ELIESE FREEMAN-CRUMLEY
Ms. Eliese is the owner and director of DANCE by Eliese. Eliese launched DANCE by Eliese in the fall of 2013 and offered ballroom dance lessons and social dancing events to help raise money and awareness for a local community food pantry. In June 2014, she opened the doors to her first studio, located off of Wedington Drive in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Ms. Eliese started dancing in her mother’s studios before she was old enough to talk! After her mother closed her studios, Ms. Eliese continued her dance education with the Judith McCarty School of Dancing in Texas. She studied classical ballet, theatrical jazz, broadway and rhythm tap, Spanish dancing and clogging. Upon relocating to Northwest Arkansas, she continued her dance education in the styles of classical ballet, tap, jazz and Spanish dancing. Ms. Eliese has trained across the United States with masters such as Dr. Kathleen Tenniswood-Powell (Maestro Cecchetti Diploma, Doctor of Dance and Related Arts, Examiner Cecchetti Council of America), Renata Sanford (Examiner Cecchetti Council of America, Broadway Musical Performer and Choreographer, Former Director of Austin Ballet Theatre), Judith McCarty (Founder of Judith McCarty School of Dancing, former President of the Texas Association of Teachers of Dancing, Chairman of the Board of Examiners TATD), Susan Mayes (M.E. Physical Education, State Awarded Dance and Gymnastics Coach, Instructor – University of Arkansas), Denise Gillman (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (England), Cecchetti Diploma, Dance Masters of Ohio), as well as classes with various other masters of the arts.
Ms. Eliese has performed, competed and adjudicated in several areas of performing arts including vocal, instrumental, dance, musical theatre, acting and baton twirling. She has performed in and been a guest choreographer in several productions including The Nutcracker, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty.
Ms. Eliese is a Qualified Associate Member of Cecchetti Council America and serves as the Treasurer for the Southwest Committee of the Cecchetti Council of America. She is also an Acrobatic Arts Certified Member and a Functional Movement Technique Certified Movement Professional. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Ballet Arkansas, the states foremost Professional Ballet Performing Company. She is certified in adult and pediatric First Aid, AED and CPR. She also holds Instructor Certifications through Dance Educators of America in the areas of Classical Ballet, Tap Dance, Classical and Contemporary Jazz Dance, Modern Dance, Theatrical Acrobatics, Anatomy for Injury Prevention and Music Theory. Ms. Eliese’s teaching experience includes acting as a Guest Teacher in several studios in Arkansas, Instructor of Ballet and Social Ballroom Dancing through Instructional Programs at the University of Arkansas and Member Teacher and Scholarship Auditioner with The Southwest Committee of the Cecchetti Council of America. Ms. Eliese’s students include dance teachers in Arkansas and Missouri, Arkansas Scholarship Pageant Title Holders and undergraduates in various performing arts colleges in Chicago, New York, St. Louis and Austin.
In her spare time, Ms. Eliese enjoys fostering dogs through the MAK German Shorthair Pointer Rescue, paddling down Arkansas rivers and reading in her hammock.
OUR STAFF
Experienced Masters
MS. OLIVIA
Acro-Dance, Introductory Dance, PBT
A native of Fayetteville, Olivia teaches acrobatic-dance, introductory dance and PBT. She holds certifications in Module 1 Acrobatic Arts, Module 2 Acrobatic Arts, Aerials and Back Handsprings a and Progressing Ballet Technique.
MS. ROBBIE
Baton Twirling, Cecchetti Ballet
Ms. Robbie, ballet and baton twirling instructor for DANCE by Eliese, has trained in Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Michigan and London, England under certifying parties of Dance Masters of America, Dance Caravan, Cecchetti Council of America and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. Ms. Robbie owned two dance studios in Southwest Arkansas before returning to school to attain her MA in Mathematics. After ultimately retiring from a career in teaching in public schools, Ms. Robbie has returned to teaching dance and we couldn't be more excited!
MS. TARYN
Contemporary, Hip Hop
Taryn is from Haslet, Texas and trained in contemporary, ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop. She spent 4 years on drill team, serving as Junior Lieutenant and Senior Captain. Taryn is currently attending the University of Arkansas and studying Journalism.
MS. SUSAN
Tap, First Steps, Primary Ballet
Ms. Susan is a Northwest Arkansas native, originally from Farmington. She grew up dancing and found a passion for teaching the art when attending adult dance classes. Ms. Susan teaches tap and co-teaches introductory tap, ballet and tumbling, as well as primary ballet.
MS. CARA ANNE
Tap, Jazz, Dance Team
Ms. Cara Anne is from Texarkana, Texas and attends the University of Arkansas. She gained most of her dance education from the Judith McCarty School of Dance and is a member of the Texas Association of Teachers of Dancing.
MS. MAGGIE
Office Admin
Ms. Maggie is a Fayetteville native and our front desk personnel. Maggie loves children of all ages and can help with your check-in, registration, account and dancewear needs.
MS. NATALIE
Primary Ballet
Ms. Natalie is a native to Fayetteville and attends Fayetteville High School. She is currently a teacher in training through our apprenticeship program. As a dancer, Natalie has trained in the student levels of Cecchetti Ballet and is currently studying the Professional Elementary Syllabus. Ms. Natalie has been accepted to and attended summer training programs including the Joffrey Ballet School Summer Intensive, Ballet Arkansas Junior Intensive and Cecchetti Council of America's International Ballet Summer School.
