MARI ELMER Owner/Instructor Mari has been teaching for 22 yrs.  She has danced in Denmark, Krasnador, Moscow and Lenningrad, Russia.  She has taken classes from choreographers who've worked with Brittany Spears, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, and other celebrites.  In 1992 she was invited to work for Disneyworld in Orlando.  In 1999 she was invited to choreograph for Harvard University in Boston.  She's choreographed for many college and high school dance teams in the state of Kansas.  Her dancers have danced at Disneyland, Disneyworld, and Carnival Cruise Lines.  Mari studied under instructor Della Warren.  She is married to Mark and has two sons Chase and Chance.	ASHLEY FINAN   Ashley is a former Elite competition team member, who has also taught for us in the past. She has danced for 22 years! In high school, Ashley was a member and captain for the V.E.T Squad at Salina Central. She then received a full dance scholarship to Barton County Community College, where she was a member of the national dance team, as well as the dance line. While at Barton, the national dance team placed 2nd  in Division II both years at the NCA/NDA Collegiate Nationals in Daytona, FL. After leaving Barton, Ashley attended Kansas State University and then transferred to Kansas Wesleyan University, where she danced on the Coyote Dance Team and was also Captain. She graduated from Kansas Wesleyan University in May 2009 with a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology! We are glad to have Ashley back with us!
CAROL WOODY Carol is our studio receptionist.  She's in charge of making sure the studio runs smoothly, which make our jobs much easier!	SABRINA HARRADINE     Sabrina is a former member of our Elite Competition team.  This is her fourth year of teaching with us.  She is in charge of teaching our little ones.  We welcome her back to another year at Dance Elite!
TARYN MEIER Taryn has been with Dance Elite for 16 yrs.  She has been teaching at the studio for 9 yrs.  Taryn was a former member of our Elite team.  She was a member of the Central High Vet Squad, and was also a member of the Kansas Wesleyan Golden Dazzlers dance team.  We are so glad to have her back again!	MARA WHITAKER KLENDA     Mara Whitaker Klenda began her ballet training at the age of three in Tacoma, Washington.  She has trained with David Howard, George de la Pena, Rebecca Wright, Kimberly Glasco, Boston Ballet School, Wichita State University, The School at Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, and chiefly with Nancy Hervey and Jill Landrith at Nancy Hervey School of Ballet in Wichita, Ks.  In 1989, Mara joined the Metropolitan Ballet of Wichita as a junior member.  She was promoted to soloist in 1995, and to Principle Dancer in 1998.  She has danced Principle roles in "The Nutcracker, "La Sylphide", "Romeo and Juliet", "Paquita", "Swan Lake", and "Snow White", as well as countless others.  In 1999, Mara was awarded the Kansas Cultural Trust Grant to further her dance education.   Mara lives in Salina with her husband and their son Digby Danger.   We are happy to add Mara to our DE staff.
KATE GILLESPIE We welcome Kate to our staff this year!   Kate began her dance training in Bad Krueznach, Germany and has continued her studies at dance studios in Alabama, South Carolina, Wyoming, Washington, and Kansas.  She has competed in many competitions and was a dance major at Kansas State University.  Her specialties are tap and lyrical/contemporary.   We are glad to have her on the Dance Elite staff!	SHAY NEWELL  Shay has been teaching our 7/9 yr old classes.   She has been dancing at our studio for 7 years and then started her teaching career as a substitute instructor.   We are happy to have Shay back this year!  MELISSA MOLLACH   Photo and bio coming soon!

KAITLYN NEUSCHAFER

Photo and bio coming soon!