The Faculty

Nancy Malmed (Director) - Ballet
Viktor Yeliohin - Ballet, Partnering, Men's variations
Elena Tiuriakulova - Ballet, Pre-Ballet, Pointe, Yoga, Variations
Corinne Karon - Tap
Idrisa Abdul-Hamid - Jazz
Cara McCartney - Pre Ballet
Janelle Stank - Pre Ballet
Jamie Laughlin - Modern, Hip Hop
David Dorsaima - Hip Hop

	Nancy Malmed, Director, performed professionally as soloist with Contemporary Dance Theater, LaSalle Music Theater and Pro Musica and has been teaching the Vaganova Method since 1979. She trained with Lilia Vladimirova and Tamara Lysenko of the Donetsk Ballet, Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet, Harkness Ballet, and Maywood Academy, and served as faculty member of Temple University's Dance Department, where she received her Master's Degree in Dance. In 2007 she served as judge for the International Ballet Competition "Artek Fouette" in Crimea, Ukraine. In 1999, she was honored by the School District of Philadelphia for her work with public school children, and has also been selected to serve on local grant panels. Her choreography credits include Alice in Wonderland, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Sleeping Beauty, La Boutique Fantasque, Carmen, The Four Seasons and Porgy and Bess. Each year she stages a full-length ballet for WDA's annual recital. She also choreographs for the Delaware Valley Opera Company.

	Viktor Yeliohin, Ballet Master and Choreographer, is from Tashkent in the former Soviet Union. He began his ballet studies in 1967 and joined the Donetsk Ballet in 1976 as soloist. In 1995 he received the distinguished title of Professor of Choreography from the Academic Board of the Ukraine Academy of Dance in Kiev. Viktor annually stages the children's parts of The Nutcracker for the Donetsk Ballet when they tour the eastern USA in December. He has been on the staff at WDA since 1992.

	Elena Tiuriakulova, Ballet Mistress, is former principal dancer from the Krygyztan Opera and Ballet, in the former Soviet Union, where she danced the lead roles in Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadere, Spartacus and many others. She received her training from the world-famous Kirov Choreographic Academy in St. Petersberg, Russia where she graduated with honors. She joined WDA's staff in 2003.

	Corinne Karon graduated from The University of the Arts with a B.F.A. in Modern dance. Since graduation her biggest accomplishment has been that she has tap danced on all the continents in the world, yes including Antarctica! Corinne performs regularly throughout the country with Tap Team II for Young Audiences and has begun performing with Germaine Ingram. Corinne performed in the NY City Tap Extravaganza to honor legendary LaVaughn Robinson when he received his lifetime achievement award in 2005. Corinne teaches on a regular basis at The University of The Arts, Rowan University, Bryn Maur College, Wissahickon Dance Academy, Chester Valley Dance Academy, Calabrese Center For Dance and for Men on Tap.

	Idrisa A. Hamid has been the Jazz instructor at WDA since 1997. She studied at Pennsylvania Ballet, Creighton After-School Program, Philadanco, Freedom Theatre Dance Company, Creative & Performing Arts High School, and Morgan State University Dance Ensemble. Idrisa is also a free-lance choreographer for various non-profit organizations in the Tri-State Area. Her love of teaching began at DanSteps Studio where she was appointed as Artistic Director during her four year tenure. Idrisa refers to WDA as her second job, First Love! First Love because she loves the Art of Dance and especially loves teaching her students.

	Cara McCartney graduated from Hope College in Michigan with a B.A. in Dance. She has been teaching the Philadelphia area for 7 years, mostly classes in ballet and creative movement for young children. She loves children, loves the art of dance, which is why she also loves teaching and has loads of fun doing it!

	Janelle Stank started her ballet training at 10 years old in the Lehigh Valley under the direction of the late, Dolly Haltzman. From there she joined Repertory Dance Theatre, the school's pre-professional ballet company. She also studied with numerous other ballet company schools including, The School of American Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Janelle then was awarded a scholarship to study ballet at Point Park College in Pittsburgh. After deciding to pursue other academic interests, Janelle received a Minor in Dance from West Chester University. Currently, Janelle practices as a Nurse Practitioner and enjoys pursuing her passion for ballet by teaching part-time at Wissahickon Dance Academy.

	Jamie R. Laughlin is currently Director & Choreographer of Canaan Baptist Church ’s Praise Dance Ministry in Germantown . He has been an instructor of dance for more than 14 years, having taught at several performing arts schools throughout Philadelphia , as well as abroad. He is a graduate of Community College of Philadelphia where he received an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts and is pursuing his BFA at Temple University ’s Boyer College of Music & Dance. Jamie has performed professionally with LEJA Dance Theatre, UJIMA Dance Troupe, Next Generation and was Principal Dancer with ELEONE Dance Theatre. He has choreographed music videos for local recording artists and performed with IOTA at Walt Disney’s New Millennium Celebration. In 2004, Jamie established Ajala Essence Dance Productions based in the Delaware County , a performing and workshop/production Company that educates, inspires, and encourages audiences in the beauty of this expressive art form known as dance.

	David Dorsaima was born in Philadelphia Pa, and grew up in Cheltenham. In 2002 after years of making a name for himself in Philadelphia, David was introduced to Clyde Evans Hip-Hop program "ill children" where he studied all the elements of Hip-Hop. After training with Clyde, David was asked to become apart of Chosen Dance Company. In the past 5 years David has taught and performed up and down the east coast, for companies such as; Red Bull, Timberland, Mcdonald's, NFL films and Sunny Dlite. David has also danced at BET's 106th & park' "Wildin' Out Wednesday" where David and Chosen Dance Company danced there way to a victory. David's life goal is to travel the world presenting Hip-Hop in a way that people of all ages can enjoy.

38 East Schoolhouse Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19144

telephone: (215)-849-7950 fax: (215)-849-3117
toll free: 1-800-849-4919
email: wissahickondance@verizon.net