Faculty

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 …

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 …

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 …

Morgan Bailie began her formal dance training with the Alabama Ballet School in her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. Under the direction of Tracey Alvey and Roger Van Fleteren, Morgan trained …

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 …

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 …

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Lori trained in the Vaganova method of ballet under the direction of Maxim Ponomarenko through high school. Upon entering Muhlenberg College’s Dance program, Lori went …

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 …

Born in Burbank, California, Nicholas Cowden began his ballet training at the age of nine at Virginia Ballet Company under the direction of Tish Cordova. He continued his training at …

Christiane Cristo-Ezewoko, originally from Brasilia, Brazil, received her early training from ballet mistress Gisele Santoro and received complete advanced training at the Conservatoire de Danse de Paris with ballet étoile …

Luz Iturbe is a Carolina, Puerto Rico native who received her early training at Escuela de Bellas Artes de Carolina and her formal ballet training at Ballets San Juan. She …

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, …

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 …

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 …

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. He has studied intensively throughout …

Sydney B. Wiggins is a Washington, DC native and a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) with a BFA in Dance and Choreography. Sydney has been dancing since the age …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. He has studied intensively 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 …

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Mia Brice began her dance journey at the age of three at the Edge School of the Arts in Queens, NY. She went on …

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 …

Amanda is a Baltimore native and a graduate of The Baltimore School for the Arts. She received her BFA in Ballet Performance from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. …

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 …

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, …

Julie Kent became the Artistic Director of The Washington Ballet in July 2016. She is the longest-serving ballerina in American Ballet Theatre’s 82-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 10th season with The Washington Ballet and third year teaching at The Washington School of Ballet. Kimura, born in Germany, went on a short-term …

Tamás Krizsa, of Hungary, is in his 13th season with The Washington Ballet. Krizsa graduated from the Hungarian Dance Academy with honors in 2002. During his school years, he was …

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, …

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 …

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 …

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, …

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 the Professional Training Division at TWSB, performed as a soloist and principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre for 14 years before retiring from the stage in …

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 …

Masanori Takiguchi of Tokyo, Japan is in his third season with The Washington Ballet after dancing with TWB’s Studio Company. He began his training at Studio Les Bijoux and in …

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 …

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 …

Xiomara Reyes, Head of the Professional Training Division at TWSB, performed as a soloist and principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre for 14 years before retiring from the stage 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 …

Lisae Jordan is originally from upstate New York, where many small towns have ballet schools as a result of the Ford Foundation’s support for George Balanchine and his efforts to …

Julie Kent became the Artistic Director of The Washington Ballet in July 2016. She is the longest-serving ballerina in American Ballet Theatre’s 82-year history. She began her dance training with …

Ayano Kimura of Japan, is in 10th season with The Washington Ballet and third year teaching at The Washington School of Ballet. Kimura, born in Germany, went on a short-term …

Tamás Krizsa, of Hungary, is in his 13th season with The Washington Ballet. Krizsa graduated from the Hungarian Dance Academy with honors in 2002. During his school years, he was …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

Born in Johnson City, Tennessee, Aaron Jackson began his dance training at the age of ten, with Susan Pace-White at Holloway Dancing School. He attended summer intensives on full scholarship …

Tamás Krizsa, of Hungary, is in his 13th season with The Washington Ballet. Krizsa graduated from the Hungarian Dance Academy with honors in 2002. During his school years, he was …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Jessy Dick, a native of Michigan, is in her fifth season with The Washington Ballet. She was a member of the Studio Company before being promoted to apprentice in 2019 …

With a life commitment to diversity and excellence in concert dance, Miya has been a Producing Executive/Artistic Director, teacher, choreographer, arts and diversity advocate, and urban planner. Since l984, faculty at WSB, under …

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 …

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. He has studied intensively throughout …

Lisae Jordan is originally from upstate New York, where many small towns have ballet schools as a result of the Ford Foundation’s support for George Balanchine and his efforts to …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Glenn Sales, Pianist, has been well-known to Washington, DC audiences since his National Symphony Orchestra debut at age 14 and his subsequent invitations as soloist with NSO. Sales attended the …

Glenn Sales, Music Supervisor (pictured left. Photo by Spencer Bentley) Accompanists: Mikayel Mikaelyan, Michael Parker, Irina Rutkaitiene, Irina Edigarova, Mikaelian Levon (Levon Mikaelian), Alina Belenky, Yelena Nusinovich, Elena Ayanyan, Grigori …