Meet the Instructors

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Abby Dearden is originally from Akron, Ohio. She recently graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Elementary Education. While at Penn State, Abby was a part of a PLL Dance Co. where she was able to continue her love of dance and develop a love of choreographing. Abby grew up dancing competitively and has had many opportunities to travel and take classes from many different master teachers. She is excited to continue to grow her love of dance and share her passion for teaching. 

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Alice De Nardi, originally from Italy, started studying  ballet at age of 6 at Academy Teatro alla Scala di Milano in Milan, Italy. She graduated from the Ukrainian Academy of Ballet of Kiev in 2012. In June 2005 she got a scholarship for the Royal Ballet School in London and in 2010 she participated at the International competition of Opera Kiev in Ukraine. Alice performed in Italy at Arena di Verona theater with La Divina Commedia. In 2011 she toured around Europe with the Royal Czech Ballet Company performing as a soloist in the ballet Giselle. After graduation, she danced with the Macedonian Opera and Ballet, taking part in all repertoire as a soloist in Skopje and touring in different European theaters. In 2015, Alice she joined the Cairo Opera House as a First Soloist, her repertoire includes: Giselle, Don Quixote, Raymonda, Nutcracker, Peter Pan, Alexander the Great, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Le Corsaire, Coppelia, Romeo and Juliet, Aida, Sheherazade, Esmeralda, Carmina Burana, Bayadere, and Cinderella. She participated and classified in the TOP 10 at The International Ballet and Contemporary Competition Domenico Modugno at the Petruzzelli Theater, in the classical professional division with the variations Laurencia and Esmeralda and in the modern professional division with the variation Gessato Scuro. In 2016 she became a teacher for classical ballet at Alexandria Bibliotheca Art Center and a ballet trainer for the Egyptian National team that participated at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. She is currently a dancer for the Manasas Ballet Theater and coach of 2020 YAGP classical ballet semi-final regional and international.

Alysa Clay, who has over 20 years of experience teaching, training, and performing, is an enthusiastic teacher who is passionate about multiple styles of movement. She holds a degree from The American University in Dance, Theater Production, and Education. Her time at American developed her ability to create inclusive dance environments. Alysa’s contemporary, jazz, modern, hip hop, lyrical, ballet, and stretch classes are all designed to meet dancers of multiple ages and skill levels.  In addition to sharing the stage with national recording artists, and other amazing performance opportunities (such as performing at the Kennedy Center), Alysa has held positions as Choreographer, Assistant Director, and Director of various studios and organizations in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia metropolitan area. Her contemporary style and approach to movement keep her students engaged and excited about dance. 

Anja Kripowicz, born in Kansas, raised in Germany and Virginia, started her love for dance at the age of five. She continued her growth as a dancer through competition dance, and in her late teens she leaned into convention dancing. She also trained with Troy D. Brown in his Art of Technique program for two years. At the age of seventeen, Anja was awarded as an Artists Simply Human Assistant for the 2019/2020 season. With Artists Simply Human, Anja had the opportunity to learn from and assist artists including Braham Logan Crane, DJ Smart, Jojo Gomez, Mia Michaels, Lisette Bustamante, Tovaris Wilson, Dwight Rhoden, and Desmond Richardson. Anja has been teaching and choreographing since the age of sixteen and is technically proficient in modern/contemporary, lyrical, jazz, hip-hop, tap, ballet, and pointe. She is currently attending Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA to receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance with a concentration in modern.

Christopher Saunders was born in Fairfax, Virginia, and began his dance training at the age of thirteen. He has trained in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, and modern. Upon finishing high school his passion for dance translated into the pursuit of a degree from Shenandoah University, where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. In addition to performances in New York, Maryland, Boston, and Virginia, Christopher also performed at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio and as a guest artist with MotionX in Washington, DC. Christopher has worked for RWS Entertainment Group for the past three years, which has a partnership with Holland America Cruise Line. He performs throughout the Mediterranean, Mexico, Panama, Asia, South America, and Antarctica. Christopher is an artist who believes dance is an experience. That no matter where dance takes him, he will always grow from the journey that’s in his path. He is extremely excited about his new teaching adventure and helping educate the new generation of dance.

Corey Norwood, a D.C. native, has been teaching and dancing for numerous years. He grew up in the competition dance world attending regionals, nationals, conventions, worlds, and dance pageants while earning many regional and national titles as well as overall wins. During his tenure, he has acquired many choreography standout recognitions for his innovative choreography and high point awards. Corey attended Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) for Dance and Choreography training under names including: Courtney Harris, E. Gaynell Sherrod and Scott Putnam the creator of the Elemental Body Alignment System (EBAS). Corey Norwood has experienced training in many dance styles including: Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary and Modern dance. He continues to share his love and passion for dance while currently teaching in the DMV area and guest choreographing all over the country. 

Igor Sapotko, a native of Belarus, graduated from the National Choreography College of Belarus class A. I. Kolidenko. His professional dancing career began during his last year in college. Igor was invited to join the National Academic Theater of the Opera and Ballet of Belarus where he worked with the brilliant choreographer Valentin Yelizariev. In 1989 he joined the Moscow Festival Ballet and a year later Bolshoi Theater Grigorovich Ballet where he worked with the world known choreographers and dancers such as Yuri Grigorovich, Leonid Lavrovsky, Yuri Vladimirov. In 1995 Igor came to the United States and danced with Sacramento Ballet, Washington Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet and Manassas Ballet.

Luke Spring was in both the original Broadway cast of A Christmas Story, The Musical and the show’s 1st National Tour. Credits include Disney’s Newsies, Maurice Hines Is Tappin’ Thru Life, Kennedy Center Honors (Tom Hanks Tribute), Tony Awards, Fred and Adele Astaire Awards, and Ford’s Theatre Annual Gala. Luke has performed at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, New World Stages, Feinstein’s/54 Below, Arena Stage, and the Apollo, Joyce, and Wallis theaters, among many others. He has also performed with the American Festival Pops Orchestra, internationally as a member of Rhythmatic Tap Company, and at corporate entertainment events around the country. His television credits include The Ellen DeGeneres Show and SYTYCD. Trained in tap, hip hop, musical theater, ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and improvisation, Luke enjoys sharing his love for dance with others through performing, teaching, and choreographing.

Nakia Dickens began her love of dance at the age of three and has now been teaching nationally for over twenty years, as well as trained in Ballet, Jazz, and Lyrical/Contemporary. She has trained students who are currently working on Broadway, professional dance companies, top dance colleges, in the entertainment industry as dancers for major artists, and national commercials. The foundation of technique is what Nakia focuses on in her classes for students to reach their full potential. Her dances have won countless choreography, technique, entertainment, title, and performance awards both regionally and nationally. Nakia is excited to continue teaching and sharing her knowledge of dance.