Melissa Stafford • Chief Artistic Officer, Ballet Division

A Pennsylvania native, Stafford joined her siblings in training at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB) with Marcia Dale Weary. Stafford began student teaching at CPYB under Weary’s guidance. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, Stafford joined the Peabody Preparatory Dance Department at Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD) in 2001 under Artistic Advisor (and Pennsylvania Ballet founder) Barbara Weisberger. In 2006, she was invited by Peter Stark to become ballet principal for Next Generation Ballet in Tampa, FL, where she helped the school to expand more than 10-fold in three years. She returned to Peabody at Weisberger’s invitation as Dance Department Chair. During her tenure at Peabody, she expanded the dance training scholarship program for boys and programmed masterworks by Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham, Pearl Lang, Anna Sokolow, and Antony Tudor. Stafford has also been on the adjunct faculties of Goucher College and Peabody Conservatory and taught for the Orlando Ballet School Summer Intensive, CPYB Summer Intensive, and The Next Generation Ballet Summer Intensive. Stafford’s students have danced professionally with companies including American Ballet Theatre, Royal Swedish Ballet, Carolina Ballet, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, and Philadanco's Danco 2. In 1999, Stafford received the Regional Dance America/Northeast Region Monticello Award for Emerging Female Choreographers. She is the recipient of the 2017 Peabody Preparatory's Excellence in Teaching Award.

Stephanie Spassoff • Artistic Director

An alumna of the School of American Ballet and New York’s Performing Arts High School, privately auditioned with Agnes de Mille for a national tour of “Where’s Charley”, past member of American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet. She was a principal dancer with both Ballet Oklahoma and Savannah Ballet. She was Associate Director of Ballet Oklahoma, Savannah Ballet, and their respective associated schools. Stephanie was a member of Finis Jhung’s New York Chamber Ballet. Stephanie Wolf Spassoff is a former Pennsylvania Ballet soloist who performed solo and principal roles. Ms. Spassoff has been a guest artist and teacher for many regional companies, schools, and universities and was a permanent faculty member of the New York State Summer School of the Arts. She has coached gold medalists in prestigious international competitions in Moscow and the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, MS and is a judge for Youth America Grand Prix. In 2011, 2012, and 2017 Mrs. Spassoff was Co-Artistic Director for the largest Ballet Galas ever held in Mexico City. 

Etienne Diaz • The Rock School for Dance - West, Director

Etienne began his training at the Orlando Ballet School as the Founders’ Scholarship Award Recipient and, following graduation, attended Florida State University with a full scholarship.  Etienne danced in Teatrul de Balet Sibiu, Balletto del Sud, in Italy, Milwaukee Ballet in Wisconsin, and the National Opera of Bucharest in Romania where he performed many leading roles.  In 2014, Etienne joined Philadelphia Ballet, where he rose to the rank of demi soloist dancing many leading roles. He has worked with renowned choreographers and distinguished artists including Fernando Bujones, Bruce Marks, Michael Pink, Vicente Nebrada, Alexei Ratmansky, Edward Clug, Johan Kobborg, Magaly Suarez, Nacho Duato, Matthew Neenan, Jiří Kylián, Fredy Franzutti, Christopher Wheeldon, Jean-Pierre Frohlich, and William Forsythe among others. 

Etienne resumed his business administration studies at Temple University where he graduated with honors. Additionally, he was in the faculty at Bryn Mawr College for two years and Metropolitan Ballet Academy for eight years. Etienne has been part of the jury at the National Ballet Competition in Delaware and taught master classes for the World Ballet Competition for the past two years.

Justin Allen • Assistant Director, Professional Division

Born in Baltimore Maryland, Justin began his dance training at the Baltimore School for the Arts.  He decided he wanted more serious ballet training and in 2004, he began training at The Rock School for Dance Education where he had the opportunity to dance different styles of ballet and finish his education in the Rock Academics Program Alliance.  Justin studied at The Rock School for 4 years.  He spent his summers training with the Miami City Ballet School from 2004-2008.  In 2008, Justin got his first opportunity to dance as a professional guest artist with The Dayton Ballet, which led to his first professional contract.  In 2009, Justin joined The Ballet Theatre of Maryland where he performed many soloist roles.  In 2010, Justin joined The Rock School as a full-time Faculty and Choreographer.  Justin was the recipient of The Joffrey Ballet’s 2013 Choreographers of Color Award.  This year, Justin has been awarded Outstanding Choreographer at the YAGP Philadelphia competition.

Jody Anderson • Artistic Manager, Professional Division, Wardrobe Assistant

Jody started her serious ballet training at age 14 at North Carolina School of the Arts and continued at the American Ballet Theatre School in New York City on a full scholarship. As a principal dancer with the Kansas City Ballet for 16 years, Jody had the honor of performing principal roles in ballets by George Balanchine, Antony Tudor, Alvin Ailey, Agnes DeMille, Todd Bolender, Ann Reinking and many other noted choreographers. Most notably, she was hand picked by Alvin Ailey to perform as a guest artist with his company and to recreate his ballet FLOWERS to much critical acclaim.

Jody has been on the faculty with The Kansas City Ballet School, Berks Ballet Theatre (Ballet Mistress), Delaware Dance Company and The Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan (Director of Dance). 

Jody toured with several musical theater productions (OLIVER, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, WILL ROGERS FOLLIES) and was the Associate Choreographer for Starlight Theatre in Kansas City and served as the Artistic Directed for the Candlelight Theatre in Delaware.

At The Rock School she choreographed WEST SIDE STORY SUITE that was performed at the Mann Center with The Curtis Institute, and CATTO AT BAT and FLIGHT for the Philadelphia Freedom Festival. Jody has been on the faculty since 2004 and a Ballet Master since 2015.

Telmo Moreira • Artistic Manager, Professional Division

Telmo Moreira began his training at the National Conservatory Dance school of Portugal. Then After being awarded one of the top prizes in the 2007 Prix de Lausanne he received a scholarship to complete his studies at the Vaganova Ballet Academy, where he had the opportunity to perform Flower Festival Pas de deux at the Marinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. Telmo has also received the Outstanding European Dancer at the Youth American Grand Prix finals, the Judges Prize at the 2008 Varna International Ballet Competition, was a finalist at the 2008 Bejing IBC, and was a semi finalist in Jackson USA IBC 2014.. After competing in the Prix de Lausanne for the second time Telmo received the apprenticeship award, and chose to join American Ballet Theatre’s second company, where he danced works by Jerome Robbins, Balanchine, and Eduard Liang. Telmo has been invited to participate in International galas such as Youth American Grand Prix’s Japan Gala. Telmo Joined Orlando Ballet in 2011 where danced numerous leading and danced works by Jessica Lang, Peter Chu , Abdur Jackson, Robert Hill, Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. During his time with the company Telmo had the opportunity to choreograph his own ballets and created "Barco Negro"(2014) "Unsaid". (2015) "same old fear"(2016) he also has his own production of firebird created for the Florida Ballet. In 2016 he won best choreography at the YAGP regionals in Tampa. Telmo joined The Rock School's faculty as Ballet Master in 2017. 

Natalya Lushina Zeiger • Principal Teacher, Professional Division

A former soloist with the Bolshoi Ballet. She is now a leading ballet teacher and coach with one of America’s foremost dance schools, The Rock School for Dance Education. She has trained many Rock School students to top YAGP soloist and ensemble awards. Ms. Zeiger also serves as a YAGP judge and Master Teacher.

Ms. Zeiger is a graduate of the Moscow Academy of the Bolshoi Theater and a former soloist with the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Company. As a member of the Bolshoi, Ms. Zeiger worked with such European masters as Roland Petit, Maurice Bejart, Alberto Alonso and Yuri Grigorovitch. Her many leading roles include Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, Raymonda, and La Bayadere. Ms. Zeiger has been a member of the Metropolitan faculty since 2001, serving as teacher, repetiteur and coach. She has staged many productions for Metropolitan Ballet, including Paquita, Swan Lake, Act II, Swan Lake, Act III, Les Sylphides, The Sleeping Beauty, Act 3, Le Jardin Animé, Suite from Don Quixote and The Children’s Mazurka from Paquita, as well as many classical pas de deux.

Ms. Zeiger also holds a Master’s Degree in Dance Education from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. She often serves as a juror and instructor for Youth America Grand Prix, and is a highly sought after guest teacher, leading master classes throughout the United States and abroad.

Magaly Suárez • Resident Master Teacher

Suárez began her teaching career after graduating with honors from The Cuban National Ballet School where she spent nearly two decades honing her classical ballet teaching skills. Upon moving to the United States she worked with numerous ballet companies and schools as a classical ballet teacher and staged full-length ballets including Carmen, Giselle, Le Corsaire, The Nutcracker, Paquita, Swan Lake, and Sleeping Beauty. She could often be found working with Cincinnati Ballet, Corella Ballet-Angel Corella, Morphoses-Christopher Wheldon, Orlando Ballet, Orlando Ballet School, and CPYB.

Suárez has arrived at the stage in her career where she wants to share her ballet knowledge and expertise to reach as many students as possible. For the 2022-2023 season, she is excited to be expanding The Art of Classical Ballet’s pre-professional day program while also having the opportunity to join The Rock School for Dance Education as a part-time Resident Master Teacher. Suárez will share her time teaching between Philadelphia and Pompano Beach and maintain her position as a teacher, coach, owner, and Artistic Director of The Art of Classical Ballet and Florida Classical Ballet. Suárez remains committed to all of her students and is excited about continuing her contribution to forming the future stars of ballet.

Carlos dos Santos, Jr. • Contemporary Manager

Carlos is a noted Brazilian performer and choreographer who performed as a principal dancer with major Brazilian dance companies such as Bale Folclorico da Bahia, Bale Teatro Castro Alves, and DanceBrazil. In the U.S., he has performed with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, and the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, where he also served as a company teacher.

His choreographic credits include works for Colorado Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, American Dance Festival, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, DanceBrazil, Cape town dance company (South Africa), Alvin Ailey 2, Joffrey Ballet 2, Houston Ballet 2, and the WKY University Residency choreographer. He has created many projects with Dance Brasil, including his latest collaboration with award-winning composer Tania Leon. Carlos has taught at dance schools, colleges, and universities throughout the U.S. and abroad. Since its inception, he has served as a jury member and resident choreographer of the Youth America Grand Prix international student ballet competition. In 2023, Carlos joined The Rock School as its Contemporary Dance Manager and a RockReach Teaching Artist.

Anastasia Babayeva • Principal Teacher

Anastasia Babayeva is a graduate of the world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia. She has danced professionally with the Bolshoi Theatre in Russia, Chicago Ballet, Richmond Ballet, International Ballet Classique in PA. Mrs. Babayeva has performed principal roles in great classical ballets, such as Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Coppelia, Nutcracker, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty; as well as Balanchine ballets and contemporary works of world-renowned choreographers such as K. Peterson, J. Butler, M. Burn, V. Nebrada, C. Connor and many others. Ms. Babayeva also performed as a guest artist in many galas and productions throughout the USA. In 2001 she co-founded the Academy of International Ballet and Performing Arts, and in 2003 the International Ballet Classique. Under her direction, IBC has presented acclaimed performances of major full-length ballets such as Coppelia, Nutcracker, Giselle, Walpurgis Night, Swan Lake Act II, Paquita and numerous mixed repertory performances. Mrs. Babayeva received the Outstanding Teacher Award from American Ballet Competition, UBC, WBAC and YAGP in 2005, 2007, 2014, 2017, and 2020, respectively. Her students have qualified and won medals in prestigious international ballet competitions and have gone on to dance in professional companies. In 2006 Ms. Babayeva joined the dance faculty at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA where she served as “Master Lecturer” for 10 years. Ms. Babayeva creates professional ballet costumes, including tunics, tutus, and tiaras. Her one-of-a-kind costumes are worn by numerous dancers at competitions and ballet productions. Mrs. Babayeva was featured in Dancer magazine 2005. In 2015 Mrs. Babayeva was honored by Pennsylvania State Representative Jamie Santora with an official citation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for "sharing the art of classical ballet,” "outstanding leadership, vision, and talent," and “exemplary record of cultural contribution within her community”.