Amanda Melrose-Smith

Amanda received her formal ballet training on scholarship at The Washington School of Ballet with Septime Webre, Rebecca Wright, and Victoria Leigh, and at Miami City Ballet with Edward Villella, …

Bahareh Sardari graduated from the London Royal Ballet School and the Royal Academy of Dance. She was a soloist with the Iranian National Ballet Company, and has worked and performed …

CECE FARHA began teaching on the faculty of The Washington School of Ballet in 1999 under the direction of Mary Day. She works within multiple levels of the school as …

A Wisconsin native, Cacciotti began her early training under the guidance of Marc Darling and Linda Bennett. She went on to study as a trainee at Joffrey Ballet School studying …

Kurumi Miwa from Tokyo, Japan.

She grew up in Tokyo and stated her training at age 3. She continued studies at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Kanagawa and graduated. She studied Ballet, Contemporary dance, Character dance, Jazz dance, Theater dance, Improvisation, Street Dance, dance choreography, Pilates, music, Ballet history, Nutrition , Anatomy for dancing, music history, Movement Studies, Exercise Physiology and Solfeggio.

Her second year in college, she was awarded a merit scholarship. She also trained at Joffrey Ballet School in NY, where she trained two years under direction of Era Jouravlev. She trained Balanchine techniques taught by Stacy Caddell former soloist with NewYork City Ballet. She danced Juliet from Romeo and Juliet (Choreography by Akop Akopian), Naina’s Magic garden as a principal (Choreography by Michael Fokine) and Stars and Stripes.

She went to summer training at Central School of Ballet in England, Royal Danish Ballet in Denmark, Milwaukee Ballet, Oklahoma City Ballet and Maryland Youth Ballet. She won 1st place in the Jewels Festival Ballet Competition in 2019, 2nd place in the World Ballet Grand Prix in NY. And she got top 3 in World Ballet Competition. She performed contemporary solo, “Intrecci” choreographed by Mimmo Miccolis. She also won 1st place in the Japan Ballet Competition in 2018 and received Technical award, Artist award and Special judge award.

She has been performing with Manassas Ballet Theatre as a company dancer since March 2021. She has performed leading roles in several ballets. such as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Sugar Plum in Nutcracker, Can Can Doll in Laboutique Fantastic, Amy Wolfe in Colin, Spring Fairy in Cinderella and Gamzatti’s friends in La Bayadere. She also performed in Giselle, Dracula, Gaite Paeisienne. She performed contemporary works too, A Letter of Maria choreographed by Debora Greer, Deja-vu, Sleepy Hollow and Carmina Burana by Ahmed Nabil. She is also performing a lot of places as a guest dancer in the US.

Natalie is a native Washingtonian. She trained at the Washington School of Ballet under the direction of Mary Day and Choo San Goh. Her training also included Joffrey Ballet, Pennsylvania …

Irina Wunder received her classical training in Turkmenistan, then a republic of the former Soviet Union. She performed with the Republic’s Theater of Opera and Ballet and toured with the …

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. …

Margaret Giragosian Williamson received her early training at The Washington Ballet, the Maryland Youth Ballet, and the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. During this time, she was also privileged to spend …

Mimmo Miccolis, born in Italy, is a freelance neoclassical and contemporary choreographer, primarily active as a teacher and choreographer at The Washington Ballet and the Akhmedova Academy. In 2019, he …

Pamela Booth Bjerknes, a former member of American Ballet Theatre (ABT), brings extensive teaching, directing, and performing experience to The Washington School of Ballet. Performing classical and contemporary ballets throughout …

Andrei Yemelianov has over 25 years of experience in the world of dance as a teacher, director, and choreographer specializing in classical ballet and original works. Born in Ukraine, Andrei trained at the Kyiv State Choreography College, where he studied the Vaganova ballet method. He holds a degree in Choreographic Art, focusing on ballet technique, partnering, and folk and character dances.

Throughout his career, Andrei has performed with the National Opera and Ballet Theater of Ukraine and the Donetsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater. His repertoire includes classical ballet, character dance, contemporary, modern, and folk styles.

Andrei has dedicated much of his teaching career to roles as a Ballet Teacher and Ballet Master at the Academie de Ballet and Master Works Dance Company, where he has choreographed and staged both classical and original ballets.

A firm believer in nurturing talent, Andrei’s teaching philosophy prioritizes professional excellence while promoting individual well-being. He creates a supportive atmosphere that welcomes students from diverse backgrounds, passionately guiding them toward both physical and spiritual growth in their dance journeys.

Edwin Aparicio is considered to be one of the most sought-after flamenco performers, teachers and choreographers in the United States. He has been described by critics as “the most amazing …

Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo is from Santiago, Chile. He began dancing at the age of 12 and has since received several awards and distinctions, among others, Chile’s Best Dancer Inter-American Circle of Dance Professionals Award. In Santiago, Mr. Moltedo ran his own company, which led to multiple national and international tours. He holds a B.F.A in dance, an M.A. in dance education with honors from the University of Chile, and an M.F.A. in dance from The George Washington University Department of Theatre and Dance. Currently, he is the Assistant Artistic Director and Dancer for Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company and teaches dance around the world on a regular basis.

Irina Vakhromeeva’s illustrious ballet training began at the renowned Vaganova Ballet Academy
in St. Petersburg, Russia, where she graduated with honors. After a successful ballet career as a
soloist and principal dancer, she received her MFA in Ballet Pedagogy in 2014 and is currently
pursuing her PhD at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy.

As a soloist and principal dancer, she has toured the globe with esteemed companies such as the
Moscow Ballet, Festival Ballet, International Ballet Company, the Metropolitan Ballet, and the
Bay Area Houston Ballet and Theatre. Additionally, she is the Founder and Artistic Director of
the Cosmopolitan Ballet Theatre, collaborating with various universities in the United States and
Europe, including Smith College in Massachusetts and Jazz Dance Theatre in Berlin. This
initiative provides students with professional training from Vaganova alumni and prepares them
for successful careers in ballet.

Throughout her career, Ms. Vakhromeeva has performed principal roles in a wide array of
celebrated ballets, including The Nutcracker, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, La Fille Mal Gardée,
Don Quixote, Paquita, Italian Capriccio, Flame of Paris, Swan Lake, Corsaire, Cinderella, The
Snow Maiden, The Blue Bird, and many others.

In her roles as a Principal Guest Artist, Artistic Director, Teacher, and Choreographer, Ms.
Vakhromeeva has collaborated with various ballet companies, including Kirov Ballet Academy,
Washington D.C., East Street Ballet Company, Hamilton Ballet in Canada, International Ballet in
Taiwan, Krassovska Ballet Jeunesse, and Galveston Ballet, where she has staged productions
such as La Bayadère, La Fille Mal Gardée, Napoli, Les Sylphides, Carmen, and her original
restaging in The Blue Bird, Solitude, Spring Verse, and Glinka Waltz.

Her deep understanding of classical and contemporary teaching methods and styles has enabled
her to nurture countless young dancers, many of whom have gained acceptance into some of the
world’s most prestigious institutions, including the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Vaganova Ballet
Academy, Juilliard School, Boston Ballet, Providence Festival Ballet, New Jersey Ballet, and the
University of North Carolina School of the Arts, among other professional ballet companies.

Born in Kanagawa, Japan, Maki enters her 20th season with The Washington Ballet after one season with The Studio Company. Before joining TWB, she danced and studied with Goh Ballet …

Maya Harr-Siebenlist grew up in Alexandria, Virginia where she studied ballet at The Washington School of Ballet under the tutelage of Kee Juan Han, former LINES Ballet company dancer, Kristina Windom and award-winning choreographer Mimmo Miccolis. As a student, Maya was the recipient of the Mary Day Scholarship. Maya spent her summers with San Francisco Ballet, PNB, Ballet West, ABT and the Kirov Academy. 

After graduating from high school in 2016, Maya was invited to join Alonzo King LINES Ballet after completing their summer program. Maya danced with Alonzo King LINES Ballet from 2016-2024, bringing King’s work to internationally renowned stages such as Chaillot, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Mariinsky Theatre, and many more. As a dancer with LINES Maya performed many pieces from King’s historical repertoire as well as premiered multiple new works over the years. 

While touring as a performing artist, Maya also taught masterclasses for LINES Ballet internationally and began teaching for the LINES Training Program in 2024. Maya is currently an adjunct professor of dance at George Mason University. 

Parren Ballard, a graduate of the Alabama School of Fine Arts, was trained by Dame Sonia Arova and Thor Sutowski. He began his professional career at the age of seventeen with the Cincinnati Ballet. From there he went on to enjoy an internationally successful career of over twenty years as a Soloist Dancer…

Zoica Tovar began her training at the age of nine at the Cuban Ballet School of Havana. Upon graduation she was accepted at Classical Ballet of Havana under the direction of Laura Alonso.  Ms. Tovar danced as a principal dancer in Orlando Ballet from 1998 to 2009…

Arron Scott was raised in State College, Pennsylvania, and started his training at the Ballet Theatre of Central Pennsylvania at age nine. He has danced on full scholarships at American …

Svetlana V. Nikoloff holds an equivalent of MFA degree in ballet pedagogy Vaganova methodology and choreography from the South-West University “Neofit Rilski” in her native Bulgaria, EU. Svetlana danced professionally …

Royce Zackery received a Master of Arts in Dance Education from N.Y.U. Steinhardt/American Ballet Theatre and is certified in the ABT National Teaching Curriculum with a concentrated degree in Ballet Pedagogy. He …

Photo by XMB Photography.

Shu-Chen Cuff was born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan where she established a well-rounded background in dance with training in Ballet, Modern, Chinese Opera movements, and various Chinese folk dances.  She immigrated to …

Valentina Palladino is a professional dancer, choreographer, and educator from Sardinia, Italy. Ms. Palladino began her dancing career in 2003 at the School Ballet Arabesque, Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy, under the …

With 40 years of experience as a dancer, teacher, choreographer, founding artistic/executive director, and urban planner, Miya’s life has spanned two continents with a commitment to diversity and excellence in …

Rafael Bejarano Vidal, from Guadalajara, Mexico, began his dance training at age 11 at the Royal Dance Academy of Mexico with Ana Torquemada. He has studied intensively around the world …

Chanel R. Dews is a native of Prince George’s County Maryland. She is an alum of Suitland High School where she majored in Dance in the Visual and Performing Arts …

Da’Shown Rawl studied Ballet and Modern at the Baltimore School of the Arts in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from the prestigious Dance Department of George Mason University (GMU). While at …

Dr. Elena Ovchinnikova graduated from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy obtained her PhD in Pedagogic Science (Theory and Methodology of Professional Education in Choreography) and Master Degree in Ballet Pedagogy. Additionally, …

Françoise Thouveny-Doyle is a native of France. She started her classical ballet training in her hometown of Orléans and in Paris at le Centre de Danse de Paris training with …

Katherine Smith a native Washingtonian, is a graduate from The Duke Ellington School of the Arts and received her B.F.A. from the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts [currently University of …