Our Faculty
QUALITY DANCE INSTRUCTION SINCE 1983.
CECCHETTI METHOD OF BALLET
CCA LICENSED AND CERTIFIED TEACHERS
All faculty of the Ballet Conservatory-Dance Centre are certified/licensed dance educators!
Pirkko S. Lawlor, LCCA, CICB, FDM, School Artistic Director/Owner, teacher
A native of Finland, Mrs. Lawlor began dance studies there in the Russian Method, achieving soloist status. She performed and taught on the Chicago North Shore for thirty years, where she owned a private school in Lake Forest, Illinois. She also taught for world renown choreographer, Gus Giordano, in his principal studio in Evanston, Illinois.
Pirkko is nationally recognized for the creation of superior teaching materials, master classes for seminars and conventions; her authorship and production of the nationally popular “ A Child’s World of Dance with Pirkko” continues to be a mainstay in America.
She has cofounded two Cecchetti Council of America teaching chapters, in Chicago and Florida, and she is a CCA National Examiner and teacher-training specialist. In 2001, Pirkko selected the music and produced the CD for the Cecchetti Primary Work.
Pirkko is a professional licenciate of the Cecchetti Method of ballet and a national examiner for the Cecchetti Council of America.
Michael P. Lawlor, Stott Certified Pilates Instructor/Teacher
Michael (Mikki) earned a BA in music/theatre and dance from Florida Southern College. He has studied the Cecchetti Method of Ballet and holds a Grade Level IV Teacher’s certification.
Mikki is a master instructor of The Pilates Method of Contrology for over 15 years. He performed with the FSU Dance Repertory Group and professionally performed with Busch Gardens of Tampa and Walt Disney World for 15 years.
Mikki was co-artistic director to Vital Spark performing arts ensemble from 1996-2001. He has been teaching and performing at the BCDC for 31 years.
Laura Salzlein, CCA, Teacher/Studio Management Team
Laura began dancing at the BCDC at the age of six under the direction of the Lawlor family and Ricci Keown. While she was a student at Ballet Conservatory, Laura passed student Cecchetti Grades I- VI, and was a member of the dance troupe “A Step In Time” that performed throughout Central Florida.
Laura has been on the BCDC faculty since 2006. As a member of the faculty, Laura has taught ballet, tap, jazz and was instrumental in introducing the hip-hop program at BCDC beginning in 2014.
Laura is a member of the Cecchetti Council of America with a professional level V teacher’s certification. She is a graduate of Webber University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Laura is passionate about proper technique and cultivating a space where students not only develop into strong dancers but good people due to a positive and inclusive environment.
Mireille Johnson, Teacher
Mireille began dancing at BCDC at the age of 7. As a student, Mireille studied the Cecchetti Method of Ballet and passed student Cecchetti Grades I- VI.
She has also studied dance with Ballet Magnificat, in Jackson, Mississippi.
Mireille has been teaching at BCDC since 2022 and holds a Grade Level II Teacher’s Certification.
Lilly Argueta, Teacher
Lilly was born and raised in Florida, where where began dancing at the age of five. She has trained in many styles such as ballet jazz, contemporary, pointe, and modern. She started her training at BCDC where she trained until 2020. While she was at Ballet Conservatory, she passed her student level I-VI Cecchetti Exams.
She began dancing at ME Dance School in 2020, where she was a member of both the Studio Company and ME Ballet Company from 2020 to 2022. She joined Dance Theatre of Orlando in 2023 and is a current company dancer.
She returned to Ballet Conservatory to pursue her Cecchetti Grade Level I Teacher’s certification and has been teaching at BCDC since 2023. She is very excited to cultivate bright young dancers with a passion for what they do.
Katy McGillin, Studio Management Team-Business Manager
Katy began taking adult classes at BCDC shortly after moving to Winter Haven in 2013.
She is a graduate of the University of Florida, with both a BA in History and a M.Ed. in Secondary Social Studies Curriculum and Instruction. Katy has been a certified middle school teacher of social studies, math and theatre since 2010.
Prior to teaching, Katy worked as a casting assistant in NYC for an Emmy-award winning casting director, as well as office jobs in a variety of fields to include chiropractic care, hazardous waste, and law.
She currently teaches and directs at St. Joseph Catholic School in Winter Haven.
Tiana Maslanka, Teacher
Tiana, born and raised in Hawaii, began dancing at the age of 4. She has studied many styles of dance, leading to her earning her MFA in dance performance and choreography, specializing in modern dance.
In 2003, she placed 2nd in the Pacific Northwest Lindy Hop Championship Jack and Jill competition. She spent 5 years as a principal dancer with Kanopy Dance Company in Madison, WI before moving to Florida.
She currently works as a puppeteer and performer at Disney, and is an alaka’i with halau hula Kaleooka’iwa. She has taught at BCDC since 2024.
Ashley Fisher, Teacher
Ashley Fisher earned her B.S. in Dance Education from the University of South Florida in 2004. She has studied the Cecchetti Method of Ballet under Pirkko and Kaarlo Lawlor and holds a Grade II Teacher’s Certification. Ashley’s performance experience includes work with Moving Current Dance Collective, The Florida Orchestra/Tampa Oratorio Singers, MusInc. Artists’ Collective in Tampa, Velocity Dance Center in Seattle, and Jeanne Travers in Paris, France.
In 2007, Ashley launched the dance program at McLaughlin Middle School & Fine Arts Academy in Lake Wales, Florida. She has also taught at Shore Elementary School of the Arts in Tampa and the Lake Wales Arts Center, and has served as a guest artist for the N.R.G. Performing Troupe and Dance Academy at Ridge Community High School.
Ashley’s leadership in dance education extends beyond the studio. She served on the Board of Directors for the Florida Dance Education Organization (2008–2010) and was honored to be the first National Student Representative for the National Dance Education Organization in 2004.
Leslie Scott Zanovitch, Teacher
Leslie is a choreographer, teacher, and dance advocate with a career spanning 35 years, 48 US States and 22 countries. Leslie led a successful career in Hollywood before she became an advocate to create safer dance experiences. She worked with Beyonce, Ciara, Hi-Hat, Jermaine Jackson, Snoop Dogg, Fatima, and others. She has been featured in Dance Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, Nylon Magazine, Dance Spirit, Dance Informa and more.
Leslie was on the faculty at The Edge Performing Arts Center for 14 years and Millennium Dance Complex for 12 years, both located in LA. She was adjunct faculty in the dance departments of Loyola Marymount University and Phoenix College, Founder of Arizona State University’s Hip-Hop Coalition dance company and acted as a Creating Opportunities dance industry coach in Hollywood for 5 years.
In 2025, DA:NCE (Dance Awareness: No Child Exploited) created the “Leslie Scott Zanovitch Trailblazer Award” to annually honor trailblazers that advocate for the safety and wellness of children in dance, with Leslie being the first recipient of this award.
Leslie is well known for her talents, unwavering work ethic, contagious positive energy, and bold use of movement to share a positive message.