Elise Partain (she/her) is a dancer, performer, and instructor. She has 20 years of dance experience, with 7 years teaching experience across multiple genres. Elise holds a major in French with a minor in Dance from Skidmore College. Her background is in modern dance, but she also has extensive experience in Cuban dances, such as salsa and Afro-Cuban genres.

Elise’s dance experience was strongly shaped by an injury she sustained in 2019. While recovering, she pivoted toward cinematography and direction, finding expression and a continued relationship to dance from behind the camera. Her “choreographic cinematography” approach won best cinematography in the 2023 Silver Screen Film Festival. Her work as a director has been featured in the 2021 St. Louis Fringe Festival, and shown at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJ. When she returned to dance, she focused on teaching. Elise currently teaches adults at 3 Plus 2 Cuban Dance Academy in Miami, Florida.

You may find a sample of her work as a performer, choreographer, educator, cinematographer, and director below:

La Iyabo

Choreography by Carlos Ramirez Performed by Elise Partain at The Mega Rueda Louisville 2023

Una Aventura Loca

Choreographed by Elise Partain Performed by Cody Biddle, Wendy Stidham, Elise Partain, Antonio Coriano, Kavita Sarangam, and Courtney Szabo. Shown at Worldfest 2022 in Louisville, KY.

All Bodies Can

Directed by Kaylee McLaughlin Shot and Edited by Elise Partain All Bodies Can shows that the beauty and power of dance extends beyond age, experience, or differences in ability. Created in partnership with MOVE Dance Saratoga, Saratoga Dance for Parkinsons, Skidmore College Dance Department, and Greenburg Childcare Center. Shown at Wilson Chapel in Saratoga Springs, NY.