Dance Academy of Virginia
Faculty
Meet our team.
We have an amazing faculty of teachers who are excited to join our team at the Dance Academy of Virginia and are looking forward to teaching our students back in the studio and virtually!
Whether dance is your serious passion or extracurricular activity, our instructors will help you meet your dance goals and challenge you to achieve your maximum potential. Our teachers bring their professional experience as teachers, dancers and choreographers to the classroom nurturing and guiding our students from ages 2 through adult.
They are passionate about sharing their love of dance and are proud to teach a range of disciplines including ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, tap, dance, and Lyrical classes.
Our top priorities are to keep our students safe, healthy, active, and motivated while we support them to build confidence, improve skills, and express themselves creatively.
Katherine Horrigan
Founder/Director
As a dance education leader, Katherine has dedicated the last 20 years to the dance field as a professional dancer, teacher, choreographer and manager. Her artistic and dance education experience inform her passion for developing the next generation of talented leaders and artists.
Formerly, during her 8-year tenure as the assistant director and director of Adagio Ballet, Katherine advanced the artistic quality and educational programming while improving internal and external operations. Katherine led the development of the intensive program, advanced the quality of performances, and grew the school while remaining community centric.
For the past 7 years, Katherine has co-directed the professional dance company Company Danzante, and her choreography has been presented numerous times at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Dance Gallery Festival NYC, as well as other notable festivals and venues in Mexico, Venezuela, New York City, Chicago, and Washington DC. The company commissions guest choreographers, holds university residencies and offer dance education programming.
Since 2011, Katherine has been affiliated with George Mason University’s dance department as an adjunct professor of dance, director of the summer intensive SummerDance at Mason, guest lecturer and adjudicator.
Katherine performed with numerous national and international dance companies including Ailey II, Eliza Monte Dance, Tania Perez-Salas Compania de Danza, Jessica Lang Dance, Nathan Trice/Rituals, The Francesca Harper Project, and seasons with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal. She has worked with acclaimed artists such as Alonzo King, Robert Battle, Aszure Barton, Dwight Rhoden, and Rodrigo Pederneiras of Grupo Corpo, Brazil.
Katherine holds her masters in Arts Management from George Mason University and a BFA in Dance from Fordham University/The Ailey School and she was the 2015 recipient of the Strauss Artist Grant awarded by the Arts Council of Fairfax County.
As a dance education leader, Katherine has dedicated the last 20 years to the dance field as a professional dancer, teacher, choreographer and manager. Her artistic and dance education experience inform her passion for developing the next generation of talented leaders and artists.
Formerly, during her 8-year tenure as the assistant director and director of Adagio Ballet, Katherine advanced the artistic quality and educational programming while improving internal and external operations. Katherine led the development of the intensive program, advanced the quality of performances, and grew the school while remaining community centric.
For the past 7 years, Katherine has co-directed the professional dance company Company Danzante, and her choreography has been presented numerous times at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Dance Gallery Festival NYC, as well as other notable festivals and venues in Mexico, Venezuela, New York City, Chicago, and Washington DC. The company commissions guest choreographers, holds university residencies and offer dance education programming.
Since 2011, Katherine has been affiliated with George Mason University’s dance department as an adjunct professor of dance, director of the summer intensive SummerDance at Mason, guest lecturer and adjudicator.
Katherine performed with numerous national and international dance companies including Ailey II, Eliza Monte Dance, Tania Perez-Salas Compania de Danza, Jessica Lang Dance, Nathan Trice/Rituals, The Francesca Harper Project, and seasons with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal. She has worked with acclaimed artists such as Alonzo King, Robert Battle, Aszure Barton, Dwight Rhoden, and Rodrigo Pederneiras of Grupo Corpo, Brazil.
Katherine holds her masters in Arts Management from George Mason University and a BFA in Dance from Fordham University/The Ailey School and she was the 2015 recipient of the Strauss Artist Grant awarded by the Arts Council of Fairfax County.
Melanie Haller
Education director and Ballet Faculty
Melanie received her training at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under world renowned teacher,
Marcia Dale Weary, and with other prestigious mentors such as Darla Hoover, Alan Hineline, Leslie
Hench, Richard Cook, and Melinda Howe. Over the course of a decade, her training included the annual
participation with RDA/Northeast, the International Ballet Competition in 2004 and 2008 representing
the Northeast region and attending the Boston Ballet Summer Dance Program for four consecutive years
in the highest level under the direction of Devon Carney. With Darla Hoover’s affiliation with New York
City Ballet, Ms. Haller grew up performing Balanchine works such as Concerto Barocco, Divertimento
#15, Harlequinade, La Source, Raymonda Variations, Serenade, Star and Stripes, Valse Fantasie, and
Walpurgisnacht. At the age of eighteen, she joined the Sacramento Ballet as an apprentice and was
immediately given principal roles such as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. Her Balanchine
repertoire expanded and was highlighted in Allegro Brillante, Agon, The Four Temperaments, Scotch
Symphony, Tarantella, Western Symphony, Who Cares?, and Ron Cunningham’s productions of The
Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Swan Lake, Carmina Burana, Hamlet, A Street Car Named Desire, The Tempest,
The Firebird, Carmen, Rite of Spring, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Romeo and Juliet. After six years
with the company, she retired and began teaching in the Sacramento community. California Musical
Theatre credits include playing Tintinabula in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. She
has also worked with The Sacramento Opera and choreographed their productions of Othello and The
Marriage of Figaro. She was the Principal of The School of the Sacramento Ballet and the Artistic
Director of their Sacramento Ballet Youth Ensemble. Melanie has taught at the RDA/Pacific and The
Ballet Alliance festivals and was formerly the Associate Artistic Director of Mid-Columbia Ballet. This past
year, Melanie was the Assistant Director of Dance Factory, in Fairfield, California.
Melanie received her training at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under world renowned teacher,
Marcia Dale Weary, and with other prestigious mentors such as Darla Hoover, Alan Hineline, Leslie
Hench, Richard Cook, and Melinda Howe. Over the course of a decade, her training included the annual
participation with RDA/Northeast, the International Ballet Competition in 2004 and 2008 representing
the Northeast region and attending the Boston Ballet Summer Dance Program for four consecutive years
in the highest level under the direction of Devon Carney. With Darla Hoover’s affiliation with New York
City Ballet, Ms. Haller grew up performing Balanchine works such as Concerto Barocco, Divertimento
#15, Harlequinade, La Source, Raymonda Variations, Serenade, Star and Stripes, Valse Fantasie, and
Walpurgisnacht. At the age of eighteen, she joined the Sacramento Ballet as an apprentice and was
immediately given principal roles such as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. Her Balanchine
repertoire expanded and was highlighted in Allegro Brillante, Agon, The Four Temperaments, Scotch
Symphony, Tarantella, Western Symphony, Who Cares?, and Ron Cunningham’s productions of The
Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Swan Lake, Carmina Burana, Hamlet, A Street Car Named Desire, The Tempest,
The Firebird, Carmen, Rite of Spring, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Romeo and Juliet. After six years
with the company, she retired and began teaching in the Sacramento community. California Musical
Theatre credits include playing Tintinabula in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. She
has also worked with The Sacramento Opera and choreographed their productions of Othello and The
Marriage of Figaro. She was the Principal of The School of the Sacramento Ballet and the Artistic
Director of their Sacramento Ballet Youth Ensemble. Melanie has taught at the RDA/Pacific and The
Ballet Alliance festivals and was formerly the Associate Artistic Director of Mid-Columbia Ballet. This past
year, Melanie was the Assistant Director of Dance Factory, in Fairfield, California.
Jessie Cobb
Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary
Jessie was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and began dancing at In Motion Dance Center under the direction of Michelle Nicholson. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts High School Program where she was a ballet concentration. Jessie then went on to receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from Point Park University where she had the opportunity to work with faculty such as Ron Tassone, Kiesha Lalama, Heather Carpenter, Jason McDole, and Susan Stowe. Throughout her time at Point Park she was a finalist at the Youth American Grand Prix from 2014-2015 and was a company member of MERZTANZ, a contemporary ballet company under the direction of Peter LeBreton Merz. Some of her most notable roles throughout her career include Molly in “Annie”, a Russian Girl in George Balanchine’s “Serenade”, and a lead dancer in Dan Karasik’s “Volumes.” Jessie has extensive experience in musical theater. She has been a featured dancer in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat”, “Oklahoma!’, “Hello! Dolly”, and “The Pirates of Penzance,” just to name a few. Most recently Jessie was a featured dancer and dance captain in “Beauty and the Beast” with the Arlington Players.
Jessie was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and began dancing at In Motion Dance Center under the direction of Michelle Nicholson. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts High School Program where she was a ballet concentration. Jessie then went on to receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from Point Park University where she had the opportunity to work with faculty such as Ron Tassone, Kiesha Lalama, Heather Carpenter, Jason McDole, and Susan Stowe. Throughout her time at Point Park she was a finalist at the Youth American Grand Prix from 2014-2015 and was a company member of MERZTANZ, a contemporary ballet company under the direction of Peter LeBreton Merz. Some of her most notable roles throughout her career include Molly in “Annie”, a Russian Girl in George Balanchine’s “Serenade”, and a lead dancer in Dan Karasik’s “Volumes.” Jessie has extensive experience in musical theater. She has been a featured dancer in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat”, “Oklahoma!’, “Hello! Dolly”, and “The Pirates of Penzance,” just to name a few. Most recently Jessie was a featured dancer and dance captain in “Beauty and the Beast” with the Arlington Players.
Sarah Beth
Jazz, Lyrical,Tap.
Sarah Beth received her early training at Floyd Ward School of Dance in
Roanoke, VA. There, she studied ballet, modern, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, musical
theater, and clogging. Sarah Beth continued her education at George Mason
University, where she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance. At George
Mason, she performed works choreographed by Donald Byrd, Susan Shields, Linda
Miller, Victor Adebusola, and many others. Sarah Beth was also fortunate to create
multiple choreographic works on her peers for performance. In 2017, her work “You
Know You’re Doing OK” was selected and performed at the Kennedy Center on the
Millennium Stage.
Sarah Beth received her early training at Floyd Ward School of Dance in
Roanoke, VA. There, she studied ballet, modern, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, musical
theater, and clogging. Sarah Beth continued her education at George Mason
University, where she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance. At George
Mason, she performed works choreographed by Donald Byrd, Susan Shields, Linda
Miller, Victor Adebusola, and many others. Sarah Beth was also fortunate to create
multiple choreographic works on her peers for performance. In 2017, her work “You
Know You’re Doing OK” was selected and performed at the Kennedy Center on the
Millennium Stage.
Jacki Miller
Ballet.
Jacki is a graduate of Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA where she studied dance performance and choreography under the instruction of Professor Tauna Hunter. She spent her freshman year pursuing her BFA in dance at Radford University under the instruction of Professor Inessa Plekhanova. Her pre-professional training was acquired at the Delaware Dance Company, under the direction of Ms. Sunshine Webster-Latshaw, where she completed the teacher training program, providing her experience teaching multiple dance styles to students of ages 3-18. She also had the opportunity to be rehearsal assistant and resident choreographer of the Youth Dance Ensemble of Delaware. Jacki supplemented her training with companies including Joffrey Ballet Chicago, Carolina Ballet, and Ballet Theatre of Maryland. She has also attended and performed at the American Dance Festival in NYC, the American College Dance Festival in Virginia, and the Delaware Dance Festival, where she was awarded cash scholarships. Jacki spent some time as a Ballet Coach for gymnasts with First State Gymnastics.
Most recently, she performed within the DC metropolitan area with the Connect the Dots Dance Company and taught dance at Adagio Ballet. Her passion for teaching led her to receive her Masters of Elementary Education at George Mason University. Jacki is currently a fifth grade classroom teacher at Manassas Park Elementary School where she pioneered the program, Just Dance, to inspire students to explore the art of creative movement.
Jacki is a graduate of Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA where she studied dance performance and choreography under the instruction of Professor Tauna Hunter. She spent her freshman year pursuing her BFA in dance at Radford University under the instruction of Professor Inessa Plekhanova. Her pre-professional training was acquired at the Delaware Dance Company, under the direction of Ms. Sunshine Webster-Latshaw, where she completed the teacher training program, providing her experience teaching multiple dance styles to students of ages 3-18. She also had the opportunity to be rehearsal assistant and resident choreographer of the Youth Dance Ensemble of Delaware. Jacki supplemented her training with companies including Joffrey Ballet Chicago, Carolina Ballet, and Ballet Theatre of Maryland. She has also attended and performed at the American Dance Festival in NYC, the American College Dance Festival in Virginia, and the Delaware Dance Festival, where she was awarded cash scholarships. Jacki spent some time as a Ballet Coach for gymnasts with First State Gymnastics.
Most recently, she performed within the DC metropolitan area with the Connect the Dots Dance Company and taught dance at Adagio Ballet. Her passion for teaching led her to receive her Masters of Elementary Education at George Mason University. Jacki is currently a fifth grade classroom teacher at Manassas Park Elementary School where she pioneered the program, Just Dance, to inspire students to explore the art of creative movement.
Deidra Squire
Tap
Deidra is a native of Columbus, Ohio. She began dancing at the age of seven and discovered the power and beauty of the performing arts at a young age. Deidra earned a B.A. in Communications from Hampton University, where she was an honors student and a recipient of a presidential scholarship, a merit based academic scholarship. Deidra then earned a Juris Doctorate from the George Washington University School of Law. Throughout her life, Deidra has remained very involved in the performing arts both professionally and through volunteerism. She began producing shows at the age of 16 and began competing nationally in Humanities and Performing Arts as a sophomore in high school. Deidra has also been involved in nationwide oratorical competitions since she was in middle school. Deidra has taught students from the ages of 4 to 85. She has also taught homeless and at risk students.
Deidra Squire has been tap dancing for 29 years. She was trained at Ballet Met Dance Academy in Columbus, Ohio and Judy Conti Dance Academy in Youngstown Ohio. She founded Above Deck Tap Dance Ensemble at Hampton University. Above Deck Tap Dance Ensemble has been an official campus organization on campus for fifteen years. Since relocating to the DMV, Deidra has taught tap dance at the Patricia M. Sitar Arts Center and the Program for Academic and Leadership Skills in Washington, DC. She has also taught at Impact Performing Arts, Momentum Dance and Fitness, C-Unit Dance Studio, Adagio Ballet, Body Moves, JMD Studio, Legacy Performing Arts, DanceMakers Dance Studio, and many more. She also founded Rhythm&Soles, a percussive arts instruction organization.
Deidra also has experience in production, pageant coaching, poms, step, spoken word, oratory, and African dance and drumming. She was the founding coach of a step and cheerleading squad at National Collegiate Preparatory Public Charter School in Washington DC. Under her leadership, the team placed in a local competition within four months of formation. Deidra also served as the Artistic Director of S.W.A.G., a competitive step team in Washington, DC that won first place in the Junior Division of the Six Flags National Invitational Competition. As a board member of a local nonprofit, and as an actively practicing Maryland attorney, Deidra believes in teaching “Poise, Professionalism, and Perfection,” and she firmly believes that performing arts are a powerful means of developing self-esteem and awareness in students of all ages.
Deidra Squire has been tap dancing for 29 years. She was trained at Ballet Met Dance Academy in Columbus, Ohio and Judy Conti Dance Academy in Youngstown Ohio. She founded Above Deck Tap Dance Ensemble at Hampton University. Above Deck Tap Dance Ensemble has been an official campus organization on campus for fifteen years. Since relocating to the DMV, Deidra has taught tap dance at the Patricia M. Sitar Arts Center and the Program for Academic and Leadership Skills in Washington, DC. She has also taught at Impact Performing Arts, Momentum Dance and Fitness, C-Unit Dance Studio, Adagio Ballet, Body Moves, JMD Studio, Legacy Performing Arts, DanceMakers Dance Studio, and many more. She also founded Rhythm&Soles, a percussive arts instruction organization.
Deidra also has experience in production, pageant coaching, poms, step, spoken word, oratory, and African dance and drumming. She was the founding coach of a step and cheerleading squad at National Collegiate Preparatory Public Charter School in Washington DC. Under her leadership, the team placed in a local competition within four months of formation. Deidra also served as the Artistic Director of S.W.A.G., a competitive step team in Washington, DC that won first place in the Junior Division of the Six Flags National Invitational Competition. As a board member of a local nonprofit, and as an actively practicing Maryland attorney, Deidra believes in teaching “Poise, Professionalism, and Perfection,” and she firmly believes that performing arts are a powerful means of developing self-esteem and awareness in students of all ages.
Deidra is a native of Columbus, Ohio. She began dancing at the age of seven and discovered the power and beauty of the performing arts at a young age. Deidra earned a B.A. in Communications from Hampton University, where she was an honors student and a recipient of a presidential scholarship, a merit based academic scholarship. Deidra then earned a Juris Doctorate from the George Washington University School of Law. Throughout her life, Deidra has remained very involved in the performing arts both professionally and through volunteerism. She began producing shows at the age of 16 and began competing nationally in Humanities and Performing Arts as a sophomore in high school. Deidra has also been involved in nationwide oratorical competitions since she was in middle school. Deidra has taught students from the ages of 4 to 85. She has also taught homeless and at risk students.
Deidra Squire has been tap dancing for 29 years. She was trained at Ballet Met Dance Academy in Columbus, Ohio and Judy Conti Dance Academy in Youngstown Ohio. She founded Above Deck Tap Dance Ensemble at Hampton University. Above Deck Tap Dance Ensemble has been an official campus organization on campus for fifteen years. Since relocating to the DMV, Deidra has taught tap dance at the Patricia M. Sitar Arts Center and the Program for Academic and Leadership Skills in Washington, DC. She has also taught at Impact Performing Arts, Momentum Dance and Fitness, C-Unit Dance Studio, Adagio Ballet, Body Moves, JMD Studio, Legacy Performing Arts, DanceMakers Dance Studio, and many more. She also founded Rhythm&Soles, a percussive arts instruction organization.
Deidra also has experience in production, pageant coaching, poms, step, spoken word, oratory, and African dance and drumming. She was the founding coach of a step and cheerleading squad at National Collegiate Preparatory Public Charter School in Washington DC. Under her leadership, the team placed in a local competition within four months of formation. Deidra also served as the Artistic Director of S.W.A.G., a competitive step team in Washington, DC that won first place in the Junior Division of the Six Flags National Invitational Competition. As a board member of a local nonprofit, and as an actively practicing Maryland attorney, Deidra believes in teaching “Poise, Professionalism, and Perfection,” and she firmly believes that performing arts are a powerful means of developing self-esteem and awareness in students of all ages.
Deidra Squire has been tap dancing for 29 years. She was trained at Ballet Met Dance Academy in Columbus, Ohio and Judy Conti Dance Academy in Youngstown Ohio. She founded Above Deck Tap Dance Ensemble at Hampton University. Above Deck Tap Dance Ensemble has been an official campus organization on campus for fifteen years. Since relocating to the DMV, Deidra has taught tap dance at the Patricia M. Sitar Arts Center and the Program for Academic and Leadership Skills in Washington, DC. She has also taught at Impact Performing Arts, Momentum Dance and Fitness, C-Unit Dance Studio, Adagio Ballet, Body Moves, JMD Studio, Legacy Performing Arts, DanceMakers Dance Studio, and many more. She also founded Rhythm&Soles, a percussive arts instruction organization.
Deidra also has experience in production, pageant coaching, poms, step, spoken word, oratory, and African dance and drumming. She was the founding coach of a step and cheerleading squad at National Collegiate Preparatory Public Charter School in Washington DC. Under her leadership, the team placed in a local competition within four months of formation. Deidra also served as the Artistic Director of S.W.A.G., a competitive step team in Washington, DC that won first place in the Junior Division of the Six Flags National Invitational Competition. As a board member of a local nonprofit, and as an actively practicing Maryland attorney, Deidra believes in teaching “Poise, Professionalism, and Perfection,” and she firmly believes that performing arts are a powerful means of developing self-esteem and awareness in students of all ages.
Brittany Bolick
Ballet, Jazz, Tap
Brittany grew up in Fredericksburg, Virginia where she continued the dance education she began at age 3. Through high school, Brittany trained with the Fredericksburg Academy of Ballet and performed with their Senior Company. Brittany recently graduated from the University of Virginia with degrees in Politics and Drama. During her time at UVA, Brittany focused on dance for theatre, performing as a featured dancer in productions of The Producers, Godspell, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Sweet Charity, and Urinetown. Brittany also choreographed productions of Cabaret and Pride and Prejudice in addition to her drama capstone project "A Night of Gershwin" which featured jazz, musical theatre, and ballet choreography to the works of George Gershwin. Brittany also worked as an administrative intern and teaching assistant at the Charlottesville Ballet. Since moving to the DC area, Brittany has performed with The Arlington Players and City of Fairfax Theatre Company and taught ballet and jazz at Adagio Ballet.
Brittany grew up in Fredericksburg, Virginia where she continued the dance education she began at age 3. Through high school, Brittany trained with the Fredericksburg Academy of Ballet and performed with their Senior Company. Brittany recently graduated from the University of Virginia with degrees in Politics and Drama. During her time at UVA, Brittany focused on dance for theatre, performing as a featured dancer in productions of The Producers, Godspell, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Sweet Charity, and Urinetown. Brittany also choreographed productions of Cabaret and Pride and Prejudice in addition to her drama capstone project "A Night of Gershwin" which featured jazz, musical theatre, and ballet choreography to the works of George Gershwin. Brittany also worked as an administrative intern and teaching assistant at the Charlottesville Ballet. Since moving to the DC area, Brittany has performed with The Arlington Players and City of Fairfax Theatre Company and taught ballet and jazz at Adagio Ballet.
Isabel Robles
Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary
Isabel Robles is a rising senior at James Madison University (JMU) majoring in dance with a minor in sociology. Originally from Reston, VA, she began her ballet and contemporary training at Classical Ballet Theatre (CBT) in Herndon, VA when she was five years old. At the age of fourteen, Isabel attended the Houston ballet summer intensive program and was invited to train in the Houston Ballet pre-professional program in Houston, TX where she lived and trained for the next three years. Isabel returned to Reston, VA in 2017, and continued her training at the Washington Ballet School pre-professional program and then in the contemporary youth dance ensemble at Joy of Motion in Washington, DC before deciding to attend JMU. During her years at JMU, Isabel has choreographed several works that have been showcased in both the Fall and Spring Student Dance Concerts, been cast in several JMU residencies with Kyle Abraham and DanceWorks Chicago, attended summer intensives at DanceWorks Chicago and Christopher K. Morgan, and is a member of the Virginia Repertory Dance Company. At JMU she is also the President of Dance Theatre, which is an organization for dance majors, and serves as Co-president of the National Honors Society for Dance Arts also known as NHSDA/NDEO.
Isabel Robles is a rising senior at James Madison University (JMU) majoring in dance with a minor in sociology. Originally from Reston, VA, she began her ballet and contemporary training at Classical Ballet Theatre (CBT) in Herndon, VA when she was five years old. At the age of fourteen, Isabel attended the Houston ballet summer intensive program and was invited to train in the Houston Ballet pre-professional program in Houston, TX where she lived and trained for the next three years. Isabel returned to Reston, VA in 2017, and continued her training at the Washington Ballet School pre-professional program and then in the contemporary youth dance ensemble at Joy of Motion in Washington, DC before deciding to attend JMU. During her years at JMU, Isabel has choreographed several works that have been showcased in both the Fall and Spring Student Dance Concerts, been cast in several JMU residencies with Kyle Abraham and DanceWorks Chicago, attended summer intensives at DanceWorks Chicago and Christopher K. Morgan, and is a member of the Virginia Repertory Dance Company. At JMU she is also the President of Dance Theatre, which is an organization for dance majors, and serves as Co-president of the National Honors Society for Dance Arts also known as NHSDA/NDEO.
Nicole Wofford
Jazz, Contemporary & Academy ProgramGraduated with honors in 2016, receiving a BFA in Dance Performance and a minor in Exercise and Sport Sciences from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. In her senior year, she served as president of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts and presented dance science research at their annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona. Nicole also served as secretary for the East Carolina Dance Association and founding senior representative for the East Carolina Dance Science Club. In college, she earned her certification as an Ultra Barre instructor while working as a research assistant with its founder, Teal Darkenwald. After college, Nicole moved to Chicago, Illinois to dance with Inaside Chicago Dance as an apprentice, and has also had the opportunity to perform with Alluvion Dance Chicago. She then moved to the coast of North Carolina where she taught Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Hip-hop, Contemporary, Ultrabarre, and Modern at Swansboro Dance Studio/Emerald Isle Dance Studio. Nicole holds her Personal Trainer certification from ACE and is in her 6th year as a regional and national Head Judge for Edge Talent Competition. As an instructor, Nicole places emphasis on a solid technical foundation and efficiency in movement. She enjoys teaching and performing in all styles, but most of all she loves to watch dancers grow in technique and artistry.
Rachel Teran
Little Dancer and Youth Programs
Rachel is from Raleigh, North Carolina, where she began dancing at the North Carolina Dance Institute. Falling in love with tap dance first, Rachel also explored many styles of dance including ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, and some ballroom. After learning jazz and tap under Freddie Lee Heath, Rachel continued her dance education under Glenda Mackie and Courtney Greer that cultivated her modern dance technique and composition skills. Rachel graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the spring of 2021 with degrees in psychology and political science. During her time at UNC Rachel was the president of the Modernextension Dance Company where she encouraged dancers to grow as dancers and choreographers. Through Modernextension Rachel taught contact improvisation workshops and choreographed modern dance pieces. After graduation she moved to Arlington VA to further career goals and experience a new city. At DAV Rachel has loved teaching ballet, tap and jazz and hopes to inspire many more young dancers.
Rachel is from Raleigh, North Carolina, where she began dancing at the North Carolina Dance Institute. Falling in love with tap dance first, Rachel also explored many styles of dance including ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, and some ballroom. After learning jazz and tap under Freddie Lee Heath, Rachel continued her dance education under Glenda Mackie and Courtney Greer that cultivated her modern dance technique and composition skills. Rachel graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the spring of 2021 with degrees in psychology and political science. During her time at UNC Rachel was the president of the Modernextension Dance Company where she encouraged dancers to grow as dancers and choreographers. Through Modernextension Rachel taught contact improvisation workshops and choreographed modern dance pieces. After graduation she moved to Arlington VA to further career goals and experience a new city. At DAV Rachel has loved teaching ballet, tap and jazz and hopes to inspire many more young dancers.
Katy Clay
Little Dancer, Youth & Academy Programs.
Katy grew up dancing in her hometown of Missoula, Montana where she studied ballet and various other styles of dance at Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre. Since the age of thirteen, Katy has performed as a singer and dancer in several international tours, traveling Europe and China as both a Performer and Goodwill Ambassador. At seventeen, she was selected as a principal dancer and featured singer with RMBT on an official US State Department tour throughout the Guangxi and Henan Provinces and in Beijing presented by the National Ballet of China at the Tianquo Theatre.
After graduating from the Academy, Katy trained two years at a musical conservatory in Vienna, Austria and has performed as a musical theatre artist in and around Vienna, including productions in the 2017 Wiener Festwochen. She has placed first and second at the Vienna International Ballet Experience and Ballet Beyond Borders competitions 2016, 2017, and 2018. Her most recent performance tour took her back to China and included performances and collaborations in Beijing, Xi’an, and ChongQing in September of 2018.
Katy began her career as a professional dancer in 2018 with the Stavna Ballet where her most notable roles included Alice in Alice in Wonderland, The Sugar Plum Fairy, Lucy in Dracula and the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz. Katy is currently in her first season as a resident dancer with THE Landing. Katy just recently moved with her husband to the Northern Virginia area and is thrilled to be joining the DAV faculty!
Katy grew up dancing in her hometown of Missoula, Montana where she studied ballet and various other styles of dance at Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre. Since the age of thirteen, Katy has performed as a singer and dancer in several international tours, traveling Europe and China as both a Performer and Goodwill Ambassador. At seventeen, she was selected as a principal dancer and featured singer with RMBT on an official US State Department tour throughout the Guangxi and Henan Provinces and in Beijing presented by the National Ballet of China at the Tianquo Theatre.
After graduating from the Academy, Katy trained two years at a musical conservatory in Vienna, Austria and has performed as a musical theatre artist in and around Vienna, including productions in the 2017 Wiener Festwochen. She has placed first and second at the Vienna International Ballet Experience and Ballet Beyond Borders competitions 2016, 2017, and 2018. Her most recent performance tour took her back to China and included performances and collaborations in Beijing, Xi’an, and ChongQing in September of 2018.
Katy began her career as a professional dancer in 2018 with the Stavna Ballet where her most notable roles included Alice in Alice in Wonderland, The Sugar Plum Fairy, Lucy in Dracula and the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz. Katy is currently in her first season as a resident dancer with THE Landing. Katy just recently moved with her husband to the Northern Virginia area and is thrilled to be joining the DAV faculty!