Artists

Cheri has directed elite for over twenty years. She teaches jazz, lyrical/contemporary and ballet as well as writing and choreographing for elite productions. Cheri has written and produced eleven original dance theatre productions and scripts: The Crux, Tea For Two, Seasons, The Emperor's New Clothes, Back to the Garden, A Christmas Carol, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dracula, Peter Pan, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Life in Hyperbole.

Elite dancers and performers have a passion for the arts, a strong technical foundation in dance, with a team player mentality, plus discipline and professionalism. Elite current and past students are in the professional art and entertainment world as dance teachers and choreographers, studio owners, students of Dance and Theatre Departments (American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York, University of New Mexico, Spelman College, Emerson College, Clark Atlanta University), in theatre (performing, production and lighting crew, make-up artists, and costuming), in the TV/Film industry (Beyonce's Run the World, Stomp the Yard 2, Scoundrels, Crash, In Plain Sight, Disney's Lemonade Mouth, Grey's Anatomy, Ghost Whisper,Wild Fire, Let Them Shine-a Hallmark Movie, CSI, Cold Case, The Lying Game, Diary of A Single Mom, Madonna's Raising Malawi), modeling (Mac Cosmetics-Fafi, New York Times Magazine "Little Big People", LUZ Diamond Collection), professional sports dance teams (San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, New Mexico Thunderbirds), professional photography and videography, Hip Hop battle judging (Breakin Hearts, Street Warriors, Hip Hop Alliance, Breaking Barriers, Floor Projections), along with dance competition judging (Cathy Roe Productions, Showbiz Productions, Universal Dance Association, National Dance and Cheer Association).

Photography by Naomi Costales

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Aly has been training for nineteen years and is a soloist and lead role actress in elite productions. Aly is on the elite Professional Company, is a teacher at elite dance studio and choreographs for elite productions. Aly's lead roles include, Mrs. Cratchit in A Christmas Carol, Sibyl Vane in The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dracula's Bat and Lucy in Dracula, Mary in the Crux, and Tinker Bell in Peter Pan. Aly works as a business manager for elite as well. Aly is married to Eric and is a new mother to baby Ocean.

Photography by Naomi Costales

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Robbie has been training for eighteen years and is a soloist and lead role actor in elite productions. Robbie is a member of the elite Professional Company, is a teacher at elite dance studio and choreographs for elite productions. Robbie's lead roles include Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol, Dorian in the Picture of Dorian Gray, Mr. Renfield and Johnathon Harker in Dracula, Mr. Beetle in Tea for Two, Prince William in Sleeping Beauty, and Smee in Peter Pan. Robbie has a degree in Business Marketing from the University of New Mexico and is also the elite Competition Director. Robbie is a guest choreographer and judge for Cathy Roe Productions, which is a national competition and convention company.

Photography by Naomi Costales

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Megan received her early training in the Checchetti method under the tutelage of Karen Alwin. She studied with the Marin Ballet and Nutmeg Ballet. She danced with Performers Jazz and Ballet Company, New Mexico Ballet Company, and Ballet Theatre of New Mexico. She danced the leading roles in NM Ballet Company's The Nutcracker and Petrushka along with being seen in Carmina Burana, The Christmas Carol, Sleepy Hollow, The Red Shoes, Jungle Book, The Rite of Spring and Dracula. She danced leading roles with Ballet Theatre of NM that included The Nutcracker along with dancing in More Music, For Five, and Cinderella. Megan plays the lead role of Lily in elite's production of Sleeping beauty. Megan has also taught ballet and jazz, and has choreographed for many dance studios in Albuquerque. Megan is a soloist for elite productions and is a teacher at elite Dance studio. She is now married with two children.

Photography by Juan Soche

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Marcos "Marc Boogie" Gonzales has been popping and locking for eighteen years. He has been heavily involved in Hip Hop culture his entire life and is dedicated to promoting Hip Hop dance and culture. He has battled throughout the country (BBoy City, Breaking Hearts, Furious Styles Anniversary, Breaking Boundaries, Cold Krush, and Battle Line). Marocs learned from the founders of Popping, Locking and Bboying. He has a strong commitment to ensuring that the originial Hip Hop styles continue to evolve and makes a strong effort to learn everyday. "Each One Teach One." One Love. Marcos teaches at elite and is a soloist for elite productions with the lead role of the Fairy Godfather in Cinderella and directs the Gully Street Elite Crew.

Photography by Naomi Costales

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Ronnie A. Navarro (aka) Bboy Ruen has been one of the most legendary Bboys in the history of original Hip-hop Dance. Switching the way people think around the world, Ruen has innovated and expanded the essential movements in to his own originality. Raised in the city of Montebello CA in East LA, Ruen grew up with his siblings and family members as positive influences into Hip-hop Culture.

At the early age of 16, he began traveling the world by performing, competing and judging at events. Representing both Style Elements & Killafornia Crew, Ruen has won individual & team national and international titles, performed with US and International stars some which include: Black Eyed Peas, KRS 1, Limp Bizkit, and Korn. He has also appeared in worldwide television programs & commercials which include: Dancing with the Stars, 2012 X-Games and the Teen Choice Awards, as well as representing his own video game character the Bboy game on Playstation. He continues to represent and teach positive Hip-hop Culture worldwide.



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Jacqui has been training for eighteen years and is a soloist and lead role actress in elite productions. Jacqui is a member of the elite Professional Company. Jacqui's lead roles include Cinderella in Cinderella, a Lost Boy in Peter Pan, a Cratchit sister in a Christmas Carol, and has been a soloist for Dracula and The Emperor's New Clothes. Jacqui is also a member of the Gully Street Elite Crew. Jacqui is currently attending CNM and is pursuing a degree in Nursing.

Photogrpahy by Guadalupe Chavez

Joanna Michnovicz has been acting her entire life. Starting off in small church musicals, Joanna discovered that acting and performing could be more than just a pastime. Joanna studied theatre at the University of New Mexico, graduating in 2010 with a BA in Theatre with an emphasis in Acting. Along with being involved in the theatre program at UNM, Joanna has worked with various companies and theatres in town performing with Nickerson's Young Actors, Rio Grande Enrichment Studies, and the American Shakespeare Project. Joanna began with Elite Dance Studio in 2005 taking on the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. Recently, she has performed as the Narrator in A Christmas Carol, Peter Pan, and Tea for Two, The Picture of Doran Gray, Mina and the Schooner Captain in Dracula, and The Evil Stepmother in Cinderella. Joanna has also begun to stray into teaching and directing, serving as the acting director for many of elite's shows as well as the acting coach.

Photography by Guadalupe Chavez

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Vanessa has been training for thirteen years and is a soloist and lead role actress in elite productions. Vanessa is a member of the elite Professional Company and assists with the Pre-professional company. Vanessa's lead roles include a Lost Boy in Peter Pan, Tinker Bell in Peter Pan, Lady Bug's Friend in Tea for Two, the Phantom in A Christmas Carol, and The Horrid Three for Dracula. Vanessa is currently attending the University of New Mexico and is pursuing a degree in Occupational Therapy.

Photography by Guadalupe Chavez

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Christian has been training in and involved with the hip hop culture for sixteen years. Christian has been a member of All Elements and Inner City Circle crews here in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Christian's focus is on breaking and he currently choreographs and teaches that style. Christian is pursuing his bachelor's degree in Graphic Design at the Southwest University of Visual Arts. Christian's interest in art includes playing the drums, the guitar, and in sculpture and canvas painting. Christian is a lead soloist for elite dance productions.

Photography by Juan Soche

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Stephanie has been training for eleven years and is a soloist and lead role actress in elite productions. Stephanie is a member of the elite Professional company and also teaches at elite Dance Studio. Stephanie's lead roles include Wendy in Peter Pan, a Cratchit sister in A Christmas Carol, Lady Bug's Friend in Tea for Two, Horrid Three in Dracula, Sibyl Vane in The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Blossom in Sleeping Beauty. Stephanie is currently attending the University of New Mexico and is pursuing a double major in History and Psychology.

Photography by Guadalupe Chavez

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Eric has been training in dance and martial arts for over twenty years. Eric is a lead role actor and soloist in elite productions. Eric teaches hip hop at elite, his speciality being Krumping. Eric was a member of The Guru, a Krumping Crew in Texas. Eric is one of the few krumpers and krump teachers in New Mexico. Erio plays the lead role of Dracula in Dracula, and has also been a soloist in various elite productions. Eric is also an accomplished artist. His artwork can be seen at art shows and with Enemi Skate Supply. Eric also records with Dirty Grand as a rap artist. Eric is pursuing his bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering with ITT-Tech and is husband to Alyssa Lamb and has become a new father to baby Ocean.

Photography by Naomi Costales

Kira has been training for eleven years and is a lead role actress and soloist for elite productions. Kira is a member of the elite Professional Company, teaches at elite Dance Studio and choreographs for elite productions. Kira's lead roles include Mina Harker in Dracula, Basil in the Picture of Dorian Gray, Peter in Peter Pan, Daisy in Sleeping Beauty, and a Cratchit sister and the Spirit in A Christmas Carol. Kira is a senior at the University of New Mexico and is working on a double major in Religious Studies and Psychology with a minor in Dance.

Photography by Guadalupe Chavez

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Jordan has been training for fourteen years and is a lead role actress and soloist in elite productions. Jordan is a member of the elite Professional Company. Jordan's lead roles include Lady Bug in Tea for Two, Cratchit sister, and the Specter in A Christmas Carol, Jarus' daughter in the Crux, the Crocodile in Peter Pan, Horrid Three in Dracula, and Iris in Sleeping Beauty. Jordan is pursuing a degree in nursing at the University of New Mexico.

Photography by Naomi Costales

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Esther has been training for twenty-one years and is a soloist and lead role actress in elite productions. Esther is a member of the elite Professional Company, is a teacher at elite Dance studio and choreographs for elite productions. Esther's lead roles include Lady Death in The Picture of Dorian Gray, an Advisor in The Emperor's New Clothes, Mrs. Cratchit in A Christmas Carol, Lucy in Dracula, Tiger Lilly in Peter Pan and Priscilla the step sister in Cinderella. Esther is married to Jared and is mother to Asher and new baby Mina.

Photography by Guadalupe Chavez

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