Dancing by His Grace Summer 2022 Program Faculty
Karen Eriksson-Lee
Artistic Director and Classical Ballet Instructor
Karen Eriksson-Lee is Living by His Grace Ministry’s President of the Board, Founder and Artistic Director. Miss Karen has been teaching classical ballet professionally for over 30 years. Her training began in New Jersey and NYC where she trained with the late Janet Hicks at Columbia High School, known for mentoring many well known actors, dancers, and musicians. In college Ms. Eriksson-Lee trained with the Late founder and Artistic Director of CPYB Marcia Dale Weary, as well as Gennadi and Susan Vostrikov, Leslie Hench, and many others. She has taught children from all over the world from the preschool through the preprofessional level, including Dickinson College students. Ms. Eriksson-Lee holds a Bachelor of Science for Dance and a Master of Education. She believes that good classical, wholesome literature and art are imperative for the healthy development of a child, and that we can change our families, communities, and the world one note, one step, and one prayer at a time.
Katya Stafira
Classical Ballet Teacher
Katya Stafira has been dancing for 13 years and her first ballet class was with Miss Karen. Katya went on to dance at the Vostrikov’s Academy of Ballet for 10 years. She continues to dance ballet and contemporary in the Performing Arts Company at the University of Mary Washington. Katya wants to become a special education teacher and is excited for this opportunity to teach and dance!
Dancing By His Grace 2021-2022 Program Faculty
Karen Eriksson-Lee
Artistic Director and Classical Ballet Instructor
Karen Eriksson-Lee is Living by His Grace Ministry’s President of the Board, Founder and Artistic Director. Miss Karen has been teaching classical ballet professionally for over 30 years. Her training began in New Jersey and NYC where she trained with the late Janet Hicks at Columbia High School, known for mentoring many well known actors, dancers, and musicians. In college Ms. Eriksson-Lee trained with the Late founder and Artistic Director of CPYB Marcia Dale Weary, as well as Gennadi and Susan Vostrikov, Leslie Hench, and many others. She has taught children from all over the world from the preschool through the preprofessional level, including Dickinson College students. Ms. Eriksson-Lee holds a Bachelor of Science for Dance and a Master of Education. She believes that good classical, wholesome literature and art are imperative for the healthy development of a child, and that we can change our families, communities, and the world one note, one step, and one prayer at a time.
Laura Gill
Permanent Guest Theater Teacher
Laura Gill is from Southeast Michigan and was first introduced to theatre in high school and loved it! She went on to study Theatre performance and dance at The University of Michigan-Flint after high school, and began teaching theatre, musical theatre, and ballet to young people shortly after graduating. She taught for six years before continuing her studies in theatre.
She received her master’s degree in Theatre for the Young, from Eastern Michigan University. After graduating she had the opportunity to co-direct the first youth theatre performance, Too Many Frogs, at The Zoom Theatre in Seoul, Korea, and participate in the ASSITEJ Next Generation program in Warsaw, Poland. She began teaching, directing and producing theatre for young people throughout Southeast Michigan with various theatres, organizations and schools. She currently lives in Woodstock, Virginia with her family, and teaches theatre at a middle school for 5th-7th grade students.
Tanya Doporcyk
Permanent Guest Classical Ballet Teacher
Tanya Doporcyk was mentored and trained by Leslie Hench, and the Late founder and Artistic Director of CPYB Marcia Dale Weary. It was there she received outstanding training in ballet technique. She began her professional teaching career at the School of Music and Dance in Hanover, PA. There, she taught ballet and tap to all ages. She eventually opened her own school in Carlisle, PA specializing in classical technique in a friendly and nurturing environment. She returned to CPYB to join their Faculty in 2006 where she taught classical ballet and tap for the next 14 years to children from all over the world, including Dickinson College students.