Teaching Staff

Ellen

Brumby

Ms. Ellen says, "I have always loved to dance! I love working with children and sharing my passion. I have so much fun nurturing each child’s creativity and watching my students grow and develop through the art and joy of dance." Ms. Ellen has developed a dance curriculum based on correct ballet and dance technique that is age and developmentally appropriate, fun, creative, and challenging. Hard work, developing self-confidence, attention skills, mutual respect, and kindness are encouraged and expected. Her young students learn about correct technique and terminology, the art of performance, some dance history including famous dancers and ballets, music appreciation, and a little bit of French. In her preschool classes, she uses a thematic approach meant to spark each child’s creativity and love for dance and the arts through stories, props, drama, puppets, songs, games, and music. Ms. Ellen has a Child Study and Dance degree from Webster College where she graduated Cum Laude with a K-12 teaching certificate. There she studied with Michael Simms and danced in the Webster College company as a soloist. She developed and taught a creative dance program for young children at Webster. She also taught creative movement at local preschools and elementary schools as part of the academic curriculum, Girl Scout events, beginning ballet as a P.E. elective at a private high school and taught ballet/Jazz at Simms Academy of Dance in St Louis, MO. Ms. Ellen taught elementary school for six years before her husband, Robert, and she had three children, Kyle, Ryan, and Sarah. When they were young they moved several times and she stayed home with them. But she always volunteered to teach creative dance and drama classes from preschool through elementary school. Her daughter, Sarah, loved to dance and became a RISPA student. Ms. Ellen is proud to work at RISPA. She feels it is truly a place of excellence in the theater arts where children come first.