TWSB History

Co-founded in 1944 by the late Mary Day and Lisa Gardiner, The Washington School of Ballet (TWSB) is recognized nationally and internationally for its classical training and dedication to excellence in dance and dance education. TWSB provides a safe, nurturing environment enabling each student to explore their technical and artistic capabilities. Our mission is to inspire the next generation of young dancers to grow and expand to their full potential and to keep our community dancing.

The school trains more than 900 enrolled students each year at its Northwest Campus studios on Wisconsin Avenue and an additional 350 enrolled students at its Southeast Campus housed at The Town Hall Education, Arts and Recreation Center (THEARC). More than 1600 adult students attend classes through TWSB’s Open Class programs which are held at both campuses.

Annually, TWSB disburses over $400,000 in merit scholarships and tuition assistance. These awards allow TWSB to provide access to the highest level of training for students of many backgrounds, often opening the door to families who might not otherwise be able to pursue training. Through financial assistance, merit-based recognition, and personalized faculty guidance, we strive to support equitable opportunities in ballet from registration to graduation.

The Washington Ballet has contributed to the cultural fabric and artistic dynamic of the nation’s capital; evolving from a small ballet school in northwest DC neighborhood to a world-class, internationally recognized professional ballet company. The Washington School of Ballet continues to provide dance instruction and education to residents of DC and the surrounding area, while introducing thousands of children to the magic of dance through performances of The Nutcracker and other company repertoire at world-renowned venues, including The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

HISTORY

It all started in 1944 when dance pioneer Mary Day and her former teacher Lisa Gardiner founded The Washington School of Ballet. The acclaimed school quickly became known for its outstanding training and later attracted students who would become world-famous dancers; including Amanda McKerrow, who in 1982 at age 17, became the first American to win the Gold Medal at the prestigious Moscow Ballet Competition and Kevin McKenzie, who became a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre and in 1992 was named that company’s artistic director. Virginia Johnson, who began her dance training at The Washington School of Ballet had a 40-year career and is now the artistic director of Dance Theatre of Harlem. Other notable alumni include Chelsea Clinton and actresses Shirley MacLaine and the late Georgia Engel.

In 1976, Mary Day founded The Washington Ballet as a professional company in part to provide performance opportunities for its many talented students. In 1999, Septime Webre took the helm as artistic director and established community outreach programs DanceDC, the EXCEL! Scholarship program, and The Washington Ballet’s southeast campus at THEARC. During his 17-year tenure, the company and the school realized tremendous growth and community support. Webre developed several famous literary works into full-length ballets including, The Great Gatsby, ALICE (in wonderland), and The Nutcracker. In the Fall of 2007, Kee Juan Han joined TWB as school director of The Washington School of Ballet.

In July 2016, Julie Kent became artistic director of The Washington Ballet, bringing with her Xiomara Reyes as Head of School for The Washington Ballet.

Kent enjoyed a stellar 30-year career at American Ballet Theatre and remains the longest-serving ballerina in the company’s 80-year history. She began her dance training with Hortensia Fonseca at the Academy of the Maryland Youth Ballet in Bethesda, MD and attended summer sessions at American Ballet Theatre II and the School of American Ballet before joining American Ballet Theatre as an apprentice in 1985. In that same year, Kent won first place in the regional finals of the National Society of Arts and Letters at the Kennedy Center. In 1986, she was the only American to win a medal at the Prix de Lausanne International Ballet Competition, and she became a member of American Ballet Theatre’s corps de ballet.

Kent starred in the Herbert Ross film ‘Dancers’ in 1987 opposite Mikhail Baryshnikov. She was appointed Soloist with American Ballet Theatre in 1990 and Principal Dancer in 1993, the year she won the Erik Bruhn Prize in Toronto and was named one of People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People.” In April 2000, Kent became the first American woman ever to win the prestigious “Prix Benois de la Danse.” Later that year, Kent starred in the motion picture ‘Center Stage’ directed by Nicolas Hytner. In 2012, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of North Carolina School for the Arts as well as a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from Dance Magazine.

PRESENT

In 2023, American arts leader and acclaimed choreographer Edwaard Liang became the new Artistic Director of The Washington Ballet. He is only the fourth person, and first person of color, to lead the organization. He is also the first Asian American to lead a major American ballet company.

Over the past 20 years, Liang’s works have been performed by dance companies worldwide, including New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Shanghai Ballet, and The Washington Ballet, among others. In 2017, he received an Emmy® Award for his short dance film, “Vaulted.” In 2018, he created a new ballet with Roberto Bolle for the opening of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Learn more about Edwaard Liang here.

In 2024, Trinidad Vives was announced as the School Director for The Washington School of Ballet. Ms. Vives had served as TWB’s Acting Artistic Director during the fall of 2023.

Trinidad Vives was born in Madrid, Spain, and trained under prominent instructors before continuing her studies in Paris. She graduated from the Ecole Supérieure de Danse de Cannes Rosella Hightower and joined the Hamburg Ballet as a Soloist at 17. She later became a Principal dancer with the Basel Ballet, Düsseldorf Ballet, and English National Ballet, performing leading roles in both classical and contemporary works.

Trinidad transitioned into teaching and leadership after earning her diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Dance in Madrid. She rose to Co-Artistic Director at the Houston Ballet Academy and served as Artistic Associate of Boston Ballet. She has also been the Rehearsal Director at the Compañía Nacional de Danza in Madrid and co-founded The Brookline Ballet School in Boston. As the Director of The Washington School of Ballet, Trinidad brings her extensive experience and passion for developing young dancers.

Learn more about Trinidad Vives here.

My daughter has danced all over the world from Japan, California, to Rhode Island and now we are blessed to be able to be part of TWSB community. My advice to families considering having their dancer start training with TWSB, would to be grateful for the opportunity to dance at one of the most outstanding ballet schools in the world. Trust the process, and understand it’s hard work that will develop your child in the best of ways.

Tanisha B. - SE Campus Parent

My daughter describes her time with TWSB as “The best 5 weeks of my life!” Allison learned much from your staff, made friendships she will treasure throughout her life, gained confidence and strength to help her grow into the lovely young lady she has become!

Again, thank you and with every good wish!

Belinda B. - Summer Intensive Parent

Alumni

Co-founded by legendary ballet pioneers, Mary Day and Lisa Gardiner, The Washington School of Ballet students have gone on to dance professionally with The Washington Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Dutch National Ballet, Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Miami City Ballet and numerous other companies all over the US and the world.

Notable Alumni

Virginia Johnson – 1968 Graduate, Artistic Director of Dance Theater of Harlem (2011-2023), Editor-in-Chief of Pointe Magazine (2000-2009), founding member & principal dancer of Dance Theater of Harlem

Kevin McKenzie – 1972 Graduate, Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre (1992-2022), principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre (1980-1991) and permanent guest artist with The Washington Ballet (1989-1992), co-fouder of Kaatsbaan International Dance Center

Amanda McKerrow – Former principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, In 1981 she became the first American to win a gold medal at the Moscow International Ballet Competition when she was 17 years old.

Patrick Corbin – 1983 Graduate, Associate Professor of Practice, USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance (2015-present), Artistic Director of CorbinDances (2003-present), and dancer with ABTII (1984-1985), The Joffrey Ballet (1985-1989), Paul Taylor Dance Company (1989-2005). Mr. Corbin was a recipient of the New York Performance Award (Bessie) in 2001 for Sustained Achievement with The Paul Taylor Dance Company.

Susan Jones – 1965 Graduate, Dancer with American Ballet Theater, Artistic Staff of ABT since 1979

Shirley MacLaine – Author and award-winning Broadway, film and television actress.

Georgia Engel – Broadway, film and television actress

Chelsea Clinton – Writer, global health advocate. Daughter of President Bill Clinton, and Secretary Hillary Clinton

Jennifer Ringer – Former principal dancer with New York City Ballet.

Recent Alumni

2024 Graduates

Leonie Aksyonov – Upper Division, 2018 – Skidmore College
Peyton Anderson – Professional Training Division, 2018 – South Carolina Ballet
Isadora Basso – Professional Training Division, 2018
Bernardo Betancor – Professional Training Division, 2018 – Les Grands Ballet Canadiens
Cole Chertok – Professional Training Division, 2018
Kye Cooley – Ballet West II & Ballet West
Carter Cooper – Upper Division, 2018 – Oberlin College
Nicholas Cowden – Professional Training Division, 2018 – The Washington Ballet
Sofia Fernandez – Upper Division, 2018
Kirara Fuse – Professional Training Division, 2018
Abigail Granlund – Professional Training Division, 2018 – The Washington Ballet, Hong Kong Ballet
Marina Hanada – Professional Training Division, 2018
Deirdra Hoyt – Upper Division, 2018 – Boston University
Miyu Kawamoto – Professional Training Division, 2018 – Ballet du Capitole Toulouse
Yaman Kelemet – Professional Training Division, 2018 – SNG Opera, Ballet Ljubljana, Compañía Nacional de Danza
Blake Lanesskog – Professional Training Division, 2018 – The Sarasota Ballet, UCLA
Johnna Lee – Upper Division, 2018 – Cornell University
Audrey Malek – Professional Training Division, 2018 – Pacific Northwest Ballet, The Washington Ballet Studio Company
Erin Mcavoy – Professional Training Division, 2018 – Loyola University Maryland
Natsumi Oohata – Professional Training Division, 2018 – Ctiy Ballet of San Diego
Michelle Quiner – Professional Training Division, 2018 – American Repertory Ballet
Landry Ridener – Professional Training Division, 2018
Julia Rust – Professional Training Division, 2018 – The Joffery Ballet
Marissa Stark – Professional Training Division, 2018 – Nashville Ballet
Antonia Tomasi-carr – Professional Training Division, 2018 – University of Toronto
Alexa Torres – Professional Training Division, 2018 – The Washington Ballet, Boston Ballet
Sydney Webster – Upper Division, 2018

Andrea Allmon – Professional Training Division, 2017 – Dancer with The Washington Ballet
Rafael Bejarano – Professional Training Division, 2017 – Dancer with The Washington Ballet, TWSB faculty
Julia Crosby – Professional Training Division, 2017
Gilles Delellio – Professional Training Division, 2017 – Dancer with The Washington Ballet
Nono Kinouchi – Professional Training Division, 2017
Paul Lytle – 2017, Ballet Arizona Studio Company, BalletMet Trainee.
Saya Niwa – Professional Training Division, 2017
Samara Rittinger – Professional Training Division, 2017 – Dancer with The Washington Ballet
Noah Schwartz – Professional Training Division, 2017
Isabel Robles – Professional Training Division, 2017
Sage Wilson – Professional Training Division, 2017
Haowei Zhu – Professional Training Division, 2017

Dante Alabastro – Professional Training Division, 2016
Carla Barinas – Professional Training Division, 2016
Erin Chong – Professional Training Division, 2016
Renge Fujimori – Professional Training Division, 2016
Aurelio De Moraes Guimaraes – Professional Training Division, 2016
Daliana Gutierrez – Professional Training Division, 2016
Maya Harr – NW Campus Upper Division, 2016 – Alonzo King LINES Ballet
Maya Hawkins – Professional Training Division, 2016 – Collage Dance Collective
Amy Oconnor – Professional Training Division, 2016
Karl Picuira De Pimodan – Professional Training Division, 2016
Louis Picuira De Pimodan – Professional Training Division, 2016
Michaela Pratt – 2016
John Rowan – Professional Training Division, 2016
Sarah Savage – Professional Training Division, 2016
Gianna Stettner – Professional Training Division, 2016
Jiabao Wang – Professional Training Division, 2016
Kelly Williams – Professional Training Division, 2016
Krystina Wendelken – Professional Training Division, 2016
Kyra Wendelken – Professional Training Division, 2016
Delaney Zieg – Professional Training Division, 2016

Aeron Buchanan – Dancer with Nashville Ballet

Kimberly Cilento – Professional Training Division, 2015 – Dancer with The Washington Ballet
Thomas Giugovaz – Professional Training Division, 2015
Gabriel Hearn-desautels – Professional Training Division, 2015
Ryuichi Toyota – Professional Training Division, 2015

2010-2014

Kazuya Arima – 2014
Zhenghong Cao – 2014
Jorge Cordozo – 2014
Livia Dias – 2014
Collin Daffin – 2014
Neviah Dallas – 2014, Dancer with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company 2. TWSB faculty
Chanel Dews – 2014, TWSB faculty
Eli Downs – 2014
Clarissa Gandolfo – 2014
Elle Gaubatz – 2014
Elise Gaubatz – Professional Training Division 2014, Richmond Ballet II
Wendy Guo – 2014
Caroline Hudson – Professional Training Division 2014, Georgia Ballet, Ballet Tucson, Rochester City Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
Wakana Kato – 2014
Jessica Lohr – 2014
Alan Ma – 2014
Ayumi Miyazaki – 2014
Kathryn Musk – 2014
Yuki Nakahara – 2014
Micheal Pontius – 2014
Eduardo Ramos – 2014
Josue Rebollo – 2014
Julia Ridderhoff – 2014
Yayoi Shigeki – 2014
Rodrigo Vasquez – 2014
Goldie Walberg – 2014
Connor Werth – 2014
Zoe White – 2014
Marshall Whiteley – 2014
Peishan Xie – 2014

Christianne Campbell – 2013
Nicole Ciesinski – 2013
Brittany Harrison – 2013
Hibiki Higuchi – 2013
Aaron Hilton – 2013
Alexandra Huchinson – 2013, Dance Theatre of Harlem
Julia Phifer – 2013
Stephanie Schenberger – 2013
Amina Vargaseight – 2013, Ailey/Fordham graduate, Dancer with Hope Boykin

Sydney Wiggins – 2012 – Founder of Wiggins Dance Collective, TWSB faculty

Terra Appleman – 2011
Breanne Coughlin – 2011
Kelly Dornan – 2011
Emily Eisert – 2011
Aliyah Etheridge – 2011, Dancer with Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE
Hinano Eto – 2011
Alert Gordan – 2011
Jared Kelly – 2011, Indiana University, Ballet Tucson Company Minnesota Dance Theatre, Ballet X
Meadow Lakin – 2011
Jesse Lyon – 2011
Courtney Schenberger – 2011
Kaitlan Smallwood – 2011

Samantha Allen – 2010
Jordan Carney – 2010
Taylor Gladstone – 2010
Monica McAndrews – 2010
Isha Mclennan – 2010
Mio Nakamura – 2010
Kate Oborn – 2010
Rodrigo Ortega – 2010
Emi Shimada – 2010
Makiko Sutani – 2010
Makiko Toyonaga – 2010
Yurika Uda – 2010
Nayuu Watababe – 2010
Lily Young – 2010
Jake Zhao – 2010

2005-2009

Charlotte Barnett – 2009
Lee Chan – 2009
Andrew Cribbet – 2009
Boysie Dikobe – 2009
Mitchell Gill – 2009
Brooke Kettler – 2009
Sarah Koekkoek – 2009
Mary Kate Kronzer – 2009
Amber Lewis – 2009
Sarah MacKay – 2009
Benjamin Malone – 2009
Isha McClellan – 2009
Hannah Morris – 2009
Katherine Monogue – 2009
Robert Mulvey – 2009
Akira Nakahama – 2009
Hovey Olivia – 2009
Alison Pitton – 2009
Fukui Saena – 2009
Olivia Schonfield – 2009
Talia Startsman – 2009
Hannah Stauch – 2009
Ariella Steinhorn – 2009
Rukako Takahashi – 2009
Josep Torne – 2009
Nicole Vitale – 2009

2000-2004

Margaret Williamson – 2003 – TWSB Artistic Administrator, SE Campus

1995-1999

1990-1994

Carmen Rosario Ramos – 1992

1985-1989

Anita Pacylowski – 1989

Kristina Windom – 1986 – Dancer with The Washington Ballet, Cleveland/San Jose Ballet, Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet. Former TWSB Upper Division Head. Current Principal of the School of Philadelphia Ballet

1980-1984

Patrick Corbin –1983, see “Notable Alumni” above!

1975-1979

Donna Parise Byrne –1979

Christine Matthews – 1977
Allison Zusi – 1977

Katrin Andreasson – 1975
Pamela Adkins – 1975
Linda Aughney – 1975
Candance Claiborne – 1975
Nancy Collier – 1975
Susan Conrad – 1975
Julia Craighill – 1975
Pamela Dew – 1975
Christine Foisie – 1975
Suzanne Foran – 1975
Nanette Hennessey – 1975
Julie Miles – 1975 – The Washington Ballet
Lauran Turner – 1975
Antoinette Welsh – 1975
Leslie Woodard – 1975

1970-1974

Susan Baldwin-Andrews – 1974
Terenia Benedict – 1974
Sharon Caplan – 1974
Cynthia Chadbourn – 1974
Kathleen Costlow – 1974
Nancy Dooher – 1974
Patricia Heubusch – 1974
Virginia Holte – 1974
Kerry King – 1974
Christine Kozlowski – 1974
Marjorie Myerson – 1974
Lisa O’Neill – 1974
Philip Saltonstall-Rosemond – 1974
Sarah Smith – 1974
Donald Van Vleet Jr. – 1974
Wendy Ziecheck – 1974

Catherine Adkins – 1973
Brian Andrew – 1973
Stephen Baranovics – 1973
Beth Berdes – 1973
Niki Burack – 1973
Debra Campbell – 1973
Cheryl Dawson – 1973
Ellen Dinmore – 1973
Jill Donaldson – 1973
Teresa Guiffre – 1973
Michele Lankowski – 1973
Mary Ann Marston – 1973
Mary Miller – 1973
Leslie Morris – 1973
Sherrilee Myer – 1973
Theresa Polland – 1973
Holly Resor – 1973
Maria Urreiztieta – 1973

Diane Barrett – 1972
Lucy Bolton – 1972
Georgia Cobb – 1972
Robin Conrad – 1972
Karen Dameron – 1972
Cynthia Hagburg – 1972
Nancy Hasley – 1972
Mary Beth Linehan – 1972
Suzanne Longley – 1972
Kevin McKenzie – 1972, see “Notable Alumni” above!
Catherine Murphy – 1972
Barbara Parsons – 1972
Barbara Pierce – 1972
Victoria Riddleberger – 1972
Catherine Segreti – 1972
Debrah Shore – 1972
Anthony Sterago Jr. – 1972
Elizabeth Wade – 1972
Jean Ann Wolbier – 1972

Shiela Andrew –1971
Eve Leyman –1971
Maureen McKensie –1971
Abigail Rigby –1971
Hillary Sanders –1971
Rose Silsby –1971
Colette Yglesias –1971
Clint Harmon –1971
Timothy Van Kluyve –1971

Cynthia Chapman – 1970
Molly Gorden – 1970
Dorothy Kincer – 1970
Patricia McLaughlin – 1970
Eileen O’Rourke – 1970

1960-1969

Rosine Bena – 1969
Karen Collins – 1969
Stephanie Dulgeroff – 1969
Adrienne Hampton – 1969
Linda Kuchera – 1969
Holly Lane – 1969
Mark Neal – 1969
Jana Scott – 1969
Virinia Vollrath – 1969
Jacqueline Wittstein – 1969

Colette Albert – 1968
Julia Edmundson – 1968
Virginia Johnson – 1968, see “Notable Alumni” above!
Elisabeth London – 1968
Jeanne Modesitt – 1968
Kitty Morrison – 1968
Nancy Pierce – 1968
Sheila Snapp – 1968

Christine Erickson – 1967
Dove Garrett – 1967
Darja Michel – 1967
Lauran Miller – 1967
Lynne Penn – 1967
Cynthia Roberts – 1967
Roberta Stacy – 1967
Jane Surba – 1967

Melissa Bassford – 1966
Harold Bowman – 1966
Jo Ann Cifala – 1966
Judith Crump – 1966
Georgia Engel – 1966, see “Notable Alumni” above!
Frances Jones – 1966
Karen Lierley – 1966
Joanne Segreti – 1966
Judith Winter – 1966

Dana Arey – 1965
Patty Dent – 1965
Elizabeth Grosholtz – 1965
Becky Hull – 1965
Mary Lynn Son – 1965
Patricia Walker – 1965
Nancy Wilmarth – 1965

Kathleen Bannon – 1964
Judith Deegan – 1964
Michelle Lees – 1964
Gisela Schubach – 1964

Barbara Livshin – 1963

1950-1959

1944-1949

Join our TWSB Alumni Group on Facebook to connect with former classmates and to receive special invitations and promotions.

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Growing up at TWSB I learned that discipline is a lesson that follows you past the mirrored walls of a ballet studio. As I was taught discipline in the forms of mental stamina, focus and grit, I was also pushed to explore my individuality as an aspiring dancer and young woman. These lessons led me to find my voice in dance, and continue to push me to grow as an artist and as a human.

Maya Harr - 2016 TWSB graduate, current professional dancer at Alonzo King Lines Ballet

TWSB has shaped who I am as a person. As a young kid I always played sports and ran around like all the other boys in my class, but ballet was the biggest teaching lesson for me. Ballet demands discipline, respect, and hard work, and I found that my commitment to TWSB sets me apart from others. Without my years at TWB, I don’t know who I’d be today.

Jacob Liberman - 2024 Trainee

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