Krista Morana, former Artistic and Executive Director of Great Lakes You​th Ballet and former Director and owner of Great Lakes Academy of Dance, danced with the Cl​eveland San Jose Ballet from 1993 until 1998. Under the direction of Dennis Nahat, she has danced soloist and principal roles in The Nutcracker, The Toreador, Graduation Ball, Who Cares?, Slavonic Dances, and Countdown. Ms. Morana trained at the School of Cleveland San Jose Ballet from 1985-1994 under Dennis Nahat, Daniel Job, Nicole Sowinska, and Ellen Costanza where she was the recipient of the Kay Williams Scholarship. Other training includes: Chautauqua Summer Dance Festival, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, School of Atlanta Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School. She also has extensive training in Theatre, Contemporary, Character, and Flamenco dancing. Krista Morana’s teaching experience includes the Great Lakes Youth Ballet, Great Lakes Academy of Dance, Emjaez Dance Studio, School of Cleveland San Jose Ballet, Cleveland Music School Settlement, Kashtan Ukrainian Dance School, Royal School of Ballet, Magnificat High School and Classical Academy of Dance. Krista has choreographed and set excerpts of classical ballets such as Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia and Don Quixote for children and young adults. She participated in a teaching workshop with world renowned ballet teacher of Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Marcia Dale Weary. Also, Krista is an approved off ice ballet teacher and choreographer. She has taught stretching and ballet classes as well as choreography for ice skaters and skating shows at Winterhurst and the Cleveland Skate Club.

Along with her extensive performing and teaching experience, Krista Morana graduated Summa Cum Laude from Cleveland State University with her degree in Business Management and Labor Relations.​