LESLIE PETERSON
Owner/Operator/Instructor
/Choreographer/All Dance

Leslie has taught dance in Madison for 42 years. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance and Theatre from the University of Bridgeport. She studied and performed at the Pittsburgh Playhouse in PA under the auspices of the legendary Martha Graham. On stage, she has, more than once, created her versions of the classic singing and dancing roles of Chava in "Fiddler On The Roof," Ruby in "Dames At Sea," Maggie Anderson in "Brigadoon," and many more. Locally, she is renowned for her work with her husband, Tom Peterson, during their great years (1985-1987,1991-2003) directing and choreographing the Spring Musicals (West Side Story, Grease, Les Miserables, Camelot, 42nd Street and many others) at Daniel Hand High School in Madison. This time period was certainly the heydey of the DHHS Spring Musicals! This was followed by two highly successful years working with North Branford High School. Leslie has lived in Madison for many years with her husband, Tom. Her son, Torin served in the Peace Corp in Jordan and graduated from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, with a Master's Degree in International Education. Her daughter, Cameron, completed her Master's Degree in Urban Planning Environmental Studies at Tufts University, lives in San Diego, CA with her husband, David Luckenbach, also of Madison. They have two children, Eliza, now 12 years old, and, Xavier, now 7 years old. Leslie had Eliza onstage right after the 2011 dance show's curtain call. (see the second picture on the right) and she's been in almost every show since. You can never start too soon!

AMELIA BLAIR
Instructor /Choreographer/Ballet/Pointe

Amelia Blair from Newton, Iowa, joined Dance By Leslie in 2020 and began her dance training at age of eleven with a local Newton studio. Throughout high school, Ms. Blair continued her training with Grace Ballet Studio in Ankeny under the instruction of Ms. Anna Horvath. During her time at Grace Ballet, Ms. Blair took RAD exams (earning the Merit Award in her Intermediate exam), was part of the student company, danced the lead role in The Snow Queen, and competed in local competitions (where she won various awards) as well as in the Indianapolis Youth America Grand Prix (2015 and 2016). She danced corps de ballet and solo roles in The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, as well as in excerpts from Stars & Stripes and Don Quixote. She was involved in Iowa Dance Theatre’s productions and received additional instruction from Ballet Des Moines and Ms. Ami Yaro. Ms. Blair attended summer intensives with Kansas City Ballet and Zion Dance Project to further her training. Upon receiving a scholarship to continue dancing, she moved to New York in 2016 to become a trainee with Light of the World Ballet under Ashley Rollinson Sunada. She performed on tour with LWB in Israel (2017), China (2019) and danced the lead role in company choreographer, Cayla Noreau’s ballet Creation’s JOY. Ms. Blair was promoted to company apprentice with LWB in 2018, company member in 2019, and placed on their teaching and administration staff. In fall of 2020, she joined Ballet Hartford and is excited to continue dancing in CT!
Leslie is ecstatic to have her on staff at DBL!