Staff
Leadership
Leadership
Artistic Director
Julie Kent became the Artistic Director of The Washington Ballet in July 2016. She is the longest-serving ballerina in American Ballet Theatre’s 83-year history. She began her dance training with …
Managing Director
Patrick Mühlen-Schulte leads The Washington Ballet’s administration team, with responsibility to successfully manage a budget of more than $15 million annually. Patrick has worked as a senior arts administrator in …
Artistic
Artistic
Associate Artistic Director
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 …
Ballet Master
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 …
Ballet Master
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 …
Music Supervisor
gsales@washingtonballet.orgGlenn 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 …
Scholar-in-Residence
nrouland@washingtonballet.orgDr. Natalie Rouland is the Senior Advisor for the Billington Cultural Initiative at the Kennan Institute in Washington, DC. A scholar of Russian literature, culture, and performing arts, Rouland is currently completing …
Development
Development
Chief Operating Officer
kshepherd@washingtonballet.orgKaren Shepherd is the Chief Operating Officer for The Washington Ballet. She has over 20 years of experience in arts management and arts education for both non-profit and for-profit sectors of the …
Major Gifts Officer
kmarcus@washingtonballet.orgIn December 2021, Kayla joined The Washington Ballet as the Major Gifts Officer. A lifelong balletomane, this role combines her passion for ballet with her meaningful experience working on fundraising campaigns …
Institutional Advancement Associate
tstifano@washingtonballet.orgPhoto by XMB photography.
Marketing and Communications
Marketing and Communications
Chief Marketing Officer
canderson@washingtonballet.orgChristopher Anderson serves as TWB’s Chief Marketing Officer. Since joining the TWB team in August 2021, Christopher has been instrumental in implementing improved patron services strategies and marketing campaigns for the company.
Stay tuned: Christopher and the TWB staff have been hard at work on our 2022/23 season & beyond!
Marketing Manager
achabus@washingtonballet.orgAmber Lucia Chabus joined The Washington Ballet Marketing Team in November 2021. Prior to her current role, Amber worked as the Communications Manager at Dance Place in Brookland, D.C. and …
Community Engagement
Community Engagement
Chief Operating Officer
kshepherd@washingtonballet.orgKaren Shepherd is the Chief Operating Officer for The Washington Ballet. She has over 20 years of experience in arts management and arts education for both non-profit and for-profit sectors of the …
Community Engagement Manager
dwatsonbrown@washingtonballet.orgDeMoya Watson Brown, Arts Manager, Dance Educator, Performing Artist, and Choreographer, is originally from Daytona Beach, FL, where she received dance training at multiple schools in the area prior to …
Production
Production
The Washington School of Ballet
The Washington School of Ballet
Artistic Director
Julie Kent became the Artistic Director of The Washington Ballet in July 2016. She is the longest-serving ballerina in American Ballet Theatre’s 83-year history. She began her dance training with …
General Manager, The Washington School of Ballet
kdrake@washingtonballet.orgKatie Sopoci Drake is a seasoned administrator and educator with nearly 2 decades of experience in the arts spanning non-profit arts administration, teaching in higher education, and performing. As the …
School Principal SE Campus
thurt@washingtonballet.orgTammy Hurt, a native Washingtonian, started her dance training at the Jones-Haywood School of Ballet and later became a member of the Capitol Ballet Company under the direction of Doris …
The Washington School of Ballet - Northwest Campus
The Washington School of Ballet - Northwest Campus
General Manager, The Washington School of Ballet
kdrake@washingtonballet.orgKatie Sopoci Drake is a seasoned administrator and educator with nearly 2 decades of experience in the arts spanning non-profit arts administration, teaching in higher education, and performing. As the …
Professional Training Division Head
xreyes@washingtonballet.orgXiomara 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 …
Upper Division Head
kwindom@washingtonballet.orgKristina Windom trained with Mary Day, Robert Steele, Julio de Bittencourt, Patricia Berrend, and Suzanne Erlon at The Washington School of Ballet. At a very young age, she was invited …
Pre-Ballet & Lower Division Head
pbjerknes@washingtonballet.orgPamela 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 …
NW School Manager
aschools@washingtonballet.orgAlex Schools is a native of the Washington, DC area, where she received her ballet training under Pamela and Michael Bjerknes at American Dance Institute and Patricia Berrend at Berrend …
Nutcracker Coordinator
dglover@washingtonballet.orgEntering her 18th season with The Washington Ballet, Ms. Glover has transitioned from the leadership position of Director of Operations for The Washington School of Ballet to Summer Intensive Manager …
Adult Program Artistic Operations Manager
mhisaka@washingtonballet.orgWith 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 …
PTD Student Services Coordinator
kparmer@washingtonballet.orgOriginally from Long Island, Kim Parmer has been immersed in the DC-area dance scene since moving here in 2010. Most recently, Ms. Parmer served as the director of Maryland School …
The Washington School of Ballet - Southeast Campus
The Washington School of Ballet - THEARC Campus
General Manager, The Washington School of Ballet
kdrake@washingtonballet.orgKatie Sopoci Drake is a seasoned administrator and educator with nearly 2 decades of experience in the arts spanning non-profit arts administration, teaching in higher education, and performing. As the …
School Principal SE Campus
thurt@washingtonballet.orgTammy Hurt, a native Washingtonian, started her dance training at the Jones-Haywood School of Ballet and later became a member of the Capitol Ballet Company under the direction of Doris …
SE Campus School Manager
kdeshields@washingtonballet.orgKayla DeShields is a native of Woodbridge, VA where she grew up studying liturgical dance in her church beginning at age four and holding positions of leadership within the dance …
Artistic Administrator
mwilliamson@washingtonballet.orgMargaret 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 …
