Teachers
Eliza Harwood-Watson | Eliza is a seasoned professional dancer, teacher and choreographer with a broad-based background including classical and modern dance. After dancing and teaching with leading dance companies throughout the Southeast, she decided to use her understanding and background in teaching and performing to open her own studio. Eliza is a gifted teacher with the ability to work with students from ages 3 to adult. |
Elise Frost | Elise is a summa cum laude graduate from the University of Florida having earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance. She has trained with many renowned artists nationally and internationally and conducted many workshops and classes at Harwood-Watson Dance Studios. She has choreographed dance and theatre works for the Johnny Holloway Theatre, University of Florida, and three professional dance companies. Currently she is teaching a variety of classes at Harwood-Watson Dance Studios and is assisting in its' growth and management in order to continue the vision of sharing dance with the Central Florida community. Choreographyand improvisation has been a focus in her artistic exploration of movement and life. Her strong belief in the power of the artistic journey through daily expression has been influential in her research of many unique art forms that contribute to the universal human experience. |
Rachel Arnett | Rachel has trained in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, and Modern under Kip Watson and Eliza Harwood-Watson at Harwood-Watson Dance Studios. She has also trained at The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Orlando Ballet in Orlando, Florida. She is also a seasoned stage actor and singer, has trained for classical voice under Priscilla Bagley here in Orlando, Florida, as well as in the Intermezzo Young Opera program in Hartford, Connecticut and at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. She also has worked as a performer at Walt Disney World Resorts. Rachel started at Harwood-Watson Dance Studios in 2004 as an assisstant and began as a full time dance instructor in 2007. Rachel teaches Musical Theater and Tuesday's Intermediate Ballet. |
Amy M. Davidson | Amy received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from DeSales University. She has taught and choreographed for almost twenty years in the Central Florida area. Her performances include productions of West Side Story, Of Thee I Sing, Anything Goes and Hello Out There. Amy has worked with Shelley Oliver ofManhattan Tap Company, Ernestine Stodelle of Doris Humphrey Dancers, Chi-Town Jazz Company and Ellie Potts Barrett of Still, Moving-Dance. She has also taught and choreographed productions of West Side Story, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, M*A*S*H, Grease and The Tempest for the Chorus and Drama programs at Winter Park High School, Edgewater High School, Colonial High School and Lake Howell High School. Amy is very proud of each of her students and even has a former student in a television sitcom. Vincent Martella was a Tap student of hers and he was on Everybody Hate Chris on The CW. She hopes that all of her students reach their goals and live their dreams.
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Jakki Kenney | Jakki grew up in Florida and has been dancing since she was three years old at Raskin Dance Studios. She has trained in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, along with several other types of dance. While at Raskins, she was involved in their Company and Competition Team. The Raskin Dance Company consisted of local performances for the community and while on the competition team had the opportunity to win several scholarships to gain her studies with some of the top choreographers in our time of dance. While at Raskins she also had the opportunity to begin teaching dance and has taught for nine years. Before graduating High School Jakki was flown to Los Angelos to do a photo shoot with a top photographer for her title as Dancer Of the Year for Urban Jamm Dance Convention. After graduating high school she moved to New York City and entered the Professional Dance Program at Broadway Dance Center ran by Wes Veldink to continue her studies. Jakki has danced for Aaron Carter, was in a movie with Tom Seleck, and has assisted a number of dance teachers at conventions including Jeff Amsden who teaches for Tremaine Dance Convention. "This is a very special thing we get to do every day and I am just so thankful that I get to share this art of mine. Not only do I love to watch my students grow, but I love growing with them."
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Mila Makarova | Mila will be joining Harwood-Watson Dance Studios this year teaching Variations and Character. Mila has been a guest choreographer for Harwood-Watson Dance Studios for the past several years. Mila continues a strong family dance tradition. After receiving her initial training with her parents Juanita and Nikolai, a Bolshoi trained star of the famed Don Cossack Chorus. Ms. Makarova studied at the NC School of the Arts and later in Chicago with Gus Giordano.During her career, she has performed principal and soloist roles with many of the outstanding choreographers of our day.
Among her favorites were Ann Reinking, Lar Lubovitch, Claire Bataille, Lynn Taylor-Corbett, Randy Duncan, Frank Chaves, Pattie Obey, Andre George, Wayne Bascomb, Zeeva Cohen and Dwight Rhoden. Ms. Makarova is a highly ranked Women's Gymnastics Judge. |
Kira Gonzalez | Kira is a substitute teacher and Harwood-Watson Dance Studio student. She has been working with Harwood-Watson continuing her education in dance and has become a vital force in Harwood-Watson's company. She will be teaching the Tuesday Tap classes. |
Linda Eve Elchak | Linda will be joining Harwood-Watson and teaching the Nao Dance classes. She is a passionate mother, dancer, choreographer, and educator. Linda has had the privilege of being trained with teachers from the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance, Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, the Mark Morris Dance group, the American Ballet Theatre, the New York City Ballet, The International Ballet of Cuba, the Denishaw School, and Isadora Duncan Dance Repertory. Linda focused her attentions at a young age in dance education to develop her skills and knowledge in “dissecting the body” for proper dance training. Linda uses her talents to teach dancers how to access their potential and was responsible for overseeing the Resident Artist Program at The Center for Contemporary Dance in Orlando, Florida, where Nao Dance collective was born and raised. Linda's passion is to reach as many people that she can to help influence their outlook on the dance arts. The technical training she provides dancers is not a fast one, and independently trains professional dancers to access their own body wisdom to dance longer and stronger throughout their career. Linda Eve Elchak is also the founder and artistic director for Nao Dance Collective; Central Florida’s Premier Structured improvisational Dance Company. Nao Dance Collective travels to surrounding areas to bring art to communities that would normally not have access to it.
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Kelli Coon | Kelli is a substitute teacher and Harwood-Watson Dance Studio alumni. |
Office Staff
Kim Creasman
Kim has been a long time dance parent. She works as part of the front desk staff.
Jillian Friedman
Jillian has been a long time dance parent. She works as part of the front desk staff.
Michelle Lillie
Michelle has been a long time dance parent. She works as part of the front desk staff.
