Elite Studios has assembled an absolutely amazing group of dance instructors who embody the philosophy of "Less is More!" They each bring their own unique passion to TRULY TEACH - a selfless pursuit which all great teachers know is LESS about showing off their depth of knowledge, and MORE about drawing out the Spirit of Courage & Greatness held within every child. While possessing the formal training & ability to help students progress in technique & skill, they also share a burning desire to explore diversity in performing styles, personalities and individual energy of each and every student! In other words, here at Elite Studios we believe the spotlight is for the children, NOT the instructors, and proudly celebrate the individual AND the team being equally united, as One! :)       
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ARTISTIC DIRECTOR / STUDIO OWNER |  | Emily Viator is a Master Dance Teacher, with over 22,000 classroom hours taught since becoming an instructor 21 years ago. She has extensively invested herself in world-class training in Ballet, Jazz, and Tap Dancing. She annually attends multiple master classes & conventions around the U.S. to keep herself and her dancers healthy, and current on the latest trends in choreography and human movement! Miss Emily is the recipient of countless awards for her choreography at major dance events around the country, including the coveted "Choreography Award" at the 2012 Tulsa Prime Time Competition for her piece "Forgive But Don't Forget." She is yearly certified in the teacher's course at Company Dance and has choreographed for Ozark Film & Video. She's also danced on the hit show, "What's Up Que Pasa," on the Children's Television Show. Several of her pieces have been featured in the Dance Coalition's Annual Spring Concert at the Walton Arts Center. She's been a member choreographer for the Dance Coalition, having served on their board for three incredible years, an invaluable experience which she says made her "an overall smarter and more complete leader & developer of young minds." She continues to help bring in & coordinate many workshops, master classes & master teachers in the NWArkansas area. She was sought out by the Harrison Lyric to choreograph timeless musicals, such as "Annie" and "Wizard of Oz," to name a few. She's worked alongside the world-renowned Houston Ballet for two years at their Summer Dance Intensive, coordinating auditions and rehearsals for the prestigious Moscow Ballet's United States tour of the "Nutcracker" - a once in a lifetime experience! Emily is the founder of the Fayetteville Montessori Movement and Tap program, going strong since 2004. Her personal studies in anatomy and physiology have assisted her in training healthy dancers with healthy minds. She's been a dance & movement instructor since 1997 - and Artistic Director of Elite Dance Studios in Berryville and Fayetteville since 1999. | | | |
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR / STUDIO OWNER | 
| Virginia Mock is a Master Dance Teacher herself, also with over 22,000 classroom hours taught since becoming an instructor more than 2 decades ago! She's taught and trained all over the United States as a past instructor with Universal Dance Association, an organization known for setting the highest standards in quality technique, leadership & inspiration across the entire landscape of American dance! A highly trained & skilled instructor in Jazz, Hip-Hop, Lyrical and Tap Dance, Miss Virginia was awarded the opportunity of a lifetime with a six-month, intensive internship at prestigious Broadway Dance Center in New York City in 2006. This invaluable experience was critical in her developement process into the incredible trainer & instructor she is today. She's also received more state and regional level awards than we can even list for her unique & Powerful choreography - which many of her students will tell you creates a bond that lasts far beyond their time at Elite. She is passionately & positively obsessed with providing nothing less than World-Class dance & movement instruction to children in an environment which is most conducive to both their overall physical & psychological development! Because of her vibrant personality on AND off stage, she was selected as a day-player on ABC's, "The View," alongside Hillary Duff, Alicia Keys and other notable celebrities and entertainers. Virginia has been a dance & movement instructor since 1997 - and Artistic Director at the Elite Dance Studios in Berryville and Fayetteville since 1999. | | | | 
| Miss Abby has been a memeber of the Elite family since 2005. She has trained in all art forms of dance spending most of her childhood in the dance studio, dance conventions, and training to pursue a career in her first love and passion...DANCE! After numerous performances and competitions she graduated high school in 2016 with honors and moved to New York City's Marymount Manhattan College on the highest academic scholarship they offer. Training with working professionals in Ballet, Modern, and African dance was inspiring but Abby was needed home so after fourteen months training in NYC she moved back home and we were happy to add her to our staff. She is exctied to be back and share her knowledge, passion and art with our dance family and we are thrilled to have her inspiration and energy back in our studio. | | | |
| Miss Holly has been an integral member of the Elite Dance Family since its inception in 2004. She trained extensively in a variety of dance styles and competed for six seasons with the Elite Company. During her senior year of college, Holly returned to the studio, where she took adult dance classes and contributed to the studio's operations as our resident artist and lobby host! Holly holds a Bachelor's degree in Studio Art and has since transitioned into teaching, specializing in Tap while also assisting with Jazz, Ballet, and the Elite Company program. In addition to her role at Elite, Holly works at the University of Arkansas in the Office of Admissions. She is also a licensed Tattoo Artist and co-owner of Paper Doll Tattoo. | | | | | Miss Bree brings 26 years of dance experience to the studio, with 15 years as a dance assistant and 12 years as a lead instructor. At the age of 16, she earned her certification to teach ballet from the Southern Association of Dance Masters. In addition to her extensive teaching background, Miss Bree has 13 years of competitive dance experience, participating in both regional and national competitions. She was also a dedicated member of her high school varsity dance team, serving as co-captain her junior year and captain her senior year. Her choreography, particularly in lyrical, jazz, and tap, has earned multiple Judges' Choice awards while working with competitive dance companies. Outside of the studio, Miss Bree works in marketing and communications. A proud dog mom to four pups, she enjoys spending her free time with her family and furry companions. When asked why teaching children is so important to her, Miss Bree shared, "Kids are one of the greatest gifts, and dance is a close second. I'm honored to spread joy and light through the art of dance." | | | | | Jenna Headrick is a passionate dance instructor with five years of experience teaching a variety of styles, including hip-hop, contemporary, jazz, tap, ballet and musical theatre. With over 14 years of dance training, she has had the privilege of performing in numerous productions, including the Russian Nutcracker and an aerial arts adaptation of Peter Pan, where she portrayed Tinkerbell. She was also selected as a member of a competitive hip-hop dance crew and has earned multiple awards for her performances in jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, and ballet. As a choreographer, Jenna’s work has been recognized at competitions, including a Judges' Choice Award at Hollywood Dance Jamz for her group jazz-funk piece. She finds joy in storytelling through movement and embraces every opportunity to learn and grow as a creator. Beyond dance, Jenna believes in the power of movement to heal both body and mind. Following a difficult life experience, she turned to dance not only as exercise but as a form of emotional healing. This journey led her to yoga, where she discovered another avenue for mindfulness and self-care. Now, she enjoys helping others connect with themselves through dance, yoga, stretching, and breathwork, believing that movement can enhance both physical and mental well-being. Based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Jenna is a creative spirit who enjoys dancing, yoga, reading, spending time outdoors, and connecting with friends and family. While hip-hop and contemporary remain her favorite styles, she is continuously inspired by other movement arts. Through her teaching, she hopes to help students find joy, self-expression, and moments of relaxation in every class. | | | | | |
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