STAFF

Faculty

Joy Delaney Capponi, Artistic Director

Joy’s early training began under Olin D. Kearse and the Joffrey Ballet she went on to earn a BA in Dance, and Early Childhood Education from Virginia Intermont College. She has trained under Harolyn Gaudette, Margaret Faust, Michael Vernon, Karen Gibbons Brown, Helen Starr and Jeremy Blanton.

Joy has performed many notable roles including: Sleeping Beauty, Odette and Odile in Swan Lake, Coppelia and has created many roles in contemporary works. Joy has created many works for PDT including “A Salute to Gershwin,” “Mother Goose and Friends,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Elvis...a Tribute,” “Stravinsky Concerto,” “Luce Sonata,” “Cinderella,” “The Emperor and the Kite” and re-staged many classics such as “Swan Lake,” “Nutcracker “and “Sleeping Beauty.”

Knee injuries lead Joy to extensive study of Rommett Floor Barre and Pilates which emphasizes proper alignment, awareness of muscle groups and organic initiation of movement. These concepts have been integrated into the PDT syllabus with attention to technical proficiency.

Melissa Chisena

Melissa Chisena, started her dance career at The New Paltz Ballet Theatre founded by Peter and Lisa Naumann, former dancers of New York City Ballet. She has danced and toured with North Carolina Dance Theatre and the Richmond Ballet. She currently is dancing with Tania Isaac Dance where she has performed nationally at venues such as Bates Dance Festival, Jacob's Pillow, Aaron Davis Hall-Harlem Stage, Dance Place in Washington, DC, The Annenberg Center in Philadelphia and numerous colleges throughout the US. She has danced with Meghan Durham/Merge Dnce, Pima Group, independent choreographer Madeline Cantor, and has been a guest performer at Virgina Commonwealth University.

Melissa's award winning choreography has been featured at North Carolina Dance Theatre, Richmond Ballet, American Dance Festival, Regional Dance America, Philadelphia Dance Theatre, Philly Dance Fest, Chisena Danza, Youth American Grand Prix and various dance competitions across the US. Melissa teaches ballet, pointe, modern, and jazz to all levels and ages focusing on creating a nurturing environment for a strong background in technique, artistry, and inspiration.

Wendi Fisch, Ballet Mistress

Wendi Fisch began dance training at the age of three and still continues to study her art form. She became a serious student at Tidewater Ballet Association in Norfolk, VA. She was an invitational student at the School of American Ballet in New York City, The Royal Ballet in London, Melissa Hayden Ballet School and a scholarship recipient at the Joffrey Ballet. She performed with Mikhail Baryshnikov and New York City Ballet at Kennedy Center and the White House.

Wendi has been a guest artist for many companies including Richmond Ballet, Washington Ballet and was a member of the San Antonio Ballet Company and American Festival Ballet Company. She received a Bachelor of Science in Ballet/Music and Psychology at Indiana University, Bloomington, under the direction of Jean Pierre Bonnefoux, Patricia McBride and Jaques Cesbron. She has performed lead roles in Giselle, Swan Lake, Paquita, Nutcracker, Don Quixote and various works by Balanchine.

Yaqshaan Medan
Henry Roy
Jillian Prendergast, School Adminstrator

Adjunct Faculty

Yvonne Borree, Principal, New York City Ballet; Faculty, School of American Ballet
Jonathan Phelps, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre
Robert Gosnell, Nashville Ballet; Hubbard Street Dance Chicago; Faculty, North Carolina School of the Arts
Traves Butterworth, Director, Butterworth Dance Co.; Bludance Group; Sonia Plumb Dance Co.
Alexander Isiliev, Principal, , Pennsylvania Ballet

Master Classes

Matthew Neenan, Ballet X, resident choreographer Pennsylvania Ballet
Mary Macleod, Broadway -Fosse, Damn Yankees
Sonia Dawkins, Pacific Northwest Ballet
Sean Mahoney, Paul Taylor Dance Co.
Herman Sebek, Joffrey, Cats, Miss Saigon
Laura Alonso, National Ballet de Cuba, Laura Alonso Ballet
Michael Bariskill, Houston Ballet, Cats
Aranxta Ochoa, Principal, Pennsylvania Ballet
Julie Diana, Principal, Pennsylvania Ballet; Principal, San Francisco Ballet
Jeffrey Gribler, Principal, Pennsylvania Ballet; Ballet Master, Pennsylvania Ballet