Mary Kalita

Classes

Mary Kalita is a professional dancer and actor with over a decade of experience. A Bay Area transplant, she grew up in the Chicago area, where she trained with The School of DanceWest Ballet in the pre-professional program. She went on to apprentice with DanceWest Ballet Company prior to redirecting her passion and focus from classical ballet to musical theatre. Mary attended Millikin University and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. Her professional performance credits include roles in Guys & Dolls, A Chorus Line, Legally Blonde, Gypsy, White Christmas, Chicago, Cabaret, The Who's Tommy, Singin' in the Rain, The Wedding Singer, Crazy for You, 42nd Street, The Producers, Cats, Little Shop of Horrors, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Jesus Christ Superstar.

Mary has taught ballet, jazz, tap, and musical theatre dance to children and adults, beginning through advanced levels for the past 12 years. She has taught dance for private studios including Novi Performing Arts Academy, Geneva Park District and Lynn Kalita Dance Center, as well as musical theatre curriculum for regional companies such as Diablo Theatre Company and Broadway by the Bay. Mary was a Teaching Artist with Starting Arts starting in 2007, teaching kindergarten through 5th grade dance in public schools around the South Bay. Mary also served as a choreographer for Starting Arts' productions of Into the Woods, Seussical, Pirates of Penzance, Aladdin, Mulan, and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. She has held the position of Dance Specialist and choreographer at Bullis Charter School, leading elective elementary dance classes, extra-curricular dance teams and choreographing multiple spring musicals per year since 2009. Mary is thrilled to be a part of Leap's roster of Teaching Artists and looks forward to inspiring students in her community!