Marlena Marshall Abaza  ~  Artistic Director

Marlena Marshall Abaza began her teaching career in New York City. She taught many years at the prestigious Ballet Academy East, one of the nation's top ballet schools, specializing in classical ballet and pre-ballet for young children. Ms. Abaza was also the ballet director for both the Greenwich House Music School and the Roosevelt Island Cultural Center of NYC, teaching students of all ages in ballet, pointe, variations, creative movement, and Russian character dance. 

She choreographed and directed such productions as Peter and the Wolf,  a children's version of the Broadway musical Cats, and numerous original works. She has staged and choreographed in theatre and television, working with such artists as rocker Lou Reed. With over a decade of experience, Marlena Abaza has worked alongside some of the best teachers in the country and earned her three year teaching certification with honors from the Royal Academy of Dancing, London.

As a dancer she graduated on scholarship from the Hartford Ballet's Professional Program. Other training included the Connecticut Concert Ballet and Ballet Florida, under the direction of Marie Hale. She was a founding company member at 15 with their acclaimed student company - performing in such ballets as The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Cinderella, and Spartucus. Ms. Abaza's summer training included the School of American Ballet, Hartford Ballet, and on full scholarship with Ballet West, where she was selected by Bruce Marks for a ballet scholarship to the University of Utah. She was also awarded talent scholarships to the Shenandoah Conservatory, Burlington Ballet, and was chosen for the prestigious Bournonville Summer Academy in Denmark, as well as the Pacific Northwest Ballet's and Princeton Ballet's Professional Programs. Marlena also had the honor of working with Jacques d'Amboise and being selected for the New York City Ballet's company class and being coached by the legendary David Howard for the Miss America Pageant as Miss Connecticut.

Her professional experience includes being a company member with the Omega Dance Company, Dances Patrelle, Connecticut Concert Ballet, and the Metropolitan USO. She has performed as a guest  soloist at the historic Shubert Theatre, Sylvia and Danny Kaye Playhouse, Royal Poinciana Playhouse, Majestic Theatre, and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine of NYC, where she was a featured performer in one of the world's leading liturgical performances. Other highlights include the world premiere of The Yorkville Nutcracker, with Jack Soto and Lordes Lopez of NYCB, and making her Broadway debut in A Tribute to Angela Lansbury, with Nathan Lane, Tyne Daly, and Jennifer Holliday. A professional children's writer,  Ms. Abaza's fiction and dance related articles have been featured in several magazines.

Patricia Storelli, LRAD ~ RAD Ballet Director                                                                                    Ms. Storelli is a professional ballet teacher and choreographer, having taught for over twenty years in Europe and the United States.                                                               
She received her professional ballet training at the “La Scala” Theatre Ballet School in Milan (Italy) and became a Member of the Company where she performed in most ballets of the classical repertoire. Some of her many leading roles included, The Lilac Fairy and Blue Bird from Sleeping Beauty, Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker, and Myrtha from Giselle. She continued her training with world renowned teachers Yvette Chauviree and Daniel Frank from the Paris Opera, Anne-Marie Holmes, former Bolshoi’s principal Irek Muhamedov, David Howard, Rosella Hightower and English National Ballet’s Artistic Director Wayne Eagling.

Her teaching career began with the Royal Academy of Dance where she obtained her teaching qualifications. She became a Registered Teacher and Member of the Royal Academy of Dance after obtaining the RAD Teaching Certificate and Teaching Diploma with Anatomy and History of Ballet. She has been entering students for RAD exams since 1985 with a 100% rate of Pass and recently obtained a BA (Hons) in Dance Education from the University of Surrey, England.

In 2006 she was appointed as a Mentor of the Royal Academy of Dance for candidates enrolled Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies. She writes ballet articles for the Diary of the Royal Academy of Dance and other dance publications.

Ms. Storelli has been Artistic Director of West Florida Youth Ballet in Safety Harbor, Florida for two years and was one of the principal teachers at Etudes de Ballet in Naples and Leggz Dance Academy in Orlando. She stages the Russian version of Nutcracker every year for several schools and is a sought after choreographer of the many classical ballets.

Sarasota Dance Theatre is proud to have an artist as Ms.Storelli on faculty. Besides teaching classical ballet in theYouth Division, she will also be the RAD director of the school, preparing qualified students for yearly exams.

Rebecca Holahan ~ Nia and Adult Tap Instructor

Rebecca Holahan is a professional actress, choreographer, and dance/fitness instructor. She is also a certified Blue Belt Nia Fitness Instructor, with students ranging in age from 4-85. Ms. Holahan has been teaching Nia for several years throughout Sarasota County after experiencing the joy of Nia firsthand in a Nia class. She immediately clicked with the energy and fitness elements associated with Nia - and Sarasota Dance Theatre is proud to have such an enthusiastic, knowledgeable instructor on staff. Rebecca is also a trained and skilled tap instructor, teaching tap to all ages and abilities. She specializes in building a strong, solid foundation for students - in a creative, rhythmic, musically enhanced class.

She is currently a dance instructor for Riverview High's famous marching band. Other works include directing The Sound of Music at Venice Little Theatre, where the performers are from the Loveland Center - a center for developmentally challenged adults. Becky has performed in the very popular Always Patsy Cline at the Venice Little Theatre, (which was taken on tour in 2007 to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware) Crimes of the Heart, Vagina Monologues, Steel Magnolias, and many other productions. She has also choreographed Jekyll and Hyde, Once Upon a Mattress, Guys and Dolls, and children's productions of Narnia, Jungle Book, and Cinderella, to name a few.

Lilly Cil ~ Contemporary & Adult Jazz Instructor                                                                                              Lilly Cil began her dance training in Cuba, where she was born, at the prestigious Alicia Alonso Ballet School. After four years, she continued her training at the Variety School of the Arts, and later graduated from the National School of the Arts – located in La Habana, Cuba.

 Her teaching experience includes specializing in classical ballet, modern, and Cuban Folklore dancing. She excelled in teaching both first year and more seasoned dancers. During this time she also had the opportunity to work professionally with the Tropicana Cabaret and Television Ballet, Cuba.

Ms. Cil also performed and taught in Mexico with Mexico Luido and worked as a choreographer for the resort hotel Rio Tequila.

 As a dancer she has performed in such productions as The Nutcracker, Coppelia, La Fille Magarde, Carmen, Tango in the Rain, and has been featured in the worldwide Tropicana show, Paradise Under the Stars. She also went onto perform with the modern dance company, Danza Contemporonea de Cuba for two seasons, performing numerous contemporary works.

           Courtney Kalahar ~ Youth Division         
Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop, & Primary Ballet Instructor
                                                                                              Courtney Kalahar has been studying dance for 15 years. She is diverse in the disciplines of ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop, and highland and Irish dancing. She was the principal dancer with the acclaimed Kiltie Band at Riverview High School during the 2007- 2008 season.

She has studied with numerous choreographers and teachers, including Chabar Williams and Marlena Abaza (ballet). Her tap training has included such teachers as Ryan Lohoff, Michael Boston, Walter Freeman, Lynn Schwab, and Greg Russell. Sarasota Dance Theatre is proud to have such an accomplished tap artist to teach in the Children’s Division. Her personality and ability to teach children of all abilities is one of Miss Kalahar’s talents. In jazz, hip-hop, and lyrical, Courtney continued her training with Barry Youngblood, Tyce Diorio, Nick Florez, Wade Robson, and Jimmy Arguelio.

Miss Kalahar was the 2003 Company Dance Agent Award Winner and in December of 2007 she made her television debut on an MTV special.    

Catharine Daley ~ Yoga Director                                        

Ms. Daley started Yoga at the age of 16 and has been a serious student of Yoga since arriving in Sarasota from San Francisco 11 years ago. In 2002 Catharine did intensive training in the Kripalu method of Yoga and received her Teacher's Certification that year. Since then she has been training and teaching in Yoga Therapy and has taught at numerous facilities and health clubs. Her classes include centering, breathing exercises, warm-ups, guided postures, strengthening techniques, and final relaxation.

In Ms. Daley's own life, Yoga is one of the greatest gifts she has received. It not only enhances health and vitality, but it also brings inner lasting peace and happiness. It is her goal to share this gift by making it easy for everyone to experience Yoga's life-giving benefits - regardless of their age, health, or situation in life. She believes in a non-competitive and encouraging atmosphere where students may work at a level that is appropriate for their capabilities. To this end, she individualizes her teaching to benefit each student in their quest of greater health, vitality, power - and to integrate the mind, body, and spirit.

 Certified in Kripalu/Hatha Method and Yoga Therapy
 Registered with: Yoga Alliance, Kripalu Yoga Teacher's Association &                   International Association of Yoga Therapists

 Sarah Glass ~  Ballroom Instructor   

Sarah Glass has been studying ballroom dance for the past decade and is an award winning Latin ballroom champion. She has studied with leading ballroom dance instructors, including Martin Rivera, Victoria Regan, and Joan Knight. She was the US Open Amateur Champion in 2006 and was 1st place at the Florida Dance Classics. (Latin Division).

Ms. Glass is fluent in French and holds a degree in French and Linguistics from Eastern Washington University. She has also studied classical ballet, tap, and is well trained in all areas of ballroom dance such as Standard, Smooth, and Rhythm. She is and experienced and committed instructor, having worked in the Sarasota County school district as a ballroom dance teacher for elementary and middle school students.

>         Florida State Dancesport Championships 2008-3rd Place Professional Rhythm
>         Florida Dance Classic 2006-1st Place Open Amateur Latin
>         Florida Superstars 2006-1st Place Open Amateur Latin
>         Seattle Star Ball 2004-1st Place Champion
>         Oregon Fall Festival 2003-1st Place Champion
>         Blackpool Competitor Amateur Rising Star and Amateur Latin