Why You Should Know Budding Ballerina Elliana Mannella
14-year-old Elliana Mannella feels right at home in crowded convention ballrooms. After earning the title of Junior Core Performer at Radix Nationals in 2018, the young dancer spent the year traveling as a Radix convention assistant. That experience further honed her incredible musicality and versatility. While she’s worked with notable choreographers like Teddy Forance and Talia Favia, most of Elliana’s solos are actually a collaboration between herself and her father, Frankie. The dynamic duo loves to create together and their work so far has paid off: Elliana was 1st runner up for Junior Female Best Dancer at The Dance Awards in 2018 and 2nd overall at The Dance Awards in 2019. She is currently training abroad in her first year at the Académie Princesse Grace in Monaco.
Fast Facts
Full Name:
Elliana Dawn Mannella
Age:
14
Birthday:
September 22, 2005
Hometown:
Anoka, MN
Three words to describe her dancing:
stillness, emotion, breath
Favorite thing about dance:
“Being able to connect life experiences to dance, and to communicate a story with your body, without using words.”
Favorite styles:
improv, contemporary and lyrical
Dance idols: “Too many! My family, my teachers, and the dancers around me are ultimately my idols. I’m always inspired by them.”
Advice for other dancers:
“You should never feel like you have to change for others to like you. Focus on enhancing your own unique qualities, because no one else can be you.”
Dream dance job:
Joining Nederlands Dans Theater
Something no one knows about her:
“I love baking and interior design.”
Place she’d love to visit:
Greece
