Michelle G Noblejas-Bartolomei - Artistic Director
Michelle G. Noblejas-Bartolomei has been teaching ballet since 1986. She has taught and choreographed at numerous academies in the Washington D.C. area and Florida. She has served as the Ballet Director at Centreville Academy of Dance and Dancensations Dance Centre in Northern Virginia. She created ballet programs for both children and adults at the Skyline Health Clubs in Falls Church, Virginia. Throughout her career as an instructor of the art of ballet, she has also taught lyrical, jazz, tap, and run a summer dance camp which included other facets of theatre such as voice, acting, music theory, keyboard basics, stage make-up, and costuming.
She began her training at age 5, studying with such well-reputed schools as the Washington Ballet and the Boston Ballet. She received scholarships to attend the Joffrey Ballet in New York City and the Ballet Academy of Northern Virginia. She performed as a soloist with the Shenandoah Dance Ensemble and the Tidewater Ballet. To complement her skills in ballet, she attended Shenandoah Conservatory for studies in Musical Theatre including jazz dance, dance composition, voice, acting, stage make-up, stage craft, and lighting. She has also choreographed and performed with a touring children's theatre company.
As an instructor, Miss Michelle seeks to inspire the pride and beauty within each dancer. In class she demands a high standard of discipline and an aspiration towards perfection. She believes that a student with the mind and body disciplined enough to adhere to the precise rules of Classical Ballet is better prepared for success in school, the workplace, and throughout all other aspects of life. In fact, those of her students who excel in ballet generally receive top honors in academics.
Equally important is Miss Michelle's endeavor to bring fun and enjoyment to her class. Ballet, by its repetitive and gradual nature requires an instructor who instills in her pupils the patience, dedication to hard work, and most of all, a love of the art which contributes to the formation of a graceful dancer. Together, she and her students celebrate during the stages which each dancer passes through on the way to greater mastery of the art of dancing.
She began her training at age 5, studying with such well-reputed schools as the Washington Ballet and the Boston Ballet. She received scholarships to attend the Joffrey Ballet in New York City and the Ballet Academy of Northern Virginia. She performed as a soloist with the Shenandoah Dance Ensemble and the Tidewater Ballet. To complement her skills in ballet, she attended Shenandoah Conservatory for studies in Musical Theatre including jazz dance, dance composition, voice, acting, stage make-up, stage craft, and lighting. She has also choreographed and performed with a touring children's theatre company.
As an instructor, Miss Michelle seeks to inspire the pride and beauty within each dancer. In class she demands a high standard of discipline and an aspiration towards perfection. She believes that a student with the mind and body disciplined enough to adhere to the precise rules of Classical Ballet is better prepared for success in school, the workplace, and throughout all other aspects of life. In fact, those of her students who excel in ballet generally receive top honors in academics.
Equally important is Miss Michelle's endeavor to bring fun and enjoyment to her class. Ballet, by its repetitive and gradual nature requires an instructor who instills in her pupils the patience, dedication to hard work, and most of all, a love of the art which contributes to the formation of a graceful dancer. Together, she and her students celebrate during the stages which each dancer passes through on the way to greater mastery of the art of dancing.
Trystan Merrick - Program Director
Trystan Merrick studied ballet under the tutelage of Ahita Ardalan, formerly of the Paris Opera Ballet. Having toured internationally performing in 18 countries on five continents Trystan had the unique opportunity to grow their appreciation and knowledge of the international dance community. They have performed the works of Twyla Tharp, Robert Cohen, James Canfield, Peter Anostos, Septime Webre, Merce Cunningham and George Balanchine in addition to most of the full length classical ballets. Trystan started their professional career with Nevada Ballet Theater in 2007, and has since danced as a principal artist for San Diego Ballet, San Diego Dance Theater, Malashock Dance, Owen Cox Dance, Concept Zero, City Ballet of San Diego, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, and The California Ballet. Trystan has presented choreographic work for DISCO RIOT, San Diego Dance Theater, and The California Ballet. While navigating their performance career Trystan prioritized developing experience as a teacher, choreographer, and artistic leader over past 17 years. They believe being able to relate and empathize with the intersectionality in our dance community can bring us to a future with more opportunities for all.
Barrett Bartolomei - Instructor and Office Manager
Barrett began his training with his mother, Michelle Bartolomei, and continues to train with her and Trystan Merrick. He has trained over summers at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Ballet Austin, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. He has been a guest performer for San Diego's local companies, California Ballet School and City Ballet of San Diego.
La Von Wageman - Instructor
A native of San Diego, La Von Wageman received her BFA from Tisch School of the Arts. She has trained at CAP21, Stonestreet Studios, and Atlantic Acting. She is a professionally trained voice-over actor, Upright Citizens Brigade improvisor, dancer, singer, and sketch comedy performer.
