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.
Lisa Wolff, Assistant Director
Lisa Wolff (formerly Tschopp) is a native Oklahoman but is thrilled to be
a part of the Elite Dance Academy Staff. She is also a company member at
the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company where she continues to train as well
as perform. Lisa grew up dancing competitively and was awarded Miss Dance
of Oklahoma from Dance Masters of America in 2003. She also received scholarship
awards through Dance Masters of America, Tremaine, and Company Dance Conventions.
She was the captain of the Sapulpa Drill Team which she was a part of throughout
her high school career. Lisa earned her Bachelor's Degree from Oklahoma
City University in Performing Arts as well as toured with the American Spirit
Dance Company around Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Taiwan. She has also performed
multiple seasons at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, and toured with them to
Las Vegas to perform at the National AARP Convention. Lisa performed around
the Eastern Caribbean while sailing on a Holland America Cruise Ship. She
has been teaching for the last 6 years and her students have been awarded
overall placement as well as one student receiving "The Edge" Scholarship
from Tremaine.
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 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.
Andrée Newport, Tap Instructor
Andree L. Newport started working for Elite Dance Academy in the spring
of 2009. She began dancing at the young age of three and performed in a
traveling dance company by seven. She has been fortunate enough to work
with some tap greats including, Savion Glover, Barbara Duffy, Gracie Tune,
Brenda Buffalino, Germaine Goodson, Phil Black and Al Lowe. She enjoys tap
as she is an avid drummer and feels that tap is just an extension of her
drumming. She teaches both Broadway style and Rhythmic. In addition to dance,
Ms. Newport owned her own school of performing arts in Galveston called
Broadway Bound for 16 years. While there she co-wrote many shows including,
Alice in Wonderland, A Midsummer Night, Sleeping Beauty, MatchGirl and Puff.
As the Artistic Director of the Strand Theatre she helped write Galveston
the Musical, Pinocchio and Heidi. She teaches theatre and musical theatre
at Santa Fe Middle School. Her husband, Travis is a partner at Murray and
Lobb in Houston. Together they have a two year old son named Brayden Paul.
They live in Dickinson. Newport is looking forward to a dynamic year of
dance!
In addition to dancing, Mrs. Newport plays the drums, writes musicals, practices
yoga, and is an avid painter. She lives in Dickinson with her husband Travis
and their son, Brayden.
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.
Denise Giuliani, Cheer Instructor
Denise Giuliani is originally from the New Jersey Shore. She has 10 years experience as a cheerleader and dancer winning 1st and 2nd place with her elementary competition team. In high school, she performed as a dancer in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. At Monmouth College, in West Long Branch, NJ, where she earned her BA in Education and Psychology, she was the captain and choreographer of her cheerleading squad from 1990-1994.
Her teaching career began in NJ , where she was head teacher in the PreK at KinderCare from 1994-1996. She also taught cheer, dance and tumbling to K-5th graders at Aerial Gymnastics and Matawan Schools during those two years. She moved to Texas in 1996 and has taught 1st grade and Kindergarten in Pasadena ISD from 1996-2005. For 5 of those years she was the grade level team leader and also started Morales Elementary’s first cheerleading/dancing performing group for grades K-2.
Denise has been a PTO volunteer at Silbernagel Elementary in Dickinson ISD since 2007 and she is currently a private academic tutor for grades K-5.
Mrs. Giuliani lives in Seabrook with her husband Sean and three beautiful girls: Caterina, Gabriella and Sabrina.
