Elise Yaskoff began her dance training at the age of nine with Christine Far in Amesville, Ohio.  She gained her earliest performing experiences in  a multimedia show funded by the Ohio Arts Council, touring to rural elementary and high schools in the south eastern Ohio Valley.

In addition to ballet, Elise trained, performed and competed as an Irish dancer for 5 years, and was a finalist at the North American National Championships in 2001. She has attended the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre  School, The Pro-Track Program at BalletMet of Columbus, and The Ailey School in New York City. Her choreography and composition experiences include study  with Gladys Bailin of Ohio University,  and she has presented work with Village Productions of Amesville, OH and at the Ailey School. She performed as an apprentice with Columbus Dance Theatre for their 2005-06 season, and performed in Dayton Area schools with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company’s Second Company in 2009.