Staff
Leadership
Leadership

Acting Artistic Director
Trinidad Vives was born in Madrid, Spain. She began her dance training with Carmina Ocaña, Luis Fuente, and Victor Ullate and spent summers studying in Paris. She graduated from the …

Interim Managing Director
kshepherd@washingtonballet.orgKaren Shepherd is the Interim Managing Director 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 arts …
Artistic
Artistic

Acting Artistic Director
Trinidad Vives was born in Madrid, Spain. She began her dance training with Carmina Ocaña, Luis Fuente, and Victor Ullate and spent summers studying in Paris. She graduated from the …

Rehearsal Director
Sona Kharatian is celebrating her 23rd season with The Washington Ballet. She has danced with Orlando Ballet, Ballet Hawaii, the Trey McIntyre Project, and Copenhagen International Ballet. She was a …

Rehearsal Director
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 …

Nutcracker Children's Rehearsal Director
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 …

Nutcracker Children's Coordinator and Summer Intensive Manager
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 …
Development
Development

Chief Development Officer
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 …

Development Operations Specialist
tlee@washingtonballet.orgTony is an experienced database specialist with 10+ years of nonprofit development and finance experience. He received his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Film & Media Studies from Johns …

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!

Senior 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

Director of Community Engagement
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 …

Community Engagement Associate
Rachael Coad grew up dancing in Northern Virginia and went on to train at the prestigious Virginia School of the Arts under Petrus Bosman of The Royal Ballet during her …
Production
Production

Technical Director and Interim Production Manager
cinsley@washingtonballet.orgPhoto by XMB Photography.

Production Stage Manager and Interim Artistic and Production Operations Manager
skilbourne@washingtonballet.orgPhoto by XMB Photography.

Wardrobe Intern
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 …
The Washington School of Ballet
The Washington School of Ballet

Director of Schools
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 performance. As the …
The Washington School of Ballet - Northwest Campus
The Washington School of Ballet - Northwest Campus

Director of Schools
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 performance. As the …

Professional Training Division Head
xreyes@washingtonballet.orgXiomara Reyes, Head of the Professional Training Division at TWSB, had a successful and long international career. Performing with The National Ballet of Cuba, Royal Ballet of Flanders in Belgium …

Upper Division Head, NW Campus
djohnson@washingtonballet.orgDamien 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 …

Pre-Ballet & Lower Division Head, NW Campus
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 …

Adult Program Head
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 …

Assistant School Director, NW Campus
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 …

School Manager, NW Campus
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 Children's Coordinator and Summer Intensive Manager
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 …

Head Receptionist, NW Campus - Cathedral Commons
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 …

Receptionist
Madeline Garland (she/her) is an ongoing learner in the arts and dance educator in the DC area. Madeline is receiving her master’s from American University in Arts Management. She is …

Receptionist
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 …

Recepionist
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 …
![Baylee Wong Head Shot_edited[31472] (1) Baylee Wong](https://media.washingtonballet.org/app/uploads/2023/09/Baylee-Wong-Head-Shot_edited31472-1.webp)
Receptionist
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 …
The Washington School of Ballet - Southeast Campus
The Washington School of Ballet - THEARC Campus

Director of Schools
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 performance. 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 …

School Manager, SE Campus
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, SE Campus
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 …

Full-time Faculty
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, …

Receptionist
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 …

Receptionist
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 …
Finance and Administration
Finance and Administration

Chief Financial Officer
kpoole@washingtonballet.orgKirsten Poole is the Chief Financial Officer for the Washington Ballet. With 25 years of small business and non-profit finance, operations, and business management experience, Kirsten brings her passion for …

Senior Human Resources Manager
mdasilva@washingtonballet.orgMario 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 …

Special Assistant to the Managing Director
mgraves@washingtonballet.orgMaggie Graves joined The Washington Ballet (TWB) in August 2023. She is originally from Lafayette, California outside San Francisco where she was an active member of the theatre arts community. …

Accounts Receivable Specialist
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 …