Staff

Melissa P., Artistic Director  Melissa received her training at the Ballet West Conservatory as a scholarship student under the instruction of William F. Christensen (founder of Ballet West and San Francisco Ballet).  As a classically trained dancer Melissa has performed with multiple ballet companies across the United States and Europe including: Ballet West, Eugene Ballet, Ballet Idaho, Ballet Long Island, Pirouettes, Utah Regional Ballet, and Central Florida Ballet.  She has held contracts with Cunard and Norwegian Cruise Lines through Jean Ann Ryan Productions as well as with Disney on both AEA and Non-AEA stages.  She is a staff member at the prestigious North Carolina Theatre Conservatory, received a B.A. in Theatre Arts and Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and holds a graduate certificate in Arts Administration also from UMASS.

Sarah G., Studio Manager (Office & Administration).  Sarah is a veteran performer, instructor and manager from Baltimore, MD. She received a BFA in theatre performance from Syracuse University and a MBA from Loyola Maryland. Her more than 10 years of instruction experience includes gymnastics, dance, theatre and vocal music. She spent many year as a performing in professional stage productions in and around Baltimore; during that she time she was also a writer, director, singer and movement/fight choreographer. Sarah previously worked for School of Rock in Baltimore and Columbia, in administration and operational management.  

 Jessie A., Studio Manager (Curriculum & Performance) has substantial performance and teaching experience across Ovations’ dance disciplines.  She graduated in 2014 from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, with a Masters of Art in Teaching in Dance and has been teaching since 2008.  She has been involved in curriculum development, administrative roles, and performance company leadership.  She can teach all ages in all genres, from 18 months to 18 years.  Her performance experience includes UMBC's professional modern dance company in residence, Baltimore Dance Project, and she first became involved in choreography in 2004.   

Amanda S. has more than a dozen years of experience in dance instruction.  She can teach all forms of dance offered by Ovations, including ballet, hip hop, tap, lyrical, Jazz, and musical theater, and is qualified to teach all ages of all disciplines.  She has served as director of a musical theater performance company, developed dance curriculum, and trained and supervised new teachers.  She focuses on maintaining a positive atmosphere in the classroom.  Amanda received a BA in Music Theater, with minors in Dance and Business Administration from the American University in Washington, D.C.  

Kristen B.   is originally from Baltimore, MD where she gained extensive dance experience in multiple genres such as; Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Ukrainian dance. She spent five years as a core member of St. Paul’s School for Girl’s dance performance group, Inertia. Throughout her 18 years of dance experience and training, Kristen has found a love for choreography and teaching. She became an instructor for dance classes when she was just 15 years old beginning with two-year-olds and working her way up to instructing adult classes. She has taught at multiple dance studios in both Baltimore and the Washington, DC area over the past four years. Her passion for dance and instruction has inspired her to work towards her goal of creating a dance media company where dancers not only will receive technical training but will learn how to brand themselves through multiple forms of media.  She is currently a student at American University majoring in Public Relations and Strategic Communications with a minor in Marketing.

Lori W. has more than 20 years of dance teaching experience, in ballet, tap, jazz, street jazz, and musical theatre.  She has taught children ages eighteen months to eighteen years, as well as adults.  She has been involved in all aspects of dance instruction and studio work, including extensive experience in choreography, curriculum development, and administration.  Lori has been involved in leading roles with performance companies, including in music direction and set design.  Lori completed coursework leading to a Bachelors in English Language and Literature at the University of Maryland, College Park.  

Maddie A. fell in love with dance when she first started dancing at age three. She has more than 18 years of ballet training, as well as college level dance training in a variety of forms including ballet, modern, jazz and tap. Maddie was a member of the audition only dance troupe at Franklin & Marshall College.  Maddie has held lead roles in several productions including Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker.  

Matthew P. is joining the Ovations Studios team for the 2022-2023 year after relocating to the East Coast from Las Vegas, NV. A graduate of Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi, Matthew received a B.F.A. in (Modern) Dance studies. His numerous accomplishments include receiving the Belhaven University Belazel Award, selection for Bal Malhada (a five week dance tour of South Korea) and five seasons as a company member of the Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theatre (know the Contemporary West Dance Theatre). During his time with the company, he performed classic contemporary-modern and neo-classical repertoire choreographed by Alvin Ailey, Ulysses Dove, Elisa Monte, Milton Myers, Hope Boykin, Jeon James, Avree Walker, and company director & co-founder Bernard H. Gaddis, among others. He would also pick up a leadership role as a co-artistic director of LVCDT’s Jr. company the LVCDT2. In November of 2018, The Murder on Vehement Hill would become Matthew’s first full- length ballet and choreographic debut.

Leslie A. founded Ovations Studios in 2017.   Dance was her sport from age 4 through college.   Growing up, she danced with the Dallas Ballet and held roles in numerous professional performances of The Nutcracker and other productions.  In college, she performed with The Arts House Dance Company at The University of Pennsylvania.  After college, she was a private equity investor for three decades, first with The Carlyle Group and later with her own firm that she founded and operated in NYC and DC.