The Company

Born in Buffalo, New York, Ms. Wolfe has a B.A. degree in Theater (Summa cum Laude) from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio and a M.F.A. in Dance from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX where she twice received the Meadows Award as an outstanding dance student, and won the Betty Furguson Award as Outstanding Graduate student.  As a professional dancer, Ms. Wolfe was a soloist with Ballet Dallas, Ballet Midland, Irving Ballet, Richardson Ballet, Dallas Metropolitan Ballet, Southwest Dance Collective, and Berea Summer Theatre.  After moving to Manassas in 1990, Ms. Wolfe became a teacher at the Manassas School of Dance (now MBA) and a principal dancer with Manassas Dance Company (now MBT).  In 1997, Ms. Wolfe became Associate Director of MBT and helped lead the expansion of the Company into a professional ballet company.  In 1999, she became Artistic Director of Manassas Ballet Theatre.  In 2008, Ms. Wolfe was presented with a Seefeldt Pioneer Award for Arts Excellence by the Prince William County Park Authority Arts Council for stellar achievement over time.  Under her leadership, MBT has become the largest performing arts organization in Northern Virginia, with a budget crossing the million dollar mark in 2016.

A native of Minsk, Belarus, Mr. Sapotko trained at the Belarus National Choreographic Academy. Among his teachers was Alexander Kolidenko, who was a student of the great ballet master, Alexander Pushkin. Mr. Sapotko’s professional dancing career began during his last year in college. He was invited to join the National Academic Bolshoi Theatre of the Opera and Ballet of Belarus, where he worked with the brilliant choreographer Valentin Yelizariev.  In 1989, Mr Sapotko joined the Moscow Festival Ballet and a year later the Bolshoi Theaater Grigirovich Ballet, where he worked with world-known choreographers and dancers such as Yuri Grigirovich, Leonid Lavrovsky, and Yuri Vladimirov.  In 1995, Mr. Sapotko came to the United States where he danced with Sacramento Ballet, Washington Ballet and the Milwaukee Ballet.  Mr. Sapotko was hired as the first full time, professioal ballet dancer at Manassas Ballet Theatre, where he currently serves as a ballet master.  He also teaches at The Dance Academy of Loudon.  Mr Sapotko joined MBT in 2001.

After graduating in 1989 from the Novosibirsk Ballet Academy in Russia, Mr. Slatvitskiy became the principal dancer with the Novosibirsk Theatre from 1989 until 2000 where he danced in many productions. In 2000, he became a principal dancer with the Grigorovich Ballet Company in Russia.  He has also appeared as a guest dancer across the United States.  He has danced the principal roles in The Nutcracker, Giselle, La Fille Mal Gardee, Don Quixote, Frankenstein and Cinderella just to name a few.  Mr. Slatvitskiy has toured around the world, including countries such as Argentina, China, Egypt, England, Germany and Italy.  Mr Slatvitskiy serves as primary choreographer, ballet master, and principal dancer for Manassas Ballet Theatre as well as a principal teacher and Youth American Grand Prix coach for Manassas Ballet Academy.  Mr Slavitskiy joined MBT in 2006.

Mr. Burnham was born in Lake Tahoe, CA and started his ballet training at Santa Cruz Ballet under the direction of Robert Kelly and Diane Cypher. He continued his training in Washington State at Mid Columbia Ballet under Debra Rogo. At age 13, he received full scholarships to San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Houston Ballet. In 2004, he joined San Francisco Ballet where he performed in such ballets as Helgi Tomasson’s Meiston’s Mozart, and Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes and The Four Temperments. In 2006, Mr. Burnham joined Cincinnati Ballet where he danced many lead roles. He has worked with choreographers Jorma Elo, Val Caniparoli, Mark Morris, Trey McIntyre, James Kudelka, and Twyla Tharp. In 2009-2011, he performed with Ballet Theatre of Maryland dancing such roles as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and the Cavalier in The Nutcracker. In May 2012, Mr. Burnham is a principal dancer with Manasass Ballet Theatre and is a teacher and YAGP coach for Manassas Ballet Academy.  Mr. Burnham joined MBT in 2012.

Originally from Ohio, Mrs. Ordway was recognized by the state as “Gifted in the Arts” and graduated high school Valedictorian. She performed in many “Theatre 8:15” production before furthering her studies with Inna Stabrova, Dmitriy Tuboltsev, and Sergei Fokin at the Ohio Conservatory of Ballet. Mrs. Ordway was the YAGP Junior Youth Grand Prix winner in Chicago in 2003, and attended summer programs at the School of American Ballet and American Ballet Theatre on full scholarships. She was featured in the “Demonstration of Complete Vaganova Level Four Syllabus presented by Dmitriy Tuboltsev.” Mrs. Ordway was selected to participate in the 2010 USA International Ballet Competition, and was a finalist at the 2011 World Ballet Competition. She is a Pointe Video of the Month winner, and in 2014, appeared in the History Channel original miniseries “The World Wars” as the Ballerina (credited: Sara Gaydash). Mrs. Ordway is the Assistant Director and YAGP coach for MBA.  She also choreographs and directs for the Manassas Youth Ballet.  Mrs. Ordway joined MBT in 2006 and serves as a principal dancer.

Mr. Amrayev was born in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and recieved his ballet training from A. Seleznev Choreographic School of Almaty from 1996 until 2004. After graduating with honors from the school, he was a principal dancer with the National Opera and Ballet House in Almaty from 2004 until 2013, where he danced in many productions such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Badhchisarai Fountain, Taras Bulba, Legend of Love. Mr. Amrayev then danced in the Russian National Ballet of Sergey and Elena Radchenko from 2013 until 2014. Mr. Amrayev joined MBT in 2014.

Originally from Rome, Italy, Ms. Astro started her training at Il Gabbiano School directed by Stefania Coluzzi, a graduate from the famed National Academy of Dance in Rome. During her two years at the School of OPera House in Rome, Ms. Astro had the opportunity to teach in her home town school, helping with young students and school show productions. Ms. Astro came to America in 2012 to study at the Princeton Ballet School and had the privilege to assist the director, Mary Pat Robertson, with productions and choreography.  Ms Astro has danced many roles with Manassas Ballet Theatre, including Blue Bird from Sleeping Beauty and lead roles in Walpurgisnacht, Peter and the Wolf and Carmina Burana.  Ms. Astro also choreographs for MBT and is a teacher for Manassas Ballet Academy.  Ms. Astro joined MBT in 2013.

Mr. Balatsenko was born in the Ukraine and began his study of ballet at the Kiev Academy of Ballet when he was eleven years old.  His professional debut was a three year run with the National Ballet Usti and Labem in the Czech Republic.  Following that position, Mr. Balatsenko toured with the Ballet Classique of Paris, and then danced with the Donestsk Ballet.  In 1999, he moved to the United States and joined the Washington Ballet.  He later danced with the Ballet Theatre of Maryland and Ballet Internationale in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Mr. Balatsenko also toured with the Universal Ballet in Seoul, South Korea and danced with Atlantic Southeast Ballet in Charleston, South Carolina.  He has performed many roles with Manassas Ballet Theatre, including Walpurgusnacht, Swan Lake, Gaite Parisienne, Colin: Son, Marine, Hero, Giselle, and Peter and the Wolf, among others.  Mr. Balatsenko joined MBT in 2003.

Ms. Chen was born in Fairfax, VA, and grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she began her classical ballet training with Elena Martinson and Andrei Ustinov. She furthered her training and was a student company member of Florida West Ballet under the artistic direction of Pavel Fomin for six years (2004-2010). Ms. Chen has received scholarships to Miami City Ballet, Orlando Ballet, and North Carolina Dance Theatre’s summer intensives. Prior to joining MBT in 2013, she was a trainee with Next Generation Ballet under the artistic direction of Peter Stark for two seasons, where she was featured in television news segments. Ms. Chen has competed in Youth America Grand Prix. She has taught both privately and Young Children’s dance classes at the Patel Conservatory.

Originally from Brazil, Ms. Fonseca started dancing at the age of twelve.  In Sao Paulo, she joined Renata Reys “Produdoes e Eventos” for two years as a dancer and taught ballet classes, as well.  Ms. Fonseca first came to the United States for a summer intensive at Ballet Chicago in 2012, then studied on a full scholarship in the year-round program with Chicago Ballet Arts.  In 2014, she began studying at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York as a ballet trainee for two years, dancing as a guest artist with Eglevsky Ballet for “The Nutcracker” in 2015 with Homo Veritas Dance Theatre in 2016.  She studied with Mrs Ashley Tuttle during the summer of 2016.  Ms. Fonseca joined MBT in 2016.

Originally from Virginia Beach, Ms. Franco began dancing with Alison Hron and Elbert Watson. She trained at Academie de Ballet in Chesapeake, VA with ballet master Andrei Yemelinov. Ms. Franco spent her summers at Bossov Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet and Richmond Ballet. She moved to New York at the age of 19 to study under Era Jouravlev at the Joffrey Ballet. In 2012-2013, she trained at Richmond Ballet and had the opportunity to perform with the company in the Nutcracker and Swan Lake. Ms. Franco joined MBT in 2013.

Ms Frankenfield began her training with Kathryn Stout in her hometown of Easton, PA. She attended summer programs at the Joffrey Ballet School and American Ballet Theatre. Ms. Frankenfield graduated with honors from the high school program at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where she had the opportunity to perform with American Ballet Theatre’s second company. She is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s College- Conservatory of Music with a BFA in ballet and a minor in English. While at CCM, Ms Frankenfield performed the lead roles in Don Quixote and Giselle, and soloist roles in Balanchine’s Walpurgusnacht and Pas de Dix, while also performing professionally with Ballet Theatre Midwest and Kentucky Ballet Theatre.  From 2011 to 2014, she was a soloist with Ballet Theatre of Maryland and was featured as Clara/Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Pas de Trios in Swan Lake, and Antony Tudor’s Continuo.  Ms. Frankenfield joined MBT and MBA as a principal dancer and teacher in 2014.

Ms. Gurgul is originally from Medford, NJ. She began her ballet training at The Princeton Ballet School. Ms. Gurgul has also performed with American Repertory Ballet in “Graham Lustig’s The Nutcracker” and “Graham Lustig’s Cinderella”. Ms. Gurgul then spent a year as an apprentice with Ballet Florida under the direction of Marie Hale and Claudia Cravey. Ms. Gurgul danced with Ballet Theatre of Maryland from 2010-2012 where she performed the roles of Dormouse in “Alice in Wonderland” and the Chinese and Marzipan soloists in “The Nutcracker”. Ms. Gurgul joined MBT in 2012, where she has performed Cupid in “Don Quixote”, the Sugarplum Fairy in “The Nutcracker”, and Aurora in “The Sleeping Beauty”.

Mr. Konokbayev is a native of Kyrgyzstan.  He has sixteen years of experience in ballet and choreography.  He attended the Barzarbayev Choreographic Ballet School and the Kyrgyz National Conservatory.  Mr. Konokbayev has performed in many ballet competitions throughout Europe.  He has performed in the Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and Carmen.  Mr. Knonokbayev joined MBT in 2016.

Ms. Kubiak, of Narberth, PA, began her training with the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet under Margarita deSaa, John White, and Melinda Pendleton. She continued her training with BalletMet in Columbus, OH. She was chosen by Gerard Charles to receive a scholarship for BalletMet’s pre-professional program, where she had the opportunity to perform with the school and company. In 2012-2013 she danced with Columbia Classical Ballet, and in 2014, Ms. Kubiak joined MBT, where she also serves as the event coordinator.

Ms. Leszczynski grew up in Virginia Beach, VA and began her training at Virginia Ballet Theatre. She continued her training throughout high school with the Governor’s School for the Arts Dance Department in Norfolk, VA with supplemental training at Virginia Beach Ballet Academy. While at the Governor’s School, Cathleen had the opportunity to perform in Richmond Ballet’s The Nutcracker, the Virginia International Tattoo, and was was selected to attend and perform in both Regional and National High School Dance Festivals. She also completed summer intensives at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and Ballet Chicago. Ms. Leszczynski recently graduated with Honors from Butler University with a BFA in Dane Performance and a minor in Psychology. While at Butler, she had the opportunity to perform various roles in The Nutcracker, as well as Coppélia, Giselle, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and original works by the professors. She participated in the Summer Dance Seminar in 2014 through Butler Ballet in which she spent a month training and performing at several schools and cities in Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Ms. Leszczynski joined MBT in 2015.

Mr. Mohamed is a native of Egypt and has danced across the world, including France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Mexico, Germany and the U.S.  From 2004 to 2013, he performed as a dance soloist and principal dancer with the Cairo Opera ballet in Egypt.  Mr. Mohamed also worked as choreographer with Theatre du Vieux Moulin in Meythet, France from 2009 to 2011. Mr. Mohamed was awarded first place in the Egyptian National Ballet Competition in 2010 from the Egyptian Ministry of Culture. In 2013, he moved to Northern Virginia and was a principal dancer with Gainesville Ballet, Charlottesville Ballet, and The Dance Company in Fairfax.  Mr. Mohamed joined MBT in 2015.

Jessica Novakovich was born and raised in Damascus Maryland. She is a recent graduate of the Akhmedova Ballet Academy where she trained for four years under the direction of Jacqueline Akhmedova. Ms. Novakovich has attended summer intensives at the Carolina Ballet Theatre and Kirov Academy of Ballet. She has competed at the Youth America Grand Prix semi-finals and NYC finals. This is Ms. Novakovich’s first season with MBT.

Ms. Okumura is a native of Toyonaka City, Osaka, Japan.  She has 12 years of experience in ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance.  Ms. Okumura has attended the Yuka Ballet School, The Ballet Masters School in Prague, and the Ballet Summer School in Dresden.  Ms. Okumura has performed in Coppelia and Sleeping Beauty.  She is currently attending Northern Virginia Community College.  She joined MBT in 2016.

Mr. Osmonov was born in Kyrgyzstan. He graduated from Bishkek Choreographic School in 2002. After graduation he continued his training at the Perm State Choreographic School and completed in 2005. Mr. Osmonov danced with Moscow City Ballet where he performed leading roles in the Nutcracker and Don Quixote. In 2008 he danced with the Kyrgyz Ballet Theatre (Opera-Ballet), where he again performed lead roles in Giselle and Swan Lake. In 2013, he joined the Russian National Ballet and then the London Festival Ballet. Mr. Osmonov’s joined MBT in 2015.

Originally from Italy, Ms. Palladino began her dance training in 2003 in Sardinia at the school of ballet master Roberto Magnabosco. In 2006 she danced in “Romeo
and Juliet” with the Hamburg Ballet company with etoile Silvia Azzoni and Massimo Murru in the theater Lirico in Cagliari. After training with teachers Alessandra Corona, Susanna Beltrami, Alessandro Molin, and Victor Litvinov, she joined the Accademia Nazionale in Rome in 2008. In 2011 she was hired as a trainee at  American Repertory Ballet in Princeton, NJ. Ms. Palladino joined MBT in 2015.

Ms. Thomas was born in Utica, New York and began her dance education at the Munson-Williams Proctor Arts Institute.. She continued her training at the Gelsey Kirkland Academy and at such summer programs as Saratoga Summer Dance Intensive and choreographic workshops with the Moscow Ballet and Keigwin + Company. Ms. Thomas attended Binghamton University, where she received the Albert Nocciolino Award for Excellence in Theatre and graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Dance and Theatre. She has performed as a guest and featured dancer with Tri-Cities Opera, the Kirkland Arts Center, Outcast Theatre Company, and several other companies throughout New York State. Ms. Thomas joined MBT in 2015.