2025 Dance Camp - Voyage of the Sea
Elizabeth Fischer, Director
Miss Liz’s dance journey began at age three, sparked by a whispered promise to her mom after seeing the Radio City Rockettes: "Someday, I’m going to dance on that stage." That childhood dream fueled the start of a lifelong career, beginning with 16 years of training at Leslie School of Dance and culminating in a B.A. in Dance and Communication from Mercyhurst University.
Her professional path is a blend of performance and leadership. Liz has performed with SoMar Dance and the Erie Bayhawks Dance Team, and she founded the competition team at Erie Dance Theater. In New York City, she mentored over 400 students weekly through the Kinderdance® Franchise and Broadway Performing Arts Center. In 2020, Liz chose to navigate the uncertainty of the time by taking control of her future. She relocated to Colorado to build a life of her own design, where she now balances her role as Assistant Manager of Guest Experience at lululemon with teaching at Premiere School of Dance. Her background in both strategic operations, paired with a "people-first" mindset, has uniquely refined her leadership style, allowing her to mentor dancers with both artistic passion and professional structure.
Today, she brings over 25 years of experience to her roles as the Director of LSOD Summer Dance Camp and the founder of the Artist in Movement Intensive. It is her greatest honor to pass on her knowledge to the next generation, helping them turn their own dreams into reality.
Miss Liz is thrilled to celebrate the 21st annual LSOD Summer Dance Camp. A true camp veteran, she attended the very first dance camp in 2006 and hasn’t missed one since! She began co-directing the camp with Leslie Updyke in 2013 and officially took over the program in 2014. Her love of dance, music, Broadway, Disney, and movies all come together each year as she creates one-of-a-kind, magical camp themes for her students.
Liz's favorite Pixar Movie is Monsters University.
Lee Fischer, Camp Manager
Since the day I can remember, I have loved the arts and because of that I am a better person. All forms of art enrich and empower us to be and experience more. For over 40 years, I have worked in the corporate and non-profit worlds and supporting the arts has been there every step of the way.
After graduating from Elmira College (Class of 84), I pursued a career in management, marketing and later added hospitality. My co-workers were Big Bird, Real Estate Executives, International Water Skiers. In 1993, Bill & I moved back to Elmira and our daughter was born the next year. I volunteered on several Arnot Art Museum committees, The Mother Center and joined the League of Greater Elmira/Corning, where I help create Elmira’s Parent/Child Resources Center. I was a pre-k teacher at Happy House Nursery School, the Parent Representative at Hendy Elementary & Ernie Davis Middle Schools, Office Manager at Leslie School of Dance, EFA Parent Partner and the Clemens Center Bar Manager. For over 25 years, I have been involved with New Heights Dance Theater (Co-Founder/President/Ambassador).
Now, I spend my time managing The Dance Shoppe (Elmira Heights, New York) , LSoD’s Summer Watson Homestead Dance Camp & Artists in Movement Workshops, running Oma's Treasurers (my craft business) and best of all writing/rewriting my children’s stories. My goal is to share my art of writing with all of you some day.
Leslie Updyke
Owner, Leslie School of Dance
Miss Leslie is the owner, director, and dance instructor of Leslie School of Dance and Artistic Director/Choreographer of the New Heights Dance Theater.
Leslie studied with Madame Halina in Elmira beginning at the age of three. Leslie opened Leslie School of Dance in Elmira in September of 1991, and the Watkins Glen Studio in September of 2004. She attended Mercyhurst College and the State University of New York – Purchase, majoring in ballet with a concentration in teaching and has a business administration degree from Corning Community College.
Leslie has performed with the Elmira Corning Ballet Company, the Twin Tiers Ballet Theater and with the Mercyhurst and Purchase Dance Corps. She was involved with many professional productions performing multiple lead roles. She has choreographed the Nutcracker in Motion and Walking on the Horizon. Leslie prides herself on offering a very artistic approach to teaching ballet.
Leslie, and her husband, Greg, have three children and reside in Watkins Glen.
Leslie can be reached at either of the Leslie School of Dance locations in Elmira Heights and Watkins Glen.
The Olivia Robyler Award
In loving memory, this award is given to a camper/dancer that is kind,
full of energy, passionate about dance, and loves to have fun.
Which means you are one cool cat!
Marissa Smith (Left)
2024 Recipient
Kathryn Akerelrea (Right)
2025 Recipient
Recipients receive a
$100 Gift Certificate to the next
year's Leslie School of Dance Summer Dance Camp
