Elizabeth Distasio Waddell as Director and owner of the Royal Academy of Ballet, Elizabeth DiStasio Waddell began her career under the training of Ginger Burke, founder of the Royal Academy of Ballet. She continued her schooling and training at Mercyhurst College, the Boston Ballet, the Hartford Ballet and the University at Buffalo, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree. Elizabeth has performed with The Hartford Ballet, The Eglevsky Ballet, the Cygnus Contemporary Dance Company, and the Mercyhurst College Dance Ensemble.

Locally, Elizabeth has performed with the Chattauqua Regional Ballet, The Thomas Dance Collection, The Buffalo City Ballet, The University at Buffalo's Zodiaque Dance Company and The Greater Buffalo Opera Company. Elizabeth's credits include principal roles in Coppellia, Cinderella, Nutcracker, Ballanchine's Serenade and Swan Lake. Elizabeth was also the Ballet Mistress for the children performing in Moscow Ballet's and the Pittsburgh Ballet's Nutcracker.

Elizabeth is the founding Artistic Director of the Greater Buffalo Youth Ballet, where she has set and choreographed many original and classical ballets such as Danse Macabre, Peter and the Wolf, Toy Shop Fantasy, Three Wishes and excerpts from Sleeping Beauty and La Bayadere. Elizabeth is also currently a faculty member with the University at Buffalo's Department of Theatre & Dance.