Our Teachers

Our teachers are proficient in dance instruction and choreography, and represent a wide range of talent and expertise. Additionally, we offer Guest Artist Master Classes and special instruction seminars.

Alison Bawek

Alison Bawek is the owner and director of the Studio of Ballet Arts Ltd. She started dance at the age of four training under the Royal Academy of Dance. As a young child, she performed in various ballet companies and studied with the Vienna State Opera Ballet Company in Austria. She attended Montgomery College and Corcoran College of Art and Design where her focus was dance, theatre and art. Alison began teaching dance in 1993. She dedicates herself to nurturing the love of dance with all her students and teachers. Alison creates an inspiring and supportive environment in the studio and believes we were all born to dance. She encourages her students to pursue their dreams of becoming a dancer and performing on stage. She supports educational and community organizations and serves as Vice President of the Olney Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Board of Directors at the Sandy Spring Museum. Alison received the 2014 Athena Award for Greater Olney-Sandy Spring, which recognizes women leaders. Alison is also a proud member of the National Dance Education Organization.

Angelette Anders

Angelette Anders is SBA’s Dance Team Coach and Choreographer. She is a native of Washington, DC and holds a BA in Communications from Howard University and an MA in Dance from Prescott College. She received her formal training in the Vaganova and Cecchetti Methods of Classical Ballet, Horton Modern Technique, Rhythmic Tap Jazz, and Lyrical. She was a featured performer with the Adrian Bolton, Katherine Smith and Body Moves companies and has performed extensively in the metropolitan area. In 2007, she was a guest artist and choreographer for the Amalfi Arts Festival in Maiori, Italy. As a certified Cechetti instructor, Angelette continues to train and perform with master instructors. She enjoys sharing the art of dance and its varied disciplines through teaching, choreographing and staging students of all ages throughout the region.

Christine Andriani

Christine Andriani grew up studying ballet, tap, and jazz. In college she discovered that she could combine her love of dance with the joy she finds in teaching. Now, as an elementary school teacher Christine knows that a fun and engaging environment is key to inspiring a lifelong love and appreciation of the arts. She looks forward to combining her enthusiasm for the performing arts with her passion for teaching to welcome our youngest students into the world of dance.

Alexandra Fellman

Alexandra Fellman is SBA’s Dance Team Coach and Choreographer. Alex is a top-rated dance instructor for preschool to high school aged dancers in the DMV. Beginning at the age of 2, she has studied ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, tap, and acrobatic dance. Throughout the years, she has enjoyed dancing in many community performances, dance competitions, and in university performances. Alex began choreographing at the age of 14, and teaching at the age of 16 in 2016. Since then, she has taught a large variety of styles and abilities throughout the DMV at some of the best preschools and dance studios. In 2020, Alex received her certification in Youth Protection Advocates in Dance Safety and Wellness, and in 2024, she became a certified Acrobatic Arts Instructor, receiving a perfect score on her final examinations. In 2023, Alex choreographed for the Best Friends Foundations’ A Night with Dionne Warwick. She has been an SBA dance instructor for 8 years, and an SBA Dance Team coach/choreographer for 4 years now, receiving many awards for her creative and picturesque choreography. Alex loves SBA and looks forward to sharing her love of dance with everyone!

Maya Fitts

Maya Fitts, SBA Dance Team Coach, graduated summa cum laude with a BA in Dance from the University of Maryland. Since 9, she has been professionally performing in Musical Theater, Dance, and Opera productions. In the DC Metro area she has performed at the Kennedy Center (Honors Awards, Debbie Allen, Washington Opera), National Theater, Warner Theater, Arena Stage, and Olney Theater to name a few. Nationally, she has done two National Tours and was a dancer for several years in PBS’s A Capitol Fourth. Her favorite roles include Reno Sweeny (Anything Goes), Cinderella (Into the Woods), and Lucille (Thoroughly Modern Millie). Maya specializes in Musical Theater (Fosse/ Bennett trained by Cheryl Clark), Tap, Jazz, and Lyrical.

Miriam Hermina

Miriam Hermina is a dance artist from the DMV area. She received her BA in Dance from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. Visceral and poetic, her work is driven from the innate wisdom that lives inside her. She is not interested in perfection, but rather gravitates toward truthful storytelling and dissecting preconceived ideas. She began studying ballet as a child and has since developed her own vocabulary with influences from street dance culture as well as her Middle Eastern roots. In 2022, Miriam was one of 8 artists to be selected for the Art Omi International choreographic residency in New York, directed by Christopher K. Morgan. She has had the privilege of training and performing at the Jacob’s Pillow under the direction of Maria Torres as well as at Domaine Forget, Quebec, under Anne Plamondon (RUBBERBANDance). Her short film Running Stitch has been accepted into several film festivals thus far. Her definition of dance is continually evolving as she experiences it in contexts outside of the studio and stage. She is determined to use her voice to challenge perceptions and start conversations.

Neico Joy

Neico Joy, a DC native, found a passion for dance and tumbling early in his childhood. He was a member of several local dance companies for many years, which led him to take his talents to Los Angeles 15 years ago. During his time in LA, he had the pleasure of working with many musical artists including Pharrell, Victoria Monet, Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Hudson and Mindless Behavior. Neico also got to perform on various tv shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Voice and The Late Late Show with James Corden, Bunheads. He’s excited to bring his knowledge and experience to SBADC.

Jens Lee

Jens Lee is an internationally known and acclaimed Professional Dancer/Teacher/Choreographer in dance styles such as Ballet, Jazz, Modern (Horton), Tap, Contemporary, Musical Theatre and Ballroom. Starting at a young age in Theatre, Jens has been in over 100 productions throughout the East Coast. He recently was highlighted in the 100th year Gala for the Cleveland Foundation. Jens’s Training in dance started with Classical Ballet with the Cecchetti style and later on to Vaganova and French styles of ballet. Jens is also a trained medal winning Triathlete/Marathon runner. Certified in the 13 styles of American Ballroom/Rhythm, Jens was personally trained and coached by the World Ballroom/Theatre Arts Champion George Hendricks and the Former 10 Dance Champion Martin Lamb. As a Professional Instructor and trainer, Jens has taught thousands of students all around the world from age 3-92. He has also been the Ballet Master for multiple Studios including Cleveland School of the Arts, Elite Dance of Brunswick, Ohio and Bingham Center of Midland, Texas. His professional credits as a Guest Artist has been in numerous ballets including the Nutcracker, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Paquita, Heinz Poll Pas and Inamorata. Other Regional credits included CHRISTMAS ON ICE for SPIRIT OF THE DANCE at the Palace Theatre in Myrtle Beach. He was also with Princess Cruise lines as one of their Professional Dancers and was recently awarded their CONSUMMATE HOST OF THE MONTH for a heroic action. Sailing with Princess, Jens has had the honor to dance and teach for tens of thousands of people and see such places as the Caribbean, West Coast USA, Alaska, Hawaii, South Pacific islands, New Zealand, Australia, and South East Asia from Thailand to Japan. As a Competitive Judge, Jens has taught Master Classes and Judge for TURN IT AROUND TOUR & Dance Masters of America.

Carlos Ulloa

Carlos Ulloa received his Associate of Arts Degree from Montgomery College and his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance at George Mason University. He was a Gus Giordano Dance School scholarship recipient, studied Afro-Cuban Dance with Ballet Folklorico Cutumba, American Dance Festival at Duke University and has received awards for his excellence at GMU and MC. He has been teaching and choreographing different dance styles in the DMV area for several years.

Teen Instructors

Avery Fox

Avery Fox has been a part of the SBA family since she was five years old. Avery joined the SBA dance competition team in 2015 to further her experiences and education at SBA. Once Avery got older she started to assist pre-ballet classes and she quickly fell in love with the idea of working with kids. Although this is her first year teaching she is determined to make each child feel special.

Keira Rifkin

Keira Rifkin began dancing at the age of three, studying ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap and hip hop. She has been a competitive dancer for 9 years and more recently a member of the Damascus High School Pom Squad. Keira has a love for dance and teaching. She began instructing at the age of 15 assisting summer camps and dance classes. She is very excited to be a part of the Studio of Ballet Arts family as a student teacher.

Guest Teachers

Crishon Landers

Crishon Landers’s (Guest Teacher) dancing experience dates back to the early 1990’s when as a child he would freestyle battle for respect and bragging rights at the Underground, located in downtown Atlanta where he grew up. However, his dance career began to take shape and evolve in the fall of 2005 when he joined Georgetown University’s hip hop dance team, Groove Theory, as a freshman. Since then he has had several opportunities to choreograph and perform as a member of multiple professional and pre-professional dance companies. Among these companies are Capitol Movement Dance Company, Culture Shock Dance Troupe, Joy of Motion’s DCypher Dance, and GU’s Black Movements Dance Theater. Notable credits include Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry, Saturday Night Live, HBO’s “Girls”, Stephen Colbert Show, Cirque du Soleil, and more. When Crishon is not dancing, he spends the majority of his time with his daughter, Ella. He also has a passion for fashion and has developed a clothing line, CRoME. He is blessed and grateful for the opportunity to pursue his love for dance and share his talent with others. He hopes to educate and empower new generations of students to follow their dreams bravely and unapologetically.

Robert Moses

Robert Moses (Guest Teacher) been teaching dance for the past 20 years, as well as being an accomplished singer. He has performed in numerous dance videos and as a backup dancer for several artists. He can even be seen on several seasons of Lifetime Television’s Dance Moms. Robert made the transition to choreographer and Master class presenter and has spent the last 8 years touring the country teaching at studios and conventions. He is well versed in all genres of dance, making him one of the most sought after judges for conventions and dace competitions. Robert is also trained in fitness and nutrition, which allows him to educate dancers on the importance of being healthy. Robert is a triple threat – singer, dancer and actor who know the importance of being a well-rounded performer. His upbeat energy and style are contagious. Robert joined the studio in 2017 as guest choreographer and assists with SBA’s Dance Team.

Haley Nachlas

Haley Nachlas is SBA’s Dance Team Guest Choreographer. She is a New York based performer, teacher and choreographer. She graduated summa cum laude from Pace University with a BFA in commercial dance concentrating in performance, choreography and pedagogy. Throughout her education she worked with major choreographers such as Mandy Moore, Billy Griffin, Al Blackstone, Nick Kenkle, Fosse Rep restaged by Kathryn Doby, Dee Caspary, Lauren Gaul, Rhonda Miller and many more. Professionally she has performed in regional theatre most recently in “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” at the Totempole Playhouse. She has performed in several NYC benefit concerts such as Artists for Altzheimers where she performed Karla Garcia’s work. Film credits include: The Sixth Borough. She has presented choreography at Pace performing arts and has set award winning competition choreography. Haley has taught in the MD, NY and NJ areas and loves to share her passion for dance, technique and story telling. She is currently represented by CESD talent agency.

Andree Schillesci

Andree Schillesci MA, BC-DMT is a Board Certified Dance Movement Therapist. She. earned a Masters of Arts in Dance Movement Therapy from Goucher College and has worked with children, adolescents and their families for the past 20 years. She has extensive experience treating children in the spectrum areas of communication. In addition, Andree taught at Gallaudet University using dance/movement therapy to increase and integrate socialization skills among deaf children. She often incorporates sign language and nonverbal techniques as well as verbalization to enhance communication and interpersonal skills. Andree recently received yoga certification to engage yoga techniques with children and adults.

Cardo Wanzer

Ricardo “Cardo” WANZER JR. is a dancer, choreographer, and screenwriter from Fort Washington, Maryland. Cardo began his training with the Capitol Movement Dance Company in Washington D.C. He has trained in New York, Los Angeles, and Texas with professional choreographers such as Laura Edwards, Sonya Tayeh, Andrew Winghart, Kyle Hanagami, Justin Giles, and Jenn Freeman. He has also toured the convention circuit with Adrenaline Dance Convention and ReVive Dance Convention. Cardo soon started his journey as an educator setting work for multiple companies in the DC Metropolitan area such as the Capitol Movement Pre-Professional Company, Sankofa Company, Towson University Dance Department, and many others; as well as teaching at several dance schools, studios and institutes. With a concentration in Contemporary, Jazz, and emphasis on Anime Techniques; his movement and choreography are centered on strength, power, and emotion, being described as original, challenging, and refreshing. Cardo has now taken his craft of creation into the realm of filmmaking and screenwriting to continue pushing the art of creating passed its’ structured spectrum.