Ms. Alissa
| Industry | Arts |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Dance / Pilates Instructor, Choreographer, Dancer, and Writer |
| Location | Naperville, IL |
| Introduction | Alissa, a native of Westerville, Ohio, is currently a freelance writer, dance and Pilates instructor. Focusing her efforts in dance education, Alissa is developing a ballet book series for families. In addition, she is creating a sister website and blog that reflects current philosophies and techniques of traditional ballet. She began her formal dance training at BalletMet Columbus and continued at the Ohio State University, earning a bachelor's degree. Alissa has danced professionally, taught, and worked in arts administration for more than 10 years with prestigious dance companies across the United States. Also a certified Power Pilates instructor, Alissa specializes in beginner through advanced mat classes. In her Pilates career she has taught students of all ages and needs in Arizona, the Czech Republic, California, and Illinois. Alissa believes no matter what size, shape, or age you are, you can be a dancer. She has the innate ability to understand how the body works anatomically and through dance, which makes her a valuable dance educator. As a dedicated professional, Alissa strives to share her lifelong love of dance with the world. |
| Interests | All forms of dance, pilates, yoga, running, knitting, pottery, scuba diving, cooking, and reading |
| Favorite Movies | The Red Shoes, Singin' In The Rain, Footloose, Flashdance, Billy Elliot, White Nights, A Chorus Line, Grease, Dirty Dancing, Save The Last Dance, You Got Served, Honey, Swing Kids, Breakin', The Turning Point, Center Stage, Chicago, and Dancemaker |
| Favorite Music | All Kinds! |
| Favorite Books | Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet by Gail Grant, Classical Ballet Technique by Gretchen Ward Warren, The Ballet Companion: A Dancer's Guide to the Technique Traditions, and Joys of Ballet by Eliza Gaynor Minden, Dance anatomy and kinesiology by Karen S. Clippinger, The Art of Making Dances by Doris Humphrey, Barbara Pollack, and Stuyvesant Van Veen, African Dance: An Artistic, Historical and Philosophical Inquiry by Kariamu Welsh Asante and Kariamu Welsh Asante, Psychology of Dance by Jim Taylor and Ceci Taylor, Conditioning For Dancers by Eric Franklin, and the list goes on |