Inhouse Teaching Faculty

 -- Trainee Teaching Faculty --

With 40 years of experience as a dance educator, director and choreographer, Lorraine Spiegler is a highly respected leader in the dance field. She served as Founding Artistic Director of CityDance Conservatory from 2007 to 2024 (currently Emerita) where she developed numerous successful programs elevating the Conservatory to one of the region's premier centers for pre-professional dance training,  “...amongst the top 5% most prestigious dance academies in the USA,” per a Northwestern University Study published in 2023.  

Spiegler’s career includes teaching at The St. Croix School of the Arts, serving as an NEA artist-in-residence for the Caribbean Dance Company, and Artistic Director, teacher/choreographer  of Theatre Dance Inc. School and Conservatory in the USVI.  She was the first appointed Director of Education and Outreach for The Washington Ballet where she co-founded and co-created  the DanceDC Program, creating the “Dancing with Words” curriculum. She co-created/directed the US Department of Education funded “Cultural Partnerships for At-Risk Children and Youth Program.”

Spiegler’s choreographic work has garnered national recognition, including commissions from The Kennedy Center/National Symphony Orchestra for the “Music that Moves” Concerts. An advocate for international dance exchange, she has worked extensively in the Caribbean, Europe, and Latin America. Festival and international ballet competition invitations have included Orizaba International Dance Festival in Mexico, Nervi International Dance Festival in Italy,  Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland and Jackson IBC in the USA. 

Ms. Spiegler has received numerous awards, including the American University Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance and the Metro Dance DC Award for "Excellence in Education." Dancers she has trained, including while directing CityDance Conservatory have been recognized by various awards, honors and accolades from: NYCDA, NAACP ACT_SO, WBC  and Youth America Grand Prix at national and international levels: Youth Grand Prix, Grand Prix, Hope, Outstanding Teacher/Faculty, Best Choreography, Best Small and Large Ensembles, Outstanding School Awards, as well as invitations to perform at YAGP Galas at Lincoln Center in NYC, San Francisco and Tampa, Florida. 

She holds a B.A. in Dance with a minor in Education and two Master's degrees in Dance History and Arts Management from American University.

 -- Trainee Teaching Faculty --

Luis Serrano graduated from the National Ballet School of Cuba with the title of Dancer-Teacher. He began his career at the National Ballet of Cuba and was later hired by the Nina Novak Classical Ballet (1992-1994), the Youth Ballet of Venezuela (1994-1995), Principal Dancer at the National Ballet of Caracas, Teresa Carreño (1994-1998), and Principal Dancer with the Miami City Ballet (1998-2007). 

Mr. Serrano received training from such luminaries as Ramona de Saa, Adria Velásquez, Mirtha Ermida, Magali Suárez, Pablo More, Laura Alonso, Lázaro Carreño, Nina Novak, Irina Ivanova, Sandra Rodríguez, Elaine Kudo, Vicente Nebrada, Twyla Tharp, and Edward Villella, among others. 

Performance highlights include Don Quixote, Blue Bird, Diana and Acteon, Paquita, Corsair, Coppélia, La Bayadère, La Fille Mal Gardée, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle, Spring Waters, Raymonda, Romeo and Juliet Pas de Deux, Esmeralda Pas de Deux, Flames of Paris, and many others.

Luis Serrano’s awards include the Bronze Medal at the USA International Ballet Competition (1998), the Municipal Dance Award for Best Classical Dancer in Venezuela (1996), the "Casa del Artista" Award for Best Classical Dancer in Venezuela (1996 and 1997), and the Gold Medal in the UNEAC Contest in Havana, Cuba (1991). These experiences have not only shaped Mr. Serrano as an artist but have also provided invaluable opportunities to collaborate with dancers and choreographers from around the world.

In addition to his work as a dancer, Luis Serrano has taught at various schools in the United States and Venezuela: the Teresa Carreño Theater School, the Tiwy City Ballet, the Miami City Ballet School, Cary Ballet Conservatory, and currently at Alchemy Ballet Academy in Herndon, Virginia. Mr. Serrano is among those who coached renowned dancer Eric Poor for his Prix de Lausanne presentation which earned Eric the prestigious Silver Medal. 

Mr. Serrano is currently Alchemy Ballet’s Resident Choreographer and Associate Director of the Men’s and Boys’ Program, and continues to train dancers, male and female, for competitions, and is available to teach private lessons. He previously served as the Artistic Director of Alchemy’s acclaimed productions of Primavera at Capital One Hall’s Vault Theater (spring 2024) and of Don Quixote on the Main Stage of Capital One Hall (June 14, 2025). 

In summary, with Luis Serrano’s celebrated background and experience in the field of dance, he has had the privilege of serving as a former Principal Dancer with the Miami City Ballet and as the Director of the internationally acclaimed Ballet de Monterrey in Mexico. His commitment to artistic excellence and his passion for imparting knowledge to students, trainees, and company members have earned him a stellar reputation as a renowned teacher, artistic director, and master choreographer.

 -- Trainee Teaching Faculty --

Dr. Elena Ovchinnikova graduated from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy obtained her PhD in Pedagogic Science (Theory and Methodology of Professional Education in Choreography) and Master Degree in Ballet Pedagogy. Additionally, Elena graduated from Russian State Medical University in Moscow, Russia and obtained Master Doctor/Master Science degrees, and thus, possess both a PhD and MD. Dr. Elena Ovchinnikova is the author of scientific publications in ballet pedagogy, psychology and ballet medicine. Her publications and PhD thesis are stored in the database of Russian State Library – the leading scientific library of Russia.

Elena has professional performing experience as a soloist and principal dancer in ballets of the classical repertoire to include Swan Lake, Raymonda, Nutcracker, Giselle, Cinderella, Coppelia, Paquita, and Don Quixote. She performed with renowned companies to include Russian State Theater “Ballet of Russia” (Moscow, Russia), Astana Opera (Astana, Kazakhstan), New Classical Ballet (Moscow, Russia), and Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker (USA) which toured internationally. Additionally, Elena was awarded in three International Ballet Competitions in Vienna (Austria), Roma (Italy), and Zagreb (Croatia).

Elena has taught in Russia at Moscow State Academy of Choreography (the Bolshoi Ballet Academy) and in the USA at the Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington DC. She is the former Artistic Director of Reston Ballet Conservatory. She is a guest Professor of Dance at the International Ballet Festival in Panama, guest lecturer in Methodology of Teaching Character Dance at the Dance Department of Michigan State University, and a guest teacher and choreographer for ballet academies across the USA, Austria, Spain, and Hong Kong.

 -- Trainee Teaching Faculty --

Bio coming soon

 -- Trainee Teaching Faculty --

Bio coming soon

Mr. Yevtushenko is from Cherkasy, Ukraine and was trained at the Kyiv Municipal Academy of Dance under the direction of Serge Lifar and danced many roles for the Russian National Ballet as well as Odessa Opera House. Pavlo joined Manassas Ballet Theatre in 2022. He teaches at Alchemy Ballet as part of the youth and adult ballet programs. In June 2024, Alchemy Ballet premiered “Gopak” highlighting the National Ukrainian folkdance–as the finale of Act One of the triumphant “Folklore and Fairy Tales” production.  

Aleksey Kudrin was born in Perm, Russia and trained at the Perm State Choreographic Academy. He danced with the Siktivkar Theater Opera and Ballet and the Grigorovich Ballet of Russia, under the legendary Yuri Grigorovich, before coming to the United States. After coming to the U.S., Mr. Kudrin danced with the Sarasota Ballet of Florida, Columbia Classical Ballet in South Carolina, and Manassas Ballet Theater, appearing in many original works as well as many classics.   He performs regularly as a guest artist with several area companies and schools.   He has been teaching in the Northern Virginia area since 2005. 

Bio coming soon

Kirov Academy of Ballet scholarship graduate Adrienne Canterna is the recipient of numerous national and international awards including winning the GOLD medal at the 1998 USA International Ballet Competition at just 15 years old. Other prestigious awards include the Grishko Award of Excellence in Ballet, Teen Miss Dance of America and more.

Ms. Canterna is a proud global ambassador for CAPEZIO.

Adrienne tours the world as a dancer, choreographer, model & juror.

As a Principal guest ballerina she danced the roles of Gamzatti in “La Bayadere”, the Sugar Plum Fairy in “The Nutcracker”, and Kitri in “Don Quixote” with the Universal Ballet in Seoul, Korea under the direction of Oleg Vinogradov. She has also danced with the Washington Ballet and Complexions Contemporary Ballet in NYC where she was partnered by dance superstar Desmond Richardson.

She has appeared in numerous galas worldwide including the “Vail International Dance Festival“, “Dance Open” in Russia, “Gala de Danza“, “Dance Against Cancer” in NYC and “Le Gala des Etoiles” where she performed “Le Corsaire” pas de duex with international ballet star, Carlos Acosta. She appeared as a soloist in the PBS television tribute to Placido Domingo, in a segment directed and choreographed by Debbie Allen. She can be seen as a ballet soloist in the movie “Step Up“.

Ms. Canterna has modeled for the athleisure brand MPG Sport.

Adrienne is the choreographer & co-creator of the international hit dance show “ROCK the Ballet“. After touring over 30 countries since 2008, RTB continues to wow audiences across the globe. Adrienne was a special guest performer & choreographer on “So You Think You Can Dance“. In 2013 she created & choreographed the world premiere of “ROMEO & JULIET” in Europe to rave reviews from critics & audiences alike. In 2014, Adrienne founded BAD BOYS of BALLET & they became Semi-Finalists on Season 9 of the hit TV show “America’s Got Talent“. During her run as Juliet on the West End in 2015, prestigious UK dance critic Graham Watts wrote “Adrienne created a ballet for the Snapchat age. Dancing as Juliet in her own choreography, Canterna’s exciting portrayal is delivered with a cocktail of personality and movement that mixed a quirky dollop of Lady Gaga, a touch of burlesque, the length of Sylvie Guillem’s limbs and the hyper-flexible spine of an Olympic gymnast”.

In 2016, Adrienne was invited by VOGUE editor Anna Wintour, to walk in the “Made for History” fashion show at NYFW. She was also a featured dancer/model for an editorial in SELF magazine.

Most recently, Ms. Canterna choreographed, directed & starred in the world premiere of “Rock the Ballet X“. Die Welt culture critic wrote “Adrienne Canterna’s spectacular and ingenious choreography rendered the audience breathless”. After it’s premiere 10 week European tour seen by over 50,000 fans, RTBX continues to tour Europe to sold out audiences. Ms. Canterna is the Founder of SweetBird Productions and the Artistic Director of the SweetBird Summer Intensive.

Adrienne is the proud mother of Anami Halo.

Ariel Martínez began his ballet studies at School of Ballet Alejo Carpentier and continued his education at Fernando Alonso National Ballet School, associated with Ballet Nacional de Cuba. His instructors included Dunia Vera, Verónica Muxó, Normaria Olaechea, and Elena Cangas. He has competed in Italy, South Africa, Mexico, and Cuba, obtaining awards in many of these events, including a silver medal in the contest of the International Meeting of Academies for the Teaching of Ballet in 2014 and a gold medal for contemporary ballet performing Innovation in South Africa in 2016. In 2014 he became a company member of Ballet Nacional de Cuba, becoming a first soloist in 2016. He performed in the world premiere of Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa’s Oscurio, as well as her ballet Celeste. His repertoire includes Giselle, Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Coppélia, and other other ballets by notable Cuban choreographers. Martínez is now a company member of The Washington Ballet. 

Beth Anne Brooks-Mwano  is a life-long mover, artist and lover of all things dance. Beth delights in bringing creative movement into the imagination and body. It is where she finds an integration of the mind and spirit with the body. Beth incorporates therapeutic movement in the work she does as a yoga therapist, dance teacher and spiritual guide. Healing, transformation, justice and beauty are all common themes in Beth’s dancing and creative pieces. She loves the community that moving and weaving with each other brings. Beth currently dances with Nancy Havlik’s Performance Group and has done collaborations with Dance Exchange, Uprooted Dance, choreographed for NACHMO, and dances with other creatives in her communities. 

Ms.  Emily Abrom is from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Her career includes dancing with the Mariinsky Theater Primorsky Stage in Russia and being the first American ever hired at the Novosibirsk State Opera and Ballet Theater dancing soloist roles. In addition, Emily has worked with the Arrondi Art Ballet, Brussels International Ballet, Manassas Ballet Theater, and has toured in South Korea, China, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Crimea, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria and the UAE. Emily has also worked as a translator and teacher for the Bolshoi Ballet Summer Programs and ran auditions for John Cranko’s Schule. 

Enjoy a glimpse of Ms. Emily's rich experience in this clip from her time at the Novosibirsk State Opera and Ballet Theater.

 A native of Washington D.C, Jalia began her dance training at the age of five. Studying at various studios in the D.C area such as Dance Place, The Davis Center, and The Dance Exchange to name a few.  Coming from a family of artists and West African dancers and drummers Jalia was drawn to West African dance at an early age, and at the age of 12 Jalia began her West African dance training under the tutelage of Lesina Martin and Nkenge Cunningham. Soon after Jalia joined the West African dance and drum performance company, Farafina Kan, run by Mahiri Keita Edwards and Lesina Martin, and she still dances with them today. In addition to her dance training Ms. Inman has participated in various outreach and community service initiatives in her community. Jalia went on to study at the Duke Ellington School of Arts in Washington D.C.  She has had the opportunity to work with Asase Yaa West African dance Company, Forces of Nature, Dishi Bem dance Group, Voices of Congo Square (New Orleans), and Harambee African Dance Company to name a few. While in New York, Jalia taught dance at the Harlem Childrens Zone, Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy, as well as several dance studios and programs throughout New York City. A passionate teacher and artist, Jalia hopes to spread West African culture through dance, music, and history.

Mr. Kruhlov is originally from Kyiv, Ukraine.  He received his training at the Kyiv State Ballet School and graduated in 2014.  Kyrylo danced multiple roles with the National Opera of Ukraine, Novosibirsk State Academic Opera & Ballet Theatre, and with the Ukrainian Classical Ballet in Kyiv.Participated in ballet tours in many countries: Holland, Denmark, France, Croatia, Germany.
Mr. Kruhlov joined Manassas ballet theatre in 2022.

Valentina Palladino is a professional dancer, choreographer, and educator from Sardinia, Italy.   Ms. Palladino is currently a faculty member at The Washington School of Ballet  in Washington DC. She began her dancing career in 2003 at the School Ballet Arabesque, Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy, under the direction of M. Roberto Magnabosco. At the age of 12 she participated in the Hamburg Ballet production of Romeo and Juliet with Etoiles Silvia Azzoni and Massimo Murru at the Teatro Lirico in Cagliari, Sardinia. In 2008 Ms. Palladino received a scholarship for the school Teatro dell’Opera di Roma. She later studied at the school of Accademia Nazionale in Rome from 2008 until 2011. She completed the three-year trainee program for pre-professional dancers with the American Repertory Ballet of Princeton NJ in 2014 under the instruction of Maria Yousekevitch and Kathleen Moore to name a few. She performed with the company in Rite of Spring, Gerald Arpino’s: Viva Vivaldi, and Romeo and Juliet with choreographers including Douglas Martin, Mary Barton, Kirk Peterson, and Trinette Singleton. Later in 2014 she joined the Manassas Ballet Theater’s professional company where she performed as a soloist in many productions such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle, Don Quixote, Coppelia, Cinderella, and performed as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet in 2017. In 2018, Ms. Palladino expanded her role with the Manassas Ballet Theater to include teaching students using the Russian Vaganova ballet methodology. Ms. Palladino is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 and Level 3 through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.    Ms. Palladino is also a choreographer and performer with The Synetic Theater, a non-profit premier American physical theater, fusing drama, movement, acrobatics, dance, and music to educate the next generation of artist through community outreach. Ms. Palladino choreographed and performed in her Decameron Film by Synetic Theater where she played all 3 characters of the story.

Vinny Mwano is a professional dancer and instructor of Hip Hop and Afro-Beats Dance. Vinny came to the states as a refugee in 2000, his dance career began at a young age in the Northeast. He was featured on "Dancing With The Stars" and has worked in an administrative capacity and/or as a teaching artist with numerous arts organizations, including Dance Exchange, Movement From Above, Sole City Dance, and Carpe Diem Arts.