Staff

American arts leader and acclaimed choreographer Edwaard Liang is the Artistic Director of The Washington Ballet. Edwaard is one of only four people to have led the organization, and the first person of color. He is also the first Asian American to lead a major American ballet company.

Andres Estevez began his training in Havana, Cuba, and joined Ballet Nacional de Cuba under the direction of Alicia Alonso. After several seasons, Mr. Estevez joined Ballet Clasico de la
Havana under the direction of Laura Alonso; where his career flourished…

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 …

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 …

Timothy, an Australian of First Nations descent, retired as a Principal Dancer and Resident Choreographer from Milwaukee Ballet in 2019 before transitioning into the role of Company Manager and Rehearsal …

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 …

Kristina is an experienced fundraising professional and strategist with over 20 years of progressive nonprofit leadership experience and a strong passion for ensuring there is access and opportunity for individuals …

Risa Kaneko is an arts fundraiser with a background in music performance and teaching. She completed her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance with a Minor in Arts Administration …

Hunter Atherton is a native of Texas where she studied Art History and Business at Rice University. She completed her Master’s in Arts Management at George Mason University, where she …

Erica Bondarev Rapach is an accomplished leader in brand innovation, strategic communication, and social responsibility reflected in her career that crosses arts administration, experiential marketing, higher education, and individual identity. Her journey is marked by a relentless pursuit of creativity and transformative change, shaping cultural and educational landscapes through her visionary leadership and deep commitment to fostering artistic expression, audience building, and community engagement.

Courtney joins TWB from the Spartanburg Philharmonic in South Carolina. During her tenure there, she connected with classical music enthusiasts, expanded the Philharmonic’s audience, collaborated with arts partners, and provided invaluable support to the organization’s educational initiatives. She brings a lifelong passion for the arts, a dedication to her community, and a diverse background in marketing to the already strong TWB team. 

Her journey in the arts began with ballet and expanded to focus on choir and theater, ultimately leading her to earn a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Ithaca College. Professionally, Courtney has honed her expertise in branding, marketing strategy, and audience development through roles at a national cable television network and various equipment manufacturers before moving into the non-profit space. Her first entrance into the arts was as the Marketing & Sales Coordinator at the Bartlett Performing Arts & Conference Center, located near Memphis, Tennessee. 

As parents, Courtney and her husband, Scot, dedicate much of their family time to instilling a love for the arts in their two children, especially the ballet and symphony, or wherever their interests take them. 

Sonia Bartolomeo is a digital media professional specializing in videography and editing.

Photo by XMB Photography.

DeMoya Watson Brown (Director of Community Engagement), Arts Administrator, Dance Educator, Choreographer, and Performing Artist, is originally from Daytona Beach, FL, where she received dance training at multiple schools in …

Kaitlyn joined The Washington Ballet in the 2023-24 season after working with the Milwaukee Repertory Theater for nine seasons. There, she was a key player in managing the production department …

Photo by XMB Photography.

Suzi Kilbourne stage managed her first show in 1983. Since then, her path has been winding and her experiences eclectic, with stops along the way for a masters in political …

Photo by XMB Photography.

Caroline is a junior at Marymount University in their fashion design B.A. program, with minors in sustainability and studio art. Ballet is close to home for her, as she spent two …

Timothy, an Australian of First Nations descent, retired as a Principal Dancer and Resident Choreographer from Milwaukee Ballet in 2019 before transitioning into the role of Company Manager and Rehearsal …

Katie Sopoci Drake joined The Washington School of Ballet in 2022 as Managing Director, bringing her expertise in business operations, strategic vision, and sustainable growth to one of the nation’s premier ballet schools. In this role, Sopoci Drake oversees a $4.2 million annual budget and manages a team of over 80 faculty and staff across two campuses and 14 studios, serving a diverse student body of more than 3,000 students annually.

“I am thrilled to be joining TWSB as its new Director and eager to bring my vast  professional experience to lead the faculty and students through this exciting time of change. As both a director and teacher, my goal has always been to offer the highest …

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 …

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 …

Rena Bernardini is originally from Somers, New York. She began her training at the Westchester Ballet Center, studying everything from Ballet, Modern, Tap, and Jazz to Flamenco, Hawaiian, and Bharatanatyam. She then …

Kayla 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 …

Madeline Garland is a skilled creator of positive human experiences through art’s experiences. She strives to unite people to enjoy life’s pleasures, drawing from her background in social work and …

Beatriz Moreira Leite is a graduate of the TWSB upper and lower division programs. She continues to be part of the TWSB family by participating in adult classes, working as …

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 …

Caroline is a junior at Marymount University in their fashion design B.A. program, with minors in sustainability and studio art. Ballet is close to home for her, as she spent two …

Aliya Siegel was born in Tucson, Arizona, and raised in Tampa, Florida, where she began dancing at a young age. From age 7 to 18, she thrived as a competitive …

Atticus is a current student at American University and lifelong dancer. They are a student of Journalism and Gender Studies and have stayed an avid dancer throughout their life. Born …

Tiffany Tu was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, and has worked with The Washington School of Ballet since 2013. After coming to America, Ms. Tiffany has found her second …

Bryony Whitelaw is a Master’s candidate at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies. Before that, she worked in the Peace Programs at The Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia. …

Ashley Baker is a Soloist with Ballet Idaho, as well as a choreographer and teacher. She began her ballet training at Johansen Olympia Dance Center in Olympia, Washington, then moved …

Baylee Wong (dancer) is in her first season with Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company. Born and raised in Carmel, New York, Baylee Wong began her dance journey at age …

Dallas Ryan is a medical student in Washington, DC and dance enthusiast. She is an alumna of the Philadelphia School of Dance Arts and has continued to train since graduating college and medical school. She has found a home in the Washington Ballet’s adult program and enjoys getting to know the Washington Ballet team. 

Myra Schoengold is a student at American University pursuing dual degrees in Dance
and Public Relations/Strategic Communication. A passionate dancer and
choreographer, Myra is an alumna of Charlotte Ballet and has debuted two original
works at the Greenberg Theater. Myra has served The Washington Ballet since early
2022 and is grateful to be part of such an incredible and welcoming community.

Roman began his ballet training at age 12 at City Ballet School in his hometown of San Francisco. Following his years there, he began training at the San Francisco Ballet …

Salma Gonzalez Rosario is a company member at Moveius Ballet. She’s also currently
teaching at Powell Elementary School, Dance Loft, Dance Institute of Washington and
Stager for TWB’s Nutcracker. Salma is an alumna at The Washington School of Ballet who
studied under the Merit Scholarship. She has worked as a receptionist at TWB locations
since 2021. She’s very thankful to be part of our community because it is like a second home
to her.

Joined Trainee Program: 2024

Hometown: Cape Town, South Africa

Emma Jane Wood is a dedicated and passionate ballet dancer currently training as a Trainee 1
with The Washington Ballet. Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, she has trained at
prestigious institutions, including The Cape Junior Ballet, Kirov Academy of Ballet, and Alchemy
Ballet. She previously attended The Washington School of Ballet’s Summer Intensive for two
summers and is now honored to give back as a Residential Assistant and Chaperone.

Beyond her dance career, Emma is committed to creating supportive environments for young
dancers. Having experienced the challenges of relocating internationally for her art, she brings
empathy, leadership, and a nurturing presence both in and out of the studio.

Emma holds a high school diploma from The Kirov Academy of Ballet and has completed two
years of college coursework. She continues to balance her professional training with a
dedication to personal growth and helping others reach their potential.

Joined Trainee Program: 2021
Hometown: Birmingham, Michigan

Tammy 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 …

Sydney B. Wiggins is a native Washingtonian and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) graduate with a BFA in Dance and Choreography. Sydney has been training in dance since the age of …

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 …

Kirsten Poole is the Director of Finance & Operations for the Washington Ballet. With 25 years of small business and non-profit finance, operations, and business management experience, Kirsten brings her …

Mario Da Silva joined The Washington Ballet (TWB) in July 2023. With a strong background in human resources management, he previously served as a key contributor with the American Council …

Bennard Fajardo is a dedicated professional with a strong background in finance, having previously worked for the National Immigration Forum and Politics and Prose Bookstore. With experience as a Finance …

Kate is a detail-oriented and results-driven administrator with a passion for the arts. With a background in administrative support and office management, Kate has successfully contributed to the operations of …

Chelsie is an arts administrator with a background in music history, orchestral performance, and arts education. She holds a Bachelor of Music from McGill University where she went on to …

Photo by XMB Photography.