company in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Cinderella. In 2015, she received the Lorna Strassler Award from Jacob’s Pillow. Therese was a semi-finalist in the 2011 Prix de Lausanne and studied on scholarship at the School of American Ballet summer course. She received her early training at Faubourg School of Ballet and privately with Elise Flagg. In collaboration with the Dutch National Ballet, Therese modeled in a Viktor&Rolf fashion show and demonstrated choreography for the iPhone app Bounden. Therese is currently an apprentice with the Pennsylvania Ballet. She has been promoted and will be a part of the corps de ballet for the Pennsylvania Ballet in August 2017.
Joshua Francique
Joshua Francique is a born and raised Chicago native dance artist, who began his training with Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre in 2015. As he progressed in his training he began to realize his passion for dance grew beyond the likes of a hobby. Joshua continued his studies at Northern Illinois University (NIU) as a dance major under their BFA program. As opportunities emerged he quickly found himself in New York working and collaborating with diverse groups of artists; backgrounds consistent with Modern, African and Ballet techniques. Throughout this time he would return to Chicago where he was apart of the continuation of an original work entitled Production: COLORS under the direction of Joshua L. Ishmon. Since, the pandemic Joshua continues to expand upon his work as a freelance artist, teacher and choreographer leading with a mission to inspire. Joshua is currently in the LINES Ballet Training Program entering his final year. He is excited to be apart of the next generation of innovative storytellers who challenge the social narrative.
Marin Boieru
Ballet Master
Marin Boieru began his ballet training in Romania and later trained at the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad. Mr. Boieru came to Carolina Ballet after seven years as principal dancer for the Miami City Ballet under the direction of Edward Villella. He has performed as a principal for such companies as the Pennsylvania Ballet, Maurice Bejart’s Ballet of the 20th Century, Roland Petit’s Ballet Company of Marseilles, France and Opera of Bucharest. He is the winner of the gold medal at the prestigious Varna and Moscow Ballet competitions. Mr. Boieru starred as James in Peter Martin’s PBS production of La Sylphide and as Albrecht on European television in the Romanian National Ballet’s production of Giselle.
Steven Caras
Steven Caras continues to enjoy a privileged and most colorful career in the arts which began with his timely good fortune in joining the New York City Ballet during the company's true golden age. For the next fourteen years under the leadership of New York City Ballet's legendary founder *George Balanchine, he would dance worldwide in more than forty ballets choreographed by Balanchine in addition to being featured in numerous Jerome Robbins works.
During this inspirational period of his life, Steven Caras was also mentored as a photographer by Mr. Balanchine along with the company's co-founder, Lincoln Kirstein. Their encouragement led Caras to a luminous career as one of the most revered image makers of dance in our time, whose work continues to appear world-wide in major publications, films and documentaries, exhibitions and private collections.
Today, Steven Caras is very active in his travels as a keynote speaker and guest teacher while also playing a critical role in Palm Beach County philanthropy as a trustee on a private foundation along with his work as the founding chairman of two local charities--The Randolph A. Frank Prize for the Performing Arts and College Drive. He is the recipient of the 2014 Career Transition for Dancers "Heart & Soul" award, presented to him at the organization's annual Palm Beach fund raiser by Broadway legend Chita Rivera.
The PBS documentary, Steven Caras: See Them Dance, is a compelling celebration of Caras' accomplishments with a special emphasis on the artistry and magnitude of his photographic collection. The film has aired successfully on multiple PBS stations nationwide, receiving a 2012 Emmy Award in the category of Arts and Entertainment and the Grand Remi Award for 'Best Television Film of 2012' at the 45th Annual Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival. In addition to his various projects, Caras is focused on identifying a permanent home for his extensive body of work:
The Steven Caras Collection.
Marcus Galante
Ballet Master
Marcus Galante has worked extensively as a choreographer and teacher throughout the world. Trained at the American Ballet Theatre School and The School of American Ballet, he was also a trainee at the Harkness School of Dance. He went on to dance with the Chicago Lyric Ballet under Maria Tallchief, Cleveland Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, and was a soloist with the National Ballet of South Africa C.A.P.A.B. dancing the classical repetoire. He sang, danced and acted in A Chorus Line, Pippin, Carousel and other shows and has worked in Television and film as well.
Mr. Galante has created works for Ballet Chicago, Garden State Ballet, Eglevsky Ballet, Houston Grand Opera, Ballet Trockadero, the Buffalo Opera and other companies. In 1995 he was nominated for a Dance in Film Award by the International Dance Film Association. He has been awarded fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Harkness Foundation for Dance. He is the founder and artistic director of the Comic Ballet Company Les Grands De Loony.
As a teacher, Mr. Galante has been on the faculty of some of the most prestigious schools in the country. Included are the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center where he was invited to be the company teacher of Ailey II, Pennsylvania Ballet School and Company, The Pacific Northwest Ballet, Lines Contemporary Ballet Company in San Francisco, Eglevsky Ballet, Ballet Chicago, Steps in New York, Broadway Dance Center, the Virginia School of the Arts, and many others. He has also taught in Japan and Germany, as well as at the Midwestern Regional Ballet Festival in Columbus Ohio, and the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters.
He is a musician trained at the Manhattan School of Music in Piano. He has played for most every major ballet school in New York City and has been in demand because of his extensive repertoire which ranges from classical and obscure ballet music to Stravinsky, Hindemith and the most recent Broadway Shows and movies. Mr. Galante especially enjoyed working with such teachers as Mdm. Antonia Tumkovsky, Diana Cartier, Andre Kramerevsky, Peter Boal, and Lupe Serrano.
