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'''Angela Morando-Taylor''' is an American choreographer, former professional dancer and performing arts educator. She founded and directs '''[[Taylor Made Dance & Theatre]]''', a dance and theatre studio that was based in Boca Raton, Florida, until 2023 and is now in Warren, Pennsylvania. During about twenty years in South Florida she helped build three award-winning performing arts programs in public high schools, and she runs a college-preparation program for musical theatre students.<ref name="to">{{cite web |url=https://www.timesobserver.com/news/local-news/2024/07/professional-performance-educator-brings-connections-and-expertise-home |title=Professional performance educator brings connections and expertise home |website=Times Observer (Warren, Pennsylvania) |date=2024-07}}</ref><ref name="about">{{cite web |url=https://taylormadedanceandtheatre.com/about-us |title=About Us |website=Taylor Made Dance and Theatre |access-date=2026-11-07}}</ref> | '''Angela Morando-Taylor''' is an American choreographer, former professional dancer and performing arts educator. She founded and directs '''[[Taylor Made Dance & Theatre]]''', a dance and theatre studio that was based in Boca Raton, Florida, until 2023 and is now in Warren, Pennsylvania. During about twenty years in South Florida she helped build three award-winning performing arts programs in public high schools, and she runs a college-preparation program for musical theatre students.<ref name="to">{{cite web |url=https://www.timesobserver.com/news/local-news/2024/07/professional-performance-educator-brings-connections-and-expertise-home |title=Professional performance educator brings connections and expertise home |website=Times Observer (Warren, Pennsylvania) |date=2024-07}}</ref><ref name="about">{{cite web |url=https://taylormadedanceandtheatre.com/about-us |title=About Us |website=Taylor Made Dance and Theatre |access-date=2026-11-07}}</ref> | ||
== Early life | == Early life == | ||
Morando-Taylor grew up in Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania. She began dancing as a child at Linda Dies Dance Unlimited in Warren, because she "wanted to be like my older cousin".<ref name="about" /><ref name="to" /> At sixteen she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and "had to learn to dance with a lot of pain, fatigue and frustration". She went on to Coker College in South Carolina on a dance scholarship. There she broke both feet and suffered collapsed arches, and was told she would never dance again. She later blamed poor flooring and a weakened body.<ref name="about" /> | Morando-Taylor grew up in Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania. She began dancing as a child at Linda Dies Dance Unlimited in Warren, because she "wanted to be like my older cousin".<ref name="about" /><ref name="to" /> At sixteen she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and "had to learn to dance with a lot of pain, fatigue and frustration". | ||
== Education == | |||
* '''Linda Dies Dance Unlimited''', Warren, Pennsylvania: dance training from childhood | |||
* '''Coker College''' (now Coker University), Hartsville, South Carolina: attended on a dance scholarship | |||
She went on to Coker College in South Carolina on a dance scholarship. There she broke both feet and suffered collapsed arches, and was told she would never dance again. She later blamed poor flooring and a weakened body.<ref name="about" /> | |||
== Career == | == Career == | ||
Revision as of 01:46, 7 November 2026
| Angela Morando-Taylor | |
|---|---|
 Morando-Taylor in 2025 (photo: Times Observer)
| |
| Choreographer · Dancer · Dance and theatre educator | |
| Personal information | |
| Birth name | Angela Morando |
| Also known as | Angela Taylor |
| Born | Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania (raised) |
| Nationality | American |
| Based in | Warren, Pennsylvania |
| Spouse(s) | Michael Taylor |
| Relatives | Marilynn Wick (aunt), owner of The Wick Theatre |
| Career | |
| Occupation | Choreographer, studio owner, high school dance director |
| Education | Coker College (now Coker University), Hartsville, South Carolina, on a dance scholarship |
| Training | Linda Dies Dance Unlimited, Warren, Pennsylvania |
| Years active | c. 1990s–present |
| Known for | Founding Taylor Made Dance & Theatre; college-prep training for musical theatre students |
| Performance | |
| Productions | Boca Raton Community High School musicals, including Chicago and Jekyll & Hyde (2021); A Taylor Made Christmas Spectacular (2020) |
| Companies | Taylor Made Dance & Theatre |
| Recognition & links | |
| Website | taylormadedanceandtheatre.com |
Angela Morando-Taylor is an American choreographer, former professional dancer and performing arts educator. She founded and directs Taylor Made Dance & Theatre, a dance and theatre studio that was based in Boca Raton, Florida, until 2023 and is now in Warren, Pennsylvania. During about twenty years in South Florida she helped build three award-winning performing arts programs in public high schools, and she runs a college-preparation program for musical theatre students.[1][2]
Early life
Morando-Taylor grew up in Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania. She began dancing as a child at Linda Dies Dance Unlimited in Warren, because she "wanted to be like my older cousin".[2][1] At sixteen she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and "had to learn to dance with a lot of pain, fatigue and frustration".
Education
- Linda Dies Dance Unlimited, Warren, Pennsylvania: dance training from childhood
- Coker College (now Coker University), Hartsville, South Carolina: attended on a dance scholarship
She went on to Coker College in South Carolina on a dance scholarship. There she broke both feet and suffered collapsed arches, and was told she would never dance again. She later blamed poor flooring and a weakened body.[2]
Career
After months of physical therapy, Morando-Taylor performed in professional musical and regional theatre around the country for eleven years. Knowing her feet could not stand up to a concert dancer's career, she turned to professional theatre, and so trained in both dance and theatre. After injuries ended her performing career she moved into professional choreography.[2][1] "I worked with some fantastic people in the industry and on award-winning shows, but I realized the value of arts education," she said. "I wanted to narrow the gap between well-funded private performing arts schools and public high schools."[1]
For about twenty years she was dance director and performance coordinator for several South Florida high schools. She also choreographed professional theatre.[2] At Boca Raton Community High School she choreographed the musicals, including Chicago, and the 2021 Jekyll & Hyde, which was performed and streamed live from BrandStar television studios during the COVID-19 pandemic. A reviewer praised its "scene with umbrellas, … ballroom dancing, [and] a big cabaret style dance number at the Red Rat".[3][4]
Taylor Made Dance & Theatre
Morando-Taylor founded Taylor Made Dance & Theatre in Boca Raton. She runs it with her husband, Michael Taylor, a secondary school and college teacher.[1] Its College Prep Conservatory, linked with Dave Clemmons's College Audition Project, prepared students to audition for dozens of university musical theatre programs. She reports a 100% college placement rate, and says her alumni have worked on Broadway, on national tours and cruise ships, at Disney, and in film and television.[1][2] In December 2020 she produced A Taylor Made Christmas Spectacular as a live television broadcast.[5][3]
In 2023 the family moved back to Warren County and reopened the studio in Warren. There she formed the Dance Alliance Company competition team, coached vocal students at The Music Conservatory (two of whom took first and second place in "Warren's Got Talent"), and taught acting, auditioning and Broadway styles at the Warren County Summer Music School.[1] A local parent and music educator called her "a breath of fresh air… Angela is a coach and an artist."[1] In September 2025 she moved the studio to a new downtown space above Allegheny Antiques at 314 Second Avenue. It has two studios, one fitted with a custom professional dance floor. The move let the studio add more classes, among them The Actor's Studio, a musical theatre program for middle and high school students. "Now that we have this (new) space we can do whatever we want!" she said.[6] She is also a photographer, and has taken headshots for her students.[7]
Teaching philosophy
Her own injuries made Morando-Taylor "an advocate for proper flooring, self care and true teaching, not demonstrating". She writes: "I do not believe in back rows or a center spot on stage. I believe in my students, all my students… As educators, it is our job to help them realize that talent, give them the discipline to succeed, and encourage the spirit to love what they do."[2]
Students
Her students have included Summer Severin, dance captain of the Water for Elephants North American tour, and Sarah Lash. Another was Luanda de Hilster, who trained with her from 2020 to 2023. De Hilster became the studio's Head Studio Captain and a Dot Taylor Scholar, and credited Morando-Taylor's program with her admission to the University of Central Oklahoma.[8][9]
Personal life
Morando-Taylor is married to Michael Taylor. Her aunt, Marilynn Wick, who also comes from Warren County, owns The Wick Theatre and Costume Museum in Boca Raton.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "Professional performance educator brings connections and expertise home". Times Observer (Warren, Pennsylvania)(2024-07).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "About Us". Taylor Made Dance and Theatre.Retrieved 2026-11-07.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 David de Hilster."Tenacity, Talent, & Teamwork Turn Covid Lemons into Jekyll Lemonade". luanda.dehilster.com(2021-03-27).
- ↑ David de Hilster."Back Home". luanda.dehilster.com(2022-04-17).
- ↑ "Taylor Made Dance Theatre presents A TAYLOR MADE CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR". BroadwayWorld(2020-12-08).
- ↑ "City dance, theatre studio moves downtown". Times Observer (Warren, Pennsylvania)(2025-09).
- ↑ "Headshots". luanda.dehilster.com(2022-10-14).
- ↑ "Luanda Wins Taylor Made Scholarship & Named Head Studio Captain". luanda.dehilster.com(2022-05-30).
- ↑ "Luanda To Study Musical Theatre at the University of Central Oklahoma". luanda.dehilster.com(2023-05-25).
External links
- About Angela Morando-Taylor on the Taylor Made Dance and Theatre website