MEET THE STAFF
PRISCILLA MOORADIAN
DIRECTOR/ MASTER IN BALLET
Priscilla is a distinguished dancer, teacher and choreographer. She started her training early in the Cecchetti Ballet Method under the guidance of Pamela Moore of the National Ballet. She then attended and studied at Adelphi University under the direction of Norman Walker. Upon her graduation she returned to perform with the National Ballet and continued her training at the prestigious Maryland Youth Ballet Company under Eric Hampton. Ms. Mooradian has performed with the Annapolis Theater of Magic and numerous industrial shows in the area. She returned to her training after receiving a full scholarship to Michigan State by the Cecchetti Council of America. She holds an Advanced Grade VII Ballet certificate in the Cecchetti method. Priscilla guest teaches and choreographs nationally and internationally. She has produced two groups to participate in the RC/TS “Winners” dance industrial showcase in California. She produced two numbers for “Christmas through a Child’s Eye” at the Merv Griffith Resorts in Atlantic City. She choreographed for Northern Virginia Opera Company, and “Revenger’s Tragedy” for the Washington Shakespeare Opera Company. She has choreographed several musicals at the surronding high schools and received great recognition for “Anything Goes” at the University of Maryland. She was also recognized as an assistant choreographer in the second National Tour of Big in New York City and associate choreographer for the Merrily We Roll Along at the Kennedy Center and associate choreographer for the Disneyland Production of “Snow White” and the Enchanted Musical at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA.
Ms. Mooradian has received numerous choreography awards with her outstanding choreography within her competitive show troops and has been artistic director of the Calvert School of Dance for over 30 years. The Calvert School of Dance is one of three studios in Maryland to be ranked in the top 50 studios in the Northeast region for the Federation of Dance Competitions. For the 2012 competition season, Priscilla’s show troops have received 3 FDC (Highest Scoring Number) awards.
SAMANTHA JOHNSON - YOUNG
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/ SHOWTROOP DIRECTOR
Samantha Johnson - Young began her dance training as a student of the Calvert School of Dance. Calvert, which holds a place in the top 50 Northeastern Schools under the Federation of Dance Competitions, was founded over forty years ago by her mother, Priscilla Mooradian. A love and passion for dance was cultivated in Samantha at an early age and she studied ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, gymnastics, pointe and modern until she graduated from high school.
She now co - owns the studio with her mother Priscilla. She is the Artistic Director and runs the Award Winning Competition Team. Her numbers have won multiple Choreography Awards and High Point Awards along with multiple National Grand Championships. Her unique style of teaching has changed the way CSD competes. Her specialty is Contemporary and Lyrical.
Samantha started her professional career at the young age of 14. During the course of her career she performed in numerous shows through the Washington D.C, Maryland, and Virginia area, including but not limited to, the Helen Hayes Awards and several Christmas and Halloween performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C with the composer Marvin Hamlisch and the National Symphony Orchestra. She also guest performed at the Lincoln Center on Broadway, with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra receiving her Broadway credit. She even performed in a Christmas Special for Maurice Hines as a "Rockette". This was all under the prestigious choreographer, Karma Camp.
In 2009, she was part of a professional dance group in the metropolitan area under the direction of Jesse Beaudoin. She also guest taught numerous workshops at the 2010 On Stage America nationals in Cape May, New Jersey, as well as co-choreographed the opening gala.
In the fall of 2010 she attended Savannah College of Art and Design graduating with a degree in Graphic Design. While attending college she worked and traveled around the country with Revolution Talent Competition. She worked with them from 2010 - 2019. After that, she then went on traveling the world with Starpower International Competition.
In 2018, she was brought on by Mrs. Karma Camp as the Assistant Choreographer for the annuaL July 4th Celebration at the White House. The show was broadcasted live and many of her students were able to perform.
Contemporary, Lyrical & Showtroop
WYNDEE McGOVERN
MASTER TEACHER/ ADV JAZZ TEACHER
Wyndee McGovern is a master teacher certified by Dance Educators of America as well as Dance Masters of America.
She was the Artistic Director of Spotlight Studio of Dance in Millersville, MD overseeing a complete program of Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Tap, Acrobatics, Lyrical & Hip-Hop for dancers ages 2 to 18. Under her direction, Spotlight Studio has become a competitive force in the dance community. Wyndee’s dancers are consistently recognized for their finely-honed technique and diversity of training. Spotlight has won many awards, both for performance and choreography. In 2002, her choreography for “Slippin’into Darkness” earned her a position as a finalist in the Jazz Dance World Congress’ Choreography Event sponsored by “Leo Dancewear”, which recognizes outstanding achievement in choreography throughout the world. In that same year, she founded “Jazzfuzion”, a pre-professional performance company, specializing in Contemporary and Jazz. In March 2004, Wyndee and her Company made their Broadway debut in “Nothin’ Like a Dame – 2004 at the St. James Theater with their interpretation of Michael Jackson’s “In The Closet”. Spotlight is also the home of “Oasis Dance Ensemble” consisting only of Spotlight trained dancers and choreographers and was awarded the “Silver” Medal for Choreography at the 2009 Leo’s Choreographic Event held at the Jazz Dance World Congress in Chicago, Ill.
Also in 2009, Wyndee was commissioned to choreograph for the noted Kirov Academy of Ballet’s Holiday Concert in Washington, DC. That same year they gave her the opportunity to implement a new Contemporary program for their advanced/pre-professional levels.
Wyndee serves as chief dance advisor the to the “Winning Way” College Preparation Program continuing to research and help advance young dancers through the college and career path and implements this program to her Junior and Senior year students providing mentoring, guidance and inspiration to those that participate. Wyndee continues to serve as a judge and adjudicator for many reputable organizations including Dance Masters of America Title Pageants and Performing Arts Scholarship Program, Showbiz National Talent Competition, Legacy Talent, Dance Educators of America, Onstage America and Accent on Youth Talent Competitions.
Her dancers are currently performing in hottest ticket on Broadway "Hamilton" on Broadway as well as the newly opened Hamilton in Chicago, Ill, “The Bad Boys of Dance - Rock The Ballet”, The Radio City Rockettes, The Lion King in Las Vegas, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and many Collegiate Dance Companies and Dance Teams. Wyndee made her television debut in “Health Matters” discussing a program she developed in partnership with Dr. Alan Sokoloff of the Yalich Clinic and “Doc for the Baltimore Ravens for Dance Injury Prevention. “The McGovern Method” of body conditioning, training and injury prevention has been presented in Baltimore County Public Schools as well as MAPHERD Convention for the state of Maryland. Her proudest moment by far was when her Mentor and Teacher, President of Dance Educators of America - Fran Peters assisted in helping her "Method" get adopted by Dance Educators of America into their Teachers Training program.
SAVANNAH STICKELL
BALLET TEACHER/COMBO CLASS/GYMNASTICS TEACHER
Savannah Stickell started training at Calvert School of Dance when she was 2 and a half years old. She was part of the competition team for 12 years and trained intensely in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Lyrical, Contemporary, hip hop and Gymnastics. She has won several regional and national titles while competing with Calvert School of Dance. She also attended C&C Dance Company in Bowie, MD for 2 years where she trained in every style of dance including Acrobatics and Contortion. She took classes at Abligals Francesca Classical School of Ballet where she studied the Vaganiva method of ballet. She also took character and yoga classes at her time there. Outside of the studio, Savannah attended multiple conventions each year, Star Dance Alliance summer intensives, Classes in New York at Steps and continued to train through the summer. Savannah was also on the Huntingtown High School Cheer team and Dance team throughout high school. Savannah continued to dance in college where she was part of the Towson Pom Squad. She cheered on the sidelines at football and basketball games and performed during in between quarters and at halftime. She also performed at several events throughout the year for Towson University and local events in Towson. She traveled with her team to Orlando, Florida where she competed in the College UDA. After leaving college, she started teaching for Calvert School of Dance and has been teaching here for 3 years. She loves sharing her love for dance and helping other dancers succeed.
MARY BETH MEIGGS
HIP HOP TEACHER/ TODDLER COMBO
Mary Beth was born and raised in Calvert County. She started her dance education at Calvert School of Dance at 6 years old. In her high school years she began assistant teaching as well as continuing her own education. Mary Beth has been teaching for five years. Over those five years she has taught tap, ballet, jazz, and hip hop on a recreational and competitive level. Over the years her dances have earned high scores and she has earned multiple choreography awards. Her passion for dance shines through in her teaching and she cannot wait for what the future brings!
RODNEY GORE
GYMNASTICS / ACRO TEACHER
JUSTIN LEWIS
ADV/INT & TAP 2 TEACHER
Justin M Lewis, a native of the Washington D.C area has been dancing since the age of 5. Mr. Lewis began by watching the movie “Tap” with Gregory Hines. Lewis then began to study dance at Knock On Wood Tap Studio in Silver Spring Maryland where he later became a member of the Pre-Professional Company, Tappers With Attitude (TWA).
Under TWA Mr. Lewis danced on many famous stages including, Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Theatre, Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap, Blues Alley, The Smithsonian, National Corcoran Gallery, The Apollo Theatre in New York City and many more. Lewis was then accepted into a top Arts College in Chicago IL. He attended Columbia College Chicago from 2007-2009, where he majored in Performing Arts Management.
He had the honor of becoming a principal dancer on a new Tap Dance show at Universal Studios in Hollywood California entitled “Tap Worx”. Mr. Lewis is currently a dancer and Artistic Director for Rhythmic Circus’ “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now”, and The “Holiday Shuffle.” He has performed on many stages across the United States and has toured in Greater London and Edinburgh Scotland for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as well as
performed at Super Bowl 52 in Minneapolis MN.
Lewis was also a Master Tap Choreographer and Artistic Director at Studio Bleu Dance Center in Ashburn Virginia. He ran the tap program as well as continue to choreograph for over 50+ studios around the country on a yearly basis. Lewis has also taught as an Adjunct Professor at Shenandoah University for their Musical Theatre and Dance Program.
While teaching at Studio Bleu, Lewis has had the honor and pleasure to be the teacher of Mr. Luke Spring (Ellen DeGeneres Show/ A Christmas Story on Broadway) where Lewis and his student Spring teamed up to perform together on many occasions. Lewis and Spring are an internet sensation with one of their videos reaching over 65 million views
on Facebook and YouTube.
Lewis has won many awards for his choreography, nominated for “Best Tap Routine of the Year” in 2014. He was awarded the honor to have his choreography performed at the “Young Choreographers Festival”, in 2015. He has been a recipient of the prestigious “ACE Awards” in New York City with his company The JaM Project. The company has also reached viral video credibility from the legendary Doobie Brothers on their “Long
Train Runnin” concept video. Along with the JaM project he is also a cast member of the NBC hit television show “World of Dance Season 2”. Lewis also performed for YouTube’s Annual Broadcast at Radio City Music Hall iin NYC.
Justin M. Lewis was honored with Choreographing and Directing his first musical theatre production of The “Hot Shoe Shuffle” at the Wick Theatre in Boca Raton Florida. He won Best Choreography for the prestigious Carbonell Awards in South Florida.
Lewis has taught for many conventions. Some include, WILD dance intensive, West Coast Dance Explosion and The In10sive. He has instructed at many tap festivals around the country as well which include, RIFF in Dallas, Little Rock Tap Festival, DC Tap Festival and Tap Into a Cure in Canada.
Mr. Justin Lewis plans to continue spreading the love and joy for the arts iin efforts to make it a stronger, more innovative art form.
GABRIELA D'ANDREA
MASTER BALLET TEACHER / ARAD RTS
Gabriela D’Andrea is a teaching artist newly located in Calvert County, Maryland. She is an experienced ballet and creative dance teacher, registered with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and Rambert Grades in London. Her background has a strong ballet component, with
additional training in creative dance and contemporary. She enjoys sharing the love of dance with her students, guiding them in their discovery of movement through ballet technique while using elements of creative dance and storytelling to foster critical development and
independence in movers beyond technique.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Academy Ballet School of Annapolis; Annapolis, MD, USA – 2020 to present
Ballet and Contemporary Instructor / Rehearsal assistant. Responsibilities include preparing
students for annual RAD examinations (Grades 1 through Advanced Foundation) and Rambert Grades examinations (Grade 1). Instruction of open classes in ballet technique and
Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT). Rehearsal assistant for annual performances.
Greenbelt Dance Studio; Greenbelt, MD, USA – 2020 to present
Dance Instructor / Choreographer. Responsibilities include classical ballet instruction to all
ages and levels, and creative dance for early childhood (ages 1 to 6). Choreographing for the annual dance theater production.
Co-director for The Magic Toy Shop dance theater production, May 2023. Responsibilities Included adapting storyline and soundtrack, casting, creating choreography and set pieces for the production involving 40 students.
Accademia del Balletto, Roma, Italia – 2016 to 2018
Ballet Instructor. Successfully prepared students for RAD examinations in Grades 1 - 5,
Intermediate Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced 1. Delivery of PBT classes.
Reverence Academy of Dance, Lafayette, CO, USA – 2014-2016
open classes in ballet and pointe technique. Choreographed ballet pieces for local competitions and annual recitals.
Brookings to Broadway Dance Company, Brookings, SD, USA – 2010-2012 Ballet Instructor. Instruction of classical ballet and pointe technique as well as choreographing for annual recitals.