Victoria Winter - Studio Operations Manager

Victoria Winter is a DMV based choreographer, performer, and dance educator. Victoria began her dance training in ballet, tap, jazz, and contemporary at Studio Dans in Fulton, Maryland. Victoria went on to continue her dance training at CityDance Conservatory in Bethesda, Maryland. Here, she developed her love for concert dance and improvisation while studying under Robert Priore, Sarah Ewing, Caroline Rocher, Kaitlin Madzelan and Therese Gahl. She had the opportunity to perform repertory from Dance Theater of Harlem, Koresh, 10 Hairy Legs, and Alex Neoral at Strathmore.

Victoria went on to perform in works by Camille A. Brown and Uri Sans through the Five College Dance Consortium before graduating in the Spring of 2021 with a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography and a certificate in Arts Management from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Upon graduation, Victoria began working in program administration and dance education at CityDance Studios, while simultaneously pursuing her choreographic and performance career. Victoria’s most recent work, "& Seek”, was showcased in Lauren Devera’s “KINTSUGI” in April 2024.

Skylar Smith - Full Time Faculty

Skylar Smith, a Rochester, New York native, grew up training, competing, and later teaching at Strike It Up Artistic Center. As a recent graduate from Slippery Rock University, Skylar has earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Concentration in Performance and Choreography. 

Through her studies, she had the opportunity to work with guest artists and faculty such as Nora Ambrosio, Jesse Factor, Christine Funsch, Andrew Hasenpflug, Jennifer Keller, Francine Ott, Ursula Payne, Lindsay Viatori, and Melissa Teodoro, taking classes in African Colombian, Ballet, Composition, Improvisation, Laban Movement Analysis, Music for Dance, Modern, Teaching of Dance, and Somatics and Kinesiology. As Student Director of SRU's Dance Theatre Program and a Palenque Colombian Dance Ensemble leader, Skylar worked closely with Lindsay Viatori, and Melissa Teodoro. In 2018, Skylar had the opportunity to work closely with  Jesse Factor,  as an understudy in a rendition of Martha Graham’s “Celebration” performed at the Joyce Theatre in NYC and Jacob's Pillow in Massachusetts. 

Most recently Skylar created and presented an Independent Concert, “Forced Proceeding” based on research she conducted titled “Ritual Symbolism and an Archaic Depiction of Marriage in Nijinska’s Les Noces.” She has presented her solo works “1:6” at the Koresh Artist Showcase in Philadelphia, PA, and “Altered Existence” at the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Women’s Conference. During SRU's BFA Dance Concert, “The Epilogue” Skylar was awarded the “Outstanding BFA” Scholarship. 

As a dance instructor, she strives to create a happy, safe, and healthy learning environment for all! Skylar is very excited to share her love for dance and teaching with the students of Virginia Dance Conservatory! 

Kaelyn Humphrey - Full Time Faculty

Kaelyn Humphrey grew up in Crofton, Maryland and has been dancing since the age of three. Through school and studio dance programs, Kaelyn has studied ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical and modern dance techniques while performing in a multitude of local, county, and statewide performances and festivals.

Kaelyn graduated from James Madison University in May of 2024 with a B.A. in dance and a K-12 teaching licensure in dance education. During her time at JMU Kaelyn pursued dancing, choreographing, and teaching to students ranging from ages 3-22. She furthered her training in her known techniques as well as taking classes in composition, improvisation and teaching methods. Kaelyn served as a Co-Director for JMU’s Associate Dance Ensemble, a program for first-year dance majors. She also served as the Student Technical Director for the College of Visual and Performing Arts, where she worked as a stage manager and lighting designer for the Dance program.

Immediately after graduating, Kaelyn became the Dance Director of Rocktown High School in Harrisonburg, VA. She spent the year building and running the dance program from the ground as the brand new high school opened in the Fall of 2024. She developed curriculum, planned performances, and made connections that allowed the program to grow within the first year. During this year, Kaelyn was invited by past JMU professor, Suzanne Miller-Corso to present our findings and experience with rejuvenating pedagogical practices at the National Dance Education Organization conference that was hosted in Bellevue, Washington.

Kaelyn is now living in Arlington, Virginia and excited to be a part of the Virginia Dance Conservatory team!

Lyssa Wopat - Pre Professional Division Faculty

Originally from Baltimore, Marlyand, Lyssa Wopat began dancing at age four at EMC Performing Arts Studio in Pennsylvania. In 2013, Ms. Wopat began studying at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) as a ballet major. While at the school, Lyssa studied under Susan Jaffe, Susan McCullough, Jared Redick, Jennet Zerbe, Laura Martin, Dayna Fox, Mikhail Tchoupakov, Nina Danilova, Fanchon Cordell and Frank Smith. After graduating in 2017 with her BFA, Ms. Wopat began dancing professionally with The Georgia Ballet, under the direction of Daet Rodriguez, where she danced until the spring of 2020. Lyssa has performed roles in Paquita, Balanchine’s Raymonda Variations, the first regiment of Stars and Stripes, Donizetti Variations, Napoli, La Bayadere, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Serenade, as a soloist in Les Sylphides, a Cigarette Girl in Carmen, and as Flower, Spanish, and demi- soloist in Snow in The Nutcracker. In the summer of 2020, Lyssa began working towards earning her master’s degree in Sport and Performance Psychology from Lock Haven University, and is set to graduate with this degree in August 2021.

Sarah Reid - Full Time Faculty

Sarah Reid began dancing at the age of four in Sarasota, FL and started her pre-professional ballet training at Sarasota Ballet’s Margaret Barbieri Conservatory. Then she trained privately with Isabel and Javier Dubrocq before joining Richmond Ballet as a trainee in 2020. Sarah danced with Richmond Ballet for three years, performing in the company’s professional productions of The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Serenade, and Ma Cong’s Firebird. Then in 2023, she moved to Fort Worth Texas and danced professionally with Ballet Frontier performing in Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, and Don Quixote. Sarah has a passion for teaching ballet and has been a dance instructor since 2017. She has taught a wide range of ages and levels from recreational to pre-professional and coaches students in preparation for ballet competitions. 

Kyrylo Kruhlov - Pre Professional Division Faculty

Mr. Kruhlov is originally from Kyiv, Ukraine.  He received his training at the Kyiv State Ballet School and graduated in 2014.  Kyrylo has danced multiple soloist roles with the National Opera of Ukraine, Novosibirsk State Academic Opera & Ballet Theatre, and with the Ukrainian Classical Ballet in Kyiv. Mr. Kruhlov joined Manassas Ballet Theater in 2022 and guest dances and teaches across the US. 

Trina Navarro-Kronzer - Young Children’s Division & Youth Faculty

Trina began her dance career in San Antonio, Texas as a student of Dr. Kathleen Tenniswood-Powell studying the Cecchetti style of ballet while simultaneously training with the Ballet Conservatory of South Texas under the direction of Marieli Guardiola Pope. She went on to dance at Goucher College, where she performed in the Goucher Repertory Dance Ensemble and graduated magna cum laude.

Most recently, Ms. Navarro-Kronzer has had the privilege of working with local dance companies such as Charm City Ballet in Baltimore and Jane Franklin Dance in the greater D.C area. In addition to her local presence, Trina has performed internationally in Córdoba, Argentina and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland. As an educator, Trina is passionate about creating a safe space for dancers to build self-confidence and create lifelong memories.

Bianca Cubas - Full Time Faculty

Originally from Manassas, Virginia, Bianca Cubas began dancing at the age of three. Her dance education started off with a strong emphasis on broadway styling and mastering the styles of ballet, jazz, tap, and musical theater.  Bianca then went on to focus solely on her classical ballet training by the age of 15. She has attended summer intensives at Ballet Hispanico and FORGE summer intensive, training with renowned artist Lauryn Anderson and choreographers Grady Bowman and Maxx Reed. 

She Graduated Cum Laude from Radford University earning a B.F.A in Dance and minor in Psychology in 2023. During her time at Radford she studied a variety of dance genres including ballet, modern, contemporary, African fusion and musical theatre. She also studied teaching methods, dance composition, improvisation, and stage management. She performed in many dance concerts at Radford as a soloist and corp member.  

Immediately after graduation, Bianca joined Virginia National Ballet as a company member where she performed corps de ballet roles in “The Nutcracker”, “Cinderella”, “Snow White” and “Led Zeppelin: The Ballet” at Capital One Hall in Tysons Corner and The Hylton Performing Arts Center. She also started her teaching career at the same time. She taught at Ravel Dance Studio in Reston, VA and Sharon Baucom Dance Center in Woodbridge, VA. She has taught ages 3-adult and styles including ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, and musical theater. 

Bianca is very excited to bring forth her passion for teaching at Virginia Dance Conservatory, as she sees dance education as a safe space for children to express themselves and explore their own creativity!

Laura Doughty - Young Children’s Division & Youth Faculty

Laura Rae Doughty has been a dance educator, performer and choreographer for many years.
She taught for Adagio Ballet in Arlington for more than 11 years. This summer she taught
dance for the Institute for the Arts (IFTA) program offered through Fairfax County Public
Schools. Currently she works as a Family and Parent Liaison in two elementary schools in FCPS.
Born and raised in southern New Jersey; Laura was fortunate to study under Victor Moreno
(Ballet Russe) and Alexei Yudenich (Pennsylvania Ballet) as well as study at the NJ Arts Institutes
each summer in her earlier years. Laura earned her BFA in dance from The Juilliard School in
NYC. She has had a very diverse career as a performer, choreographer and teacher in many
disciplines of dance in many places around the world. Her favorite performance highlights
include; the ’98 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan( Opening ceremonies),Solo
performance/choreography “Things Unsaid” selected to be presented in the New
Choreographers On Point Showcase In NYC as well as receiving various New York Times, Dance
Magazine and Pointe magazine reviews. Laura has extensive training in Classical and
Contemporary ballet, Modern, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Tap, Flamenco, Latin dance and Danza
Folklorico de Mexico. She is excited to return to teaching in person this fall at VDC; to share her
love of dance and get to know the dancers and families.

Julia Timpane - Young Children’s Division & Youth Faculty

Julia Timpane grew up in Arlington, VA and received her training from Adagio Ballet in ballet, jazz, and contemporary. In her time at Adagio, she competed at the international ballet competition Youth America Grand Prix as a classical and contemporary soloist. Julia has attended ballet summer intensives at Ballet West, Miami City Ballet, American Ballet Theater, and Atlanta Ballet.

Working as a counselor at local summer camps, Julia developed her love for teaching. She graduated from George Mason University in May 2024 with a B.A. in Integrative Studies with a concentration in Education Studies. Julia is currently pursuing a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Elementary Education at GMU, where she will graduate with her master’s degree in May 2025. She is also involved with a student dance organization, DanceWorks at Mason, where she choreographs for and competes with a team in lyrical, contemporary, and jazz styles. Julia is so excited to be able to combine her love for dance and passion for teaching at Virginia Dance Conservatory!

Marizza Castro - Administrator

A Falls Church, VA native, Marizza Castro recently graduated from George Mason University with a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Operations Management. Throughout her high school and college career, she participated in recreational dance classes including ballet, modern, hip-hop and ballroom dance. During her time in college, she further cultivated her natural ability with children, working as both a tutor and nanny. She is currently a business analyst for a government contract and always looks forward to spending time helping the VDC students and teachers!