Our Valuable Staff Members
Carrie Burns-Frase began her training at the Erie Civic Ballet School under Arlene Hay. She spent summers dancing in the Chautauqua Dance Festival Company under the direction of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Violette Verdy. She attended Goucher College in Baltimore, MD where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and was honored with the Rosenberg Scholarship and Phi Beta Kappa Award in dance. After graduating, she danced professionally for ten years. The first seven were with the Lake Erie Ballet under the direction of Robert Steele, Jeff Satinoff, and Robert Vicary. Her repertoire included many solo and principal roles ranging from classical to contemporary and modern. The next three years she worked as a freelance artist performing locally and out of state. After an eleven year break from the stage to begin her family, Carrie decided to return to it. In 2010 she brought herself back to condition to take on the challenging role of Sugar Plum Fairy in Lake Erie Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker at the age of 43. She performed the role that year and again in 2011 at the historic Warner Theater with the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra. Her accomplishment was a matter of great local interest and was documented in Erie Times Newspaper as the comeback of the year.
Carrie began teaching ballet in 1992 and has 25 plus years of experience in the classroom with students. She has held teaching positions at the Lake Erie Ballet, Bayfront Ballet, Northcoast Ballet, Mercyhurst University, Westminster Ice Skating Association, Central High School, Erie Dance Theater, and Patterson School of Ballet. Carrie has contributed with choreographing, setting, rehearsing and mounting many dance productions from classical to contemporary. She has enjoyed great fulfillment working with a long list of students in private ballet lessons and personal coaching sessions. Many of these students have gone on to perform major roles and to dance professionally. Carrie also enjoys choreographing and performing liturgical pieces in church. Carrie and her husband are the proud parents of two daughters.
Carrie began teaching ballet in 1992 and has 25 plus years of experience in the classroom with students. She has held teaching positions at the Lake Erie Ballet, Bayfront Ballet, Northcoast Ballet, Mercyhurst University, Westminster Ice Skating Association, Central High School, Erie Dance Theater, and Patterson School of Ballet. Carrie has contributed with choreographing, setting, rehearsing and mounting many dance productions from classical to contemporary. She has enjoyed great fulfillment working with a long list of students in private ballet lessons and personal coaching sessions. Many of these students have gone on to perform major roles and to dance professionally. Carrie also enjoys choreographing and performing liturgical pieces in church. Carrie and her husband are the proud parents of two daughters.
Mona Cole-Coyle grew up in Erie, PA and began dancing
at the age of two. She studied ballet, tap, jazz, musical
theater, and baton. She began cheerleading in high
school, fostering a lifelong love of cheer. She continued
her dance education with swing, Latin, and ballroom
dance and became a Certified Zumba instructor in 2017.
Mona became a staff member of the Warren Extreme
Athletics Cheer Coaching Staff with a focus on tumbling,
strength, and conditioning. Currently, she is working
towards her teaching certification with Acrobatic Arts.
She looks forward to helping her students incorporate
their flexibility and strength into their love of dance.
at the age of two. She studied ballet, tap, jazz, musical
theater, and baton. She began cheerleading in high
school, fostering a lifelong love of cheer. She continued
her dance education with swing, Latin, and ballroom
dance and became a Certified Zumba instructor in 2017.
Mona became a staff member of the Warren Extreme
Athletics Cheer Coaching Staff with a focus on tumbling,
strength, and conditioning. Currently, she is working
towards her teaching certification with Acrobatic Arts.
She looks forward to helping her students incorporate
their flexibility and strength into their love of dance.
KELLY STOLAR is a native of the Buffalo, N.Y. area. She graduated from Allegheny College with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Kelly has been a dance instructor in the Buffalo area alongside her mother and for more than 10 years in Pittsburgh. Since moving to Erie in 2000, she has been an instructor with the American College Dance Festival, Erie Dance Theater, Kristin’s Dance Company, Mercyhurst University Summer Dance Experience, Mercyhurst North East Dance Institute, Mercyhurst University Carpe Diem Academy, and also as adjunct faculty for Mercyhurst University Dance Department and Mercyhurst University North East.
Kelly currently works as the Director of Development at the Inner-City Neighborhood Art House and is a Tap Instructor for Erie Dance Conservatory and Sovereign Ballet. She remains current with her dance teaching by attending workshops on a yearly basis.
In 2010 Kelly established Tap Essentials where she is the Volunteer Artistic Director. Tap Essentials was created to promote Tap dance and provide an opportunity for students studying at any studio in the Erie area to attend workshops and competitions outside Erie, PA. Each year Tap Essentials attends New York City Dance Alliance regionals in Buffalo, NY. And in 2014, nine dancers went to Nationals in New York City finishing 12th Overall of more than 100 groups from across the country! Many of the Tap Essentials dancers have been recognized with Regional Scholarships, Outstanding Dancer Awards, National Scholarships to NYC, plus scholarships to continue their education at the collegiate level. Kelly is proud of the success that the students from Tap Essentials have experienced and the opportunities she will continue to offer in order to help broaden their dance education.
Dana has been a ACE Certified Personal Trainer and Small Group Fitness Instructor for 6 years. Her passion for fitness has been life long, stemming from her time as a Collegiate Basketball and Cross County Athlete and continuing on to be a Masters CrossFit Competitor. Specializing in Strength and Conditioning, Boxing, Adaptive Boxing, and Active Aging, Dana focuses on creating an age and ability inclusive classroom where anyone can begin their fitness journey. Dana tailors her classes to strengthen and cross train dancers so they can reach their fullest physical potentials in and out of the studio.
Scott Johnson was born and raised in Erie, PA and began studying partnering at Marquerite’s Academy of Dance in 1991. He worked to expanded the scope of the Marguerite’s partnering program to include more high flying lifts and throws. In 2000, Scott traveled to Australia
to perform at venues for The 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. In 2008, Scott formally began teaching at Dance Vibe Dance Studio and became a staff member at Sovereign Ballet in 2016.
to perform at venues for The 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. In 2008, Scott formally began teaching at Dance Vibe Dance Studio and became a staff member at Sovereign Ballet in 2016.
Hannah Borczon, originally from Erie Pennsylvania, grew up dancing with Sovereign Ballet, CADANCE Dance Company, and Mercyhurst University. She choreographed the one-act ballet “Kore” at Mercyhurst University in 2016 and produced “Home of the Free Because of the Brave”, a dance fundraiser for veterans, at Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy in 2017. As part of the Temple University Class of 2021 Hannah studied under notable teachers including Professors Kun Yang Lin, Jillian Harris, Merian Soto, Virgil Garson, Dr. Laura Katz Rizzo, and Dr. yonTande Whitney Hunter. She graduated from Temple University with a BFA in Dance and a Certificate in Entrepreneurial Business. She is the 2021 recipient of the Rose Vernick BFA Choreography Award.
Hannah has presented work through the Erie Festival of Dance, We Love Erie Days, Temple University Student Dance and BFA Concerts, D2D: Dare to Dance, and multiple dance competitions and conventions. Hannah worked as a Producer for the 2021 Erie Festival of Dance and the 2021 Lake Erie Ballet Nutcracker. She is currently the Social Media Coordinator and a Modern instructor for Sovereign Ballet.
Brooke Kimet grew up in Erie PA and brings 19 years of dance experience into her classroom. She grew up dancing for Christina Maria Adelhardt, James Dixon, Kim Howell, Carrie Frase, Eden Ihrig, Leslie Scalise, and Lea Bodine. Brooke set her first piece of choreography at 13. Brooke holds a BA In Psychology, minor in Theology, and a certificate in Business Management from Duquesne University. While in college, Brooke was a member of Steel City Dance Company for 4 seasons and taught intermediate and advanced Contemporary for the company. Brooke is excited to be teachingContemporary at Sovereign Ballet!
Myah Frase began her training at the Lake Erie Ballet in Erie, PA. She continued dancing throughout high school at Sovereign Ballet and beyond, spending 1 year in 2022 as a trainee with American Repertory Ballet in Princeton, NJ. Myah began teaching ballet at 19 and has had experience working with beginner, intermediate, and advanced ballet students, as well as adult beginners.
She feels that it is important to share the joy of dancing with others not only on stage, but also in the studio with anyone who wishes to experience it. Teaching and developing the next generation’s love of ballet is very rewarding and valuable to her.
She feels that it is important to share the joy of dancing with others not only on stage, but also in the studio with anyone who wishes to experience it. Teaching and developing the next generation’s love of ballet is very rewarding and valuable to her.