Faculty and Staff

Svetlana Marintcheva is a Founder Director of the Adagio Ballet. She graduated in 1999 from the Southwestern University in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria with a degree in Choreographic Pedagogy. Svetlana studied Classical Ballet following the Vaganova method. Over the years she developed her own concept of teaching ballet to young children and designed the unique Adagio Ballet curriculum.

Before university, Svetlana danced with the Varna Opera House Junior Company in Bulgaria, and taught several performing children’s companies there. Prior to dancing ballet, she was involved with gymnastics for 5 years.

Svetlana has over 12 years of experience in teaching dance to children. Her reputation is well deserved for the energy, enthusiasm and professionalism she brings with her to every single class.

Ms. Svetlana continues to amaze us with her energy, professionalism and leadership while taking Adagio Ballet’s unique curriculum to new heights year after year.

Katherine Horrigan holds her masters in Arts Management from George Mason University and a BFA in Dance from Fordham University/The Ailey School. Katherine is the Program Director of Adagio Ballet School of Dance, an adjunct professor of dance at George Mason University and is the co-director and resident choreographer for Company Danzante.

She has performed with numerous dance companies including Ailey II, Eliza Monte Dance, Tania Perez-Salas Compania de Danza, Nathan Trice/Rituals, The Francesca Harper Project, and seasons with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal. She has worked with acclaimed artists such as Alonzo King, Robert Battle, Jessica Lang, Aszure Barton, Dwight Rhoden, and Rodrigo Pederneiras of Grupo Corpo, Brazil. Katherine’s choreography has been presented in Mexico, Venezuela, New York City, Washington DC, Chicago, and at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. Katherine is a guest artist for professional companies, festivals, universities and summer intensives in the States and Mexico where she teaches company classes, master classes, workshops, and auditions. Katherine has directed George Mason University’s summer intensive program, SummerDance at Mason. Katherine is the 2015 recipient of the Strauss Artist Grant awarded by the Arts Council of Fairfax County.

Jennifer Ferrigno recently retired from Milwaukee Ballet after a successful career as a professional ballet dancer. During her time with both Milwaukee Ballet and Alabama Ballet, she had the pleasure of performing principal roles in works by noted choreographers such as George Balanchine, Antony Tudor, Marius Petipa, August Bournonville, Agnes de Mille, Twyla Tharp, Septime Webre, Matthew Neenan, Timothy O’Donnell, Roger Van Fleteren and Michael Pink. Throughout her seven seasons with Alabama Ballet, Jennifer had the privilege of dancing leading roles such as; ‘Kitri’ in Don Quixote, ‘Aurora’ in The Sleeping Beauty, ‘Odette/Odile’ in Swan Lake, ‘The Sylph’ in La Sylphide, ‘Good Girl’ in Graduation Ball, ‘Alice’ in Alice in Wonderland, and ‘Sugar Plum Fairy’ in Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. During her years on the stage, Jennifer also shared her love of dance through teaching. From 2006 to 2013, Ms. Ferrigno was the Ballet Director with Encore Performance Company in Birmingham, Alabama. While with Encore, she established and implemented a student syllabus as well as oversaw student progress and success. Jennifer spent two years as an adjunct instructor with Samford University, and in 2011, she spent six weeks abroad guest teaching and ballet mistressing in Sapporo, Japan. Most recently, Ms. Ferrigno has taught for Milwaukee Ballet School as well as Milwaukee Ballet School’s Summer Intensive, Cecchetti Council of America’s Summer School, and is a frequent guest instructor throughout the country. She is also Cecchetti certified in teachers Grade 1 and 2.

Jennifer happily joins Adagio Ballet School of Dance as Assistant Director.

Kristina Chan Sickmond is originally from Rochester, NY and started her dance training at the age of four. In 2010, Kristina received her Bachelor of Science degrees in Dance and Finance from SUNY Brockport. In 2014, she joined the Adagio family and is currently the Junior Ballet Company director and costume mistress.

Ms. Laura is a graduate of The Juilliard School in NYC. She started dancing at age 3 and began her professional career at age 15. Laura is trained in classical ballet, modern, jazz, tap, musical theater, Latin and Mexican folklore dance forms. Ms Laura has performed, taught and choreographed in various parts of the USA, Mexico, Greece and Japan.

Throughout her long career she has received numerous fellowships, grants and awards; including being selected for the New Choreographers’ on Pointe award, a dancer for the ’98 Winter Olympics in Japan and critical acclaim in The New York Times, Dance Magazine and Attitude Magazine. Laura volunteers weekly for a Fairfax County school; and is actively involved in children’s education whenever possible. Laura is very excited to continue contributing to the artistic growth of the students at Adagio Ballet. She is a full time teacher at Adagio and the Early Years Program Coordinator.

Olivia Jordan, from Jacksonville, Florida, received her early training from the North Carolina School of the Arts. She graduated cum laude from the Jacksonville University BFA dance program in 2011, where she had the opportunity to perform works by Jennifer Muller, David Parsons, Také Ueyama, Adrienne Clancy, and Christian Von Howard. Ms. Jordan was recognized as Student of the Year for the College of Fine Arts. She performed as a company member with Jennifer Muller/The Works in New York City from 2011 to 2013, Surfscape Contemporary Dance Theatre in Florida from 2013 to 2014, and ClancyWorks Dance Company in DC from 2014-2015. Olivia is currently a company member with Company Danzante. She is a full-time teacher, production manager, and assistant director of ADC with Adagio.

Mr. Arturo, graduated from Escuela Superior de Música y Danza de Monterrey with a degree in contemporary dance. Arturo performed professionally with Tania Perez-Salas Compania de Danza and performed in numerous international dance festivals. Arturo’s choreography has premiered in Mexico, Washington DC, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Chicago, and Virginia. Arturo was commissioned by The Kennedy Center to premier work for the Millennium Stage as the 2014 recipient of Kennedy Center’s Local Dance Commissioning Project.

Arturo is the co-director and resident choreographer of Company Danzante, a professional contemporary dance company that has performed in the NYC Dance Gallery Festival, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Atlas Intersections Festival, Chicago’s Esencia Festival, and Richmond’s Yes National Dance Festival, among others. He is a full-time teacher at Adagio Ballet School of Dance, where he directs the Adagio Dance Company’s Contemporary Division, leads the Modern Program, and coaches students for the Youth American Grand Prix competition. Arturo is a guest artist for summer intensive programs in DC and Chicago and is the 2015 recipient of the Strauss Artist Grant awarded by the Arts Council of Fairfax County.

Ms. Evelina began her classical ballet training at the age of 6, studying ballet, pointe, character dance, dance history, and modern and performed with the school’s company traveling in the country and abroad. She studied choreography and ballet pedagogy at the National Music Academy and later taught for the school she grew up in. From 2007 to 2009 she had her own ballet studio.

In summer 2014, Evelina successfully completed Bolshoi Ballet Academy’s teacher’s certification program. She is now the Adagio Ballet School of Dance Ballet Company director and one of our full time ballet teachers.

Stefanie Caputo began her ballet training in her hometown of Wilmington, DE, studying under Pasha and Kristina Kambalov at First State Ballet Theatre. In 2002, Stefanie was honored as a YAGP Top 12 World Finalist in the Senior Division in New York City. Stefanie began her professional career with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre as a trainee and continued with Ballet Theater of Maryland, Alabama Ballet and Arova Contemporary Ballet. Stefanie has had the privilege of performing lead roles such as ‘Swanhilda’ in the full length production of ‘Coppelia’ and the title role in full length ‘Paquita’. Ms. Caputo also had the honor of performing pieces by noted choreographers such as Matthew Neenan, Terrance Orr, Victor Plotnikov, Roger Van Fleteren and Jennifer Medina. In 2013 Stefanie graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with BS in Early Childhood/Elementary Education. Stefanie has been teaching ballet for over 10 years and takes pride in sharing her passion and educating the future dancers of tomorrow. She is one of our ballet intensive program full time teachers and the assistant director to ADC Junior Ballet division. Stefanie is also part of our Early Years and Youth faculty.

Madison Horwitz is from Lakeland, Florida where she attended performing arts schools all the way through middle and high school. She then continued her dance training in Virginia at the Metropolitan Fine Arts Center. Madison received her Bachelor of Fine Arts with honors from George Mason University. She received the Outstanding Freshman Year award and scholarship. She is now dancing with Company Danzante as well as DanceArtTheater in the northern Virginia area. Mrs. Madison has been working with and teaching children for over seven years and is excited to learn even more, and contribute to young minds.

Jordan Daugherty is a native of Louisville, Ky.  In 2011, Jordan graduated Cum Laude with her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Dance from George Mason University. While attending George Mason, Jordan was a three year member of the school’s hip hop team, Urbanology and a member of the George Mason Dance Company. Jordan was thankful to be included in the guest artist residencies of Twyla Tharp, David Parson, Ohad Narahin, and Mark Morris.  Additionally while at George Mason,Jordan had her choreography,” Raw Jubilation” performed at the Kennedy Center on the Millennium Stage.  Following her collegiate career, Jordan moved to Dayton, Ohio, where she completed three seasons with the second company of the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.  While in Ohio, she also worked with the Cincinnati Black Dance Theatre. Now Jordan is a dancer with DC Contemporary Dance Theatre.  Jordan is one of our jazz intensive program part time teachers and youth program faculty. She looks forward to being inspired by all of her students.

Ms. Katherine began studying classic ballet at a young age with Ballet Repertory Theatre of New Mexico. She attended summer intensives with American Ballet Theatre, Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts, the Walnut Hill School, and Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet. Katherine became a company member with Ballet Repertory Theatre’s company as a freshman in high school and continued to dance soloist and principle roles with the company for the next nine years. She began teaching at Ballet Repertory Theatre in 2011. Katherine graduated from the University of New Mexico with a B.A. in English and a B.A. in Biology and is currently attending Georgetown University in pursuit of her J.D.

Ms. Kyoko began her dance training at Classical Ballet Academy of Northern Virginia under the and attended many summer ballet programs including School of American Ballet with an honorary scholarship and Richmond Ballet on full scholarship.

Kyoko performed professionally with Richmond Ballet while earning her B.F.A. in Dance Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has performed with Von Howard Project, Company Danzante, and Company E, among others.

She is currently a member of Company E, a contemporary dance company based out of Washington D.C. that travels the world acting as cultural ambassadors for the U.S. Department of State.  She also has choreographed and performed her own work internationally and at festivals and showcases around the US.

Kyoko is one of our Intensive Ballet Program part time teachers at Adagio Ballet and is currently choreographing and coaching students for the YAGP (Youth American Grand Prix) Dance competition in the Modern/Contemporary division.

Ms. Deidra has been tap dancing for 23 years. She was trained at Ballet Met Dance Academy and Judy Conti Dance Academy in Ohio. Deidra earned a B.A. in Communications from Hampton University and a Juris Doctorate from the George Washington University School of Law. Throughout her life, Deidra has remained very involved in the performing arts both professionally and through volunteerism. She began producing shows at the age of 16 and began competing nationally in Humanities and Performing Arts in high school. She founded Above Deck Tap Dance Ensemble at Hampton University. Since relocating to the DMV, Deidra has taught tap dance at numerous art programs and schools.

Deidra also has experience in production, pageant coaching, step, spoken word, oratory, and African dance and drumming. She is currently the Tap teacher and curriculum developer at Adagio Ballet.

Natalie Lewis Steck began her dance training 25 years ago with Alwin School of the Dance, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. At age 8 she began extensive ballet training in the Checchetti method, and completed exams for grades 1 through 6 which heavily focus on proper ballet technique. She also trained in contemporary and jazz, but primarily focused on ballet. Natalie continued her dance education with an emphasis in ballet at Utah Valley University. While studying at UVU, she performed with their dance companies and absolutely loved furthering her ballet training. After teaching for 5 years, Natalie was certified in the primary through level 3 American Ballet Theatre National Curriculum.

Natalie enjoys sharing her love of dance, and strongly believes that the determination, dedication and self confidence taught in dance are qualities that carry on into every aspect of the student’s life.

Ms. Hillary began her dance training with Cydni’s School of Dance in Homer, Louisiana, where she studied ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and lyrical.  She continued dancing with the Twin City Ballet Company in Monroe, Louisiana, and the Rockford Dance Company of Rockford, Illinois.  Hillary is currently pursuing a PhD in Justice, Law and Criminology from American University. She holds an MA from George Mason University, and a BA from Beloit College; she has always danced throughout her academic endeavors.

Stephanie Driscoll, originally from Pittsburgh, PA, has been dancing since the age of three. She received her early training from various dance schools in the Pittsburgh area and finished her ballet training at Pittsburgh Ballet House, performing various roles in Coppélia, The Nutcracker, and Cinderella. Stephanie graduated Cum Laude from Elon University with BA degrees in Political Science and International Relations as well as pursued a dance minor. Also while at Elon, Stephanie was a member for four years of the Elon University Dance Team and was captain her senior year. She then moved to London to pursue her Master’s degree at SOAS University of London where she had the opportunity to take and teach classes with the UCL Dance Society. Stephanie is happy to join the Adagio Ballet Faculty as a part-time ballet teacher.

Stacey received her early training at Mid-Atlantic Center for the Performing Arts and Spotlight Studio of Dance. She has studied various styles over the years including ballet, modern, tap, jazz, and contemporary. Stacey is pursuing a BFA in Dance and a minor in Kinesiology at George Mason University. At George Mason she is choreographing and performing modern works for the Mason Dance Company. Stacey attended Parsons Dance Summer Intensive and studied Afro-Cuban dance abroad in Cuba through George Mason’s field study program. She is currently a part time jazz and tap teacher at Adagio Ballet School of Dance, and is excited to be working within the Youth Program.

Grace is from Fairfax, VA and began her dance training at the age of 7. She graduated Cum Laude from George Mason University with her BFA in Dance. She has been performing with Company Danzante for three seasons and other local dance companies.

Sofia Mora grew up in Mexico City and danced Ballet in Mexico for 18 years. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the Universidad Iberomericana and moved to the United States in 2013 and became a language teacher for children. She now works as an Office Administrator and Production Manager at Adagio Ballet.

Cassidy Wagner received her early training from North Shore Dance Studio in Wisconsin.  She furthered her passion for dance when she attended the Interlochen Arts Academy summer intensive.  Ms. Cassidy later studied in London, England at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and The Place for Dance.

Ms. Cassidy graduated Magna Cum Laude from George Mason University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a minor in Business in 2016.  There, she was a part of the Mason Dance Company where she performed various student and faculty works. She also interns at the Kennedy Center in the Dance Programming Department. Ms. Cassidy has been teaching for over six years and is excited to continue at Adagio!

Ms. Rachel is from Saratoga Springs, New York, and began her ballet training at the age of four at Saratoga City Ballet under Patti Pugh Henderer. She continued her training with Julie Gedelecia, William Otto and Michael Steele. She had the opportunity to attend several summer intensive programs including Boston Ballet, Saratoga Summer Dance Intensive and Lehrer Dance. Rachel graduated with a BA in Dance and Arts Administration from Mercyhurst University.