Elly Dirks, a native of Summerfield, N.C., began her dance training at a young age of four years old. Growing up as a studio competitive dancer, she has been trained in a plethora of styles including ballet, jazz, contemporary/modern, hip hop, pom, and tap.
Dirks is a 2019 graduate of Elon University, where she spent all four years as a student-athlete on the dance team. She served as captain of the team for three years, is a three-time NDA All-American team member, two-time MVP award winner, and a two-time Coach’s Award recipient.
Dirks was announced as head coach of the Elon University Dance Team on June 29, 2019, shortly after graduating from the University in May of 2019. The impact she has made on the team since her hiring is evident, as she has led the team to make program history on multiple accounts – a few including the team receiving its first Gold Paid Bid to NDA Nationals (2021, 2022), receiving first place in the Game Day routine competition at NDA camp (2021), and receiving third place in Division I Pom at the 2022 NDA Collegiate National Championship, as the team made their debut to the pom category. Most notably, in just her third year coaching, Dirks led the Elon Dance Team to clinch the program’s first national title, as they were crowned Division I Hip Hop National Champions at the 2022 NDA Collegiate National Championship.
Along with her involvement with Elon’s dance team, Dirks traveled the nation from 2018-21 as an instructor with the National Dance Alliance (NDA). Through NDA, she traveled to more than 14 states to train both high school and collegiate dance teams in hip hop, pom, jazz, kick, as well as technical skills. Dirks has worked with teams such as Hopkins County Central High School (NDA National Champions), Wake Forest University, Christopher Newport University, Northeastern University, UNC Wilmington, among many others. She also received a Rookie of the Year nomination her first year with the company, as well as Veteran of the Year nomination her second year.
Since leaving NDA in 2021, Dirks has enjoyed traveling the country as an independent choreographer for both national and regional level competitions, as well as working with local studios and teams when able.
In addition to being the head dance coach, Dirks works full time in Elon Athletics administration as the executive assistant to the director of athletics.
