Kara Klein Salerno recently moved to NC from NJ/NYC, where she danced professionally on Broadway and tour for 18 years. Kara has trained in every genre of dance, with a focus on classical ballet. Starting at age 10, she trained during the summer at prestigious ballet schools all over the country, including the Joffrey, Boston Ballet and Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. At 16, Kara attended the High School at North Carolina School of the Arts as a ballet major. Upon graduation, Kara joined Nashville Ballet but was then cast in the National Touring Company of the Phantom of the Opera. At just 18, she was the youngest cast member to ever be hired. After 2 1/2 years of being on tour, Kara moved to NYC, where she performed multiple seasons in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Bye Bye Birdie (Encores!), Beauty and the Beast (North Shore Music Theater), and appeared in commercials, and dance magazines. In 2005, Kara joined the Broadway company of Phantom of the Opera and went on to perform more than 3,800 shows with the company, and 2,400 performances in the principal role of Meg Giry. Other Broadway credits include the original company of Billy Elliot. She is blessed with an amazing husband and two beautiful daughters. Kara also had a baking business, “The Dancing Baker,” and is a certified Pilates instructor.