DANCE E.L.I.T.E.
Dance ELITE performers taking the stage

The people behind the movement

Our
Teachers

All of our teachers are professional dancers who have a passion for dance, and for teaching others to dance. In addition to being highly accomplished in their fields, they are also energetic, positive and caring people.

Jazmene Craig

Faculty

Jazmene Craig

Jazmene Craig is a native of Youngstown, Ohio. Her first love is cheer. She spent three years in high school participating in competitive cheer. Jazmene then went on to attend the Ohio State University College of Arts and Sciences where she majored in Criminal Justice and minored in Forensic Science. During her Sophomore year, Jazmene joined the US Armed Forces as a proud member of the Army National Guard. She has been an active member of the military for 15 years. She served as a military officer for 12 years and has been serving in the area of Human Resources for the past three years. Jazmene teaches dance to help encourage a healthy and happy lifestyle. She enjoys watching her students use the art of dance as an outlet to express themselves. Ms. Craig loves watching her students find their passion and happiness while helping them navigate through it. She finds joy in teaching her students to be focused, creative, to have discipline and be free. But most importantly, she wants her students to just have fun! The focus on empowerment at Dance E.L.I.T.E. that provides their students, staff, and families has made teaching a tremendous learning, growing and happy personal experience. Jazmene is a proud mother of her beautiful and immensely talented 10 year old daughter, Peyton, whose love for dance and talent helped her to find her new passion of teaching dance. One of her favorite quotes that she often shares is: “Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.” —Dr. Mae Jemison

Aureyl Pitts

Faculty

Aureyl Pitts

A native of Columbus, Ohio. She attended The Ohio State University where she graduated with a dual degree in Dance and Communications. She began her training with Two Left Feet in the Right Direction under the tutelage of Stephanie Bland. She then went on to train with BalletMet, under the direction of April Berry. While there, she performed works by April Berry, Maria Glimcher, Rosalyn Dove, Travis Gatling, and many more. While at The Ohio State University, she trained with artists such as BebeMiller, Susan Hadley, Teena Custer, Maria Glimcher, Coco Loupe, and Abby Yager, among many others. She also attended The International Association of Blacks in Dance festival for three years under The Ohio State Department of Dance Quarterly Funding Initiative. While at OSU, she also co-founded the Black Dance Alliance, which performed works in the community, and assisted in bringing artists to teach forms of the African Diaspora into the dance department. In 2009, completed working on a solo project, which she co-choreographed with up-and-coming artist Afaliah Tribune, entitled “Journey”. She is currently active with the Judah Performing Arts Center and the Rhema Christian Center Dance Ministry, “God’s Glory”.”

Derrell Sutton

Faculty

Derrell Sutton

Derrell Sutton is a a graduate of University of Phoenix with a M.A. in Adult Education and Training. She is a full time educator teaching children ages 6 weeks to three at Kids Care Academy. She is also Training director for Caring Communities Birth to 3, serving other educators in the city of Columbus. She is a dance instructor/coach for Dance Elite Performance Academy working with all ages. She is is married with three boys ages, 5, 15, and 17. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and baking for her friends and family.

Tanya Scott

Faculty

Tanya Scott

Tanya saw The Nutcracker when she was five and has been dancing ever since. She has danced throughout Central Ohio with Pinnell Dance Centre and Good Shepard Liturgical Dance Troupe. She graduated from Hayes Education Center and the Pre-Professional Dance Program. Tanya graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.F.A. in Dance Education. After earning her degree, she taught Creative Movement in Columbus City Schools, she then went on to be the lead Preschool Teacher at Mansion Day School. In addition to being the lead teacher, she choreographed all of the school’s programs and coordinated extra-curricular dance programs. After earning her master's in Early Childhood Education, she transitioned to The Center for Healthy Families as the Youth Program Manager. Tanya is excited to be part of the DEPA Family to combine her passion and love for dance, and children as the instructor for Ballet 3-4 and Pop Princess 3-4 classes.

Tyisha Toler

Faculty

Tyisha Toler

Tyisha “Ty” Wellborn fell in love with dance at a very young age. She began taking a variety of dance classes at local recreation centers at the age of 5. Ty danced 10 years with the Good Shepherd Liturgical Dance Troupe, under the direction of Victoria Hope Jackson. Over the span of 30 years Ty's dance experience has ranged from cheerleading to Liturgical dance. Ty has performed and choreographed for various churches over the years, and is excited to be entering her second teaching year at Dance Elite Performance Academy. Ty is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a B. A. in English. When she isn't teaching little dancers, Ty enjoys spending time with her husband and twins. Ty's favorite motto is “Reach one, Teach One”; and is able to apply this motto every time she teaches young people to dance. If just one child falls in love with the art of dance, then they too can teach another to love the art also.

Carlene Saxon

Faculty

Carlene Saxon

Carlene is a valued member of the Dance ELITE faculty, bringing care, energy and a commitment to helping every dancer grow.

Amaya Arroyo

Faculty

Amaya Arroyo

Amaya Arroyo was born in Columbus, Ohio and began her dance training at the age of 13 years old. Amaya was a founding member of Dance ELITE Performance Academy where she trained under the direction of Samara Tillman, in modern, ballet, contemporary, jazz, and hip-hop techniques. Amaya has worked with artists such as Ron De Jesus, Crystal Michelle Perkins, Wade Schaaf, and many more. Currently, Amaya is working towards her BA in Dance at Columbia College Chicago. In addition to her studies, Amaya is an Emerging Artist at the South Chicago Dance Theatre under the executive artistic direction of Kia S. Smith.

Omar Humphrey

Faculty

Omar Humphrey

Omar started his dance training at the Black Academy of Arts and Letters in Dallas, TX. After graduating from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, he received his BFA from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Modern Dance. Omar danced with Ohio Contemporary Ballet (formerly known as Verb Ballets) in Cleveland, OH, where he toured both nationally and internationally. He then moved to NYC and found freelance work with friends from around the country. Omar has been fortunate to teach at dance and cultural arts institutions around the nation, including Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Dallas Black Dance Theater, and The Black Academy of Arts and Letters. Omar has served on the faculty at his alma mater, Booker T. Washington HSPVA, for the past 4 years. Currently, he is working toward receiving his MFA in Dance at The Ohio State University.

Tori Thomas

Faculty

Tori Thomas

Torianna has been dancing since she was three and started dancing competitively at the age of 11. Dancing has been her passion for many years and fell in love with choreographing at the age of 16. She has choreographed two musicals: “Pippin” and “Suessical”. She has been teaching dance for recreational purposes and competition dances. She loves teaching because it’s an amazing way to share her passion and love of dancing to others. Tori believes that dance is a unique way to express your emotions & who you are. She loves teaching her dance students to express themselves in unique ways through dance.

Hayden Tillman

Student Teacher

Hayden Tillman

Hayden brings a dancer's perspective, bright energy and growing leadership to the classroom as a Dance ELITE student teacher.

Naiya Sayavong

Faculty

Naiya Sayavong

Naiya is part of the Dance ELITE teaching team, supporting students with positivity, focus and a love for movement.

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