Faculty

Molly Hohlt, was born in Washington, DC and began her formal ballet training at the age of nine at The Washington School of Ballet. While at The Washington School of …

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 …

Jennifer Dobbins is a passionate dance educator, choreographer, theater technician, arts organizer, advocate, and administrator. Her passion for ballet pedagogy has led her to licensure in the Cecchetti Method of …

Noline Edmond has studied at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and with Marcia Dale Weary, Leslie Hench, Re Rabassi-Davis, Lazlo Berdo, Rafael Grigorian, Gennadi Vostikov and German Zamuel.  She has …

Yaa Faulk, originally a native of Raleigh, NC, began her dance education at the age of seven while living in Central New York. She began her formal dance training at …

Saki K. Scheller is originally from Hyogo, Japan and was trained in jazz, tap, modern, ballet, ballroom, and Japanese traditional dance. She came to the United States to study Performing Arts …

Kimberly Thompson started her pre- professional training at The Frederick School of Classical Ballet under the direction of Joyce Morrison and then continued at The Maryland Youth Ballet with Michelle …

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 …

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 …

Jennifer Johnson Buchanan is native of Seat Pleasant, MD. She began her training at the age of two at Incarnation Dance Group in Washington, DC under the direction of Katherine …

Noline Edmond has studied at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and with Marcia Dale Weary, Leslie Hench, Re Rabassi-Davis, Lazlo Berdo, Rafael Grigorian, Gennadi Vostikov and German Zamuel.  She has …

Amanda Melrose-Smith received her formal training at The Washington School of Ballet and Miami City Ballet School where she had the opportunity to guest with both companies throughout her training. …

Fondly known as “Mr. Yao”, Yao E. Odamtten (pronounced oh-DAM-tin) is passionate about the healthy physical and psychosocial power of dance to transform both lives and society. Mr. Yao’s rich …

A native of Virginia, Ordoñez began her ballet training with Hortensia Fonseca at the Maryland Youth Ballet. She completed her training under the direction of Susan Jaffe and Risa Kaplowitz …

Julie Paskowski grew up in Western Pennsylvania where she began her ballet training with Joan Van Dyke. Paskowsko continued her training with Nashville Ballet, Pittsburg Ballet Theater, and the Central …

Monica Stephenson is originally from Fayetteville, North Carolina. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and the Professional Training Program at the Houston …

Courtney Streeter hails from Northwestern Indiana but spent most of her life in Atlanta, Georgia. Training at the Atlanta Festival Ballet under the direction of Gregory Aaron and Nicolas Pacana, …

Kimberly Thompson started her pre- professional training at The Frederick School of Classical Ballet under the direction of Joyce Morrison and then continued at The Maryland Youth Ballet with Michelle …

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 …

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 …

Kristina Windom trained with Mary Day, Robert Steele, Julio de Bittencourt and Patricia Berrend at The Washington School of Ballet. She was selected for the company, The Washington Ballet, when …

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 …

Katherine Barkman joined The Washington Ballet in October 2018, soon after winning consecutive Silver Medals from two of the world’s most prestigious ballet Olympiads — the XI USA International Ballet …

Christy Bartholomew hails from New Orleans, Louisiana. She developed a strong appreciation for the arts at an early age, which ultimately led her to pursue a professional career in the …

Rafael Bejarano Vidal, from Guadalajara, Mexico, began dance training at the age of 11 at the Royal Academy of Dance in Mexico with Ana Torquemada and has since participated in intensive coursework throughout …

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 …

Amanda Clark is from Fairfax, VA and danced with the Pacific Northwest Ballet from 2008-2016. She studied on scholarship at The Washington School of Ballet, the School of American Ballet, and the Professional Division of Pacific Northwest Ballet.

Clark performed leading roles with the Pacific Northwest Ballet, including: George Balanchine’s Emeralds, The Four Temperaments, and the Nutcracker; Peter Boal’s Giselle; David Dawson’s A Million Kisses to my Skin; William Forsythe’s New Suite; Ronald Hynd’s The Sleeping Beauty; Jiri Kilyan’s The Sleeping Beauty, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Cylindrical Shadows, Jerome Robbins’ The Concert and West Side Story Suite;  Kent Stowell’s Cinderella and Swan Lake; Price Suddarth’s Signature, and Susan Stroman’s TAKE FIVE…More or Less. Clark also performed featured roles from George Balanchine’s Coppelia and Divertimento from “Le Baiser de la Fee” and from Justin Peck’s Debonair.

Lori Clark is a full-time dancer/choreographer and holds a Master’s degree in Dance from American University. She studied Kathak (North Indian classical dance) at Sri Ram Bharatiya Kala Kendra in …

Constance Dinapoli has enjoyed a broad career in all aspects of the field of dance that stems from performing with the Paul Taylor Dance Company (PTDC). Highlights include PTDC touring …

CeCe Farha began teaching on the faculty of The Washington School of Ballet in 1999 under the direction of Mary Day and she serves as Children’s Ballet Master for TWB’s  …

Robbin Tasha-Ford was born in New York and raised in Washington, DC. She was a scholarship student at The Jones-Haywood School of Dance and later danced with the school’s company, …

Elizabeth Gaither has had a 22 year career as a professional ballerina. She joined Houston Ballet Company at the age of 15, and danced with them for five seasons. She …

Alice Howes is a dance artist and educator who is director of Trajectory Dance Project, a Baltimore-based modern dance ensemble. She has held full-time faculty positions at universities including Coppin …

Rinat Imaev, Company Teacher and Senior Faculty, was previously a company teacher with American Ballet Theatre for 15 years. He has made an international career performing and teaching across the globe in the U.S., Asia, and Europe. Born in Oufa, Russia, …

Damien Johnson is originally from Dallas, Texas. He received his early dance training from Kitty Carter, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and The Etkin-Atkinson …

Julie Kent became the Artistic Director of The Washington Ballet in July 2016. She is the longest-serving ballerina in American Ballet Theatre’s 79-year history. She began her dance training with …

Sona Kharatian is celebrating her 20th season with The Washington Ballet. She has danced with Orlando Ballet, Ballet Hawaii, the Trey McIntyre Project, and Copenhagen International Ballet. She was a …

Ayano Kimura of Japan, is in her seventh season with The Washington Ballet. Kimura, born in Germany, went on a short-term study abroad to Russia and England in 2005. In …

Suzanne Kritzberg was a principal dancer and teacher for the Minnesota Ballet for twenty-two years. She performed more than fifty roles from the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker to …

Tamás Krizsa, of Hungary, is in his 12th season with The Washington Ballet. Krizsa graduated from the Hungarian Dance Academy with honors in 2002. During his school years, he was …

Amanda Melrose-Smith received her formal training at The Washington School of Ballet and Miami City Ballet School where she had the opportunity to guest with both companies throughout her training. …

Mimmo Miccolis, born in Italy, is a neoclassical and contemporary teacher and choreographer at The Washington Ballet. He was the winner of the “Outstanding Choreographer Award” at the Youth American …

A native of Virginia, Ordoñez began her ballet training with Hortensia Fonseca at the Maryland Youth Ballet. She completed her training under the direction of Susan Jaffe and Risa Kaplowitz …

Timea Presley is a Pilates Teacher Trainer and Master Instructor with over 20 years of experience teaching and managing Pilates programs in the United States and Europe. She leads the …

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

Xiomara Reyes, Head of TWSB, performed as a soloist and principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre for 14 years before retiring from the stage in 2015. She was born in …

Caroline Rocher trained at the Conservatoire de Montpellier with Madame Claparède, and later studied at the Rudra Béjart art school in Lausanne, Switzerland. In 1998, she moved to America to …

Rolando Sarabia is a Cuban ballet dancer of international acclaim who has danced with companies throughout the world including the Cuban National Ballet, Houston Ballet and Miami City Ballet. He …

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 …

Monica Stephenson is originally from Fayetteville, North Carolina. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and the Professional Training Program at the Houston …

Masanori Takiguchi of Tokyo, Japan begins his first season with The Washington Ballet Studio Company. He began his training at Studio Les Bijoux and in 2015 was awarded a full …

Kyoko began her flamenco studies in Washington, DC with Edwin Aparicio and Anna Menendez, and with Estrella Morena and Omayra Amaya in Miami.  In 2003, she was invited to join …

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 …

Born in Kazakhstan, Dmitriy Vistoropskiy received his early training at the A. Seleznev School of Ballet and Choreography in Almaty.  After graduating, he joined the corps of the National Opera …

Originally from England, Woods trained at Elmhurst Ballet School and the Rambert Academy of Ballet. Her professional career began in Strasbourg, France with the Ballet du Rhin. Upon moving to …

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 …

Kjara Wurst is a Slovene choreographer, teacher, and artistic director of Kjara’s Dance Project. She completed her formal training with the Slovene National Ballet Conservatory. After continuing to study with …

Xiomara Reyes, Head of TWSB, performed as a soloist and principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre for 14 years before retiring from the stage in 2015. She was born in …

Rinat Imaev, Company Teacher and Senior Faculty, was previously a company teacher with American Ballet Theatre for 15 years. He has made an international career performing and teaching across the globe in the U.S., Asia, and Europe. Born in Oufa, Russia, …

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 …

Victor Barbee was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and received his ballet training at the North Carolina School of the Arts and the School of American Ballet. He joined the …

Katherine Barkman joined The Washington Ballet in October 2018, soon after winning consecutive Silver Medals from two of the world’s most prestigious ballet Olympiads — the XI USA International Ballet …

CeCe Farha began teaching on the faculty of The Washington School of Ballet in 1999 under the direction of Mary Day and she serves as Children’s Ballet Master for TWB’s  …

Elizabeth Gaither has had a 22 year career as a professional ballerina. She joined Houston Ballet Company at the age of 15, and danced with them for five seasons. She …

Damien Johnson is originally from Dallas, Texas. He received his early dance training from Kitty Carter, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and The Etkin-Atkinson …

Julie Kent became the Artistic Director of The Washington Ballet in July 2016. She is the longest-serving ballerina in American Ballet Theatre’s 79-year history. She began her dance training with …

Ayano Kimura of Japan, is in her seventh season with The Washington Ballet. Kimura, born in Germany, went on a short-term study abroad to Russia and England in 2005. In …

Tamás Krizsa, of Hungary, is in his 12th season with The Washington Ballet. Krizsa graduated from the Hungarian Dance Academy with honors in 2002. During his school years, he was …

ELAINE KUDO (Ballet Master) was a member of American Ballet Theatre from 1975–89, and was promoted to soloist in 1981. She received training at the Metropolitan Opera Ballet School, the …

Mimmo Miccolis, born in Italy, is a neoclassical and contemporary teacher and choreographer at The Washington Ballet. He was the winner of the “Outstanding Choreographer Award” at the Youth American …

Caroline Rocher trained at the Conservatoire de Montpellier with Madame Claparède, and later studied at the Rudra Béjart art school in Lausanne, Switzerland. In 1998, she moved to America to …

Rolando Sarabia is a Cuban ballet dancer of international acclaim who has danced with companies throughout the world including the Cuban National Ballet, Houston Ballet and Miami City Ballet. He …

Monica Stephenson is originally from Fayetteville, North Carolina. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and the Professional Training Program at the Houston …

Kyoko began her flamenco studies in Washington, DC with Edwin Aparicio and Anna Menendez, and with Estrella Morena and Omayra Amaya in Miami.  In 2003, she was invited to join …

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 …

Kristina Windom trained with Mary Day, Robert Steele, Julio de Bittencourt and Patricia Berrend at The Washington School of Ballet. She was selected for the company, The Washington Ballet, when …

Originally from England, Woods trained at Elmhurst Ballet School and the Rambert Academy of Ballet. Her professional career began in Strasbourg, France with the Ballet du Rhin. Upon moving to …

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 …

Kjara Wurst is a Slovene choreographer, teacher, and artistic director of Kjara’s Dance Project. She completed her formal training with the Slovene National Ballet Conservatory. After continuing to study with …

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 …

Tara Antonipillai has studied ballet, modern dance, yoga, barre, Pilates, mindfulness, and meditation for more than thirty years. She is a certified barre instructor as well as a certified yoga …

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. …

Stephen Baranovics began his ballet training with Gayle Parmelee in New Orleans, Louisiana. At 16, Baranovics moved to the bright lights of New York City. He recalls a vivid moment …

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 …

Constance Dinapoli has enjoyed a broad career in all aspects of the field of dance that stems from performing with the Paul Taylor Dance Company (PTDC). Highlights include PTDC touring …

RoAnne Duncan has had over fifteen years of professional experience as a classical ballet dancer, including six years of performing experience with Maurice Béjart’s Ballet of the 20th Century, Béjart …

Therese Gahl received her primary dance training from The Washington School of Ballet under the tutelage of Mary Day. In 2007, she became a member of Ballet West II in …

Fidel Garcia trained at the National Ballet School in Cuba (Camaguey City) and continued on as a professional dancer and as a ballet teacher. He has performed as a principal …

Rebekah House was born in Washington, DC and raised in Baltimore, MD.  She now resides in Upper Marlboro, MD with her family and six children.  She was introduced to Zumba …

Aaron Jackson received his formal training in New York City at the School of American Ballet, where he trained year-round and in summer intensive. He attended other summer intensives on …

Damien Johnson is originally from Dallas, Texas. He received his early dance training from Kitty Carter, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and The Etkin-Atkinson …

Tamás Krizsa, of Hungary, is in his 12th season with The Washington Ballet. Krizsa graduated from the Hungarian Dance Academy with honors in 2002. During his school years, he was …

Mané Rebelo-Plaut, born in Portugal, studied gymnastics for several years before enrolling at the School of the Lisbon Dance Company, where she studied ballet, jazz, and modern. She danced with …

Roger Plaut first studied ballet at the Maryland School of the Ballet and the Academy of the Maryland Youth Ballet. During his teenage years, he studied on scholarship at the American Ballet …

Florian Rouiller is a dance teacher, choreographer, and performer who received a BFA from the John Cranko School in Stuttgart, and performed with the Stuttgart Ballet in Sleeping Beauty, and Giselle. Upon immigrating …

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 …

DeMoya Watson Brown has been instructing and choreographing professionally for over 18 years. She has created and developed programs for summer dance institutes, served as coordinator and artistic director of …

Originally from England, Woods trained at Elmhurst Ballet School and the Rambert Academy of Ballet. Her professional career began in Strasbourg, France with the Ballet du Rhin. Upon moving to …

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 …

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 …