Faculty
Lauren Mangano, owner/director
Lauren, a Massachusetts native, is an established performer, choreographer and dance instructor throughout New England. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance with a graduate focus in Pedagogy, Composition, and Creative Movement. Lauren’s background includes Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary Performance, Repertory Performance, Rhythmic Exploration, and a concentration in Vagonova and Horton techniques studying from some of the best in the Industry including Missy Lay Zimmer, Andrew Hubbard, Kristen Denehey and Dennis Caspary. Lauren has performed for the Dean Dance Company, First Night Boston as well as for Dance Extravaganza as a featured dancer under the choreography A.C. Ciulla and Maurice Hines. Lauren has also danced with the notable Isaac Hayes at the Boston World Trade Center and at Foxwoods Hotel and Casino as a Celtics Dancer Finalist. She is a featured dancer in the inspirational DVD Dance Life Teachers Conference 2009.
As a teacher, her choreography consistently has been recognized on a regional and national level. Lauren is an agent for the national convention Planet Dance and has modeled for Lord and Taylor, The Crowning Touch, and was featured as a cover model for Worcester Quarterly Magazine. Lauren is a model for the newest clothing line to hit the dance world, EDGY DANCE WEAR. She has been involved in the Miss America Pageant System for several years and has held many titles competing in the Miss Massachusetts Pageant, currently she is the Executive director of The Miss Worcester County, Miss Shrewsbury Pageant.
Lauren is guest artist with Exhale Dance Tribe in Cincinnati OH, which has been named the one of the top 25 to watch in 2009 by Dance Spirit Magazine. She is a Judge and Master Teacher for Star Systems/Broadway Experience, StarQuest and Nexstar National Dance Competitions. She has taught at the 2009 GBDTA Convention and founded the reputable Elite Dance Convention in 2008. Recently she has worked with the New England Patriot Cheerleaders as an assistant guest choreographer. Lauren’s passion is teaching and looks forward to working with you and your dancer!
Erika Haydon, Assistant Director
Erika has come to the Elite Academy of Dance with extensive knowledge in all forms of dance. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Dance from Dean College, where she was a member of the Dean Dance Company for 4 years. Erika brings high-energy and creativity to all dance classes. She continues her own dance eduaction by taking intensive classes in both NYC and the Boston area. She hopes to motivate and inspire all of her students.
Zhanat Baidaralin, Dance Instructor
Zhanat Baidaralin is Elite's Ballet Master. Originally from Moscow, Russia he holds his Master of Art Degree, in Vaganova Method. Zhanat brings 30 Years of Professional Experience Worldwide
(8 Years in the U.S.A), Including:
• Dance Theatre of Harlem, NYC
• Festival Ballet, Providence, RI
• Bryansky Saratoga Ballet, NY
• Stamford Ballet, CT
Zhanat's mission is to teach world-quality ballet arts based on a Russian syllabus universally known as the Vaganova Method. This system has been adapted to effectively educate American students. It is a very flexible and successful method that has allowed some students to join the ranks of professional ballet companies of the world, such as, Royal Ballet of Canada and ABT and teaches a comprehensive ballet program along with ballet heritage, variations, Pointe, partnering, jumps, and turn techniques of the highest professional level. His classes are offered for boys and girls from pre-ballet to intermediate, advanced and partnering.
Omar Merced, Dance Instructor
Omar Merced comes to Elite from Franklin MA, he was featured in season 3 as one of the top 50 male dancers in the USA for TV hit show "So You Think You Can Dance". Omar has studied with world renowned choreographers such as Ann Reinking, Mia Michaels, Brian Friedman, Lisa Attanasio, Doug Caldwell and Tyce Diorio to name a few. Merced is also an accomplished performer, shows include: Featured male soloist- FOSSE National/ International Tour, featured dancer for top country recording artist Dolly Parton, Guys & Dolls, Grease and principal soloist for the State Ballet of Rhode Island. Omar has also traveled the country with major dance competitions as a regional and national adjudicator and master teacher for many dance companies and conventions throughout the USA and Canada. Collaborating choreography for Elite Academy of Dance has taken top honors in 2011, he joins the Elite Staff as a resident teacher and competition choreographer.
Hope Specht, Dance Instructor
Hope Secht comes to Elite with years of knowledge and experiences having owned and directed a dance- acrobatic school in new england for 17 years. Hope is a member of the Chapter #5 Dance Masters of America and Dance Teachers' Club of Boston. Her students have performed in commercials, Disney, the Macy's day parade, Madison Square Garden, and Times Square in New York. Performing in musicals such as: Grease, Dr. Seuss, Annie, Bye Bye Birdie and the touring broadway musical "Fosse". Also achieving, 16 acro titleist of United States, bringing home 3 world gold medals at the World Championships in Showdance, world gold medalist in tap & 4 world silver medals in 2005-2006, as they represented our country in Riesa, Germany. Hope had the prestigous honor of being nominated to perform her choreographed acro-dance production routine "Glory" for President Bush.
alicia leland, Dance Instructor
Alicia Leland comes to Elite Academy of Dance graduating directly from its teachers training program. Her background includes Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, and Hip Hop. Alicia is the recipient of numerous overall high score awards and was part of Elite Academy of Dance's Senior Company and National Competition Team. She has also danced in Dance Prism's performance of the Nutcracker. Alicia resides in Worcester, and is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology, at Worcester State College, where she received a full Presidential Scholarship for her excellence in academics. She has studied with some of the great current pioneers of dance today including, Mia Michaels, Brian Freedman, Missy Lay Zimmer, Andrew Hubbard, Sonya Tayeh, and Chris Judd. Alicia is excited to share her talents and knowledge with your dancer!
Erin Stomski, Dance Instructor
Erin brings her talents to Elite Academy of Dance as a dance instructor of Ballet, Lyrical and Jazz. Currently pursuing a degree in elementary education at Worcester State College, she continues train and audition within the dance industry. Dancing for 16 years, she has trained intensively in areas of ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, modern, and tap. Her teachers include Teddy Forance, Jolanta Valeikaite, Derrick Yanford, Karin Tremblay and Katy Speadbury. She completed the summer intensive program at Walnut Hill under the training of Michael Owen and Kathy Kozel to name a few.
Erin has won numerous titles, scholarships, special awards, and has most importantly made life- long friendships throughout her dance career. Being involved in the community, Erin had also owned her own dance club for grammar school students for five years. Most recently Erin auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance, and made it to the final solo round, receiving praises and encouragement from all of the judges! Professional credits include Reebok Industry as a dancer and model. Performance credits include The Nutcracker of Ballet Arts Worcester, Stylized Movement Dance Company, Miss Massachusetts Pageant, Dance Company Worcester, Boston Celtics game, and the Worcester State College Dance Team.
Danny Pace, Dance Instructor
Danny was born and raised in Worcester, MA, and has been dancing since the age of 12. He has a strong background in Hip Hop, but also has training in Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Ballroom, & some Acrobatics. He has trained with several well-respected choreographers in the dance industry such as Tabitha & Napoleon Dumo, Dave Scott, Jamal Sims, Rhapsody James, Luam Keflezgy, Sonya Tayeh, Wes Veldink, & Jillian Meyers. Danny has received many dance scholarships at The Pulse and Monsters of Hip Hop. Performance credits include Monsters of Hip-Hop & Teen AIDS Benefit. He was also a dancer on Live with Regis & Kelly and featured in the film, "We Got the Beat." Additionally, Danny worked as a choreographer for America's Best Dance Crew's Status Quo Workshop. He has also auditioned for Fox's So You Think You Can Dance and danced his way to the choreography round both times. He will still train and work hard to reach his goals in the dance industry.
