Elite Dance Academy

Elite Staff

Lanette Cook, Director

Mrs. Lanette Cook has danced competitively since the age of 14 while studying under the instruction of Elise Donnow. She was a member of the Davis Muscial Theatre Company in Davis, California and performed in musicals including The Wizard of Oz, Oliver, and Annie. Lanette was a Senior Lieutenant on the Clear Creek Cavalier Dance team where she danced for 3 years under the direction of Jill Terrell. Upon high school graduation, Lanette received a dance scholarship to the University of Houston and became a member of the Cougar Doll Dance Team. In addition to dancing, she studied architecture and vocal jazz while maintaining membership with two local area Vocal Jazz groups: Bay Creek Jazz Express and the University of Houston Jazz Singers, both under the direction of Dr. Sue Cruse. Lanette has appeared in the Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade and has performed overseas, in England and Wales. Her singing credits include performances at Ovations in Houston and in New Orleans. Her competing dance students have received high marks at competitions and she has received “Best Choreography” awards. In addition to voice and dance, Lanette has a background in piano, guitar, flute and trombone. She enjoys life with her husband, Daniel, and their three wonderful children, Ansleigh, Andrew, and Anderson.

Terrill Mitchell, Competition Team Director

Terrill Mitchell is a native of Morgantown, West Virginia and is a graduate of Point Park University’s Conservatory of the Performing Arts and holds a B.A. in Dance. In addition, he is currently a company member of The Houston Metropolitan Dance Company. Some of Terrill’s credits include the lead role of "Jack" in the first off-Broadway production of CONTACT with the Conservatory Theatre Company and the role of the Carpet with West Virginia Public Theatre’s production of Beauty and the Beast. He has also worked with companies such as Pittsburgh Opera and Attack Theatre. Choreographers such as: Peter Chu, Kiesha Llama-White, Jason McDole and Kiki Lucas. Aside from directing the competition team at Elite Dance Academy, he also serves as a competition judge as well as Master Teacher for Crowd Pleasers Dance Camps.

Emily Bischoff, Instructor

Emily Bischoff was raised right here in Friendswood, TX and attended Dancescape by Joyce in Pearland. She graduated from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and went on to Point Park University in Pittsburgh where she received a B.F.A in dance. While at Point Park, Emily had the pleasure of working with choreographers such as Lauri Stallings (Je T‘aime), Whitney Moncrief (Faraualla), Doug Bentz (Cinderella), and Diane Gray (Martha Graham‘s Diversion of Angels). She has spent two summers as a scholarship student at the Lou Conte Dance Studio in Chicago, the home of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Emily has choreographed all around the greater Houston area and is extremely excited to be a part of the Elite family!

Elise Donnow, Instructor

Mrs. Donnow has been teaching dance since 1991. She holds a degree in Health and Dance Education from the University of Houston where she studied under Dr. Joanna Friesen and Victoria Loftin. She was a member of the UH Cougar Dolls Dance Team during her years at the University of Houston. Mrs. Donnow has performed for the Houston Rockets, Houston Oilers, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Cotton Bowl, the Coca-Cola Bowl, Special Olympics and many other special appearances. She has also had the opportunity to perform in Japan and France.

Mrs. Donnow owned and was dance director of her own dance studio until 2007. Her students have won numerous awards including many high point awards at the regional and national competitive levels. She has won several choreography awards and has many students invited to train in New York, Los Angeles, and Orlando.

Mrs. Donnow lives in Kemah with her husband Scott and their children Shelby and Ryan.

Lauren Gonzales, Instructor

Lauren Gonzales is originally from Dallas, TX and she graduated from Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance. There she performed works by George Balanchine, Arthur Mitchell, Twyla Tharp, Gerald Arpino, and Andrew Parker. In addition, she has performed with several companies such as Texas Ballet Theatre and Collin County Ballet Theatre. She has danced for several industrial shows including DIFFA, Mary Kay, and Sally Beauty Cosmetics. She also appeared in a national commercial for Chuck E Cheese. Since moving to Houston, she has performed works by Paola Georgudis, Jason Parsons, Spencer Gavin Hering, Julie Fox, jhon r. stronks, and Kiki Lucas. She enjoys teaching in the Houston area and is looking forward to her second season with the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company.