About Us
Athletic Arts is youth dance program based in Crofton, Maryland.
Owner/Director/Teacher
Erica Chanaud
Erica Chanaud began dancing at the age of 8 when Sabrina Benko opened S Be Dance Complex of Crofton. Having a gymnastics and cheerleading background, Erica was able to smoothly transition into dance and became a member of their company. In high school, Erica was a varsity cheerleader and a member of dance company. After high school, while pursuing her Associates degree in business at AACC, she began working as the office manger at S Be Dance. During this time, Miss Erica was able to learn how to run a business while also discovering her love for teaching dance. She substitute taught when needed and was soon given her own classes and camps to teach. She is very proud that many of the preschool age children she taught during this time are still her students. After earning her associates degree in business, Erica attended the University of Maryland, College Park where she studied dance with a focus in dance education. She continued to work at the dance studio which was now under new ownership. In the fall of 2017, the studio closed and Erica decided to open Athletic Arts, rent space hourly from the original S Be Dance space which was now a church, and teach a group of six students twice a week. Erica was awarded a scholarship by the UMD dance faculty to attend Dance Education Laboratory in NYC. She spent a month at DEL learning about teaching dance with dance educators from all over the country. Erica received her BA in dance in the spring of 2019 and her Acrobatic Arts teaching certification in summer 2019.
Miss Laura
For over 20yrs, Laura Snow has taught classical ballet to all levels and ages at various local studios. Her primary training was with Ballet Theatre of Maryland, where she became a soloist dancer and instructor. She has worked with many great artists including Conrad Ludlow, Attila Ficzere, Bene Arnold, John Clifford, Bruce Caldwell, and Janice Barringer. Laura received the Maryland Distinguished Scholarship for Dance, studied as a scholarship student with Utah Ballet, and earned a BFA in Ballet from the University of Utah. She has danced major roles on stage including The Nutcracker Grand Pas de Deux, Giselle Peasant Pas de Deux, Flower Festival Pas de Deux as well as leading roles in Raymonda, Le Corsaire, La Fille Mal Gardee and The Four Seasons. Many of Laura's students are now performing and teaching in professional companies. Laura looks forward to continuing to properly train, guide and inspire young artists of today.
Miss Stephanie
Stephanie Love began her dance journey at the age of 2, and has been training in all styles of dance over the years. After graduating in 2019, Stephanie moved to California to pursue a career in dance. In 2019 and 2020 she spent time in Orange County, CA, training under Shannon Mather and has been able to experience a little bit of industry life through concept video projects, performances, and on-location video shoots.
Her love for teaching began when she was 16 and has only grown since. Stephanie is so excited to be back home, in Maryland, and to be able to share some of her new experiences with this team! Miss Stephanie is certified in CPR and first aid.
Her love for teaching began when she was 16 and has only grown since. Stephanie is so excited to be back home, in Maryland, and to be able to share some of her new experiences with this team! Miss Stephanie is certified in CPR and first aid.
Miss Miejo
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Miejo Dambita is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park where she studied Dance Performance & Choreography as a Creative and Performing Arts scholarship recipient. She began seriously dancing at the age of 10 at Edna Lee Dance Studio. Upon entering high school, she joined the Seton Keough High School Dance Company which she captained her junior year. She loves ballet and regularly assisted ballet classes for dancers aged 5-14 and went on to become a teaching assistant for ballet students at the university. During her time in college she also attended summer intensives with both Cecchetti USA and Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion. She loves instructing young dancers and has spent the past three summers working with middle schoolers as a Group Leader at AileyCamp Baltimore.
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Miss Bri
Briana Nelson received her BA in Dance from the University of Maryland in 2019.
She has taught for Athletic Arts for several years and specializes in musical theater, hip hop, pom, and modern.
CPR and first aid certified.
She has taught for Athletic Arts for several years and specializes in musical theater, hip hop, pom, and modern.
CPR and first aid certified.
