About Elixir Dance
Elixir School of Dance is a woman owned family-run dance school based in Frederick County, Maryland.
We launched in April 2022 in the basement of our home in North Frederick. We grew out of the basement in one year and had a brief stint renting out the hall in the Walkersville Volunteer Rescue station. Finally in Aug 2024, we opened up a new location at 25 A, E Frederick St in Walkersville, MD.
Come join us for a class!
Meet the team
Natalie Clasper-Thompson
Founder & Director of Elixir Dance
From the historic city of Bath in southwest England, Natalie’s love of ballet and theater began early—captivated by the musicals and classic ballets she watched as a young girl. She started dancing at age three, quickly drawn to the discipline and beauty of ballet, as well as the magic of storytelling on stage.
After training in the U.K, Natalie pursued a professional career that spanned over a decade, performing in theaters, hotels, casinos, and on cruise ships across Europe and the United States. Whether dancing in classical ballets or theatrical productions, her passion for performance and her deep connection to music and movement always took center stage.
A knee injury eventually led Natalie to teaching, where she discovered a new love: helping young dancers find their own voice through ballet and performance. Today, she brings her international experience and lifelong love of the stage into every class, inspiring students to dance not just with skill—but with heart.
Her teaching style is deeply influenced by her technical training in England and being exposed to several influential teaching artists including Joel Hall & Company and Deeply Rooted Dance Theater in Chicago.
With over 14 years of teaching experience, Natalie brings a rich and versatile background in ballet, modern, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and Latin styles to students of all ages. She thrives in sharing her passion for dance and looks forward to sharing it with you!
Grace Figueroa
Studio Manager
Grace is a homeschool mom, small business owner, and the behind-the-scenes support at Elixir. After spending most of her life just over the bridge in Virginia, she and her husband have called Maryland home since 2016. Grace brings a strong background in account management and commercial print and mailing, and she’s excited to bring that experience into the world of dance.
When she’s not working, Grace enjoys spending time with her family and their eight pets, cheering on her daughter’s creative ventures, and building tools that support other homeschool families. Grace looks forward to helping make your experience at Elixir smooth, fun, and full of joy!
Monica Giaimo
Modern Dance Teacher
Originally from Cartagena, Colombia, Mónica brings a vibrant blend of cultural roots and contemporary artistry to her teaching. Her dance journey began at age four with ballet, Colombian folkloric dance, and gymnastics, and has since evolved into a dynamic career that spans jazz, modern, Afro-Caribbean, and Latin styles.
A graduate of the University of Maryland with degrees in Dance and French, Mónica has performed works by renowned choreographers and led efforts to spotlight Latin American dance through student organizations and community workshops.
As an instructor, Mónica is passionate about making dance accessible, expressive, and culturally rich. At Elixir Dance, she teaches with heart and purpose, inviting students to move freely, connect deeply, and explore their heritage and creativity through movement.
Andy King
Ballet & Theater instructor
Andy King is a student at Hood College majoring in special and elementary education. They have been dancing since a young child and has been committed to training classical ballet their whole life. They have trained at multiple studios but their most recent was Carroll County Dance Center. Ballet has always been Andy’s favorite, they love the discipline of the style and how ballet makes them feel. Dance and specifically ballet has been a way for them to express themselves in a way that doesn’t require words. Ballet will always be their first love and they are excited to share their journey at Elixir!
Ryan Thompson
Fractional Marketing Director
Ryan brings his 20+ years of experience in communications, creative direction, and project management to support Elixir behind the scenes. During the day, he leads a strategic communications consultancy called Helix River. In the evenings he spends time with Natalie and their three kids and trains in martial arts (when the busy family schedule allows!). Ryan looks forward to supporting you and your kids in taking classes at Elixir!
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