About Our Instructors
Linda Elower Sicilia
Studio Owner
Ballet, Pointe, and Adult Tap Instructor
Miss Linda started dancing at the age of 5 and trained in the Frederick and Baltimore areas throughout her career and opened her studio here in Thurmont in 1969. Since then, the studio has transformed from one room at the firehouse to the existing studio at 15 Water Street. Over the years, Linda and her staff have taught so many young people to love dance. What makes ESP so special is that Linda sees the potential in each and every student who walks through the door. There is no set mold that ESP dancers have to fit into and each and every dancer can find a forever home at ESP. When you take a love of dance and couple it with hard work and determination, that dancer can turn their dream into reality.
Toni Marceron
ESP Performing Company Director
Tap and Jazz Instructor
Toni Marceron has been dancing since she was two years old at Elower-Sicilia Productions. Inspired by her mother, grandmother and aunts who instilled the dancing bug in her at an early age, Toni continues to spread her love for dance to her students. Although trained in all forms of dance, Toni developed a love for Jazz and Tap early on. Keith Clifton, Mark "Biz" Burke and Mark Goodman are at the top of Toni's list of influences and teachers she calls friends. Toni has won multiple scholarships and awards over the years, all of which come second to her love of teaching others.
Kela Marceron
Lyrical Instructor
Kela Sicilia-Marceron graduated from the visual performing arts program at Thomas Johnson High School and Frederick Community College before transferring to Mount Saint Mary’s University. As a dancer and a singer, Kela’s performances include, among others, performing with the Tap Sounds Underground and the Clifton Drum Trio in a show at the Valentine’s Theater in Ohio and performing in the National Institutes Production “Phat City” at the Kennedy Center for President Clinton. Kela has received numerous voice and dance scholarships and has studied in Los Angeles and New York. Kela also was a member of a Washington DC professional dance company and is a Power Pilates certified teacher. Nationally, Kela is known and respected as an award winning choreographer with numerous national choreography awards.
Kara Sicilia Weedy
ESP Performing Company Tap Program Director
Kara’s dance foundation was built at ESP and she continued her dance education with amazing dancers such as Rhonda Miller, Yvonne Edwards, Baakari Wilder, Vincent Bingham, Mike Minery, Gregg Russell, Keith Clifton, Mark “Biz” Burke, and Mark Goodman. She was a member of two Washington D.C. tap dance companies Step Aside and ARA Tap. Kara has received numerous scholarships and awards including a scholarship received directly from the dance legend Al Gilbert. Kara also studied in Los Angeles and New York and is nationally known and respected as an award winning choreographer with numerous national choreography awards.
Ashley Boyer
ESP Performing Company Rehearsal Instructor
Ashley was born and raised in Frederick County. She is a graduate of Walkersville High School. She began dancing at the age of 2 with ESP. During her years of classes and competing she was recognized and received many accolades and awards. Some of which consist of outstanding dancer and scholarships to study in Los Angeles and New York. She has worked with many well known choreographers such as Rhonda Miller, Eliana Alexander, Jeff Amsden, Joey Dowling and Gil Stroming to name a few. At the age of eighteen she was invited to teach for Eliana Alexander for her Kids Dance LA Convention and Competition. She continued her passion for dance auditioning and teaching until she met her husband and started a beautiful family. She has recently returned to teaching and is sharing her passion and talents with her students and children.
Taylor McIlrath
ESP Performing Company Rehearsal Instructor
Acro Instructor
Taylor McIlrath is a former dancer with ESP Performing Company. She has continued with her passion for dance both at ESP as an instructor and at Mount St. Mary's University as the dance team coach. She is now a certified Acrobatic Arts instructor!
Briannin Howard
Pre-Dance and Level 1 Instructor
Briannin has been dancing since she was 2 years old in her hometown of Frostburg, MD. She has experience ranging in most styles of dance: ballet, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, and tap. Bri grew up competing in dance competitions and pageants. She choreographed for her high school dance team for 2 years, as well as her college dance team. Upon returning from college, Bri joined her local studio as an instructor and taught pre-dance through pre-teen classes. Soon after she had to take a break from dance while she completed her Master’s Degree in Education, got married, moved to Thurmont, and started a family. She has been a local elementary school teacher/teacher specialist for 8 years in Frederick County. Bri is so excited to be back in the studio to share her love of dance with students again.
