Instructors

Miss Amy began dancing at age five and then began training seriously a few years later at the American Academy of Ballet under the instruction of Maris Battaglia as well as Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook of Dance Theatre of Harlem.  She received her B.A. degree in Theater (Summa cum Laude) from Baldwin-Wallace College in Cleveland and a M.F.A. in Dance from Southern Methodist University.  Miss Amy trained not only in Classical Ballet but also received extensive Jazz and Modern pedagogy training.  She started her teaching career as well as continued her ballet training at Dallas Metropolitan Ballet under the directorship of Ann Etgen and Bill Atkinson, where Miss Amy taught ballet from pre-ballet for three year olds to advanced ballet for the company apprentices. From 1983-1990, Miss Amy continued her teaching career at studios in North Dallas, Midland, and Odessa, Texas.  In January of 1991, Miss Amy moved to Manassas, VA and became a full time teacher with Manassas School of Dance which is now Manassas Ballet Academy.  In 1994, when working with her first Russian male partner, Slava Mesropov, Miss Amy began a total retraining in the Vaganova methodology under many Russian teachers, most notable Dimitriy Tuboltsev and Inna Stabrova.  In 1997, Miss Amy became Associate Director and helped lead MBT’s expansion into a professional ballet company.  In 1999, she became Artistic Director of MBT.  In 2008, Miss Amy was presented with a Seefeldt Pioneer Award for Arts Excellence by the Prince William County Park Authority Arts Council for stellar achievement over time.

Miss Sara has been teaching at Manassas Ballet Academy since 2006. In that time she has taught all levels of ballet, lyrical, modern, jazz, tap and stretch and strength.  Miss Sara first learned to teach as a teaching assistant at Canton Ballet in Canton, Ohio. She became proficient in the Vaganova technique while studying with Vaganova Ballet Academy graduates Inna Stabrova and Dimitry Tuboltsev.  She has studied at many schools across the US, including the School of American Ballet, Kirov Academy and the Harid Conservatory of Ballet. In 2016, she became the Assistant Director of Manassas Ballet Academy. Miss Sara is certified in “Progressing Ballet Technique”, directs and choreographs for the Manassas Youth Ballet and coaches individual and group pieces for competition (YAGP).

Mr Vadim started his teaching career in 2006. He was guest instructor at various ballet schools and academies on the East coast as well as in California. He started working for Manassas Ballet Theatre in 2006. He holds the title of Ballet Master as well as instructor in Ballet, Pas de Deux, and Character. His YAGP Character dancers placed in the top 12 in the 2016 YAGP competition in Philadelphia. He is starting his 11th season with Manassas Ballet Theatre.

Originally from Rome, Italy, Miss Alessia started her training at “II Gabbiano schoo” directed by Stefania Coluzzi, a graduate from the Accademia Nazionale Di Danza in Rome, rinomate school who trained future Cecchetti and Vaganova teachers.  During her two years at the “School of Oper House” in Rome, Miss Alessia had the opportunity to teach in her home town school, helping with young age students and school show productions.  When she came to America in 2012, Miss Alessia had the privilege to be the assistant of Mary Pat Robertson, the director of Princeton Ballet School.  Since joining MBT in 2013, Miss Alessia became a private lesson teacher (YAGP), classical and open to contemporary for young students, experience given from her freelance, musical and contemporary experience in Italy.

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 lead roles as Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet” and the Cavalier in “The Nutcracker.” In May 2012, Mr. Josh joined MBT as a principal dancer, and in 2014 he became a teacher for MBA. Mr. Josh began teaching in Ohio in 2008, and has been teaching in the DC area since 2010. He has taught at Ballet Theatre of Maryland in Annapolis, C&C Dance Company in Bowie Maryland, Strictly Rhythm in Alexandria Va, Encore Performers in Chantilly VA, and is on faculty with Flow 40 Dance Workshops Inc.

Miss Kaitlin 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. She is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s Conservatory with a BFA in ballet and a minor in English. She has been a faculty member and competition coach for Dance-Etc. in Milford, Ohio, and the school of the Ballet Theatre of Maryland. Ms. Frankenfield has been a guest teacher for Twin Rivers Dance Academy in Easton, PA, Ballet Theatre Midwest in Cincinnati, OH, and Ravel Studio in Reston, VA. This is is third year as an instructor with Manassas Ballet Academy.

Miss Kelsey began as a teaching assistant in Ohio with Suzanne Winland at Pointe West Studios in 2004. She has also received teacher training at the Ohio Conservatory of Ballet with Inna Stabrova and Dmitriy Tuboltsev. In 2012, Miss Kelsey began teaching at Elite Dance Academy for the advanced ballet and lyrical classes. This is her fourth season as an instructor with Manassas Ballet Academy.

Mr Shady is a native of Egypt and has lived in Northern Virginia since 2013.  From 2004-2013, Mr Shady performed as a dance soloist and principal dancer with the Cairo Opera Ballet in Egypt, and from 2013 performed as a principal dancer with Gainesville Ballet, Charlottesville Ballet, TDC and currently with Manassas Ballet Theater.  His background and focus on dance instruction led him to receive his Bachelor of Art in Choreography and Dance Direction from the Academy of Art in Egypt.  Besides his experience with the Cairo Opera, he is a dance instructor for ballet, pas de deux, character, modern, and hip hop with the Charlottesville Ballet, Kintez Megia Ballet Academy and Manassas Ballet Academy.  Mr Shady won first place in the Egyptian National Ballet Competition in 2010 from the Egyptian Ministry of Culture.  He has also worked as a choreographer with Theatre du Vieux Moulin in Meythet, France from 2009-2011.