Ellen Meade, Artistic Director

Ellen Meade has owned and directed Ellen Meade Studios, a Performing Arts Studio, since 1969. The PreSchool was added in 1986, and the Ellen Meade School of Creative Learning , in 1996. Ellen began her interest in the arts at the age of seven, studying dance on scholarship five days a week with the Florida Ballet, under the direction of Madam Jean Spear. She began roller skating and won numerous state and regional championships by the time she was twelve. At the age of fourteen, Ellen won the North American National Championships skating to the Stravinsky ballet Firebird. This was the same year she was spotted by a talent agent in Tampa and began her modeling and acting career, appearing in print, stage, television and film mediums.

Ellen also became interested in the pageant industry, entering and winning the Roller Skating Queen of America title, Miss Florida in the Miss America Pageant, winning a talent award at Miss America, and the title of Miss Dogpatch USA. While giving up the title of Miss Florida, Ellen crowned Delta Burke and helped prepare her for the Miss America Pageant, where Delta also won a talent award. Through pageants, Ellen won thousands of dollars in cash, prizes and scholarships which she used to study Business at Manatee Junior College. As a renowned pageant coach, Ellen trained numerous contestants who won national, state and local titles. She now produces three pageants yearly in Manatee County and serves as a pageant judge throughout the nation.

Ellen is very proud of her many students who have come through the school in the past 34 years including: several Rockettes, International Circus Stars, Television and Film Actors, Personal Assistants to the Stars, Ballerina's with the New York City Ballet, and touring Broadway show performers.