OUR DIRECTOR
ELENA MANAKHOVA
Born in Chelyabensk, Russia, Elena Manakhova began her ballet training at the age of six in Chelyabensk. After studying with Balentina Khabereu at the Art School, Elena attended the world famous Kirov Ballet Academy and Vaganova Academy and was one of the dancers in the 249th graduating class of the Academy. After graduating, she became principal dancer for the Donestsk Ballet Theater. In 1987 she received the Medal of Honor at the Ukranian International Ballet competition. Later, she became Prima Ballerina with National Ballet of the Republic of Komi.
In 1993, Elena came to America and danced with the International Ballet Company in New Jersey where she worked and trained under Alla Osipenko (Russian Prima Ballerina - Kirov Ballet) and Irina Kolpakova (Russian Prima Ballerina - Kirov Ballet). Elena also became a member of the Russian Ballet Theatre of Delaware where she danced works by Robert La Fosse, Daniel Baudendistel, Leslie Browne, and Lev Assoulak.
Her career hasbrought her many performances as prima ballerina in the following ballets: Swan Lake - Odette, Odile, Nutcracker - Clara, Sugar Plum, Arabian, Snow, and Spanish, Giselle - Giselle, Myrta, Chopiniana - 7th Waltz, Mazurkas, Prelude, La Sylphide, Carmen Suite- Carmen,
Le Corsaire - Pas d'Esclave, Don Quixote- Kitri, Mercedes, Dying Swan, Coppelia - Swanilda,
Paquita, Sleeping Beauty- Fairies, Esmeralda- Esmeralda, and many others.
Elena was a Guest Artist with Eastern Shore Ballet Theatre in 1997-2001, and became Artistic Director for ESBT in 2001. During her tenure as director, she has added to the repertory at ESBT through her stagings of Sleeping Beauty, Chopiniana (also known as Les Sylphides), Paquita, and original works of "Bolero" (to Ravel's score) and Alice in Wonderland.
Elena holds a Master's Degree in Teacher of Classical Ballet, Vaganova Style, and Choreography from Cheyabinsk State Pedagogical University in Russia.
OUR FACULTY
VAL GONCHAROV
Classical Ballet Faculty ~ Technique, Men's Class, and Pas de Deux
Val Goncharov is a graduate from Kyiv Ballet Academy (Ukraine) in1982. He was offered Soloist and later Principal Dancer position with the Donetsk Opera and Ballet Theater, where he worked from 1982 to 1992. In 1987, he received a Bronze medal at the Republican Ballet Competition (Donetsk, Ukraine). He has danced professionally in Ukraine, Russia and in the United States. In 1991, he danced at the Nervi International Ballet Festival in Genoa, Italy. In 1992 he moved to the United States. From 1992 to 1999, he was a Principal Dancer with the Ballet Theater of Pennsylvania and later with the Russian Ballet Theater of Delaware. Val performed Principal roles in many classical ballets: Bahchisarai Fountain, Swan Lake, Giselle, Francesca da Rimini, Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Chopiniana (Les Sylphide), The Firebird, Scheherazade, Cinderella, and many more classical, character and modern dances.
SHELBY TRENARY
Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary Faculty
Shelby Trenary began her dance training in Salisbury, Maryland, studying under Betty Webster and Elena Manakhova. She was a member of the Eastern Shore Ballet Theatre and enhanced her classical foundation through summer intensives at the Kirov Academy of Ballet and Maryland Youth Ballet. After graduating, Shelby moved to New York City to pursue her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with a concentration in Ballet at Marymount Manhattan College. During her time there, she had the opportunity to perform works by acclaimed choreographers such as Jessica Lang, Pascal Rioult, Igal Perry, and Katie Langan. Professionally, Shelby has performed with a variety of companies including Peconic Ballet Theatre, Steps on Broadway, DanceCore Performing Arts, Ballet Ambassadors, the NFL Corporation, and Continuum Contemporary Ballet. Her performance career also includes numerous guest artist roles and appearances in exercise demonstrations alongside Dr. Jordan Metzl of The Today Show. While in New York, she served as an assistant teacher at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, the official school of American Ballet Theatre. Shelby is a certified yoga instructor, a certified teacher of Progressing Ballet Technique® (PBT), and trained in Autism Movement Therapy. In addition to her performance and teaching credentials, Shelby is an adjudicator and choreographer for On Point National Dance Competition. Her choreographic credits include Mamma Mia with Salisbury University, The Wizard of Oz with Eastern Shore Ballet Theatre, and Annie with Community Players. She is currently a company member of JDY Dance Theatre. Shelby has served as the Associate Director of the Salisbury University Dance Company and is currently an adjunct professor in the university's Dance Department, continuing to share her expertise and passion for dance with the next generation of artists.
CHRISTINA ENNIS
Jazz and Tap Faculty, Founding Director of SDA Company
Christina began her training at the Salisbury Studio of Dance under the tutelage of Betty Webster. She performed as a member of the Eastern Shore Ballet Theatre as well with Broadway Etc., a studio affiliated troupe that had the privilege of performing at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. She became part of the studio’s faculty in 1997 working, initially, with the youngest students. She was the founding director of the First Position Performance Troupe taking SDA students to perform in Disney World in 2015 and 2017. She has had the honor of being invited twice to teach a tap masterclass series at Salisbury University. Additionally, she has taught tap at the Mid-Maryland Performing Arts Center as well as assisted their previous Musical Theater Director. In sharing her passion for the performing arts, she has worked as a choreographer and showmanship consultant for various performing arts group in the mid-Atlantic region. She currently teaches beginner and intermediate jazz classes as well as all upper level tap and is in her 7th season as the co-director of our competition team.
BRITNI DREHMER ILCZUK
Young Dancer Faculty
A native of Salisbury and graduate of the Salisbury Studio of Dance, Britni has been on faculty at the Salisbury Dance Academy since 2004. She performed as a member of the Eastern Shore Ballet Theatre and has received additional training in theatre, music, and voice. As a Young Dancer faculty, she teaches ballet, tap, and jazz, and recently graduated from Worwic Community College with an Associates in Early Childhood Education. Her classes emphasize learning proper technique, while also inspiring students to express themselves, use their imaginations, and most importantly, have fun. In addition to teaching, Britni is also the pianist for Delmar Christian Center, where she works as a youth leader.
BROOKE SIMPKINS
Lyrical and Hip-Hop, Director of SDA Company
Brooke studied under Betty Webster and Elena Manakhova at Salisbury Studio of Dance, and grew up performing as a member of the Eastern Shore Ballet Theatre. After graduating high school in 2010, she moved to Baltimore to pursue her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at Stevenson University, later earning her Master’s in Equity and Cultural Proficiency in Leadership from Notre Dame of Maryland University. During her time at Stevenson, Brooke was a member of both the game-day and competitive dance teams, spending three years competing in hip-hop and jazz at the Universal Dance Association College Nationals at Walt Disney World. Following graduation, she taught third grade in Baltimore County Public Schools for eight years while also serving on the faculty of Underground Dance Academy in Baltimore City, where she taught and choreographed for competitive small groups and soloists. Following her return to Salisbury, Brooke joined the faculty at SDA, where she teaches lyrical and hip-hop to dancers ranging from mini to advanced level dancers, while also working with the SDA Company. Beyond her teaching, she is a Board Member of the Eastern Shore Ballet Theatre, has adjudicated for On Point National Dance Competition, and has choreographed The Salisbury School’s musical productions, including Footloose, Beauty and the Beast, and Oklahoma.
KATE DYER
SDA Faculty
Kate began her training with Betty Webster and Elena Manakhova at the Salisbury Studio of Dance from 1995 through 2008. She was a member of the Eastern Shore Ballet Theatre for twelve years and also studied music extensively, particularly voice and piano. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude from The College of William and Mary in 2012 with Bachelor’s degrees in English and Music. She also earned a Master of Arts degree in English literature from Georgetown University. She has worked in independent education since 2014 and is currently on the faculty at The Salisbury School. She now lives back in Salisbury with her husband, Nelson, and three young children, including Mary Violet and Clara, who now dance at SDA!
KAMRYN PURVIS
SDA Faculty
Kamryn began her dance journey at SDA at 4 years old, graduating with the Class of 2020. During her years at SDA, she not only learned the fundamentals of dance but also developed a lifelong passion for the art form. That passion carried her to Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina, where she became a key member of the Sound of Class band’s dance team. She served as captain her junior and senior year. She has choreographed numerous routines for college football games and served as captain her junior and senior year. Kamryn had the opportunity to perform for J. Alphonse Nicholson along with the cast of the hit 80’s show A Different World. While at ECSU, Kamryn balanced her love of the art with her academic pursuits, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Pre-Law. Today, Kamryn is the Project Director for It Takes a Village to Help Our Children, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students secure funding for college. Her dedication to both education and the arts has brought her back to SDA for her second year of teaching. Kamryn is excited to share her love of dance with a new generation of students, inspiring them to fall in love with the art form just as she did.
LEILANI ECKERT
SDA Faculty
Leilani Eckert is a 2022 alumni of Salisbury Dance Academy. She began dancing with Betty Webster at the age of three and continued her study of ballet with Elena Manakhova. During her years at SDA, she was a member of both the First Position Performance Troupe, performing twice in Disney World including a parade down their Main St. USA, as well as the competition team. Additionally, she was a member of the Eastern Shore Ballet Theater for over 10 years dancing roles like the Dream Fairy from The Nutcracker and the Evil Queen in Snow White. Throughout her years of dance, has had the privilege of taking classes from many distinguished artists such as Mia Michaels, Molly Long, and Lex Ishimoto. While in college at Delaware Valley University, she choreographed for SDA’s competition team earning special recognition from judges for her choreography. A 2025 college graduate, she is excited to be back in the studio as part of our advanced hip hop and contemporary faculty.
ALLISON PUMPHREY
SDA Faculty
Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Allison began her training at the age of two at Dance Moves Studio of Dance and then continued her training with the company at E-street Dance Academy and Charm City Ballet. She also graduated with the Class of 2024 from the dance program at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology. She is currently a student at Salisbury University and is a member of the Poms Dance Team. Allison has performed numerous productions with Charm City Ballet, including The Little Mermaid and The Wizard of Oz, participated in regional and national High School Dance Festivals, and has received awards at both regional and national competition levels. She believes in creating a positive environment that fosters growth and creativity among dancers of all ages and skill levels.