Teaching Faculty
Kimberly Price, Director, MMPAC
Since 1989
Kimberly Price began her professional dance training in NYC at the age of seventeen. She studied with masters such as Luigi, Charles Kelly, David Howard and various professionals from the Broadway Dance Center. After auditioning and earning a scholarship to Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Kimberly moved west. While in Chicago she also began work on her Bachelor’s degree in Theater at Loyola University. Kimberly returned to Maryland in 1989 and opened her first school - The Middletown Center of Dance. The school quickly grew and evolved into the Mid-Maryland Performing Arts Center. Kimberly remains committed to the basic principle that dance is for everyone at every age and that MMPAC should instill a lifelong love of dance in every student. She founded UnBound, a non-profit organization whose purpose is to extend the experience of dance to those of differing abilities. Kimberly received her Graduate Certificate in Dance at American University in Washington, DC in 2005. She is an active member of the local and regional arts community and is among the first to implement the National Standards for Dance Education at her studio.
Esperanza Alzona has had an extensive professional dance career as a soloist and principal dancer of the Baltimore Ballet Company, the Center Dance Ensemble, Prince George’s Ballet Company, the Greg Reynolds Dance Company and the American Dance Ensemble of Pittsburgh, along with numerous appearances as a guest artist with various companies in the United states and Italy. An award-winning choreographer, Ms. Alzona holds a teaching diploma from the Royal Academy of Dance, an AA in Humanities & Social Science, a BA in Psychology and an MA in Public Communications. She taught dance, performed and choreographed in northern Italy for six years, and from 1987 to 1991 she directed her own contemporary dance company based in Turin. She returned to the USA in 1991 and joined th
e staff of MMPAC where she continues to set choreography on her students, independent artists and professional dance companies. Ms. Alzona has been an adjunct professor of dance at Shepherd University, where she also holds the position of Music Operations Manager.
Kitty Clark
Since 2000
Kitty Clark is a contemporary modern dancer and yoga instructor. For more than 15 years, she has spearheaded performance projects that aim to make contemporary dance and performance accessible to a broader audience. She is the founder/director of the Shepherdstown, WV-based Goose Route Arts Collaborative. Her choreography ranges from proscenium-style contemporary dances to outdoor, site-specific performances that have taken place on working farms, college botanic gardens, city parks, riverbanks, and a U.S Fish and Wildlife Training Center. As a dancer, she has performed with choreographers in New York City, Washington, DC, and Vancouver, Canada. In addition to MMPAC, Kitty has taught at Shepherd University, Wilson College, Smith College, Shenandoah University, and the WV Governor’s School for the Arts. She holds a Master of Fine Arts from Smith College and a Bachelor of Arts in history from Vassar College. Her yoga teaching certification is from Ananda Shala in Frederick.
Hannah Engelke
Since 2011
Hannah Engelke trained under the tutelage of International Ballet Medalist Ashley Canterna and Mary Moran at the Edna Lee Dance Studio in Glen Burnie, MD. She has also studied at Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Culver City, CA. She has received numerous honors including Dance Masters of America’s Petite, Junior, and Miss Dance of Chapter 17, the Mid-Atlantic. She has been selected as an Anne Arundel All-County Dancer, as well as a Maryland All-State Dancer. Hannah has been accepted into Alvin Ailey’s Certificate and Independent Study programs, as well as Towson University’s Dance Department. In 2010, she was accepted to Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts, where she chose to studyfor the following year.
Hannah has been a part of the lead faculty for Pinnacle Dance Camp in McHenry, MD for the past two years. She has also taught for Maryland Festival Ballet’s Ballet Intensive. She is currently pursuing a double major in both dance and psychology. She is also a member of the AACC Dance Company, where she is working with Lynda Fitzgerald and former Ailey II member, Torens Johnson.
Amy Hatzis
Since 2008
Born and raised in Connecticut, Amy grew up studying contemporary and classical dance as well as theatre. After spending two years training in musical theatre at University of Hartford, she graduated Summa cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Choreography from Arizona State University. There she studied with Cynthia Roses-Thema who codified a method of ballet training based on the science of body mechanics and kinesiology. Through her professional training she has had the pleasure of working with Pilobolus Dance Theatre, Doug Varone and Dancers, Troy Powell of Ailey II, and master teachers from Nutmeg Conservatory. While in Phoenix, she performed with Footworks Dance Project for two seasons before moving to Maryland in 2006. Amy continued her training at Dance Place in Washington DC where she performed in Deborah Riley’s: Acts of Faith. Upon moving to Frederick, Amy danced with Goose Route Arts Collaborative run by MMPAC’s own Kitty Clark where she was a company member for its final two seasons. Amy is also a Comprehensive Certified Pilates instructor through Power Pilates New York since 2005 and at present is the Pilates Directorat Ananda Shala in Frederick, Maryland.
Chrissi Haynes
Since 2000
Chrissi Haynes graduated cum laude from Towson University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education. In addition to her work at MMPAC, she has also taught at Carroll County Dance Center, Towson University Children’s Dance Division, Carroll County Performing Arts Center, and Tah-dah Dance Studio. Chrissi has preformed with the Towson Dance Repertory Company, as well as modern dance companies, Abstract Emotions and Goose Route Dance Theater.
Rashane A. Lee
Since 2011
Shane, born and raised in Baltimore, started dancing at the age of 4. He has studied a wide range of dance styles including tap, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and ballet at such places as Dance Theater of Harlem, Steps on Broadway, and the Juilliard Youth Program. After signing with a talent search agency, he performed and toured with both Usher and Chris Brown in their 2006 Florida tours. Shane is a graduate of Stevenson University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. He has taught dance at Deve’s Christian School of Performing Arts (the studio he grew up in) and Tomorrow’s Leaders Daycare. “I strive for nothing but excellence,” Shane says, and he encourages all his students to do the same.
Pascha Simon-Mascarello
Since 1998
Pascha Simon-Mascarello received dance training through MMPAC’s ballet program under the direction of Esperanza Alzona. Her performance experience includes dancing with “Masterpiece” touring company throughout the United States as well as Peru, Brazil, and Mexico. Pascha also danced for many years with Fire in Zion, of Frederick, MD and Goose Route Dance Theater of Shepherdstown, WV.
Kristin McCoy
Since 2008
Kristin McCoy began her dance training at MMPAC, where she had the privilege of working with both Meisha Bosma of BosmaDance and Kitty Clark of Goose Route Dance Theater. In 2001, she began teaching before entering Winthrop University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Performance, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Biology. While attending college, Kristin taught mixed levels and ages at local South Carolina studios. Kristin is planning to enter graduate school for physical therapy.
Kacie Peterson
Since 2011
Kacie Peterson graduated from Slippery Rock University with Bachelor of Arts degree in dance and communication. She started her dance training at MMPAC at 4 years old and continued through high school graduation. While continuing her dance education at SRU, Kacie had the opportunity of traveling to Chennai, India, in 2009 for a month-long internship to learn the classical Indian dance form of Bharathanatyam under the instruction of Revathi Ramachandran. Kacie currently works in advertising at The Gazette in Frederick and plans to pursue a career in arts journalism.
Nicole Hammond Ruark
Since 2002
Nicole Ruark’s training in classical ballet, tap, jazz and musical theatre earned her a full scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet School as well as the Herbert R. Brent Scholarship for the Arts while still in high school. While attending The American University in Washington DC, Nicole was honored with both the Greenberg Scholarship for the Performing Arts and the Herb Edelman Acting Award. After graduating cum laude with a Bachelors Degree in Theatre, Ms. Ruark went on to choreograph and perform professionally in New York and nationwide as a member of Actors Equity Union. Some of her favorite productions include Cats, Crazy for You, The Will Rogers Follies, Guys and Dolls, Grande Hotel, Sweet Charity and A Chorus Line. Her choreography spans a variety of styles from musical theatre at Walt Disney World to highly lauded contemporary ballet. At the International Youth American Grand Prix competition in New York, Ms. Ruark’s ballet “Synthesis” received the top honor for contemporary works. She has also been recognized by the International Ballet Competition for contributions in the contemporary ballet division. Her work has been seen at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, in Switzerland at the Prix de Lausanne, in multiple theatre productions and is currently in the repertory of several professional ballet companies. Nicole is pleased to have attended the pstigious Broadway Theatre Project in Tampa, FL, 2009 as a guest educator at the invitation of Artistic Director Debra McWaters. She is currently entering her 10th year as a member of the MMPAC staff.
Melissa Stidom
Since 2011
Melissa has been dancing since she was 3, and spent most of her training studying under Thomas F. Waters at the Artistic Dance Studio in Walkersville, MD. She graduated from Urbana High School in 2006 where she spent the majority of her time on the stage, being a dance captain and part of the Urbana Dance Team for four years. She was also an officer and captain for three years on the Urbana Hawks Poms team and competition team. Melissa appeared several times on the stage of the Weinberg Center and Frederick Arts Council in various performances with SAB Productions, a local theatre company. Melissa is a member of the Dance Masters of America. She began teaching in 2002. Melissa is currently furthering her studies at Frederick Community College where she is training to be a registered nurse.
Lexie Thrash
Since 2011
Lexie has been dancing since age two in the Maryland/DC area, first training at the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange in Montgomery County and with Mid-Maryland Performing Arts Center since the age of 6. This year is her ninth year as a studio ambassador in the MMPAC dance company - Dance FX. She also performed with MMPAC faculty member Kitty Clark in her Goose Route Dance Theater production of Farm Dance at the age of 8. In July 2011, Lexie had the opportunity to train for three weeks with an incredible faculty at the Broadway Theater Project under the supervision of Deborah McWaters and Darren Gibson. She has been a student teacher with MMPAC for six years, and is thrilled to be teaching on her own this season! Lexie hopes to continue to dance and sing wherever life takes her, and plans on pursuing a dance and journalism degree in college next fall following her graduation from the International Baccalaureate Program at Urbana High School.
Courtney Tyler
Since 2001
Courtney eats, sleeps and breathes MMPAC. She has been dancing since she was 9 years old and has been with the school for 10 years. It is her dream to own and operate her own dance studio and she is well on her way. Courtney just finished up a year long internship under MMPAC owner, Kimberly Price. Courtney is a freshman at University of Maryland, Baltimore County on a full dance scholarship under the Linehan Artist Scholars Program. She is majoring in Dance Performance and Dance Education. Courtney is entering her second year as a teacher for Mid-Maryland Performing Arts Center, and also teaches dance to mentally handicapped adults in the Frederick community.
Amy Wrobleski
Since 2010
Amy Wrobleski holds a BFA in dance performance from Butler University and a MFA in Dance Performance/Teaching from the State University of New York at Purchase College. She danced professionally with the Corpus Christi Ballet in Texas for two seasons. For the past ten years, Amy has taught ballet, pointe, modern and creative movement. From 2006 to 2007 she was the School Director and owner of the All American Ballet School in Ventura, California. In 2008, Amy obtained her California Elementary Education Teaching Credential. Most recently, she taught dance at Premier Dance Studio, and Ballet Academy Ventura in California. Thanks to her husband’s job, Amy relocated to Frederick, Maryland in August of 2010. She is excited about being part of MMPAC and looks forward to all the new adventures the east coast will bring!
MMPAC • 5901 Enterprise Court • Frederick, MD 21703 • 301.694.5105