About Laura Ward-Moran
About Our Instuctors
Instructor Bios
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"I choose the MSBMD because they teach the skills and technique I need to be a true ballerina."

- Giovanna: Age 7

Laura Ward-Moran/Owner/Instructor/Choreographer:

Mrs. Ward-Moran received a B.A. in Dance from Goucher College in 1999 with a concentration in dance education and a Maryland Teaching Certificate for grades K-12 in dance. She also holds a Certificate in the Language of Dance Fundamentals, as developed by Ann Hutchinson Guest from the Notation Center in London, and is certified in the Authentic PilatesT method of body conditioning, New York and Romanas Pilates, NY.

While a student at Goucher, Mrs. Ward-Moran hat the opportunity to perform in several works by guest artists as well as works by the esteemed Goucher Faculty. She earned several scholarships, including the Friends of Goucher Dance, the Amy Goldstein Dance Scholarship, the Bond Dance Award, the Summer Studies in Dance scholarship, and a Phi Beta Kappa award for her choreography. Upon graduation, she served as a faculty member of the St. Paul's Schools, the Parkville High School- where she founded a dance program in 1999, and developed dance curriculum for the Harford County Public Schools. In July 2001 she opened the Maryland School of Ballet and Modern Dance, Inc in Harford County.

Mrs. Ward-Moran began her Pilates studies in 1996 at Goucher College. In February 2002, under the tutelage of master instructors Romana Kryzanowska, Sari Mejia Santo and June Hines, Mrs. Ward-Moran completed over 600hrs of training and certified as an instructor of Authentic PilatesT through Pilates, Inc.® of New York. Mrs. Ward-Moran taught Pilates at Goucher College from 2001-2006, where during her full time status she was assistant to the director, and has also taught academic classes in Pilates for the college dance department as well as modern technique, choreography and Pilates for their Summer Arts Institute. She has instructed several master workshops for Physical Therapists, dance studios, and athletic facilities. The American Whole Health Network recognizes Mrs. Ward-Moran as an individual certified to offer Pilates as an alternative health option as part of a discount program through many large insurance agencies. Most recently, she has developed a new fitness class for the studio, piloting fall 2010, called Ballet Blast which is a ballet based fitness class for adults.

In 2004 Mrs. Ward-Moran received her Level 5 IITP Pilates Teacher Certification from Romana's Pilates. She is a member of the Pilates Method Alliance and the Maryland Dance Council. She participates yearly in professional continuing education courses with Romana's Pilates- True Pilates NY- and is dedicated to teaching pure, authentic Pilates. In addition to her Pilates studies, she has been accredited through ACE to provide continuing education to ACE certified fitness professionals. In 2004 Mrs. Ward-Moran, and colleague Julia Clime created a Pilates fitness CD through their company, In ABSentia Productions, LLC.

Mrs. Ward-Moran continues her education by attending the Dance Teacher Conference in NYC as well as other education related seminars and workshops that she feels will enhance her studios environment. Mrs. Ward-Moran is dedicated to training young dancers' minds and bodies to prepare them for college dance programs and careers, and she maintains longstanding relationships with her students way beyond their high school graduation. She is devoted to developing every student in her program and helping each student reach her goals. Even as a busy mother of toddler twins, her students at her school always remain a priority to her.

Email Mrs. Ward-Moran directly to set up a placement class at: mdschoolofballet@comcast.net

Kim Pugh, Choreographer/Teacher

Kim Pugh has been a dance instructor in Harford and Baltimore counties for 25 years, teaching all levels of Ballet and Jazz, as well as, Pointe, Partnering, Variations, Stretch & Strengthen, and Preparation for Audition. She also taught ballet at the renowned Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB) where she was a soloist in their performing company. In addition to CPYB, Kim studied ballet at The Joffrey Ballet, Jacob’s Pillow, The Richmond Ballet and locally at the Maryland Ballet, The Baltimore Ballet, Ballet Academy of Baltimore and The Harford Ballet Studio.

Ms Pugh performed with The Richmond Ballet, CPYB, Ballet Concerto of Baltimore, Networks Dance Theatre and The Harford Dance Theatre. She directed The Nutcracker for Harford Dance Theatre (HDT) in 2001 & 2002.

Kim’s choreography has been performed on stage at the Amoss Center for the Performing Arts and the Chesapeake Center for the HDT productions of The Nutcracker, Canvases and Harriet’s Happiest Halloween. While on the faculty at The Harford Dance Center from 1993 – 2003 she choreographed numerous original works for their dance concerts and performing company. Kim choreographs for MSBMD's performing company, Maryland Dance Project and for the annual production of "The Nutcracker". She recently attended the 2006 Dance Teacher Conference in New York City. For the past 17 years Kim has also worked at the United States Property and Fiscal Office in the Logistics Division supporting the Maryland Army National Guard. Kim currently teaches ballet levels III, IV and V at MSBMD.

Kerry Richie - Dance Instructor

Kerry grew up in the Baltimore area where she received her dance training from Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Ballet Theater of Baltimore and Towson State University Children’s Dance Division. Kerry graduated from Point Park College in 1995 with a BA in Psychology and a minor in dance. In 1997 Kerry received her Masters in Social Work from University of Maryland. Kerry has had the opportunity to perform at the Jazz Dance World Congress in Washington D.C. and Phoenix Arizona. Other performing credits include Towson State University Children’s Dance Division Troupe, Frontier Town Western Theme Park, Dina Reyes Jazz Dance Company, F. Scott Black Dinner Theater and multiple musical theater productions. Kerry has also had the opportunity to study with Jazz masters such as Frank Hatchett, Joe Tremaine, Gus Giordano and Joe Lanteri.

Jennifer Gasparine

Jennifer is a graduate of Goucher College's class of 2001 where she received a BA in Dance with concentrations in performance/choreography and education. While at Goucher she had the opportunity to be selected to perform numerous original choreographic works by guest artists in residence as well as the classic pieces of George Balanchine's "Serenade" and Jose Limon's "Choreographic Offering." Jennifer was awarded many scholarships during her time at Goucher including a summer studies scholarship that contributed to work at the prestigious Limon Dance Foundation in New York City and the Renee Rassa award for commitment and dedication to the arts. Upon graduation, she returned to her home town in New Jersey where she has been sharing her love of dance by teaching age's 3-adult in many local studios.

In 2005, Jennifer moved back to Baltimore where she continued teaching dance and started work towards attaining her True Pilates instructor certification. She completed over 600 apprentice hours studying in Washington, D.C. with Michael Rooks and Andrea Burkholder as well as traveling to the True Pilates New York Studio under the direction of Romana Kryzanowska, Sari Mejia Santos, and Daria Pace. In 2007 she received her True Pilates instructor certification and is thrilled to be teaching both dance and pilates at MSBMD.

Michelle White-Cummings - Dance Instructor

Ms. Michelle White-Cummings began her ballet training in Louisiana. She has studied at the school of American Ballet (the school of the New York City Ballet), the American Ballet Center (the school of the Joffrey Ballet), the National Ballet School in Washington D.C. and the American Ballet Theater School. Ms. White performed with the National Ballet Company of Washington, D.C., the Ballet West in Utah, and the National Ballet of Iran, rising to the rank of principal dancer over the course of her career. She has performed with Dame Margot Fonteyn, Edward Villella, and Violette Verdy. Ms. White has taught for the Maryland Youth Ballet, the Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and the Peabody Preparatory. She has been teaching dance in Harford County since 1976.

Amber Zecker-Locke—Dance Instructor

Amber has danced professionally with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Mid-Ohio Valley Ballet Company, Baltimore Opera Company, Tony Powell/Music & Movement and for six years as a soloist with Ballet Theatre of Maryland. She was the director and choreographer for the Susquehanna Youth Ballet creating ballets including Alice in Wonderland, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, and Sacagawea. Receiving a Master of Arts degree in Teaching Elementary and Special Education from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, Mrs. Locke was a special educator and a First Grade teacher with the Harford County Public Schools. Currently, Amber spends most of her time chasing after her young son, tutors elementary-age children reading and mathematics, and as always, thoroughly enjoys instructing and choreographing classical ballet throughout the Baltimore area.

Cullen Massenberg - Guest Faculty

CULLEN MASSENBERG, of Bloomfield, Connecticut, began his formal dance training at the Hartford Ballet School under the direction of Kirk Peterson and continued to train at the North Carolina School of the Arts where he completed his B.F.A. He has received additional training at the Dance Theatre of Harlem School, the Juilliard School, and the American Dance Festival. Currently, he performs with the Washington Reflections Dance Company in Washington, DC. He thanks his family and friends for their continued love and support.

Ashley Dimmer

Ashley Dimmer graduated Summa Cum Laude from Towson University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in education. She is certified to teach elementary school, special education, and mathematics. Ashley is a resident of Harford County.

Ashley began her dance training at Maryland School of Ballet and Modern Dance, under the direction of Laura Ward-Moran. She performed solo roles in the Maryland Dance Project and Nutcracker productions for over 10 years, working with MSBMD instructors and guest artists. Ashley has also had the opportunity to study dance at Salisbury University and at the Goucher Summer Arts Institute.

Leigh Alexander

Leigh Alexander has been dancing since the age of three. She has exploered many styles of dance including modern, tap, jazz, hip hop, country line, ballroom, African, & Native American, but her main focus has always been ballet. As a youth, she studied under Towson's Children's Dance Division under Patty Enoch Bond where she was able to gain a strong foundation in R.A.D. In high school, Leigh was accepted into the dance program at Carver Center for the Arts where she studied under Elizabeth Lowe Ahern, Amanda Thom Woodson, Ken Skrzesz, & Jamie Host. After graduation, Leigh went on to receive her Associate of the Arts degree from CCBC in Dance. During her attendance, Leigh was awarded "Outstanding Dancer of the Year" for two consecutive years. In addition, she also received the only scholarships offered in the dance department, both years in attendance. She graduated from Goucher College in 2008, where she earned her BA in Dance Therapy.

Leigh began her teaching career at age 11 as an assistant at Kingsville Recreation Center. After three years she was awarded her own classes. Leigh went on to teach creative movement, ballet, tap, modern, & lyrical to varying age groups around Maryland. She is happy to be a member of the teaching staff at MSBMD.

Leigh's passion in the field of dance has led her in many directions, including costume design. In 2006 she started designing and crafting dance costumes for herself and recieved several awards for outstanding craftsmenship at local and national conventions. In 2008 she began designing and constructing costumes for the Maryland School for Ballet and Modern Dance. She was recently recognized for her talent as a seamstress at Costumecon 2011 where she was asked to run several panels on her knowledge in costuming. She is very excited to begin working on costumes for the first licensed ballet of Rudolph the Red- Nosed Reindeer being choreographed and perfomed by MSBMD.

Leslie King

Leslie King grew up in Baltimore, MD and began her dance training at Dj's Dance Studio in Perry Hall. She graduated from Goucher College in 2004 with a BA in Dance with concentrations in performance/choreography and education. Leslie had the opportunity to perform with many guest artists in ballet and modern within her college education. In 2003, Leslie began teaching at MSBMD and after the encouragement of Laura Ward-moran traveled to New York to receive her Certificate in the Language of Dance Fundamentals.

In 2006, Leslie moved to Los Angeles, CA and had the opportunity to work with choreographers and instructors such as Doug Caldwell, Denise Lietner, Terry Best, and Mandy Moore. She also has the opportunity to perform at the famous Roxy music venue. Leslie is very happy to be back at MSBMD after moving home to Baltimore in 2010.

Katie Palencsar

Katie Palencsar holds a B.A. in musical theater from Point Park Conservatory where she attended on full scholarship. In addition, she holds a Masters of Science degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Drexel University. Deeming herself a triple-threat, favorite theater credits include Gypsy (Gypsy Rose Lee) and 42nd Street (Anytime Annie). Katie served as the dance captain for New York’s Center for Theater Arts, where she worked along side MTV choreographer of the year, Jamale Graves and Broadway veteran, Jacquie Bird. She has taught and choreographed in a variety of studios, organizations, public schools, and private schools along the east coast. In 2010 Katie was nominated for a Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth Outstanding Instructor Award. Ms. Palencsar is passionate about education in the Baltimore area where she serves as a mentee with the women’s group, Network 2000. Her work with the New York City Department of Education and Auberle Foster Home helped to shape her beliefs in empowering youth with arts and education. She is represented by Betsy Royall Casting and is an avid Bikram yogi.