Welcome

Elaine Mahnensmith – Head of Contemporary Training and Ballet Instructor

Intermediate/Advanced Ballet and Contemporary

Elaine holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance performance from Wright State University in Ohio. Her career – which includes more than 25 years of performing, choreographing and teaching – began in Cincinnati at AVO School of Ballet under founder Anneliese von Oettingen. In 1992, Elaine was accepted into the pre-professional training program at the Washington Ballet Company in Washington, D.C., where she studied ballet and contemporary dance for three years. Elaine later returned to Cincinnati to attend the School for Creative and Performing Arts, and after completing a program there, was accepted into Wright State University as a scholarship student. College graduation led to a position touring the United States with Dayton Ballet Company, which allowed Elaine to further her love of contemporary dance in locations such as New York and Chicago.

Throughout her time as a professional dancer, Elaine performed works by many of modern dances' most influential choreographers, such as Septime Webre, Twyla Tharp, Martha Graham, Paul Taylor and Bob Fosse, among others. She finished her performing career at Dance Alive National Ballet and transitioned to teaching as a means by which to give the gift of dance to future generations.

Talia Pranzoni – Head of Pre-Ballet Division and Ballet Instructor

Pre-Ballet and Beginner Contemporary

Talia's dance experience is local to Brevard, where she trained in the Vaganova Ballet method, lyrical, jazz, character, tap, and musical theatre. Talia has performed in The Nutcracker Ballet, as well as lead and dance roles in many musicals such as Beauty and the Beast, Brigadoon, Anything Goes, Guys and Dolls, The Little Mermaid, and 42nd Street. Ms. Pranzoni was a ballet teacher assistant for nine years while she was in school and taught a variety of dance styles during theatre workshops. She has worked with children of all ages, and is especially passionate about teaching our youngest students. Along with her role at Brevard Ballet Academy, she holds her degree in Early Childhood Education and is a preschool teacher.

Julie Smith – Ballet Instructor

Pre-Ballet and Beginner Ballet

Julie, originally from Annapolis, MD, trained in the Vaganova method of classical ballet at the Maryland Performing Arts Center. She has experience and training in various dance styles including tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, and ballroom. She attended Towson University as a dance company member under the direction of Runqiao Du and graduated with a Bachelors degree in Environmental Studies. Upon graduation Julie performed in many productions with the Ballet Theatre of Maryland including The Nutcracker, Coppelia, The Little Mermaid, Dracula, and Giselle. She was selected to join Brevard Ballet Academy faculty in 2022.

Sheila Menendez – Pre-Ballet and Fitness Instructor

Pre-Ballet, Body Conditioning and Mommy & Me

Originally a Florida native, Sheila spent most of her adult life in Williamsburg, Virginia where she began her fitness journey with Taekwondo. She spent the next 10 years in a leadership program becoming a second degree black belt and a self-defence instructor for children and adults. In 2009, she began teaching boot camp style fitness classes and became a certified personal and small group fitness trainer. Along with her other prominent certifications, Sheila is a certified Mommy and Me instructor. Today she owns BU Fitness here in Florida, and has been teaching at Brevard Ballet Academy since 2019.

Michele “Mimi” MacDonald – Ballet Instructor

Intermediate Ballet

Mimi Macdonald Sitterly is a dance education consultant specializing in ballet teacher preparation. Her early training was in St. Louis, MO. She graduated from Principia College with a minor in dance and Temple University with a Master's Degree in dance education. During twelve years in Philadelphia she co-directed a non-profit ballet company, taught ballet, and studied ballet teacher preparation and Vaganova methodology with John White at the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet. She has been invited to choreograph and teach ballet as guest faculty at five colleges and universities. Mimi served as Dance Program Specialist and curriculum consultant at COCA (Center of Creative Arts) in St. Louis. She offers professional development opportunities and designs curriculum for studios wishing to implement Russian ballet methodology. Combining her comprehensive teacher training background with Elena's thorough knowledge of the Vaganova method, Mimi helped develop the detailed curriculum now used at Brevard Ballet Academy. She is thrilled to be on the faculty of Brevard Ballet Academy.

Rebecca Hudnall – Ballet Instructor

Pre-Ballet and Beginner Ballet

Rebecca trained in the Vaganova method of classical ballet, along with modern and character dance, for eight years locally under the instruction of Boris Chepelev and Janna Kirova. During her development, she danced several soloist roles in their annual production of The Nutcracker, including Little Clara, Kissy Doll and the Snow Queen, as well as the Pa de Trois and Spanish Dance variations. Rebecca also performed in the company's Spartacus and Sleeping Beauty productions with world-renowned guest dancers. She was selected to join Brevard Ballet Academy's faculty in 2018.

Dasha Bondar – Academy Administrator

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Dasha grew up in the world of professional ballet as the daughter of two Vaganova Ballet Academy graduates, one of whom is Academy Director, Elena Shokhina. She moved to the United States at age 5 and immediately began her training at Nevada Ballet Academy, where she was chosen as a full scholarship recipient. Dasha trained at the academy for eight years under various prestigious instructors and choreographers. She was chosen for the role of Clara in Nevada Ballet Theatre's The Nutcracker and performed in many other company productions including Peter Pan and Dracula. In addition to ballet, Dasha has advanced training in contemporary, jazz, Fosse, character dance, and hip-hop as well as teaching kids of all ages. After earning a Bachelors of Science from Florida State University and gaining office and administrative experience, she became the academy administrator in 2018.

Jeff Heiden – Ballet Instructor

Originally from Brevard, Jeff completed his formal ballet training at the prestigious Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C. – an education that paved the way for him to perform professionally with Orlando Ballet, Dance Alive National Ballet, Cleveland San Jose Ballet and other companies. After retiring from his ballet career, Jeff traveled the world to perform as an acrobat and dancer on various cruise lines, where he also directed, and later performed with Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas. Jeff has been teaching in Brevard County since 2001 and has been with Brevard Ballet Academy since 2015.

Luba Gulyaeva – Ballet Instructor

A graduate of the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia, Ms. Gulyaeva joined the Kirov Ballet in 1972, dancing featured roles in Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, La Bayadere, and Don Quixote. In the 1980's, she was invited by Mikhail Barishnikov himself, to join the staff of the American Ballet Theatre, where she taught company class and coached the dancers, as well as teaching all levels at the ABT school. Ms. Gulyaeva's additional teaching credits include the Australian Ballet in Melbourne, Australia, the School of American Ballet in New York, and seminars at numerous universities in the United States.