SCHOOL OF THEATRICAL DANCE Ballet Tap Jazz Modern Yoga Fitness Acrobatics

760 A Walker Road | Great Falls, VA 22066
760 A Walker Road | Great Falls, VA 22066
For several generations, we have had the honor and privilege of providing a diverse, inclusive, enriching, and well-rounded dance curriculum in Great Falls, VA and its surrounding communities.
We'd love for you to join us for an unforgettable dance experience!
SOTD offers instruction for young children, teens, and adults. Every step of the way, we provide careful attention to the mastery of each aspect of the performing arts so that at every level, dance becomes the joyful experience it is meant to be.
Our mission is to instill an appreciation for, and understanding of, the synthesis of poetry, music, raw physicality, and the power of being that is dance!
That question can be answered on many levels. It’s fun, it’s healthy… The obvious answers. But when you take a closer look, you find that dance is the only pursuit which is such a complex synthesis of mental and physical abilities.
On the physical side are posture, fine and gross motor coordination, strength, grace, balance, flexibility, control, speed, power, and endurance.
On the mental side are the understanding of musical phrasing and nuance, familiarity with anatomy and muscle function, spatial perception, coordination and timing of movement with other moving bodies, dramatic expression and character, imagination, poise and confidence, and the memorization of dance vocabulary.
Because there are so many components to dance, the technique requires constant repetition; not only for neuromuscular coordination, but for strength and injury prevention.
The early years address control over the larger superficial muscle groups, but as training continues, and dancers mature, they tune-in to the inner musculature.
This allows for an ever increasing refinement in execution. The dancer’s entire being is integrated with breath; focus and intent of motion clearly defined.
Ultimately, the art is in the detail, the nuance, the emotion.
Class placement is determined by an Instructor evaluation of a child’s gross motor development, emotional maturity, attention span, muscle tone, and coordination.
Classes are sequential; building lesson to lesson. Regular attendance is important and part of the commitment expected when students enroll. Frequent absences will not only frustrate the dancer, but will also impede the progress of the entire class.
SOTD Founder, SOTD Director from 1980-2020, and Administrative Advisor
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Theresa was in the teaching profession for over 40 years teaching all levels of Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Modern.
Her formal Ballet training began in the early 60’s with Solange Binda at the Ballet Academy of Northern Virginia who she thanks for making childhood dance a nu
SOTD Founder, SOTD Director from 1980-2020, and Administrative Advisor
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Theresa was in the teaching profession for over 40 years teaching all levels of Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Modern.
Her formal Ballet training began in the early 60’s with Solange Binda at the Ballet Academy of Northern Virginia who she thanks for making childhood dance a nurturing and inspiring experience.
At age 9, she auditioned for, and danced in the National Ballet’s (The predecessor of The Washington Ballet) “Nutcracker”, under Ballet legend, Frederick Franklin.
At 14 she was accepted into the prestigious full time academy at the Washington School of Ballet, but chose to continue her public education while studying under WSB Founder Mary Day, Julio DeBettencourt, and Martin Buchner.
Theresa received her BA in Dance from Mary Washington University under the guidance of Sonja Dragomanovic Haydar, Jean Hunt, and Kathy Gray.
After officially opening the Studio in 1980, Theresa continued to pursue her performing career. She danced with the Washington Opera Ballet for five seasons at the Kennedy Center, working with such world-renowned choreographers as Baayork Lee, Donald Sadler and Brian Macdonald.
For ten years she was a member and soloist with the Modern dance Company, KHG Dance Theatre.
Over the years Theresa has choreographed and produced numerous original Ballets, such as “From Amber to Blue”, “Cuban Overture”, “Equisses de Royaute”, "The Little Mermaid”, “La Fortuna”, “Come Spring”, “Bach”, “Seasons”, and multi-genre productions including, “A Golden Afternoon”, and “J’Adore Paris”.
Theresa has worked in television, acting, and choreographing for the Korean EBS network, as well as being a voice actor for radio.
She was a member of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science, registered with the Royal Academy of Dancing, and AGMA.
Theresa has a son, Tom, “My joy”.
SOTD Director, SOTD Alumna,
and Senior Instructor of Ballet and Pointe
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Ashley began as a student of SOTD with Miss Theresa and continued her studies at The Maryland Youth Ballet with world-renowned Tensia Fonseca and Eric Hampton.
Throughout her study at MYB, Ashley worked with The Washington School of Ballet, The Kirov Academy of Ballet o
SOTD Director, SOTD Alumna,
and Senior Instructor of Ballet and Pointe
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Ashley began as a student of SOTD with Miss Theresa and continued her studies at The Maryland Youth Ballet with world-renowned Tensia Fonseca and Eric Hampton.
Throughout her study at MYB, Ashley worked with The Washington School of Ballet, The Kirov Academy of Ballet of DC, and was selected to train with The Boston Ballet, The American Academy of Ballet, and received a scholarship to The Joffrey Ballet School in New York.
In 2005, Ashley graduated from the College of Charleston in SC earning degrees in Performing Arts, Ballet & Corporate Communications.
While in Charleston, Ashley was a member of The Robert Ivey Ballet Company for five seasons.
In addition, Ashley has performed with the Joffrey Ballet and Charleston Ballet Theatre in such venues as The Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap, and the historic Sottile Theatre.
In 2006, she returned to her SOTD family to perform and teach.
In 2015, Ashley continued her professional dance training, teaching, and performing during her four year residence on the Mediterranean island of Limassol, Cyprus.
In 2020, Ashley was promoted to Director of SOTD. Ashley is grateful to Miss Theresa, her childhood dance teacher, mentor, and friend. “Thank you for taking me under your wing and opening my eyes to new stages of opportunity and strength. I’ve learned something new from you every single day, and I treasure everything you’ve taught me. I’ll be forever grateful to you for trusting me with your SOTD vision.”
Ashley has a lovely daughter, Evelina, who is already following in her mother’s footsteps!
SOTD Senior Fitness Instructor
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Linda graduated from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri earning degrees in Theatre Arts and Social Science for Secondary Education.
She has been certified by AFAA and ACE and has CPR/AED certification.
Linda started teaching Aerobics at School of Theatrical Dance in 1982, and has taught at a variety of lo
SOTD Senior Fitness Instructor
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Linda graduated from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri earning degrees in Theatre Arts and Social Science for Secondary Education.
She has been certified by AFAA and ACE and has CPR/AED certification.
Linda started teaching Aerobics at School of Theatrical Dance in 1982, and has taught at a variety of local health clubs in Reston and Mclean over the years.
Linda has been a beloved and legendary member of the SOTD family for over 40 years!
SOTD Senior Instructor of Modern Dance, Ballet, and Pointe
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Originally from Geneva, Switzerland, Mr. Rouiller received his early training with Ecole De Danse Contemporaine and the Stuttgart Ballet School.
He has danced with, among others, Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Ohio Ballet, Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Milwaukee Ballet and Goteborg
SOTD Senior Instructor of Modern Dance, Ballet, and Pointe
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Originally from Geneva, Switzerland, Mr. Rouiller received his early training with Ecole De Danse Contemporaine and the Stuttgart Ballet School.
He has danced with, among others, Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Ohio Ballet, Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Milwaukee Ballet and Goteborg Ballet.
He has performed the Ballets of such choreographers as Balanchine, Butler, King, Prokovsky, Goh, North and countless others.
SOTD Senior Instructor of Yoga and Practitioner of Reiki
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Caitlin is a mom of three close-in-age children and a sibling to a brother with highly involved special needs.
Accessibility and inclusion are paramount for her, in class and in life.
Trained and certified as an anatomically-focused, trauma-informed yoga teacher (200 RYT), Caitlin ha
SOTD Senior Instructor of Yoga and Practitioner of Reiki
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Caitlin is a mom of three close-in-age children and a sibling to a brother with highly involved special needs.
Accessibility and inclusion are paramount for her, in class and in life.
Trained and certified as an anatomically-focused, trauma-informed yoga teacher (200 RYT), Caitlin has led classes indoors and out for all ages -- from just a few weeks old to nonagenarian -- for three years.
She adores sharing the practice with others, but what she loves most is helping practitioners see that they are capable of more than they realize.
"Witnessing that light of self-recognition is truly beautiful."
SOTD Senior Instructor of Acrobatics, Parkour, and Calisthenics
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Ramsey has been doing Acrobatics for ten years. He loves training that facilitates the strength and balance required to do moves in Gymnastics, Parkour, and Circus Arts like partner balancing.
Ramsey's training is focused on Calisthenics and animal-mimicking movements which
SOTD Senior Instructor of Acrobatics, Parkour, and Calisthenics
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Ramsey has been doing Acrobatics for ten years. He loves training that facilitates the strength and balance required to do moves in Gymnastics, Parkour, and Circus Arts like partner balancing.
Ramsey's training is focused on Calisthenics and animal-mimicking movements which develop the whole body for functional strength and range of motion.
He has performed for audiences big and small, with his two children, fellow adult performers, and his SOTD students.
Before Acrobatics, Ramsey trained in kung fu. Similar to Ballet, the leg strength, postures and body awareness developed in martial arts lend themselves readily to Acrobatics, Gymnastics, and more.
Ramsey believes his classes should be both playful and challenging!
Our Fall 2022 Schedule is COMING SOON!
our Fall 2022 tuition table is COMING SOON!
School of Theatrical Dance is located in The Village Centre at 760 A Walker Road in Great Falls, VA 22066 (Above The Old Brogue Irish Pub)
People expect a small, loving studio such as ours to continue to exist magically, when there are so many challenges. The reality is, post-pandemic, we need your help to survive.
School of Theatrical Dance is a Non-profit, 501-C3 Educational Institution.
We have poured our hearts, souls, and soles into our tight-knit SOTD family for 40 years. For generations, we have had the tremendous privilege of nurturing and training dancers in Great Falls, Virginia and surrounding communities.
And yet, we are SO MUCH MORE... We are a family; a beautiful, positive, uplifting, impactful staple of our community.
SOTD strives for students to develop healthy strength of mind and body, lasting connections with their peers, and powerful skills that follow them throughout their lives.
Please don’t let the Great Falls zip code mislead you. Tuition covers operating expenses and modest salaries for our Instructors.
Sadly, many of our students haven’t returned this season because of COVID-19 concerns.
Your donation, no matter the amount, will help us continue our mission...
A mission of encouraging our students to become kind, well-rounded, and conscientious citizens as well as true artists.
Please help us [HEART] the SOTD Arts.
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