Specialties: Ballet, Jazz, Salsa, Tap, Bomba

Since 1991, Erniz Quiles- Cruz, has taught students all over the world , ballet, jazz, modern dance, tap, and cultural dances. She has had the honor of imparting her experience and wisdom to thousands of children and youth, many of whom followed in her footsteps and became professional choreographers, teachers, studio owners, and dancers.

Erniz holds her M.A from Theatre University of Turabo, Gurabo, Puerto Rico and is a current educator at The Phoenix International School of The Arts (PISOTA). She has choreographed students for dance competitions, frequently obtaining first place prizes as well as receiving awards for best costume and global performance.

She is proud to say that her several of her students haved moved forward in their careers to audition for intensive ballet and dance theater programs and were all accepted and are working in a career in dance as teachers, owners of professional dance academies in different recognized companies, and choreographers of urban artists and tropical music.

Teaching dance is her greatest passion and she dedicates herself to each lesson to ensure that student progress can be seen in their results. What she finds most rewarding is training dancers and human beings with a calling to contribute positively to society.

Specialties: Ballet, Modern, Hip Hop

With over 20 years of experience, Erica Leake began her dance journey at age 7 at Atiya Performing Arts Center formerly located in Suitland, MD. Her training began with Ballet, Tap, Modern and Hip Hop.

From there she attended Thomas G. Pullen School for Performing Arts for dance. During that time she received additional Classical Ballet training with Ms. Lynn B. Welters in an after school program at Duke Ellington Performing Arts High School. She performed variations from Le Corsaire and Swann Lake.

Erica attended and graduated from Suitland High School for Performing Arts. There she continued training in Classical Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, and Modern daily. She participated in the Dance Theater of Harlem Summer Intensive program for two years and was given the opportunity of performing at the John F. Kennedy Center at the end of the program. Afterward, she received a certificate for most improved. Since then she participated in the Alvin Ailey Professional Intensive Summer Program to expand her knowledge and experience in dance. During the course of the program she received training in Classical Ballet, Horton, Musical Theater, and Hip Hop. Following the Ailey summer intensive she joined a small dance company and performed at New York Fashion week, and other locations. Erica has had the opportunity to teach and perform in various capacities, providing private lessons and more. While dance is, and always will be her foundation, she is excited to learn, explore, encourage, and share other forms of art and creative expression.