DIRECTORS

DEBRA SAVAGE, DIRECTOR – BALLET, POINTE

Debra Savage grew up in Vienna, Virginia and began her performing career with the Virginia Ballet Co. While still in high school, Debra studied in New York City at the American Ballet Theatre School and at the Harkness House for Ballet Arts. She then attended the North Carolina School of the Arts BFA program.
Ms. Savage performed with the New Orleans Ballet Company, The Delta Festival Ballet, Connecticut Ballet Theatre, The Empire State Ballet, and others. She trained for more than ten years in New York City, where she also taught for the Manhattan Ballet School and Peridance Center. Debra Savage has directed the Center for Ballet Arts for 28 years and has been teaching since 1978. On July 11th, 2008, Mrs. Savage was awarded the Presidential Citation for Outstanding Educator by The Virginia Governor’s School for Humanities and Visual & Performing Arts, at the University of Richmond.

BENNETT SAVAGE, DIRECTOR – PILATES

Bennett Savage is a former member of the Metropolitan Opera Ballet and the Martha Graham Ensemble. He trained extensively in New York City and performed with the Mary Anthony Dance Theatre, Dinosaur/ Dance Express, Throne Dance Theatre, The Delta Festival Ballet, New Orleans Ballet Co. and the Lexington Ballet. Benn had the honor and privilege of working with Anna Sokolow in “Magritte, Magritte” with the Connecticut Ballet Theatre.
Mr. Savage’s performing experiences throughout the United States and Europe were inspired by a dance performance he attended while enlisted in the U. S. Coast Guard. For 28 years, Benn Savage has co-directed the BAE and CBA, where he has also taught. His modern choreography has won several awards. In 2007, his “Bach Canons” was chosen to be performed at the Regional Dance America National Festival at the Benedum Theatre in Pittsburgh.

FACULTY & STAFF

ANNAH GIBSON – BALLET, MODERN, TAP

Annah began at CBA as a Kinderballet student in Mr. Benn’s class. She eventually studied dance extensively and performed with the BAE for many years. Miss Annah began assisting with children’s classes at age twelve, and has evolved into a gifted children’s teacher. Mrs. Gibson received an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts with a certification in Early Childhood Development and is a Special Education teacher in Fairfax County School System.

LEANNE MIZZONI – BALLET, POINTE

Leanne started her training at the Metropolitan Ballet School, later studying at Virginia Ballet and attending summer programs at the Joffery Ballet and Virginia School of the Arts. She continued her training at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School, where she graduated cum laude with a BFA in Dance Pedagogy. Leanne performed with American Ballet Theatre in The Nutcracker and Romeo and Juliet and was the Assistant Director of the children’s division in Kirk Peterson’s Nutcracker (2003). Leanne was a Manassas Ballet Theatre company dancer for four years and a founding dancer of Ballet Fantastique (Eugene, OR).

CAITLIN MURRAY – TAP, JAZZ

Caitlin is a CBA student-turned-teacher and former company member of the BAE. She trained in ballet, tap, jazz, and modern and enjoyed performing such roles as the Evil Queen and Fairy Godmother. Since teaching her first ballet class in 2014, she has grown as an instructor and transitioned into tap and jazz. Caitlin received a BA in Communication and a minor in American Sign Language from George Mason University in 2020. She is the Digital Media Associate for Dancing with Markers and has danced with the Dancin' Unlimited Jazz Dance Company since 2016.

DUSTIN KIMBALL – BALLET, MODERN, PILATES

Dustin began his dance studies in Maine, followed by two years of training at CBA. While at CBA, he was awarded, both, the Bruce Wurl and Ron Benson Scholarships and performed with the BAE. For three years, he studied on full scholarship at the Rock School for Dance Education. Mr. Kimball has danced professionally with Bowen-McCauley Dance Company for more than a decade and continues to perform as guest artist with the DC metropolitan area. Dustin now serves as Artistic Director of the BAE, as well as, Ballet Master of the Center for Ballet Arts.

MARY WHITE-SWIFT – BALLET, POINTE

Mary White began her Intensive ballet training at CBA in 1993. She performed leading roles including that of “Sugar Plum Fairy” in early BAE performances of Nutcracker In A Nutshell. Mary continued her training at Mercyhurst University as Dance Major with a Teaching Concentration. Besides the BAE of Fairfax, Ms. White’s performing experience has included Erie Ballet Theatre and the Virginia Civic Ballet. She served as Ballet Mistress for the Joan Izzo Academy of Dance from 2001-2016. Now Mrs. Swift, Mary has served on the faculty of CBA for the past four years.

CIRIA MARTINEZ-BERRIOS – JAZZ

Ciria began training at CBA at the Pre-Pointe level and became a valued member of the BAE of Fairfax within a few years. While in high school, she began as a class assistant and then continued on to teach children’s classes, through her college years. As Miss Martinez, Ciria became a gifted choreographer of children’s Modern classes. She also danced professionally with Dancin’ Unlimited Jazz Dance Company for several years. Since, Mrs. Berrios has continued to teach at various area dance studios.

RYLIE CUTE – BALLET, JAZZ

From her time as a mouse in the Nutcracker to the title role in Cinderella, Rylie cherished being a student at CBA. After dancing with the BAE for many years, Rylie went on to earn a BS in Dance Science and a minor in Dance from Elon University in 2020. While at Elon, she performed with the Elon Dance Company and extensively studied ballet, modern, jazz, somatic studies, and choreography. She is currently a Physical Therapy Technician at The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics. She is very excited to return to CBA for the upcoming year.

ARMANI COINER – BALLET

GUEST TEACHERS

​RICHARD RHOLDON – BALLET

Delta Festival Ballet of New Orleans

ROGER JEFFREY – MODERN

George Mason University

BAE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

BAE GUILD OFFICERS

FRONT DESK
Harriet Church
Abian Farhadi
Benn Savage
Debra Savage
Harriet Church, President
Elizabeth Mansfield, Vice President
Emily Allen-Shaw, ​Secretary
Samantha Kimball
Renee Outen