The Washington Ballet

Septime Webre was appointed artistic director of The Washington Ballet in June 1999 after six years as artistic director of American Repertory Ballet in New Jersey. Much in a demand as a choreographer, He has created works that appear in the repertoires of many companies in North America, including Pacific Northwest Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Ballet Austin, Atlanta Ballet, Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, and Colorado Ballet, among many others. As a dancer, Mr. Webre was featured in works by Balanchine, Taylor, Tudor, Ailey, and Cunningham as well as in principal and solo roles from the classical repertoire. A former member of the board of directors of Dance/USA, Mr. Webre sits on the board of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington, and has been honored by Young Audiences of the District of Columbia and received a number of fellowships and for his choreography. He is the seventh son in a large Cuban-American family, and he graduated from the University of Texas with a B.A. in History/Pre-Law.

Kee-Juan Han directed the Arizona Ballet School from 1993 to 2003. His dance career began in his native Singapore, where he began his training at age ten with Florrie Sinclair and Goh Soo Khim. Upon graduation from the Australian Ballet School, he was invited to dance with the Sydney Dance Company, then the Goh Ballet in Canada, where he was also trained by Lin Yee Goh to teach the Vaganova method. Additionally, he was Principal Dancer with the Indianapolis Ballet Theatre and was a Soloist with the Boston Ballet. He danced most of the principal roles in the classical repertoire, as well as the ballets by Balanchine and modern works by Jose Limon, Mark Morris, Ralph Lemon. Susan Marshall and Bebe Miller.

Mr Han's international teaching experiences includes guest teaching at the Singapore Dance Theatre, Edmonton Ballet Academy, Sydney Dance Company, Ballet Austin , Atlanta Ballet, Boston Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Company, Vail International Summer of Dance festival, Milwaukee Ballet and the renowned Jackson International Ballet Summer School. He was also named the best teacher/coach at the Youth America Grand Prix (Long Beach) in 2000.

Mr Han is was full time faculty at the prestigious North Carolina School of the Arts and was the recipient of The Excellence in Teaching Award at NCSA. He is also the co-founder of the American Ballet Competition. He is also featured in the Singapore Encyclopedia. He is the newly appointed School Director of Washington Ballet School.

Mary Day, the "Grand Dame of Ballet in the Nation's Capital" was a native of Washington. Her vision was to establish in her home city an organization that would be recognized nationally for its standards of quality. The Washington Ballet professional company and The Washington School of Ballet are the culmination of that vision. Miss Day's gift for developing young talent has been recognized throughout the world. The New York Times' Anna Kisselgoff said, "Mary Day of The Washington Ballet must be doing something right. Her former pupils are among the best dancers around...." She was honored for her devotion and dedication to the arts in Washington and received numerous awards including an Honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Shenandoah Conservatory, an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Mount Vernon College, the Mayor's Award, WETA-TV's "Woman of Achievement" Award, the Metropolitan Dance Award, the Cultural Alliance's Founders Award, the first Chautauqua Dance Award of Excellence in Teaching, and the IONA Senior Services Distinguished Award. Miss Day qas been named "Washingtonian of the Year" by Washingtonian Magazine and honored by WGMS Radio, Howard University and the National Theatre Corporation. She passed away in July 2006.

Vladimir Djouloukhadze

Vladimir Djouloukhadze, former principal of the Tbilisi Ballet Theatre, USSR, performed all over the world with 'Stars of the Soviet Ballet’ that showcased the artistry of such great ballet masters as Maya Plisetskaya, Marius Liepa, Marina Kondratieva, etc. He toured the world as a principal dancer, a guest soloist and a coach with various companies, including the Bolshoi Ballet, Moscow Ballet, Tbilisi Ballet, Kiev ballet, etc. from 1970 to 1990. His partners were the prima ballerians of the Russian ballet - Nadezhda Pavlova, Ludmila Semenjaka, Nina Ananiashvili, Alla Khaniashvili.For his dancing career Mr.Djouloukhadze was awarded the highest honor of the Soviet era - People 's artist. Mr. Djouloukhadze served as Ballet master and Artistic Director for Ballet Mississippi from August 1991 until 1993. Vladimir Djouloukhadze was on the Kirov Ballet Academy faculty from 1993 to 2008. Mr. Djouloukhadze , himself a student of the legendary Vakhtang Chabukiani, has been developing his students into the winners of all major international ballet competitions, including the competitions in Varna , Jackson , Helsinki , Paris ,etc. His students are the principals, soloists and members of the world leading ballet companies, including the Kirov ballet company, ABT, Boston Ballet, Royal Ballet, San-Francisco Ballet, etc. To name a few, Michelle Wiles, Irma Nioradze, Rasta Thomas, Daniel Tidwell,Matthew Golding, Melissa Hough. Mr.Djouloukhadze holds Master’s Degree in Dance Teaching and Choreography from the Moscow University of Theatrical Arts.

Lilla Seber, in her ninth year as teacher and choreographer at the Washington School of Ballet, was awarded a ten-year scholarship at the prestigious Hungarian Dance Academy in her native country. She also studied and won scholarships at the North Carolina School of the Arts, the Washington School of Ballet, and the Alvin Ailey School in New York. She was a recipient of the Soros Foundation's Artist's Grant in 1992. Her performing career began in Budapest with the Hungarian National Ballet and in 1995, she joined the Washington Ballet where she dance principal roles. At age 16, Ms. Seber was featured in the title role of the film, "Variations for a Hadyn Theme," and hosted a popular TV show in Budapest. Ms. Seber is a certified yoga instructor in various systems. She received her training under the direct guidance of world-renowned yoga masters and is currently teaching the Sport and Health Clubs of the DC area.

Carlos Valcarcel

Carlos Valcarcel was born in Spain and began his studies at Victor Ullate School in Madrid and Maria de Avila Ballet School under Lola de Avila and Ana Baselga. He has danced as Principal at Ballet Victor Ullate and was named Soloist at Balletto di Toscana and later at the Stuttgart Ballet of Germany. Mr. Valcarcel graduated from Royal Conservatoire of Madrid and received an award of distinction upon graduating from the Royal Academy of Dance teacher’s course. He directed and was principal teacher of his own ballet school in Madrid and served as a guest teacher and choreographer before joining the Showa School for Performing Arts in Tokyo as the Principal Tutor and Lecturer of the Ballet Department. Mr. Valcarcel is credited with coaching principal ballerinas such as Miss Tamara Rojo of The Royal Ballet.

Kristina Windon Kristina. Windom trained with Mary Day at the Washington Ballet School, later joining the company under the artistic direction of Choo San Goh. She also danced professionally with Cleveland Ballet, Alonzo King's Lines Contemporary Ballet, Eric Hampton Dance, Washington Opera Ballet, and DanceSmith. Ms. Windom also holds a Bachelor's of Science, in Business Management.

Edwin Aparicio

Edwin Aparicio is considered to be one of the most sought-after flamenco performers, teachers and choreographers in the United States. Trained by the world renowned flamenco artists Tomás de Madrid and “La Tati”, Mr. Aparicio made his debut at the legendary Casa Patas in Madrid in 2001 and in 2005 performed as a soloist and a company member with “Jóvenes Flamenco” at the Centro Cultural de San Blas in Madrid. Mr. Aparicio performed with The Washington National Opera at The Kennedy Center in El Gato Montés in 1997 and in Don Giovanni in 2003, under the direction of Plácido Domingo. Mr. Aparicio has performed as a soloist throughout the United States with ensembles such as the “José Greco Spanish Dance Company” and Reynaldo Rincón’s “Romería Flamenca”. He has shared the stage with such internationally celebrated artists as Chuscales, Silverio Heredia, Roberto Castellón, Pedro Cortés, “La Truco”, Elena Andújar, Carmela Greco, Pastora Galván and José Luis Rodríguez.

Stephen Baranovics began dancing at the age of twelve in New Orleans under Gale Parmelee. He continued his training at Harkness School of Ballet and The Washington School of Ballet, later performing professionally with the National Ballet of Washington, the Houston Ballet, Basel Ballet in Switzerland and the Dutch National Ballet. After retiring from the stage, Mr. Baranovics graduated from American University and worked for America's Most Wanted. He now devotes his time to teaching dance as a member of The Washington School of Ballet faculty and using his talents in photography to portrait children, dancers and other artists. His photography has appeared on national television, in dance publications and in The Washington Post, where he has received two awards.

Linda Baranovics began her ballet career as a young adult while attending Georgetown University in 1977. After graduating in 1978, she continued her training at the Washington School of Ballet. She also studied with Eric Hampton, Peter Romero and Harriet Williams. While in New York, she studied frequently with Vladimir Dkoukadovsky and Peter Nelson. In 1985, Ms. Baranovics joined the Ballet Performing Workshop of Washington under the direction of Francesca DeAngelis. In 1986, she began teaching ballet for the Arlington Ballet under the direction of Alan Cooper and at the Ballet Center of Washington, DC where she taught until opening her own school with her husband Stephen in 1994. After closing the school in 1999 to raise their son Andrew, she continued teaching pre-ballet classes for young children, and in 2001, she began teaching at the Washington School of Ballet.

Leigh is from Long Beach, California where she began dance training at the age of three. Leigh spent 12 years at the Los Altos Dance Center where she was a principal dancer and later a teacher. Classically trained in Russian technique, Leigh has danced professionally since the age of 20 and began teaching ballet at 16. In addition to classical ballet, she studied and taught a variety of other dance techniques, including modern, African, Middle Eastern, and Renaissance. Leigh trained under such teachers as Marilyn Drown of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Arlene Brackett of the Boston Ballet, and Sheree King of the Rudy Perez Dance Company/ Twyla Tharp. She also studied at the Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood, California, Jimmy DeFore's of Costa Mesa, California, The Colorado Ballet, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theatre, and the Washington Ballet. Most recently, Leigh danced professionally with the Alexandria Ballet from 2002- 2005. She became the Director of the Athenaeum School of Ballet from 2005- 2007. Displaying a passion for all art forms, Leigh became vice president of Beck Records in Hollywood in 2002 and was featured in the independent film “Little Wing,” which was based on her life. Leigh’s proudest moments, however, come from the hugs of her students and the demands by their parents to raise their children to excellence. Leigh holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from the University of Oregon, and studied Professional Writing at Georgetown University. She has been teaching for the Washington Ballet since 2007.

Cece Farha begins her sixth season on the faculty of The Washington School of Ballet. A founding company member of Ballet Oklahoma, Ms. Farha trained at the San Francisco School of Ballet under the direction of Lew Christiansen. She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and was a member of the OU Ballet Company. Ms. Farha is also the founder and artistic director of Range of Motion Dance Studio. She has choreographed for dance companies and theaters across the nation including productions of Annie Get Your Gun, Peter Pan, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and The Goodbye Girl, among others. Ms. Farha is on the guest faculty at Virginia School of the Arts, Pittsburgh Ballet, Mercersburg Academy, Arlington Dance Center and Reston Conservatory Ballet.

Laurie is a native of Maryland. She got her early training from Joan Purvis and spent the summers studying at the Washington School of Ballet under Mary Day. She went on to study in Pennyslvania with Richard Hoskinson, Forrest Gehret and Marcia Dale Weary before attending Indiana University 's acclaimed ballet program. She earned a Bachelor 's degree in both Ballet and English and studied with Violet Verdy, Patricia McBride and Jean-Pierre Bonnefous. During her time at Indiana she performed such works as Lynn Taylor Corbett 's Great Galloping Gottshauk, George Balanchine 's Western Symphony and Valse Fantasy as well as various classical roles . Her performing career truly got its start when the role of 'Dream Clara ' was created for her, as a part of Virginia Ballet Theatre 's premiere production of The Nutcracker, in Norfolk, VA. During her years at VBT she performed principal roles in Sinatra Suite, Combat (The Duel), Con Amore, Allegro Brilliante, Serenade, Coppelia, and Cinderella. It was in Norfolk that Laurie got her first teaching opportunities. She spent the last six summers as the Summer Coordinator for the Washington School of Ballet 's Summer Intensive. This year she will be performing as a guest artist with the Washington Ballet and has joined the full-time faculty of The Washington School of Ballet.

Holly Rasmussen is in her second season as a faculty member at the Washington School of Ballet. Originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, she began her training at Mountain West Ballet and was a member of the MWB studio company. She continued her training at Ballet West Conservatory until entering the University of Utah's ballet program. Ms. Rasmussen's course of study featured a double emphasis in teaching and performing, and studies emphasized choreography, ballet history, and kinesiology. She graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. After graduation, continued to teach ballet at several schools in Utah and Virginia. Ms. Rasmussen moved to Washington, DC in 2003 and is excited to continue her teaching career with the Washington School of Ballet.

Jillian Sage is a dancer, teacher, choreographer and actress. She trained and danced with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre as well as Huntington Ballet Theatre. She also appeared on stage at The Metropolitan Opera House in American Ballet Theatre’s Romeo and Juliet. She studied acting at the renown Atlantic Theatre and also The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Previous to her performing career, Jillian was awarded scholarships with Boston Ballet Summer Dance Program, Pennsylvania Ballet and Joffery Ballet School. In pursuit of her BFA, Jillian, an alumnus of the prestigious Professional Children’s School, attended Adelphi University on scholarship and made the dean’s list. She has also taught in NYC at Ballet Academy East, Bridge for Dance on Broadway, Broadway Dance Project in NC, YWCA of Flushing Queens, Fancy Feet Dance Studio, The New York Sports Club, The Walltown Children’s Theater NC, Destiny Dance, and Carolina Dance Center. She has done special education outreach programs for The Community and Recreation Center at Lion Park teaching tap and choreographing for A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Central Park Elementary School. Jillian has taught for children, and set the play Flakes, a joint project with the E.P.A. to educate school children about lead poisoning, on Students of the Walltown Children’s Theater. This summer she conducted choreographic workshops at Carolina Dance Center. Jillian’s versatile technique allows dancers to understand ideas from the many different styles of Modern Dance as well as Classical Ballet.

Bahareh graduated form the Royal Ballet School and the Royal Academy of Dance. She was a soloist with the Iranian National Ballet Company as well as several other companies around the world. She has choreographed and performed in many theatres in the area including the Arlington Dance Theatre and the Kennedy Center. Bahareh has been teaching in the area for the past twenty-one years.

Michelle Sarson

Michelle Sarson has been teaching jazz at the Washington School of Ballet for 5 years and has owned her own studio and dance company in Herndon, VA for 14 years. Michelle has choreographed and her dance company has performed at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra in performances entitled "Music that Moves" and the dance number "One" for the Broadway Revue with Marvin Hamlisch. Michelle's other recent accomplishments include choreographing for Bob McGrath's Sesame Street show at the International Children's Festival held at Wolf Trap from 2001-2006.

Stephanie Walz was born in Virginia and trained at the Washington School of Ballet under Mary Day and at American Ballet Theatre School of Classical Ballet under Mikhail Baryshnikov. She is the recipient of a number of awards including scholarships from the Princess Grace Foundation, the USA International Ballet Competition at Jackson, Mississippi, and the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. Ms. Walz also received first prizes at the National Society of Arts and Letters, and Prix de Lausaunne competitions, and was honored to attend the Golden Plate Awards. In 1991, President Bush named her a presidential Scholar in the Arts recognizing her artistic and academic achievements. She danced with American Ballet Theatre for eight years and has appeared internationally as a guest artist. She danced with Maximum Dance Company for seven years and is currently a freelance artist. She recently appeared in the Florida Grand Opera’s new production of Aida in the soloist role of the High Priestess for their grand opening at Miami’s new Carnival Center. Bringing her career full circle, Stephanie has joined the faculty of the Washington School of Ballet.

Mikayel Mikaelyan (The Washington School of Ballet's Music Director) has a rich background as an accompanist, composer, music arranger, soloist of the chamber ensemble and performing pianist. He started working at The Washington Ballet and The Washington School of Ballet in 1999, previously working with the Danelian Music and Dance College in Armenia and the Armenian Chamber Ballet Company with artistic director Roudolf Kharatian. Mr. Mikaelyan has performed at different jazz and rock festivals as a composer and arranger and performed with the Armenian Symphony Orchestra as a featured soloist. He has also performed at the Kennedy Center as a guest pianist and accompanist during the Balanchine Days Festival and with the Bolshoi Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Miami City Ballet and Suzanne Farrell Ballet.