Meet the Teaching artists
Elyza Morckel
Elyza Morckel is a 25 year old Akron, OH native and has been educating students since she was one herself. At the age of 13, Elyza had begun assisting in dance classes at her local studio, which sparked her interest in leading others to better versions of themselves. She danced everyday in performing arts schools from fourth grade through high school graduation. Continuing her passion for dance, Elyza received her BFA in dance performance from Kent State University (2021). She began her journey in education by returning to Akron Public Schools (early 2022), once as a student but now as a substitute teacher. This led her to receiving the opportunity to become the Artistic Director of dance at her alma mater Firestone CLC (2022-23), appointed by her mentor and former instructor Kelly Berick. During this year she received her IB Dance certification, produced two full evening concerts, and was awarded as an outstanding instructor. Following this, she went back to her middle school alma mater Miller South VPA, as a long term substitute for Family Consumer Science for the fall semester (2023). Continuing her path in dance education, Elyza received an offer from Lorain City Schools to join as a dance teacher for Southview Middle School (2024-present). She has worked with Cleveland dance company, The Movement Project, as a guest teacher, summer intensive teacher, Ohio Dance Festival performer, and a staff member/participant for Cleveland Dance Festival. Elyza currently also teaches at Hudson Conservatory Ballet as a second year staff member, as her goal is to reach across NE Ohio with her passion for dance.
tori zegarelli
Tori Zegarelli is a mover, creator, and educator based in Cleveland.
She has performed professionally with Aerial Dance Chicago, Dance in the Parks, Hedwig Dances, and most recently, GroundWorks DanceTheater. During her time with GroundWorks, Tori had the privilege of performing works by renowned choreographers including Antonio Brown, David Shimotakahara, FLOCK (Alice Klock & Florian Lochner), Olivier Wevers, Peter Chu, Rena Butler, Sidra Bell, and Spenser Theberge. In her final seasons with the company, she also served as Artistic Associate and Web Designer, contributing both artistically and administratively.
As an educator, Tori has worked with dancers of all ages, teaching at Cleveland State University and in various pre-professional programs throughout the Chicago and Cleveland areas. She has also facilitated and assisted with numerous community outreach programs in Cleveland Public Schools and adult education settings.
Tori holds a BFA in Dance from Point Park University. She is a certified yoga instructor and integrates somatic practices into both her teaching and personal movement research. Her work is rooted in sharing the joy of dance, fostering connection, and encouraging a continual pursuit of excellence.
Teagan Reed
Teagan Reed (she/her) hails from St. Petersburg, Florida, and began Scottish Highland dance at age 12. She trained at the Patricia Ann Dance Studio and the Pinellas County Center for the Arts before earning her B.F.A. in 2020 from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music and completing Hubbard Street's professional training in the same year. Tea has performed with various companies, including Fukudance, Dance in the Parks Chicago, Little Fire Artist Collective, Aerial Dance Chicago, and Groundworks DanceTheatre. In 2016, she launched Ballet Naked and founded the Pro.noun Dance Project in 2021 to increase visibility of queer and trans artists.
Lieneke Matte
Lieneke Matte grew up in the Bronx and received her early training at the School of American Ballet where she was a child performer with the New York City Ballet. Ms. Matte then attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts in New York City and would later go on to study dance at SUNY Purchase College. There she performed works by a number of influential choreographers such as George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, Merce Cunningham, Nicolo Fonte, Lar Lubovitch and Nicholas Villeneuve. Lieneke also studied abroad, spending a semester at the Western Australian Academy of the Performing Arts. In 2013 she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in dance from SUNY Purchase College, as well as receiving the President’s Award for the dance conservatory. Following graduation Ms.Matte joined Verb Ballets(now Ohio Contemporary Ballet). During her 10 years with the company she performed works by Gerald Arpino, Adam Hougland, Anthony Krutzkamp, Heinz Poll, Richard Dickinson, Charles Anderson, Lauren Edson, Antonio Brown, Tommy-Waheed Evans, and Stephanie Martinez to name a few. Though no longer performing, Ms. Matte continues to spread her passion for dance throughout Northeast Ohio.
Liz Conway
Liz Conway (she/her) is a Cleveland-based professional dancer, actor, choreographer and teacher. Her professional theatre credits include: A Chorus Line (Bebe) and Can-Can (Featured Ensemble) at Porchlight Music Theatre, Beauty and the Beast (Ensemble) at Drury Lane Oakbrook, Chicago (Featured Dancer) at Big Noise Theatre and Joseph..Dreamcoat (Wife) at Music Theater Works. Her professional concert dance credits include: The Dance COLEctive, Kristina Isabelle Dance Company, Kelly Anderson Dance Theater and The Movement Project. She was a featured dancer and actor in the short film, Limerence, directed by Dan Pedersen. Conway’s choreographic work has been presented at the Going Dutch Festival and the Inaside Choreographic Sponsorship Event in Chicago, IL. Her work was also featured as a part of Dog Night, by Rabid Bat Theatricals. A Cleveland, OH native her early training led her to study dance at Ohio University where she graduated with a BFA in Dance Performance & Choreography in 2014. Conway was a dance instructor at various studios around the Chicagoland area and has taught modern technique and improvisation for The Movement Project Summer Intensives. She continues to train in all dance styles including modern, ballet, jazz, tap and hip hop as well as training in voice and acting. Currently Liz is a Company Member with The Movement Project.
Megan L. Gargano
Megan L. Gargano (she/her) is a native of Cleveland, Ohio where she began her training in 2003 at the Royal School of Ballet under the direction of Joanne Hughes Morscher. In addition, Megan studied at The Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts, BalletMet, performed with The Pennsylvania Ballet and participated in several dance festivals throughout Ohio. In 2012, Megan received her BFA in Performance and Choreography from Ohio University School of Dance. While studying at OU, Megan performed the reconstruction of Alwin Nikolais piece Noumenon Mobilus, under the direction of Alberto del Saz. She has performed in faculty works by Mickie Geller and guest work by Adriana Durant, Stefanie Batten Bland and Sean Curran. July 2010 Megan studied at the Laban Centre in Greenwich, London where she furthered her studies in Limon and Release Techniques, choreography and contact improvisation. In 2009, Megan co-founded The Movement Project, a professional dance company serving the communities of Cleveland and Akron. TMP’s mission is to challenge perspectives, evoke social change and bridge communities through the power of movement. Fall 2024, Megan, along with her creative team at The Movement Project was awarded the 2024 Knight New Work for their project “techMOVES: the cyclical relationship in creative practice.” The project will focus on developing low-cost, tech-based tools to lower barriers for dance artists, showcased through workshops and premiere performances in both Akron and Detroit Summer 2026.