Teacher Bios
About Us
Ballet Petite is the first premiere dance education program exclusively for the young child. The specialized curriculum was developed by Nancy Parenti in 1992. Along with the technical leveling of each class, she developed the “storydance.”
Each day is a magical door opening to an enchanted realm where stories are enacted and the wonders of all of the arts shine in the light of imagination.
Ballet Petite is an intermediate step between natural movement and formal classical ballet training. The children learn to move from creative movement to pre-primary ballet. We incorporate dance choreography, classical children’s literature, music compositions and beautiful costumes.
The educational value is to introduce dance, artistically, to young children. The artistry of Ballet Petite speaks to the heart of children.
Miss Marie Claire
Miss Marie Claire is an actor and teaching artist based out of the DC area, and has a strong background in the arts having just received her Master’s of Fine Arts from The Academy of Classical Acting at George Washington University and The Shakespeare Theater Company! She danced with the Cincinnati Ballet Company until age fourteen when she began her professional career and has been working in the arts ever since. She is always delighted to meet new students and share with them her love of dance. Miss Marie Claire truly believes that the communication skills learned, confidence gained, and ability to collaborate that are fostered in ballet class can help students for their whole lives, be it in the arts or beyond. Miss Marie Claire is thrilled to be working with so many new ballerinas and hopes that class together will be as much fun for her students as it is for her!
Miss Sarah Elizabeth
We are happy to welcome Miss Sarah Elizabeth back to Ballet Petite! Miss Sarah Elizabeth used to teach at Ballet Petite from 2010-2013 and we are delighted to have her returning with us. Since the age of 16, she has been sharing dance and music with children in places like Washington, DC, New York, and even Ireland! Her favorite ballet is Swan Lake and her favorite storybook growing up in Corduroy. There is nothing more powerful to Miss Sarah Elizabeth than the confidence, joy, and skill of dancers of all ages. She is looking forward to experiencing this and more with our ballerinas!
Miss Julia
We are happy to welcome Miss Julia as a new teacher with Ballet Petite! Miss Julia brings a unique blend of creativity and enthusiasm to Ballet Petite. Her love for dance and storytelling is inspired by her favorite ballets and books, including Beauty and the Beast, The Nutcracker, and Give a Mouse a Cookie. Outside of Ballet Petite, Miss Julia supports student-athletes with their mental health. Her experience has equipped her with exceptional skills in communication, organization, and mentorship. Miss Julia is eager to inspire and support young dancers at Ballet Petite.
Miss Sarah
Miss Sarah grew up taking Ballet, Tap, and Jazz as a young girl. She then became a figure skater, competing in theater on ice and international ice dance representing Denmark. She has performed with Disney on Ice for several tours, having the opportunity to skate for kids all over the world. Since that time, she finished her B.S. in Communications here in the DMV. Miss Sarah has experience teaching skating and ballroom dancing as well. She loves kids, and being a part of giving them something to make their lives a little more magical and fun! Miss Sarah loved The Little Dancer growing up as it was a book based on the sculpture by Degas of a young ballerina. There are many fun variations of this book!
Miss Livia
Miss Livia has over fifteen years of ballet experience, performing in productions like The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, and Peter Pan. A student at American University, she has also participated in Southeastern Regional Association dance festivals. In addition to her dance career, Miss Livia has volunteered with children, including those with disabilities, providing music and dance therapy to enhance mobility and expression. Her favorite books include Pete the Cat, and her favorite ballets are Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker. Miss Livia is very excited to share her passion for dance and storytelling with young dancers at Ballet Petite!
Miss Becca
Miss Becca is a lifelong dancer with a passion for making ballet accessible and fun for everyone! With eight years of teaching experience and a decade of pre-professional training in ballet, jazz, modern, and contemporary dance, she brings a wealth of knowledge to Ballet Petite. Miss Becca recently graduated from Princeton University with a minor in dance, where she directed four student ballet performances and received the university's highest choreography award. She is a fan of the Pigeon books by Mo Willems (especially Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!) for their silly humor and adorable illustrations. She loves inspiring young dancers to grow their confidence and tell stories through movement.
Miss Maddy
Introducing Miss Maddy, a dedicated dance educator excited to share her passion with the students at Ballet Petite. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from James Madison University, graduating in 2019 with a double major in Dance and Media Arts and Design, and a minor in Theatre. Miss Maddy has performed with AJ Collabs, previously taught lyrical dance at The Loudoun School of Ballet, and choreographed two dance films. At JMU, she was able to assist with leading free classes through Dance Theatre for the Harrisonburg community as well as choreograph numerous pieces and have teaching opportunities with JMU Dance's Friday Free Classes. Currently, Miss Maddy works at the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts as the Special Events Assistant. This role reignited her passion for teaching dance, and she is eager to return to the studio. As a teacher, Miss Maddy values inclusion and encourages students to ask questions, explore movement, and develop their technique. Her favorite ballets, Sleeping Beauty and Giselle, reflect her love for classical storytelling through dance. She is committed to her students' success and looks forward to inspiring and nurturing the next generation of dancers at Ballet Petite.
Miss Cora
Miss Cora is a passionate young professional, who is eager to share her deep love for ballet with the next generation of dancers. Miss Cora graduated in 2022 with a BFA in Dance (Summa Cum Laude) from Point Park University. Over the past 20 years, she has trained in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern, and Hip Hop, starting at the age of 3 like many of our little ballerinas! Growing up, Miss Cora’s favorite ballet was The Sleeping Beauty, awestruck by all of the beautiful fairies and their colorful tutus. The Sleeping Beauty is one of the many storyballets that your ballerina will get to dance here at Ballet Petite and Miss Cora cannot wait to share this beautiful art with your dancers!
Miss Annabella
Miss Annabella is a senior at George Washington University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in International Affairs and Public Health. A DMV native, she previously taught at Ballet Petite for two years before taking a break to study abroad in Switzerland. Miss Annabella is dedicated and patient, committed to helping children reach their full potential. She excels at creating a fun and engaging learning environment and adapting her teaching style to meet each child’s unique needs. Her favorite princess is Princess Ariel, and she grew up loving Alice in Wonderland. Miss Annabella is excited to dance with your ballerinas soon!
Miss Ava
Miss Ava has eighteen years of dance experience with training in ballet, ballet en pointe, tap, jazz, contemporary, clog, modern, and musical theatre. She graduated from Clemson University in May 2024 with a B.S. in Financial Management and minors in Accounting and Dance. At Clemson, she taught ballet and tap as part of Clemson Dancers and previously taught ballet, tap, and jazz to preschoolers and children. Miss Ava’s favorite ballets are Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty, she loves the beautiful music and magnificent costumes! Miss Ava also loves the Olivia and Angelina Ballerina books. She is passionate and enthusiastic about sharing her love for dance and inspiring young dancers to embrace their uniqueness!
Miss Misse
Miss Misse is a new teacher with Ballet Petite! She is honored to be able to share her passion and love for ballet with our students. Dancing since the age of four, she has extensive experience, including the London Ballet School, The Dallas Conservatory, YAGP, and the School of American Ballet. Miss Misse has even performed with the New York City Ballet when they staged Coppelia and Sleeping Beauty! She is eager to motivate our ballerinas to express themselves through dance. Miss Misse is a current student at George Washington University and is pursuing a psychology and criminal justice degree. Her favorite storyballet is Romeo & Juliet, however it is hard to choose just one favorite! She is excited to be able to share her love for dance with our ballerinas!
Miss Calla
Miss Calla is no stranger to Ballet Petite, having grown up dancing as a young ballerina at our previous Bethesda location. With life's circular nature evident, she reminisces fondly about dressing up in costumes and bringing her favorite stories to life through dance. Currently pursuing a BS in Business Administration and Public Health at Northeastern University, Miss Calla remains deeply passionate about dance, eagerly ready to infuse her energy and expertise into nurturing young dancers. Since her earliest memories as a toddler, dance has been a boundless source of joy for Miss Calla. Now, she's thrilled to share that joy and help children discover the enchantment of movement. She understands the significance of providing a fun and safe environment for every child to thrive in their dance journey. Believing in the power of positive dance education, Miss Calla looks forward to exploring our captivating storyballets with her students, eagerly anticipating each ballerina's favorite. Reflecting on her own childhood, Miss Calla's adoration for the Olivia series highlights her love for storytelling. Witnessing young dancers blossom and develop brings her immense delight, fueling her dedication to their growth. Excited to begin this new chapter at Ballet Petite, Miss Calla is poised to inspire the next generation of ballerinas, fostering their passion for dance and guiding them to shine both in and out of class.
Miss Mina
Miss Mina has just joined Ballet Petite as a new teacher! Miss Mina is a recent high school graduate spending her summer teaching for Ballet Petite before she heads off to college. She comes to us from Seber Method Academy where she has 10 years of experience in Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, and Hip Hop. She grew up loving the Dr. Seuss and Angelina Ballerina books. She has numerous years of experience working with children through her experiences with lifeguarding and babysitting, and she is looking forward to being able to share her love of dance with others.
Miss Josie
Miss Josie has just joined Ballet Petite as a new teacher! Miss Josie is a dedicated ballet instructor passionate about sharing the art of dance with younger generations. Her love for ballet blossomed in 7th grade and has since driven her to deepen her involvement in dance and the arts. With her experience as a dancer, Miss Josie understands the importance of providing inspiration and support to students. She admires Ballet Petite's blend of playfulness, creativity, and education, which aligns perfectly with her teaching philosophy. Currently excelling academically on the dean's list at Fordham University, Miss Josie also actively participates in the Fordham Jetes ballet club, where she refines her skills and shares her enthusiasm for dance. Miss Josie's favorite ballets, including Don Quixote, Swan Lake, and Sleeping Beauty, highlight her appreciation for classical repertoire and storytelling through dance. We welcome Miss Josie to Ballet Petite, where she is eager to inspire young dancers and nurture their passion for ballet and creativity in a supportive and enriching environment.
Miss Isabelle
