Marshall Ellis Dance School Still Accepting Dancers for Elite Training Program

Marshall Ellis Dance School kicked off its full-time Elite Training Program on Sept. 4 and still has limited spots available for students ages 8-18.

The program, which will run through June 2018, provides an intensive, personalized and positive ballet training experience for students who aspire to a career in dance. Its goal is to provide expert pre-professional training at an affordable price in the entertainment-focused Central Florida community.

The weekly daytime schedule includes 22 hours of dance, more than other similar programs in the area. Program tuition is $400 a month and also includes unlimited evening and weekend drop-in classes, workshop series performances, rehearsal fees, competition coaching, and local and regional dance festivals.

ME Dance is partnering with Florida Virtual School, and its training schedule supports students' academic success.

The Elite Training Program is guided by school founder and owner Marshall Ellis. Ellis has trained, traveled and danced around the world, performing soloist and principal roles in Europe, Asia and the United States. He joined Orlando Ballet under the direction of Fernando Bujones, and he performed in a range of roles from corps de ballet to principal dancer. He became a principal equity performer at Walt Disney World Resort and performed the principal ballet role in the Cirque du Soleil show La Nouba.

The program is under the leadership of Program Director Lauren Sherwood. Sherwood began her training at the Draper Center for Dance Education in Rochester, N.Y., and she graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. She has danced corps de ballet, soloist and principal roles with Atlanta Ballet, BalletMet Columbus, Montgomery Ballet and The Georgia Ballet. She was a principal faculty member at Montgomery Ballet School and also taught at the Centre for Performing Arts in Prattville, Ala., and the British Academy for the Performing Arts in Marietta, Ga. Sherwood is a principal performer at Walt Disney World Resort and a company dancer with Dance Theatre of Orlando.

The Elite Training Program will feature guest teachers throughout the year, including Principal Guest Teacher Joseph Gatti, formerly a principal dancer with Cincinnati Ballet and Corella Ballet, and first soloist with Boston Ballet.

Ellis founded ME Dance Company in 2012 and opened ME Dance School two years later. The Elite Training Program is his next step in providing dancers with opportunity to cultivate their talent and artistry to the fullest potential.

For more information about ME Dance School and the Elite Training program, prospective students should visit medanceschool.com or email classes@medanceschool.com.

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