Dancing by His Grace Program Faculty
Karen Eriksson-Lee
Artistic Director and Classical Ballet Instructor
Karen Eriksson-Lee is Living by His Grace Ministry’s President of the Board, Founder and Artistic Director, and has been teaching classical ballet professionally for over 30 years. Her training began in New Jersey and NYC where she trained with the late Janet Hicks at Columbia High School, known for mentoring many well-known actors, dancers, and musicians. In college, Ms. Eriksson-Lee trained with the Late founder and Artistic Director of internationally recognized CPYB, Marcia Dale Weary, as well as Gennadi and Susan Vostrikov, Leslie Hench, and many others. She eventually joined their faculty where she taught children from all over the world from the preschool through the preprofessional level for over a decade before returning to the Shenandoah Valley. Ms. Eriksson-Lee holds a Bachelor of Science for Dance and a Master of Education. She is a First Grade Public School Teacher, former homeschooling mom, and believes that good classical, wholesome literature and art are imperative for the healthy development of a child, and that we can change our families, communities, and the world one note, one step, and one prayer at a time.
Jessica Schmitt
Permanent Guest Teacher - Classical Ballet, Jazz, Character, Modern & Pointe
Ms. Schmitt is a Company Dancer, Rehearsal Assistant, and Teacher - She performs with the Virginia National Ballet. She has taught in various dance techniques, including classical ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, hip hop, pas de deux, variations, & conditioning. She has prepared students for Youth America Grand Prix by choreographing
solos, setting variations, and honing skills through private instruction. Ms. Schmitt has periodically taught company class, run company rehearsals, and set choreography for The Virginia National Ballet. Prior to dancing for the Virginia National Ballet Company Ms. Schmitt was a Trainee with United Ballet Theater | 2021-2022 | Orlando, FL and Trained under Zoica Tovar, Andres Estevez, Joseph Gatti; As well as a Trainee with BalletMet | 2019-2021 | Columbus, OH where she Trained under Edwaard Liang, Zoica Tovar, Andres Estevez, Maria Torija, Dmitri Suslov.
The Repertoire Ms. Schmitt has Performed Includes:
● Emerald Queen, Rafik Hegab’s Aladdin
● Winter Fairy, Rafik Hegab’s Cinderella
● Mouse King, Waltz Soloist, Marzipan, Rafik Hegab’s The Nutcracker
● Bolero, Rafik Hegab
● Led Zeppelin, Rafik Hegab
● Bohemian Rhapsody, Rafik Hegab
