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About Ms. Eliza
In the Beginning...
Professional dancer/choreographer/director Kip Watson and his sister Barbara Riggins, Ballet Mistress, formed Southern Ballet Theatre in the late 1970's. Watson hired Eliza Harwood as a principle dancer. In 1979 the company offered the very first professional ballet company performance season, not only in Orlando but to the whole southeastern region of the U.S..
Southern Ballet Theatre began to grow and the company (and school) moved into the former OUC building at 1111 N. Orange Ave (of which their father was the architect) and flourished as a performing company and professional ballet school. It's success heralded the transfer of management to what is now Orlando Ballet ('thank you' to Fernando Bujones). Watson and his wife Eliza Harwood-Watson, principle dancer and teacher, then opened Harwood-Watson Dance Studios.
Harwood-Watson Dance Studios
First located in Baldwin Park, HW Dance Studios had the pleasure of housing a 'Black-Box Theater' ('thank you' to Johnny Holloway) and continued to offer all genres of fine dancing instruction and frequent performances including a series entitled "Happenstance." Many local professionals got their start at HWDS.
Today
Harwood-Watson Dance Studios is located in Winter Park on 17-92 and has reestablished the Black-Box Theater on a more intimate scale, but continues to nurture and grow fine young dancers. Kip has since passed on but leaves a colorful legacy that Eliza continues and has made her own.
The School
Harwood-Watson is first a classical ballet school built strongly upon proper ballet technique and performance (largely based upon Vaganova). Artistic Director Eliza is the principal teacher. However, HWDS offers many other genres of dance including Modern, Contemporary, Jazz, Tap, and more. Every student is important to us and each student's progress is evaluated individually.
THE PERFORMERS - Students of Harwood-Watson that choose to join and participate in extra classes, rehearsals and performances throughout the school year. HWDS is not a competition school; the performances are for the pleasure and growth that performing builds within the student. Contact us if you would like The Performers to dance for your event!
Andrew Coronado
About Mr. Andrew
Mr. Andrew teaches Modern Foundation and Modern Release on Mondays.
Andrew Coronado was born in San Antonio, TX. He started his dance training at The Ballet Conservatory of South Texas and progressed to professional dancer soon after.
Andrew has been trained at Kansas City Ballet, Trinity Laban Conservatory, and Henny Jurriëns Studio.
He has worked for Muscle Memory Dance Theatre, The Dallas Black Dance Theatre, and Spareworks Contemporary Dance Company.
His highest honor was studying with Hofesh Shechter Company in London where he took company classes and studied repertoire which he eventually performed. Mr. Coronado moved to Florida where he taught pre-professional classes at The Center for Contemporary Dance and now at Harwood-Watson Dance Studios.
Dion Leonhard DiDonna
About Ms. Dion
Ms. Dion teaches Adult Tap on Wednesdays.
Dion is a certified Pilates/Barre and Fitness Instructor, professional dancer, fire/LED performer, and dance teacher/choreographer both regionally and nationally. With over 30+ years experience, she has worked with multiple professional ballet companies, as well as regional groups throughout Central Florida.
Dion choreographs professionally within Theaters, Dance Studios, High/Middle Schools and Colleges in Central Florida; as well as teaching Dance and Fitness Classes. She has, and continues to collaborate with numerous photographers, dance stores and brands nationally. Dion performs as principal dancer "Lady Cimorene"/additional choreographer for the original Victorian/Steampunk/Horror Troupe "Phantasmagoria Orlando".
(FB/IG @balletbug)
Mia Lunna
About Ms. Mia
Ms. Mia teaches Contemporary and Intermediate Contemporary on Tuesdays.
Mia took her first dance class at the age of 2 and a half, and it’s been her passion ever since! She’s trained here at HWDS her entire life and now teaches for us, as well as running our social media and being our main graphic designer. She plans on going to college for dance and business, and pursing a professional career in dance afterwards. She takes any and all dance opportunities possible, always striving for more. Her goal with teaching is to build strong, capable, and creative students, while keeping it enjoyable and accessible for everyone.
Kim Matovina
About Ms. Kim
Ms. Kim teaches Choreo & Exploration on Wednesdays and IM/ADV Jazz and IM/ADV Contemporary Fusion on Thursdays.
Kim Matovina was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida where she began her dance training at the age of three. She was a competitive dancer in Northeast Florida for eight years before being accepted into Jacksonville University. It was there she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance and worked with many guest artists including but not limited to Pilobolus, American Ballet Theatre, Kiara Ely, David Parsons, Jennifer Muller and The Muller Company, and Take Ueyama.
She gained performance experience in local area venues such as WhiteOak Plantation, as well as studying abroad on the island of Curacao. After graduating, she moved to Orlando to work with Linda Elchak and Nad Dance Collective, where she found her love of improvisation. She has performed in the area with several local companies and choreographers over the last 7 years. Aside from performing, she has over ten years of experience teaching in both competitive and master class settings, was the modern director at The School of Performing Arts and Ballet South, and is the Graham modern teacher at Harwood-Watson Dance Studios.
Kim owns Red Right Return Dance Company, a small local contemporary company founded by Elise Frost, that performs throughout the area. She uses her past personal training background to structure dance fitness classes at Studio K adult dance studio, and has been at Universal Studios for 7 years dancing in entertainment and special events, as well as providing training in her leadership role as a dance captain.
Her work includes touches of classical modern, mixed with a contemporary feel, and topped off with a gestural and human quality. It is her belief that dance can heal all things if you just remember to leave it all on the floor, after all that’s what it’s there for.