Terané Comito

As the Director of Education, Terané oversees all functions of the School. Terané is also Head of SNBT’s Pre-Professional Dance Program and its Competition Team. Terané also heads up NBT's Community Education Programs. Currently in its 26th year, Future Dance reaches over 20,000 students a year through its initiatives including GO-MOVE-DANCE!!!, Future Dance Scholar Program and the Dance Discovery Program. Future Dance Program graduates have received opportunities to perform, teach and continue their training with prestigious schools such as the Ailey School in New York City. Terané has facilitated many partnerships including the Las Vegas Academy, where the Dance Discovery Spring Concert was performed. In 2015, the Future Dance Spring Concert moved into The Smith Center, giving over 900 underserved students the chance to perform on a professional stage. Terané has been instrumental in the expansion of NBT’s Community Education programs, including the Student Matinee Series, Storytime, In School Performance Program, Kids Night Out at the Ballet, Ballet Rocks and Dance Discovery Summer Camp — where students who may otherwise be unsupervised and inactive during the summer can now dance in a fun and safe environment.

Don Bellamy

Don Bellamy studied dance at Duke Ellington School of the Arts in his hometown of Washington D.C. He then began his career as a core dancer at Capital Ballet in Washington, D.C under the direction of Doris Jones (Jones-Haywood School of Ballet) and Billy Wilson. Don joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater under the Direction of Founder, Alvin Ailey. He has been a part of such prestigious companies as Dance Theatre of Harlem, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Donald Byrd/The Group, Elisa Monte Dance, and was a part of a collaboration between Dance Theatre of Harlem and New York City Ballet. Don has had the privilege of being a part of many Broadway productions, including The Red Shoes, Disney’s The Lion King, Porgy and Bess, and The Phantom of the Opera, both in Las Vegas and the third U.S. national tour; and has worked with many internationally renowned artists and entertainers including Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, and Celine Dion. He previously served as the Ballet Master/Coach for Contemporary West Dance Theater and Studio 702.

Dodie Askegard

Dodie Askegard began her training in Minneapolis, Minnesota with Minnesota Dance Theatre studying under Loyce Houlton and Bonnie Mathis. She continued her training at Ballet West, San Francisco Ballet, and in New York with Maggie Black. She danced as a soloist with Minnesota Dance Theatre, joined Spokane Ballet as a principal, and worked with MICA, Aponte and Company, and other theater groups in Minneapolis and Spokane. In 2004, she became the director of Ballet Arts Academy and was named the Artistic Director of Theatre Ballet of Spokane. Dodie is a certified ABT NTC teacher as well as in Progressing Ballet Technique, which she has used to create conditioning programs for ballet dancers and figure skaters. In addition to teaching, she is also an accomplished choreographer. She has been Children’s Rehearsal Director for The Nutcracker in Spokane with Alberta Ballet, Ballet Memphis, State Street Ballet, and Nashville Ballet. She attended the University of Washington in Seattle, WA where she graduated Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kapa with a BA in Political Science. Dodie also earned her Masters in Dance Education in 2017 from the University of Northern Colorado with her thesis focusing on teaching musicality in the dance studio. She has taught at summer programs across the country, and in 2019 was named Artist in Residence for the University of Las Vegas, Nevada (UNLV).

Melissa Ridley

Melissa Ridley has been dancing since the age of three and has trained in ballet, jazz, tap, theater and ballroom dance. She acquired her training at the Langley Fine Arts School as a dance major, The Academy of Dance and Harbour Dance Center in Vancouver BC, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School summer intensives, and Ballroom Addiction in Las Vegas. Melissa began teaching in 2002 in Vancouver British Columbia where she also completed a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She began teaching with the School of Nevada Ballet Theater in 2013 and is thrilled to be able to share her love of dance with her students at SNBT. Melissa is an ABT Certified Teacher and has successfully completed the ABT teacher training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT National Training Curriculum.

Dodie Askegard

Don Bellemy

Shara Bergal

Shara Bergal is from Chicago where she received her training with Stone-Camryn, Larry Long (Ruth Page Foundation), and the School of Chicago City Ballet (Maria Tallchief). She was the recipient of ballet scholarships at the Interlochen Arts Academy and was an apprentice at the Boston Ballet under the direction of E. Virginia Williams, and later Violette Verdy. Shara studied further in NYC at the School of American Ballet, and with Wilhelm Burmann, Robert Denvers, Floris Alexander and David Howard. Her studies also took her to Paris, where she trained under Gilbert Mayer of the Pairs Opera Ballet and Gerard Wilk (Ballet of the 20th Century, Bejart). Shara has danced with professional companies in Chicago, St. Louis, Denver, Innsbruck, and St. Poelten, Austria, and has worked extensively in Vienna and throughout Western Europe. Shara eagerly draws on her diverse background to instill an enthusiasm for all forms of dance in her students.

Marcus Bulger

With dance knowledge covering a wide range of techniques, including ballet, pointe, character and ballroom, Marcus has taught and choreographed in dance schools, conventions, dance camps, and universities across the US; notably STEPS NYC, Broadway Dance Center, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Lindenwood University, and Utica College. He has danced at the Muny, Harkness Ballet Company, Joffrey II, Eglevsky Ballet, Metropolitan Opera Ballet and joined the artistic management team of Cirque du Soleil, opening Zumanity in Las Vegas. He has since been on the staff of the Academy of NBT, Las Vegas Dance Academy, the Rock Center for Dance and Ballet Havasu in Arizona.

Kelly Cabrera

Kelly Cabrera, a Miami native, began her professional ballet training at the Harid Conservatory under principal ballerina Marjorie Tallchief of the Paris Opera Ballet. During these early years she was fortunate to study under Claude Bessy, David Howard, Gelsey Kirkland, Helgi Tomasson, Violette Verde and John Taras. At the age of fourteen Kelly was invited to the School of American Ballet in New York City where she continued her classical ballet training under the great Stanley Williams, Marina Stavitskaya and Kay Mazzo. By the age of seventeen she began her professional dance career performing in companies such as Pacific Northwest Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Ballet Chicago, the Los Angeles Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Cirque du Soleil Mystère, Dragóne, and Celine Dion A New Day. She has also worked with some of the world’s top recording artists in entertainment including Celine Dion, Justin Timberlake, Shakira, Andrea Bocelli, John Legend and Nicki Minaj to name a few. Her diversity as an artist has allowed her to work in multiple genres of art, theater, dance, fashion and music. Kelly's most recent choreographic works include Cirque Du Soleil's One Night For One Drop at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, Kevin Murphy's North American Super Natural Show at the Wynn, Ruka (the musical) at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, America’s Got Talent, Intrigue at the Wynn and Symmetry for Ballet Arts Academy summer gala. Internationally and nationally Kelly has spent many years working in television and film. Throughout her career Kelly has always loved teaching and inspiring young dancers. She has taught on the faculty of schools all over the United States including Ballet Chicago, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, Millennium Dance Complex Los Angeles, Edge Performing Arts Los Angeles, Ballet Arts Academy and Dance Masters of America national conventions.

Joanna Crawford

Joanna comes from a background of almost 20 years as a dancer, working back home in Britain, the US, Europe, Mexico and on cruise ships. She was originally introduced to Pilates by Alan Herdman whilst working in London and took up the practice again here in Las Vegas. Recognizing the enormous benefits of the Pilates Method, she took her first certification at UNLV with the DK Body Balancing Method. Since then, she has become a fully certified instructor with Stott Pilates, a MELT instructor and has a certification with AFAA. Joanna enjoys combining her experience as a dancer and her knowledge as a Pilates instructor to build body sense, core strength and increase balance and stability.

Giselle DeMarco Mass

Christina Ghiardi

Christina Ghiardi is originally from Morgantown, West Virginia. She studied with the Joffrey Ballet School Trainee Program on full scholarship for one year before being invited to attend the School of American Ballet’s Winter Term, where she completed four years of pre-professional training. Upon graduating from SAB in 2012, Christina joined Boston Ballet II where she performed with Boston Ballet and in 2013 appeared as a guest artist with Pennsylvania Ballet. Christina joined Nevada Ballet Theatre (NBT) in 2014 where she is currently a company artist. Since joining NBT, she has performed principal roles in ballets such as Ben Stevenson’s Dracula, Cinderella, Septime Webre’s Alice (In Wonderland), The Wizard of Oz, Jerome Robbins’ The Concert, James Canfield’s Giselle, Cinderella and George Balanchine’s Serenade, The Nutcracker, Allegro Brillante, Western Symphony, Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, Rubies, The Four Temperaments, Who Cares?, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She has also originated featured roles in Matthew Neenan’s Until December, Trey McIntyre’s Crown Shyness and Lauren Lovette’s Back When. During Christina’s final year at SAB, she was one of two advanced students selected by Peter Martins and Kay Mazzo for an inaugural student teacher program. Christina joined the faculty of Boston Ballet School’s pre-professional division for the 2013-2014 school year and The School of Nevada Ballet Theatre’s faculty in 2016. She has appeared a guest teacher at SAB’s Summer Course, Boston Ballet School’s Summer Dance Program, Dallas Ballet Center and The University of Performing Arts in Bratislava, Slovakia. As a choreographer, Christina has choreographed over 20 works for companies and schools including Ballet West II, The School of American Ballet, Boston Ballet School, Avant Chamber Ballet, The School of Nevada Ballet Theatre, Ballet Orange County, artÉmotion, Neville Dance Theatre and Dallas Ballet Company. In 2022, she was selected as a choreographic fellow for the University of Utah’s Choreographic Institute and her works, Nuvole Bianche, Prayer for Peace and Chronos, have appeared as finalists at the Palm Desert Choreography Festival.

Steven Goforth

Exposed to movement and dance through a program at his elementary school, Steven Goforth began his official training in Vancouver, WA with Jan Hurst and Zachary Carroll. Starting in 2010, he attended the Ballet West Academy Summer Intensive on scholarship for three summers, and later joined Ballet West's Professional Trainee Program, on full scholarship. As a Trainee, he performed in The Little Mermaid, Don Quixote, and the Act 3 pas de deux from Spartacus. Steven moved to Las Vegas to join Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2012 and has performed many principal roles including; Prince Siegfried in Cynthia Gregory’s Swan Lake, the title role in Ben Stevenson’s Dracula, Bugle Boy and Pennsylvania Polka in Paul Taylor’s Company B, Gerald Arpino’s Light Rain Pas de Deux, the principal couple in Christopher Wheeldon’s Carousel (A Dance), the principal couple in Nicolo Fonte's Bolero, a featured role in Nicolo Fonte’s Carmina Burana, Cheshire Cat and King of Hearts in Septime Webre’s Alice (in Wonderland), Snow Prince in James Canfield’s The Nutcracker, and principal roles in George Balanchine’s Who Cares?, Serenade, Western Symphony, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Steven originated roles in works by Nicolo Fonte (Crane/ing), Matthew Neenan (Until December), Krista Baker-Mendoza (The Current), Trey McIntyre (Crown Shyness) and James Canfield. Outside of ballet, Steven enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter and two dogs; golfing and supporting local small businesses. Steven is the Co-Owner and Designer for Kerf Works USA, a small woodworking business here in Las Vegas.

Jack Grohmann

Jamie Grover

Jamie Grover is proud to call Las Vegas home and to be a part of the dance community. She started dancing at the age of 3 in her grandmother’s studio, Carol Lee Dance, in Spokane, WA. It was there she developed her love for competition dance with her dance team competing at New York City Dance Alliance and Star Power. At the age of 17 she moved to Las Vegas to star in her first professional show, Jubilee!, at Bally’s Casino. After establishing her roots in Las Vegas, she hit the high seas performing for Jean Ann Ryan Productions on Norwegian Cruise Line and P&O Cruise Line. Having traveled the world, she was ready to return home to Las Vegas and re-join her family in Jubilee! Being back home has afforded her wonderful opportunities to dance on stages with Britney Spears and most recently, Jennifer Lopez’s New Year’s Eve 2015 show at Caesar’s Palace. In addition to Jamie’s dance career, her TV appearances include Hell’s Kitchen with Gordon Ramsay, Housewives of Atlanta, Ellen’s 12 Days of Christmas and photo shoots with Rod Stewart and Heidi Klum. She is beyond ecstatic to return to her competition roots and be on staff with School of Nevada Ballet Theatre.

Brittany Holtzclaw

Erica Kirby

With training in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Hip-Hop, Erica Kirby attended college at The University of South Dakota, in Vermillion, South Dakota. There, she earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Elementary Education (with concentrations in both Special Education and Spanish). After moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, Erica earned her Masters of Education degree in Literacy from Lesley University. Erica has been a teacher with the Clark County School District for nineteen years and is currently a fourth grade teacher at Dondero Elementary School. She was named Dondero’s Teacher of the Year during the 2012-2013 school year. Erica has been employed as a dance teacher for Nevada Ballet Theatre’s Future Dance Program for eighteen years. As a part of NBT’s outreach dance program, she is responsible for the daily organizational tasks, classroom management, dance training, and choreography for over two hundred third, fourth, and fifth grade dancers. She has further taught both Hip-Hop Babies and Hip-Hop Kids, at the Academy of Nevada Ballet Theatre, for a period of five years. Ms. Erica Kirby is thrilled to be a part of SNBT’s teaching staff. Teaching young children the art form of dance is one of the greatest joys of her life.

Lori Marshburn

Lori Marshburn began dancing Professionally at the age of sixteen appearing in National Tours, Theme Parks, Casinos, Cruise Lines and Regional Theatre. She has also toured the Country performing in numerous shows as Dance Captain and Original Choreographer. Lori has also worked with such Broadway names as Baayork Lee, Tommy Walsh, Donna Drake and Gary Chryst. She once trained under Frank Hatchett at Broadway Dance Centre in New York City. Lori has also taught acro for years and is Certified through ACROBATIC ARTS. She has also taught kids here in Las Vegas on a Competitive level. Which they have won Top Awards, Specialty and Judges Choice Awards at competitions. Lori is going into her seventh year as the Dance Specialist for Doral Academy the Pebble Campus. She is also excited to be back teaching for another year at Nevada Ballet Theater.

Maria Mesheryakova

Originally from Moscow, Russia, Masha Mesheryakova has always held a strong passion for dancing. Raised in her hometown of Las Vegas, NV, she took her first ballet steps at ANBT. It was at 4 years old she took ballet class alongside her brother Gene, with her first teacher being beloved Monika Rostomian. Masha’s ballet career blossomed under the instruction of Ella Gourkova and Sergei Popov, and with their guidance she danced many principal/supporting roles locally and across the country. At the age of 18 Masha fell in love with a new form of dance, ballroom dancing, and she now competes all over the U.S. in Amateur Latin dancing. However she has never forgotten her roots and where her passion for dancing began. Masha is honored for the chance to return to her love of ballet by teaching at the very school where she began dancing years ago. ANBT holds a special place in her heart and she is excited to share her story and knowledge with all her students. Masha hopes every dancer leaves her class feeling inspired, excited and passionate. Her goal is to help every dancer discover their love of dancing through the beauty of ballet! She can’t wait to meet you and hopes to see you in the ballet studio soon!

Jenna McShinsky

Robert McShinsky

Delaney Otjes

Delaney Otjes was born in Calgary, Canada and grew up largely in Las Vegas. She was classically trained from a young age in ballet via the Royal Academy of Dance, as well as studying modern, jazz, tap, contemporary, musical theater and African dance. Delaney graduated Magna Cum Laude from New York University with a BA in Dance Performance with minors in Philosophy and Studio Art. During her time in NYC, she worked for industry pillars including Wendy Perron and Kathryn Posin. Delaney is currently on the dance faculty at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts where she sets an evening length original work each year. Her movement ethos centers on the nature of performativity of self and the temporality of bodies in a space.

Melissa Ridley

Melissa Ridley has been dancing since the age of three and has trained in ballet, jazz, tap, theater and ballroom dance. She acquired her training at the Langley Fine Arts School as a dance major, The Academy of Dance and Harbour Dance Center in Vancouver BC, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School summer intensives, and Ballroom Addiction in Las Vegas. Melissa began teaching in 2002 in Vancouver British Columbia where she also completed a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She began teaching with the School of Nevada Ballet Theater in 2013 and is thrilled to be able to share her love of dance with her students at SNBT. Melissa is an ABT Certified Teacher and has successfully completed the ABT teacher training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT National Training Curriculum.

Stelly Rodriguez Vega

Stelly Rodriguez Vega began her dance training at the National School of Arts in Cuba, where she studied classical ballet under the guidance of the legendary Prima Ballerina Assoluta Alicia Alonso.

She went on to perform with the National Ballet of Cuba, directed by Alicia Alonso, and toured extensively throughout Latin America and Europe. During her international career, she danced as a Principal Dancer with the Ballet Company Rey de Viana in Spain. In 2006, Stelly moved to Las Vegas to join the acclaimed Latin production Havana Night. She later performed as a principal dancer on American tours with Cirque Dreams and collaborated with internationally renowned companies including Cirque du Soleil and Cirque Éloize (Canada). In 2012, Stelly became a dancer and assistant to Cirque du Soleil choreographer and casting director Giulio Scatola, collaborating on several productions in Europe and Las Vegas, including Gotta Dance and A Tribute to Life! In 2017, she was selected to perform with internationally acclaimed singer Robin Thicke during his live concert tour in the Philippines. She also appeared in the Emmy Award-winning production BENISE: Fuego! – Spirit of Spain.

Today, Stelly is a ballet instructor at the School of Nevada Ballet Theatre, where she is passionate about inspiring the next generation of dancers. She continues to share her extensive international performance experience through teaching, choreography, and master classes at dance schools and artistic institutions.

Monika Rostomian

Monika Rostomian began teaching ballet at Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2001. She came to SNBT from Russia where she received her training in the Vaganova method at the St. Petersburg (Kirov) Ballet Academy under the tutelage of famed prima ballerina Natalia Dudinskaya. She has performed throughout Europe, Asia and North and South America as soloist with many ballet companies, including Moscow Festival Ballet and Ballet of Russia. During her career she had also served as a ballet mistress and choreographer. Monika later graduated from the Moscow State Institute of Theatrical Art and was awarded its coveted teaching diploma. Her teaching skills encompass all levels of ballet and character dance, ranging from five year old beginner to advanced-professionals. She also qualifies in special training for figure skaters and in dance therapy for the psychological rehabilitation of children. Monika is dedicated to the highest standards of excellence in every aspect of her teaching.

Payton Schultz

Skylar Schultz

Skylar Schultz received her BFA degree in Dance from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. While in the PPU Conservatory Dance Company, she was given the opportunity to work with Keigwin & Co, Jess Hendricks, Troy Powell, Garfield Lemonius, and Bennyroyce Rayon. After graduation she relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada to pursue her professional dance career. Skylar is now performing with the Aces WNBA Wild Card Crew, and in December she will be performing in The Holiday Show at the Wynn.

Tiffany Case Singler

Tiffany Case Singler is a ballet dancer, teacher, and choreographer originally from Seattle, Washington. She began her training on scholarship at the renowned Pacific Northwest Ballet School and expanded her studies at elite programs including Boston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and Ballet Austin. At 18, Tiffany joined the corps de ballet at California Ballet in San Diego, performing in both classical and contemporary works such as Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, and Betzi Roe's Dry Roses.

She later moved to San Francisco, where she served as Assistant Director of the San Francisco Youth Ballet Academy, helping to implement a new curriculum and staging full-length productions. While there, she also performed soloist roles as a guest artist with San Francisco Youth Ballet Theatre. Upon returning to Southern California, Tiffany became Associate Director at San Elijo Dance & Music Academy, where she trained dancers who have gone on to perform professionally across the United States.

Tiffany now brings her expertise and passion to Nevada Ballet Theatre, where she is committed to inspiring the next generation of ballet dancers. In addition to teaching, she continues to guest choreograph along the West Coast. Outside the studio, Tiffany runs a photography business with her husband as well as enjoys life as a proud mom.

Jocelyn Thompson

Grace Werkema

Grace Werkema is from Las Vegas, Nevada where she started her dance journey at a young age. She began her training at Dance Etc in Boulder City, Nevada and continued training at Las Vegas Academy of the Performing Arts, and Academy of Nevada Ballet Theater summer intensives. She recently graduated from Point Park University earning her Bachelor of Fine Art in dance with a jazz concentration. She made her choreography debut in Las Vegas and continued to choreograph during her time in Pittsburgh. She is now teaching across the Las Vegas valley striving to create a positive atmosphere in every space she enters, and share her love of dance with the next generation.

Sam Werkema

Sam Werkema is a choreographer and creative designer who has been practicing the art for 17 years and counting. He studied at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts for 3 years while simultaneously taking part and contributing to the Dance community found in Vegas. Primarily falling in love with Hip-Hop and the culture that black and Latin people had created. Sam has been trained in Ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, and dancehall. He has performed professionally for 6 years, performing with Cirque du Soleil, on the Wrestlemania stage, and holds a position within the Bob Marley Hope Road residency on the Las Vegas strip. Sam is currently still working professionally and releasing his own art pieces and projects, and joining in with his community members and peers' projects to further push the boundaries of what dance and hip-hop can do for people.