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 Ferguson 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 the Seefeldt Pioneer Award for Arts Excellence by the Prince William County Park Authority Arts Council for her contributions to the areas art community.  Under her leadership, MBT has become the largest performing arts organization in Northern Virginia.

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 Loudoun.  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 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 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 as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and the Cavalier in The Nutcracker among other roles. Mr. Burnham is a teacher and YAGP coach for Manassas Ballet Academy.  Mr. Burnham joined MBT in 2012.

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.

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 the MBA faculty in 2014.

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. From 2004-2006, Ms. Chen furthered her training as a student company member of Florida West Ballet under the artistic direction of Pavel Fomin. Ms. Chen has received scholarships to Miami City Ballet, Orlando Ballet, and North Carolina Dance Theatre’s summer intensives. Prior to her current position, 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 private lessons and Young Children’s dance classes at the Patel Conservatory.  Ms. Chen joined MBT in 2013.

Originally from Brazil, Ms. Greer 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. Greer 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. Greer joined MBT in 2016 and joined the MBA teaching staff in 2017.

Originally from Virginia Beach, Ms. Franco began dancing with Alison Hron and Elbert Watson, former Alvin Ailey principal. 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 with the Richmond Ballet and had the opportunity to perform with the company in the Nutcracker and Swan Lake. Ms. Franco has performed many roles with Manassas Ballet, including Arabian, and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, White Cat and Pink Fairy in Sleeping Beauty, and Odette/Odile in Swan Lake. She is also a certified comprehensive Pilates instructor and Ballet Teacher.  Ms. Franco joined MBT in 2013.

Ms. Russell is originally from Medford, NJ. She began her ballet training at The Princeton Ballet School. She has also performed with American Repertory Ballet in Graham Lustig’s The Nutcracker and Graham Lustig’s Cinderella. Ms. Russell then spent a year as an apprentice with Ballet Florida under the direction of Marie Hale and Claudia Cravey. Ms. Russell 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. Russell has performed many roles with Manassas Ballet, such as Cupid in Don Quixote, the Sugarplum Fairy in “The Nutcracker,” and Aurora in “The Sleeping Beauty”.  Ms. Russell joined MBT in 2012.

Ms. Russell is originally from Medford, NJ. She began her ballet training at The Princeton Ballet School. She has also performed with American Repertory Ballet in Graham Lustig’s The Nutcracker and Graham Lustig’s Cinderella. Ms. Russell then spent a year as an apprentice with Ballet Florida under the direction of Marie Hale and Claudia Cravey. Ms. Russell 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. Russell has performed many roles with Manassas Ballet, such as Cupid in Don Quixote, the Sugarplum Fairy in “The Nutcracker,” and Aurora in “The Sleeping Beauty”.  Ms. Russell joined MBT in 2012.

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.

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.  Ms. Novakovich 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.

Mr. Jones was born in the United Kingdom and trained at The  School of Ballet Theatre UK before joining Manassas Ballet Theatre. During his graduate year, he performed with The London Ballet Company for their winter season of Snow Queen and toured The Nutcracker with Let’s All Dance.  Mr Jones has also performed across the United Kingdom with Ballet Theatre UK in Christopher Moore’s productions of A Christmas Carol, Swan Lake and Giselle. With Manassas Ballet, Mr Jones has performed Harlequin in The Nutcracker and Neapolitan in Swan Lake.  Mr. Jones joined MBT in 2017.

Ms. Warren is a Fort Worth, Texas native who comes to MBT after being a trainee with BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio. Clarissa received her training at Riverside Ballet Arts and Texas Ballet Theater School, where she nurtured her love of choreography by staging a number of works. She also attended summer intensive programs at Richmond Ballet, BalletMet, and Kansas City Ballet. This is Ms. Warren joined MBT in 2017.

A Pennsylvania native, Ms. Funch garnered most of her training at the Kristina Pulcini Ballet Academy (2010-16), where she performed lead roles in full-length productions for the student company Delaware Valley Ballet Theatre before moving on to Light of the World Ballet Company in 2016. She has studied under not only Kristina Pulcini (Boston Ballet), but Yosbel Delgado (Ballet Nacional de Cuba), Alyson Pray (Pennsylvania Ballet, Washington Ballet), Elena Tiuriakulova (Kirov Ballet), Riolama Lorenzo (Pennsylvania Ballet), Gina-Marie Battista, Dillon Shifferly (Pennsylvania Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theater), Ruben Ybarra (Pennsylvania Ballet), and other notable teachers. Ms. Funch joined MBT in 2017.

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.

Ms. Hickson is a Chattanooga, Tennessee native who comes to us from Oklahoma City Ballet, where she was an apprentice for the 2016-17 season.  Rebecca has trained with Atlanta Ballet Center for Dance Education, Nashville Ballet, VanCura Ballet Conservatory, and Cleveland City Ballet, among others. She was a Conservatory dancer with Atlanta Ballet and a Nashville Ballet Trainee 2013-16. Ms. Hickson joined MBT in 2017.

Ms. Wilde, from Madison, NJ, began her training with Leslie Drucks at the Studio Allegro School of Ballet.  She continued her training as a junior company member with the New Jersey Ballet, under the direction of Carolyn Clark.  Ms. Wilde has attended summer intensives with Ballet Chicago, American Ballet Theatre, New Jersey Ballet and Atlanta Ballet. She is pursuing her BFA in Ballet Performance at the University of Cincinnati.  This is Ms. Wilde’s first season with MBT.

Originally from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Miss Signer has trained at the Milwaukee Ballet School under Rolando Yanes and Monica Isla.  She was a trainee with the Joffrey Ballet for three years where she performed in The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty.  Ms. Signer has also trained with Charlotte Ballet and American Repertory Ballet.  This is Ms. Signer’s first season with MBT.

Ms. Zika, from Munich, Germany, grew up in the Washington, DC area.  She is a graduate of the Akhmedova Ballet Academy where she trained under the tutelage of Mme. Jacqueline Akhmedova.  She also studied at The Washington Ballet.  Ms. Zika attended summer intensives at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Open World Dance Foundation and Hungarian Dance Academy.  She was a finalist in the Youth American Grand Prix.  Ms. Zika had the privilege of training with Mrs. Irina Kolpakova and guesting with the Mariinsky Ballet at the Kennedy Center.  This is Ms. Zika’s first season with MBT.

Ms. Locke, from Chattanooga, TN, where she began her training at the VanCura Ballet Conservatory.  She attended high school on scholarship at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts under the direction of Ethan Stiefel.  She attended summer intensives at Ballet Tennessee, Joffrey Midwest, American Ballet Theatre, Kaatsbaan and Boston Ballet.  She began her professional career as a trainee with Richmond Ballet.  She then danced with Ballet Tennessee performing roles such as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, and Aurora in Sleeping Beauty.  This is Ms. Locke’s first season with MBT.

Ms. Linehan has trained with ABT, The Rock School in PA and the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC from 2010-2017 where she received a full scholarship to their summer intensives in 2015 & 2016.  She placed in the top 12 at Youth American Grand Prix in 2009.  This is Ms. Linehan’s first season with Manassas Ballet.

Ms. Endris began her training at Southern Indiana School for the Arts, where she studied ballet, jazz, theatre and voice.   She graduated from Point Park University with a BFA in Dance.  She performed in master works by Choreographers Matthew Powell, Septime Weber and Anthony Tudor among others.  In 2017-18, she served as an Apprentice with the Montgomery Ballet.  This is Ms. Endris’ first season with MBT.

From Egypt, Mr. Nabil graduated from the Higher Institute of Ballet, the Academy of Arts and then received his Bachelor’s Degree in Choreography. He has earned several awards including First Prize (twice) at the Classical Ballet Competition of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture. Ahmed was a principal dancer with the Cairo Opera House where he danced many leading roles including Siegfried in Swan Lake, Basilio in Don Quixote, Romeo and Romeo and Juliet. He became the Assistant Director of the Cairo Opera Ballet Company in 2012. His ballet, Exit Door, won the Critics Award as best Egyptian Ballet in 2014. Mr. Nabil joined MBT in 2018.