Elisse Shell is the owner and director of Classical Ballet Conservatory. She grew up dancing under Christy McQuaid and Attila Ficzere. Upon graduation from highschool, she attended BYU on a talent scholarship in the Ballet Department. She received her Bachelor of Science in dance from Brigham Young University and was a member their pre-professional touring company, Theatre Ballet. While studying at BYU, Elisse Trained under Jan Dijkwel, Shani Robison, and Suzi Wood. Elisse received the Phyllis Jacobson Dance Talent Scholarship, and a scholarship to study Martha Graham and Jose Limon methodologies. Her choreography was chosen to represent BYU at ACDFA (The American College Dance Festival Association).
Shortly after graduating from BYU, Elisse was awarded a choreographic residency at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. After a cold summer in San Fransisco,  she went on to earn her Masters of Fine Arts in ballet with an emphasis in teaching and choreography from the University of Utah; during which, she was an assistant professor and taught  both beginning and advanced ballet, pointe, character dance, and modern at the University.
Elisse has Choreographed and taught all over the Wasatch front, and is the Resident Choreographer for Mountain West Ballet. Her choreography has also been seen in The Mormon Tabernacle Christmas Show, Utah Opera, Utah Ballet, Youth America Grand Prix, and on solo competition stages throughout the state.

Carol N. Iwasaki, retired Professor and Chair of the Department of Ballet at the University of Utah received her B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees from the University of Utah, where she was the recipient of a teaching fellowship.
 

Professor Iwasaki received her early dance training from June Purrington Park in Salt Lake City, Utah. She then began intensive training in the ballet preparatory and collegiate programs at the University of Utah with Willam F. Christensen, Gordon Paxman, Yurek Lazowski, Mattlyn Gavers, Bene’ Arnold, Gilbert Reed, Ramon Segarra, John Callendar, Terri Port, Barbara Hamblin, and Marianne Hatton.
 

She was a member of Utah Civic Ballet, forerunner of Ballet West, and was on the faculty of Ballet West’s annual summer residencies in Snowmass, Colorado. Prior to her return to the University of Utah, she was Head of the Dance Division at the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) at the University of Cincinnati, where she was named the first chair holder of the Corbett-McLain Distinguished Chair in Dance. She served as Director of Dance at The Wichita State University, and Executive Director of Dance at Wichita Children’s Theatre and Dance Center.

In addition, she owned and operated The Dance Center, a private dance school in Kansas. She has taught numerous master classes for dance schools and organizations that include Alaska Ballet Theater, Dakota Ballet Association, University of Iowa, University of Oklahoma, Mid-America Dance Network, Kyrung Hee University, Seoul, So. Korea, Akutami School, Gifu, Japan, and in Taipei, Taiwan. She has served on numberous boards and arts councils such as Mid-America Dance Netowrk, Kansas Arts Council, Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Ohio Dance, and Corps de Ballet International. She is currently on the board of Odyssey Dance Theatre, Salt Lake City, Utah

Lauren has danced since she was three, with her youth training by Attila Ficzere, Jan Dijkwel, Shani Robison, and Christy McQuaid. Lauren attended the University of Utah on talent scholarship and there studio ballet, and then received her BFA in Modern Dance.

Since college, Lauren has danced for SALTII, Wasatch Contemporary, Motab Christmas, Mountain West Ballet, and TC Nutcracker as a featured soloist. She traveled to South Africa and taught English and dance. She is certified in PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique), as well as starting her training in Yoga certification. Lauren takes her diverse and well seasoned background into her classes and choreography - helping students grow and create in an environment of diverse techniques and experiences.

Claire received her BFA in Modern Dance from the University of Utah in the Spring of 2016. While attending the the University she performed with The Performing Dance Company and was able to work with esteemed artists in the dance community such as Sharee Lane; Lesley Telford; Katie Sherman and Kate Wallich. Claire also performed in concerts such as the Student Concert Series; Grad Thesis Salon; and the Senior Concert Series. While receiving her BFA, Claire choreographed her own works “Unspecified” in the SKOBLU Series, and “Five Minus One” in the Shirts and Skins Concert Series.

In 2016 Claire had the opportunity to join the Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company (WCDC). As a company member Claire performed with them for four seasons and received the Dancers Choice Award in the fall of 2016 and the Outstanding Soloist Award in the spring of 2017. During her time with WCDC Claire had the privilege of working with state and world renowned artists such as Dina Smirnov; Rebecca Analoski and Roxanne Grey. Claire was also able to set her latest work Canvas on a few company members.

In August of 2013, Claire joined the non-prophet organization Promethean Spark where she traveled to Nairobi Kenya to teach life skills through dance to impoverished youth.

Claire is thrilled to continue as a staff member with the Classical Ballet Conservatory, where she can continue to be inspired by the students and learn and grow as a teacher.

director, photographer, choreographer and director. Kimberly recently directed and choreographed Eyes Wide Open, and The Wizard of Oz in Nephi, Utah and has previously music directed several productions including: Children of Eden, Bright Star, and several musical reviews. She is also currently working on her certification to become a Body Mapping Educator through The Association of Body Mapping Educators specializing in helping Vocalist and Dancers. 

When she is not instructing she enjoys to get onstage herself. She has performed with several professional and community theater companies. Recent roles include ‘Elisabeth’ in King of Kings and ‘Mary Mother’ in Lamb of God with Draper Philharmonic and Choral Society; ’Polly Baker’ in Crazy for You ; ‘Woman 2’ in Songs for a New World ; Cast Member in Sondheim on Sondheim ; ‘Eve’ in The Apple Tree; and ‘Millie’ in Thoroughly Modern Millie . Kimberly studied Classical, Musical Theater and CCM Voice at Utah State University under the direction of Dr. Cindy Dewey. She has performed all over the USA, Italy, England, and the Philippines in both Choral and Solo settings. Kimberly was also a part of the Utah State University Chamber Singers under the direction of Dr. Corey Evans as well as a member of American Festival Chorus under the direction of Dr. Craig Jessop.

Kimberly also enjoys doing photography and specializes in Performer Headshot Photography.

Alisa Fox started dancing at the age of 3, which is the age of most of her students.  She has been teaching dance for the last 20 years.  Alisa attended Highland High School where she was a cheerleader and dance company member for 3 years. She was a member of SLCC's cheer squad for 2 years, serving as a captain. Alisa was a dance specialist for the Salt Lake City School District, where she created many dance programs for at-risk children.   She has choreographed numerous solos and routines for schools around the state of Utah.  She regularly judges high school and college cheerleading and dance company tryouts.  She has choreographed for events such as Miss Teen Utah USA.  Alisa loves teaching dance, but says her real enjoyment comes from seeing her students gain confidence.  Alisa and her husband Jason are the proud parents of 5 children.

Isabel has been dancing since a young age and received her bachelor’s of science in dance and a dance teaching certificate from the University of Oregon. She specializes in ballet, modern/contemporary, jazz, and drama. She has taught in the Eugene, Oregon area for four years, teaching at Hosanna Dance, Oregon Ballet Academy, Eugene Ballet Academy, and the Academy of Ballet Fantastique.

At the University of Oregon, she performed in various contemporary pieces, notably Sarah Ebert’s in medias res, performed for the School of Music and Dance’s 2022 commencement, as well as pieces choreographed by Shannon Mockli, Brad Garner, and Walter Kennedy. Her piece 'To Have and To Hold' was selected as the UO’s student choreography representative for the Formal Concerts at ACDA NW’s 2022 Conference. She was honored with the Outstanding Dance Artist Award upon graduation.

Isabel is passionate about moving, teaching, and choreographing, and is excited to join the staff at Classical Ballet Conservatory in 2022!

Dakota grew up in Murray Utah and began her dance training with Utah Dance Artists at age 5. She first began dancing in styles of jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop, and ballet. She danced competitively with UDA for about 4 years until she moved to Roseville, California with her family in 2012. While living in California with her family, Dakota found a love for and focused more seriously on training in Classical Ballet, Modern dance, and contemporary dance with Northern California Dance Conservatory.
After moving back to Salt Lake City, Utah in 2015 Dakota continued her Classical Ballet training throughout High school with Classical Ballet Conservatory. You might recognize Dakota as CBC’s lead roles such as Dorothy, Ursula, and Cinderella. Dakota has also competed in the Youth America Grand Prix, a pre-professional ballet based competition for several years, and was placed in the top 12 for the Contemporary division in 2019. Throughout Dakota’s high school years she was a three year member of Murray Dance Company. While a member, she served as dance company Historian her junior year and later as dance company Vice President her senior year and had many choreographic opportunities.
Dakota is currently a sophomore at the University of Utah, studying and training in Classical Ballet with an emphasis in Teaching. Dakota is very grateful for the many wonderful experiences that she has had training with CBC and thanks her friends and teachers who have helped her reach her goals. She is so excited that she now has the opportunity to teach the young dancers at Classical Ballet Conservatory. It is her goal to teach young children that anyone can dance, have a good time, and follow their dreams and goals!