Founder of the Classical Ballet School
1923-2011
Classical Ballet, Mat Pilates, & Lyrical.
Eryka Clayton
Eryka Clayton grew up in New York, where her mother had started her in her footsteps with dance classes at the age of two. By the age of eight she was accepted into the prestigious Fedicheva Ballet under the direction of Kaleria Fedicheva, former Kirov Ballerina and partner to Rudolf Nureyev. It was there that she first danced her favorite role, Giselle.
Ms. Fedicheva passed away in 1994, but Ms. Clayton continued to train in the Vaganova method. However, she simultaneously expanded her training to include R.A.D. and Cecchetti methods. Ms. Clayton attended the Cultural Arts Center in N.Y. for high school getting the opportunity work with many of the worlds most esteemed choreographers. At the age of fifteen the door opened for her to dance with Alvin Ailey’s Junior Repertory.
After attending New World School of the Arts and with extensive performance experience Ms. Clayton moved to Los Angeles for new opportunities and started being asked to give master classes and choreograph. Since then, Ms. Clayton has been training ballet students in the Los Angeles area and guiding them to professional careers. Ms. Clayton has also served as the Dance Director at Ography Performing Arts Academy in Hollywood.
Ms. Clayton is also a Certified Pilates instructor. She currently resides in West Hollywood.
Latin Dance, Latin Fitness, & Ballroom Dance
Dalia de la O
Dalia is a DVIDA certified dance instructor who has studied at Millenium dance school, Edge dance academy, Arthur Murray Dance Studio, Ballroom Dance Academy and Fred Astaire dance studio.
Dalia de la O has been dancing and performing since she was six years old. She fell in love with dance while performing in regional dance shows and theatre as a child. Dance for her was a magical experience where she learned the laughter, joy and fun of movement and how it contributed to a happy life. Unlike jazz, contemporary, hip hop and other forms of dance she had studied, Dalia loved that Ballroom was all about connection with a partner. In 2004, Dalia answered her life’s calling and decided to become a dance teacher to spread her passion and help others experience the benefits of dance. Evidence of dance has found in every society since the dawn of time. Her well rounded dance training has made her into an unforgettable performer and undeniably great teacher.
She has worked for several independent studios in Los Angeles including West Adams Studios, By Your Side Studops, and Ballroom Dance Academy (covering and assisting beg/int salsa, ballroom and latin classes), as well as Fred Astaire studios.
She has also competed and performed at several national competitions and showcases, as well as Dancing with our Stars -Santa Clarita 2010 and Dancing with the Nike Stars-Las Vegas 2010
Dance is an innate expression of how we live our lives and Dalia believes that dancing shouldn’t be something that we are apprehensive about but rather how we express ourselves.
“Teaching to me is giving people the opportunity to learn the art of dance, feel comfortable with what they are doing and learn to love it, as much as I do. It's what I always wanted to do, to show the laughter, the fun, the joy of dance." Dalia de la O
Belly Dancing:
Mésmera
Mésmera a grew up in San Diego, CA, where her childhood was all about movement: swimming, gymnastics, baton twirling, water ballet, hiking and cookouts, all under the initiative of her father, Coach Rose. Whenever the men were not around and the desire hit, her aunt, grandmother and mother would put on music and dance. Discovering Modern Dance in High School fanned the spark in Mésmera, yet it was not until 10 years later, when she saw her first belly dancer, that her passion for the dance became her passion for life.
Spinning her veils through 25 years of classes, performances, seminars, videos, festivals, film and TV credits, celebrity parties and directing Troupe Mésmerasha has shaped her into a dancer with depth and intent. Her articulate clarity of movement carries through to her teaching ability, making the learning experience most satisfying.
Mésmera encourages and empowers freedom of movement in dance as a creative paradigm for life. She draws from many sources: archetypes, geometry, anatomy, kinesiology, colors, Deities, animals and Nature. She integrates knowledge, awareness and Spirit and actively generates the embodiment of these elements with her students. The grace with which she blends heart and consciousness is inspiring, joyful and vital, bringing her entertainment art to a moving experience for her audience as well as her students. There is definitely more than a shimmy happening here, and that is why her name is Mésmera.
Irish Dance (recreational),
Monica Sorce
Monica has been dancing since the age of six. Starting in a local NJ studio, she later studied in New York with some of the best in the field including Luigi, Phil Black, Peter Germero, and Ballet Arts , Cargenie Hall. Founder and director of the Master Art Dance Co. she performed in the NJ, NY Metropolitan area. She also co-owned "The Dancer's Workshop, a dance studio in West NY NJ.
Monica moved to Los Angeles in 1993, and taught for Maureen Kennedy at Art of the Dance Academy, for 13 yrs.
When Irish dance re-surfaced, she decided to refresh some of her childhood techniques. She studied with The Morissey School of Irish Dance, and competed in Competions (Feis) throughout California.
She earned first place in soft as well as hard shoe work. An avid dance lover, she teaches tap, jazz, ballet, and Irish , dedicating herself to teaching children as well as adults the beautiful art of dance and sharing her knowledge with all ages.
Guest Artist - Ballet Classes
Hana Bible
Hana Bible was born and raised in San Francisco, California. She began taking ballet classes at The Westlake School for the Performing Arts at age 6 and eventually worked her way up to principal dancer. At age 14 she began training in jazz, modern, contemporary and hip hop as well. By age 18, Hana performed as a lead or solo dancer in ballets including La Bayadere, Le Corsaire, Paquita, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker.
When Hana was 17, she won 2nd place in the contemporary solo category at the Youth American Grand Prix ballet competition in Huntington Beach, and was placed in the top 14 for the ballet solo division. That same year Hana was accepted to attend the American Ballet Theater’s summer intensive program in Costa Mesa, CA. At 19, Hana moved to Los Angeles where she continued to dance while attending college at Cal State LA, where she graduated in December 2010 with a B.A. in Child Development. Currently, Hana is signed with DDO talent agency, and performs with a hip hop company based in Fullerton, and continues her training by taking classes throughout LA.
Artistic Director, Admissions Officer, and Curator of Francesca Method
Stella G. Croxon
Stella is the daughter of the Founder, Miss Francesca, and was teacher in her London, England school for many years. She is now managing the scheduling and enrollment in the school and is available for all class and billing related questions.
Stella is a mezzo-soprano. She received her voice training with Florence Hechtel-Graziose in New York, and Elizabeth Howard in Los Angeles. She is also an actress, comedian, and voice over artist.
Her other full-time job is as a mortgage/credit professional for her company Stellar Loans .
"Dedicated to producing dancers of the finest technique & quality."
Copyright © 2001 The Classical Ballet School. All rights reserved.
Revised: 08/29/11.
