Elizabeth Libertella

Elizabeth was born and raised in Rome, New York. Elizabeth began her dance education at the age of seven at the John Hayes O’Neill Studio of Dance, under the direction and guidance of Stephen and Canan Jackson, Nicole Cotton, Leyla Hojnacki, Sean Jackson, and Brittany DeStefano. During her 10 years of study at the studio, she studied ballet, pointe, tap, acro, modern, and jazz. 

Throughout her dance career at the studio, Elizabeth has performed in many roles. Her repertory includes Clara and Dream Fairy in The Nutcracker and Merryweather and Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty. She has performed in the Nutcracker ballet for the last 15 years. 

During the summer of 2014, Elizabeth trained at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City at the age of 13. 

Elizabeth is a 1st grade teacher. Elizabeth has been the director of Artletics, an 8 week summer camp located at the Rome Art and Community Center here in Rome, for the last 4 years. She has planned and designed a curriculum/lessons for around 60 campers. These campers are between 5 and 12 years old. She believes that the social and emotional development of all children is an extremely important part of both their cognitive and physical development.

“From the moment a child is born, their social and emotional development begins. Teaching children how to emotionally support both themselves and others, will help them to navigate the world around them. It also allows them to develop many necessary life skills, such as building sustainable relationships, making decisions, and even being emotionally and socially aware. These are the skills that I teach to all of my students, in the studio, in the classroom, and in the world. Children need our support to emotionally self-regulate and learn about themselves as people.”

Since the Fall of 2018, Elizabeth has been the Ballet Mistress at the studio. “Being able to assist and help teach in the place that I call my second home is something I am very honored to be doing. In the studio, one is not only taught how to be a dancer, they are taught life skills. These life skills include teamwork, dedication, ambition, and self-confidence. The skills of dance carry on outside of the studio doors. All dancers are strong individuals with a drive and dedication that cannot be matched.”

“Watching the dedication and love that they have for all of their students is indescribable. Each dancer is treated as if he/she is their own child. This is the type of dedication and love that the world needs so much more of. I have learned so much from being a part of the studio and I am honored to be a part of the community that helps to enhance the love and knowledge for the Arts.”