Faculty and Staff
Our school employs and trains faculty members who are knowledgeable in both traditional and current training systems and techniques, who are committed to creating a positive, nurturing and productive learning environment and who have professional experience in the industry of performing arts and dance as well as certifications in their respective cross-training disciplines.
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Lilla Séber
Artistic & Executive Director
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Emily Hashiguchi
Classical Ballet Division Coordinator
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Nikki Gambhir
Youth Teacher
Acro, Contemporary, Tap
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Vanessa Carmichael
Youth & Adult Teacher
Conditioning, Contemporary, Jazz
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Mariana Gatto-Duran
Youth & Adult Teacher
Flamenco & Ballet
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Debra Floyd
Adult Teacher
Dance Cardio
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Kay Casstevens
Adult Teacher
Tap
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Anna Menendez
Adult Teacher
Flamenco
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Kali Keller, PT, DPT, CLT-LANA
Physical Therapist
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Shady Aly
Youth Teacher
Ballet & Pax de Deux
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Alvaro Palau
Youth & Adult Teacher
Ballet, Pas de Deux, Character
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Maurice Johnson
Youth & Adult Teacher
Jazz, Contemporary, Performing Arts
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Vincent Williams
Adult Teacher
Jazz
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Howard Perry
Adult Teacher
Jazz
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Joe Paolucci
Resident Massage Therapist
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Barry Charles Maloney
CFO
General Counsel
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Ian Brown-Gorrell
Director of Performing Arts & Business Development
Jazz, Tap, Acting, Alexander Technique, Voice
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Ryan Alvarado
Adjunct Youth Teacher
Voice & Speech, Performing Arts
Lilla Séber
Artistic & Executive Director
Lilla Séber is the founder and director of Séber Method Academy. After 29 years of professional experience in both teaching and dancing in Europe and the United States, Ms. Séber has created a school, Séber Method Academy, with a teaching system that encompasses the best elements of all different methods of education in the world of Classical Ballet and dance. Her passionate work in finding and offering solutions for the challenges in training dancers and in supporting a healthy and creative physical education has also led her to create Integrated Training Concepts for Dancers: a system that includes a combination of classes in cross-training and artistic development.
Born in Hungary, Ms. Séber’s training began at the Hungarian Dance Academy in Budapest, where she studied for ten years in a full scholarship program under the direction of Imre Dózsa. In the United States, she studied on scholarships at North Carolina School of the Arts with Melissa Hayden and Duncan Noble, and at The Washington School of Ballet with Mary Day, Lupe Serrano, and Roudolf Kharatian. She also was a recipient of the Artist’s Grant from the Soros Foundation, in addition to receiving a scholarship to study jazz dance at Luigi’s Theatrical Jazz Dance. After being a guest artist in the United States, Ms. Séber joined The Washington Ballet Company in 1995, where she continued to be featured in leading classical and contemporary roles. Some of her repertory included principal roles from many ballets including, “Giselle,” “Flames of Paris,” “The Nutcracker,” “Harlequinade,” “Stars & Stripes,” “Our Town,” and “Witches of Salem.”
Ms. Séber began her teaching career under the tutelage of Mary Day, founder of The Washington Ballet and The Washington School of Ballet, and Roudolf Kharatian, artistic director of the Armenian National Ballet. Since then, she has produced many students who have received scholarships to highly-ranked institutions including the JKO School at American Ballet Theatre, Bolshoi Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, San Francisco Ballet School, School of American Ballet, and who have went on to dance in prestigious companies both nationally and internationally.
Ms. Séber also found interest in the well-rounded approach of teaching Classical Ballet at higher education institutions. From 2011 to 2015, she was an adjunct professor at American University and Georgetown University.
Ms. Seber always enjoys furthering her knowledge in all fields of wellness such as physical-therapy, yoga and nutrition. Since 2009, she has worked closely with NovaCare Select Physical Therapy in creating the Conditioning for Dancers material. This program served as an inspiration for developing the Wellness Department of Séber Method Academy. She also has taught yoga for over 12 years at the Sport and Health Clubs of Washington D.C. and in the surrounding areas.
As an artist, Ms. Séber has explored creativity through a wide variety of performing art forms. She starred in the short film, “Variations on a Well-Known Theme,” which screened at the Cannes Film Festival, and also co-hosted the popular Hungarian TV show, “Tizen Tuliak Tarsasaga.” She also enriched her performing career with training and performance in Ballroom and Jazz styles. She envisioned that her school would reflect the richly creative and artistic experiences she was able to have in her own career.
Ms. Séber is also an advocate of the benefits of the arts in youth education and has worked with both Sitar Arts Center and Septime Webre’s Dance DC outreach program.
Emily Hashiguchi
Classical Ballet Division Coordinator
Ms. Hashiguchi has been an Assistant to the Director since 2014 and started her teacher training in the system of Séber Method. In 2016, she began working for the school as Assistant Manager. Since then, Ms. Hashiguchi has choreographed on students of Seber Method Academy and stage-managed for two of the school’s productions.
Ms. Hashiguchi began her dance training at the Olney Ballet School with Patricia Berrend. She furthered her dance studies at Maryland Youth Ballet and American Dance Institute. While still a student at ADI, Ms. Hashiguchi was given the opportunity to be a founding member of Ballet ADI (formerly Chamber Ballet) performing many original works by Runqiao Du. She has spent her summers studying on scholarship at School of American Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. She also was a finalist and participated for two years in the Kennedy Center Master Class Series where she was able to take classes from artistic directors around the world. Upon graduation from Séber Method Academy, Ms. Hashiguchi accepted a professional contract with Virginia National Ballet where she danced for two seasons. She currently dances with Moveius Contemporary Ballet.
Ms. Hashiguchi has a passion for working with children of all ages and backgrounds. She has taught ballet at the Sitar Arts Center and other schools in the D.C. metro area. She has also spent three summers working at Camp JCC, an inclusion program, and Camp T.R.I.O, a therapeutic recreational camp for children with special needs. She enjoys the challenge of balancing dancing in a professional company while being an integral part of youth education.
Nikki Gambhir
Youth Teacher
Acro, Contemporary, Tap
Nikki Gambhir has over ten years of work experience as an arts director, manager, and promoter in the DC metro region. Ms. Gambhir was the Outreach Director for DCypher Dance and the Director for Urban Impact, Hip Hop dance company at Joy of Motion Dance Center. Her work included designing and implementing several multi-media showcases, researching/applying for/pursuing both community and professional dance performance opportunities, writing the advertisements for company events, and coordinating/scheduling/booking the dancers.
In partnership with the DARE America program and with the DEA Youth Dance program, she created and presented dance assemblies in elementary and middle schools across DC, Maryland, and Virginia. She helped to bring dance programming to many under-served communities and at-risk youth. She also served as the communications liaison between the schools/program directors and the dancers.
Ms. Gambhir was the Publicity and Outreach Officer for the Classical Repertory Dance Theatre under the direction of Miya Hisaka. Her duties included promotion of the company and its showcases, creating and circulating press releases and promotional material, and program design.
She has also participated in the Dance Metro DC organization, serving as a Dance Metro DC panelist and on the Awards Selection Committee for the Metro DC Dance Awards for the Dance Metro DC organization.
Through her work in the arts management field, Ms. Gambhir hopes to spread the positive benefits of dance artistry to everyone.
Nikki Ranee Gambhir is a teacher, choreographer and performer in the DC metro area, currently working in Hip Hop, contemporary, jazz, tap, ballet, and Bollywood fusion. Ms. Gambhir is a member of Culture Shock DC and SOLEdarity, a tap company. She is a former director of Hip Hop company DCypher Dance and was founding director of youth Hip Hop company Urban Impact.
She has been a guest teaching artist at Georgetown University, Oberlin College, and Dreyfoos School of the Arts. Her choreography has been showcased at the Kennedy Center, National Dance Day with Nigel Lythgoe and the Dizzy Feet Foundation, the NBA Wizards’ Halftime show, and the Metro DC Dance Awards Ceremony. She was selected to choreograph the tribute performed for the James Brown Movie screening live at the Lincoln Theatre and nationally televised on NBC.
She performed with Cirque du Soleil and with the Broadway cast of Hairspray at the White House for the President in a nationally televised PBS Special. Other performance highlights include BET’s 106 & Park, opening for B2K and Darrin Henson, NFL Redskins Halftime Show, White House Easter Egg Roll, and the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Ms. Gambhir is a featured dancer in the Bollywood movie Ta Ra Rum Pum.
In addition to teaching at dance studios, Ms. Gambhir was a teacher at Albert Einstein High School. She choreographs musicals for Woodrow Wilson High School and she was the choreographer for “Hair” which won the Cappie Award for Best Musical. She also coordinates and performs dance assemblies in local schools presenting dance as a constructive alternative for at-risk youth, partnering with DARE Dance and DEA Youth Dance Program.
Ms. Gambhir believes that the arts are an essential part of community and hopes to promote positive and healthy expression through dance.
Vanessa Carmichael
Youth & Adult Teacher
Conditioning, Contemporary, Jazz
Born in Guyana, South America, Ms. Carmichael was introduced to the stage at a very young age by her mother, the Artistic Director of a Theatre Company. In Guyana, Vanessa studied piano and dance. She was also able to perform on stage whether it was acting, singing, or dancing. As shy child Vanessa realized the stage was a safe place.
During her teens, she studied voice, acting, and shadow interpreting. Beginning her dance career while in college, Vanessa majored in Kinesiology at the University of Maryland. She later studied modern jazz and ballet with local instructors Alvin Mayes, Bonnie Slawson, Tim Roberts, and Douglas Yeuell.
Vanessa Carmichael has successfully taught jazz and hip hop in the Metropolitan area during the past twenty-one years. She now integrates her wide knowledge of health-promoting exercise routines, physiology, and body mechanics into her successful dance curricula. Her “dancer strong” program helps dancers train as artistic athletes. Vanessa brings her performance experience to the classroom teaching her students the importance of intent, character, artistry of arms, and production. For stage and video.
During her many activities as Dance Instructor within the Washington Dance Institutions, Vanessa Carmichael-Elder has served as Dance Instructor and/or Director at the following institutions: The Georgetown University, Musical Theatre Center-Rockville Metropolitan Ballet Academy, Onley Studio of Dance—CMI, Motion Mania Dance Center, Maryland Youth Ballet, Joy of Motion Dance Center, and Séber Method Academy.
Her successful top-performing classes have been chosen to perform for President Obama and the First Lady at the White House, resulting in loud praise from both the President and the First Lady for their spectacular performances.
Not only is Ms. Carmichael a successful Dance Instructor well-loved by her students, she has, herself, performed with such companies as The City Dance Ensemble and Jam Crew, delighting audiences on the stages of The Kennedy Center, Dance Place, The Jack Guidone Theater, and The National Black Theatre Festival in North Carolina. She has even appeared on a recent MTV video.
Her performance at The Kennedy Center has included such well-known artists as Jacquie Amboise, Helanius Wilkins, and Alvin Mayes, as she has appeared with dance companies such as Motion Mania Jazz Company, City Dance Ensemble, Jam Crew, and Word Dance Theatre.
In addition, Vanessa Carmichael-Elder has been a loyal and active member of the El Teatro de Danza Contemporanea de El Salvador (TDC) for six seasons. This Dance Company is now celebrating its rebirth with a new name: The DC Contemporary Dance Theatre (DCCDT), and her involvement continues. This Spring Vanessa performed at the Kennedy Center with Word Dance Theatre a performance celebrating the woman’s right to vote.
Vanessa is currently the Director of Dancefusion Jazz Project Company at Séber Method Academy in Washington, DC, and Personal Trainer at her own boutique Personal Training Gym where she specializes in Corrective Methods for general population and dancers achieving top results in this strength and conditioning program.
Added to her well-applauded artistic accomplishments, Vanessa Gayle Carmichael-Elder is the proud mother of three. Her Eldest daughter studied dance for over twenty years and she was her assistant director of DanceFusion Dance Company. Her Son Ayden is also a dance teacher and is one of the youngest Artistic Directors in the DC area. His Hip Hop Company VLTGE is also in residence at Séber. Her youngest daughter Rylie starts High School this year and like her Mom she dances but is focused on singing during her teen years.
Mariana Gatto-Duran
Youth & Adult Teacher
Flamenco & Ballet
Mariana Gatto-Duran is a life time dancer and educator having started her dance career at the age of 6. Tracing her origins to the Romani communities of Bulgaria, she brings a joyful energy to the stage and classroom alike. A disciplined dancer having trained intensively in ballet, and flamenco, is an alumni of Seber Method Academy, holding the high standards and rich understanding of personal attention in training any student. As a performer Mariana appeared with renowned dancer Soñia Dorado show of Spain Espectacular, as well as other venues in the United States and Spain, including Jacob’s pillow festival 2022 in Albuquerque with Jesus Munoz, Teatro Calderón, Omayra Amaya in Boston performance 2023, the national tour with the Gipsy Kings, Balanchine International Festival, Edwin Aparicio Gala Theater Enredo Flamenco. Dance Theater Harlem, and Sarasota Cuban Ballet. Locally in the DMV Mariana has performed in a variety of venues including for acclaimed Michelin star Chef Jose Andres.
In her journey through dance Mariana has won awards such as Grand Prix at Vienna International Ballet Experience, YAGP- Denver, Colorado 2nd Place, Senior Age Division and Classical. She has trained with Nelida Tirado, ABT (National Merit Scholarship), Kirov School of Ballet (Ballet Scholarship), Bolshoi New York, Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Washington Ballet, Lilla Seber - Seber Method Academy, Dawei Zhang Vladimir Dulahajdzi, Anatoli Kucheruk, Xiomara Reyes, Pennsylvania Ballet, City Dance, and Fabrice Herrault School of Ballet.
Mariana’s deep love and ability to connect with the audience and student alike really allows for an exceptional experience. With the unique flavor of intensive training on a broad spectrum of style Mariana is at heart a kind loving professional eager to spread the joy of dance to all.
Debra Floyd
Adult Teacher
Dance Cardio
Debra K. Floyd believes that “dance and creative movement is an integral part of our everyday life.” Spanning over 40+ years, Debra’s career as a dance artist has presented her with opportunities to perform, choreograph, and teach all over the United States as well as internationally. She has worked in Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago, Oakland, Los Angeles, and San Francisco; her experience abroad covers Paris, France; Martinique, Caribbean; and Havana, Cuba.
She has studied and worked with several acclaimed choreographers including Talley Beatty, Donald McKayle, Diane McIntyre, Harold Nicholas, Bill T Jones, Leon Jackson, and Tyrone Murray just to name a few. In 2000, she founded FloydProject Dance Company, thereby continuing her mission to use dance as a vehicle for supporting women. This company of diverse women emerged onto the DC dance community, striving to build positive images, raise audience awareness of broad issues and empower people to uphold women and their aspirations.
At the present time, Debra teaches Dance Cardio at the Séber Method Academy, choreographs for the Gallaudet University Dance Company, and directs senior workout programs in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
Kay Casstevens
Adult Teacher
Tap
Kay donned her first pair of tap shoes at age 4 and has been shuffling ever since, and teaching basic tap for the last decade. She recently retired from her job at the National Gallery of Art, where she helped organize dance performances to enhance exhibitions.
Kay loves Broadway musicals and has been involved in DC area community theater for many years. She won the Washington Area Theatre Community Honors (WATCH) award for outstanding choreography for her work in The Arlington Players’ Pirates of Penzance, and received a nomination for TAP’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
She choreographed Company and Gypsy for Little Theatre of Alexandria, and has also choreographed shows and numbers for St. Mark’s Players, Hexagon, The American Century Theater, The British Players and the Gotta Dance troupe. She also enjoys coming out from behind the curtain and performing on stage from time to time.
Anna Menendez
Adult Teacher
Flamenco
Anna Menendez is a flamenco artist based in DC. She has over 25 years experience as a performing Flamenco Artist nationally and internationally.
Among her credits include over 50 performances with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, national tours with Flamenco Aparicio and international appearances.
Don’t miss this opportunity to study with one of the best Flamenco Dancers from this area!
Kali Keller, PT, DPT, CLT-LANA
Physical Therapist
Kali Keller, PT, DPT, CLT-LANA, a Detroit, MI native, received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Washington University School of Medicine before relocating to Washington, DC. Dr. Keller, who now practices at Forever Fit Physical Therapy in Bowie, MD, has been treating dancers for over three years, and has excelled in utilizing the Movement System Impairment Technique to identify and treat faulty movement patterns to prevent injury and optimize return to performance in dancers and other performers.
Prior to becoming a physical therapist, she was a professional dancer whose resume includes principal roles with Detroit Ballet Theatre, Detroit Pistons’ Automotion, Royal Caribbean, and Disneyland.
In addition, she is passionate about treating patients with cancer to maximize movement and quality of life as a cancer rehabilitation specialist and certified lymphedema therapist.
Dr. Keller still enjoys dancing, hanging out with her cats, Mufasa and Sox, and has now found a new passion in tennis which she enjoys playing during her free time.
Shady Aly
Youth Teacher
Ballet & Pax de Deux
Mr. Shady Aly teaches ballet, jazz, and commercial dance/hip-hop at Séber Method Academy. He is currently a principal dancer with Manassas Ballet Theatre and also a faculty member at Manassas Ballet Academy.
Originally from Egypt, Mr. Aly received his ballet training at the High Institute of Ballet in Cairo and danced professionally for 9 years as a soloist with the national company, Cairo Opera Ballet. He received his B.A. in Choreography and Dance Direction from the Academy of Art in Cairo, Egypt. In 2010, he was awarded first place in the Egyptian National Ballet Competition from the Egyptian Ministry of Culture.
After guesting across the world, including France, Germany, Belgium and Mexico he danced as a principal dancer with Gainesville Ballet, Charlottesville Ballet, and the DC Contemporary Dance Theatre in the United States. He worked as a choreographer with Theatre du Vieux Moulin in Meythet, France.
He enjoys teaching the Séber Method because it is unique in combining elements of European, Russian and American ballet styles. Mr. Aly enjoys sharing his dance experience with young dancers and seeing them improve their technique.
Alvaro Palau
Youth & Adult Teacher
Ballet, Pas de Deux, Character
Alvaro Palau of Cali, Colombia, received his training at the Colombian Ballet Institute, Incolballet as well as workshops in Cuba, in New York with David Howard, and at the Houston School of Ballet. Mr. Palau danced soloist and principal roles and has had roles created for him with The Washington Ballet for 12 years, ARKA Ballet, Carolina Ballet Theatre, National Ballet of Venezuela, and the Cali Ballet in his native Colombia.
Mr. Palau toured extensively internationally with all of the ballet companies above, in addition to dancing in festivals such as the Havana Festival in Cuba; Festivals in Rome and Florence in Italy; the Umbrella Festival in South Africa; the International Festival in Miami, Florida; the AIDS Foundation in Austin, Texas; and performances at the White House and in the Memorial Day show in Washington, D.C.
Awards include 1st prize at the Arts Competition in Colombia, as well as being nominated for Best Classical Dancer at Casa del Artista in Venezuela. His repertoire includes classical and contemporary ballets choreographed by numerous artists including George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Nacho Duato, Anthony Tudor, Mark Morris, Krzystof Pastor, Choo San Goh, Trey McIntyre, Christopher Wheeldon, Septime Webre, and Twyla Tharp. Classical repertoire includes leading roles in Don Quixote, Coppélia, La Fille mal Gardée, Les Sylphides, Swan Lake, Alberto Alonso’s Carmen, Romeo and Juliet among others.
More recently he has been featured in productions of the Washington National Opera under the direction of Placido Domingo, Colorado Opera, two short films by Jennifer Schwed, Carmen Tango with the Pan American Symphony Orchestra, Bowen McCauley Dance Company, and Dana Tai Soon Burgess. He has performed and choreographed works for Gala Hispanic Theatre, Source Theater Idomeneo Opera, and DanceLoft on 14th.
Mr. Palau has taught numerous ballet outreach programs and summer workshops. He is currently faculty at Séber Method Academy, faculty at Catholic University of America, teaches master classes at DanceLoft 14 adult program and is the founder and director of Washington Dance D.C.
Maurice Johnson
Youth & Adult Teacher
Jazz, Contemporary, Performing Arts
Mr. Johnson has served as the Associate Artistic Director of DC Contemporary Dance Theatre (DCCDT) / El Teatro De Danza Contemporarea (TDC) since 2012. He is a teacher, educator, choreographer and performing artist. He graduated with honors from the University of KY with a degree in Public Relations. He started his professional dance career as a feature dancer in the opening/closing US Olympic ceremonies (Atlanta). He completed a six month National tour with the two time Grammy award winning music group “Arrested Development”. Further credits include: Jennifer Lopez and Gloria Estefan (White House performance) as well as the production teams of Michael/Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul to name a few.
Mr. Johnson started his teaching career in the Washington, DC area in 1999. His challenging and energy-charged classes have been defined as “unique”, “Inspirational” and “motivating”. His classes serve as a tool to educate and further develop students’ technical and artistic proficiency. Mr. Johnson is still very active as a professional student and performing artist. He has trained and performed with The Lexington Ballet, Alvin Ailey (school), Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Classical Repertoire Dance Theatre (CRDT) and DC Contemporary Dance Theater. Mr. Johnson’s work has been presented and taught in China, Germany and the US. He served as the Interim Artistic Director of Georgetown University Dance Company (GUDC) and former adjunct Professor at American University. Currently, Mr. Johnson is on faculty at Catholic University and the National Cathedral School (NCS).
Vincent Williams
Adult Teacher
Jazz
Vincent W. Williams, an artistic veteran of the DMV. He has been a dancer, musician, actor, and singer who has been performing and teaching for over 40 years. Performing on International and National tours, he has been seen with DC Contemporary Dance Theatre, The Jason Taylor Dance Theatre, National Tour of the Broadway Production “Sing Mahalia Sing“, “The Gospel Times“, plus various Screen and Film Projects. Vincent has studied under names such as Cheryl Porter Vocal Coach, seen on Ellen, as well as his own students can be seen on Broadway and Netflix, and in major companies, music videos, movies, and national commercials.
Howard Perry
Adult Teacher
Jazz
A native of Washington DC, Howard grew up studying the art of dance and acting here in DC before leaving for training and career opportunities. While on scholarship at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, he began performing in NYC and Japan, later touring throughout Germany and Europe performing musical theater. While living in Barcelona Spain, he worked on collaborative Spanish television and film productions. Along with Alvin Ailey, he also trained at Phil Black’s, David Howard., Steps, and Broadway Dance Center.
Returning to Washington, Howard is reconnecting with theater as well as this new city. His connection with dance, theater and music continues to motivate and inspire him artistically. Dance is a medium of art that can transform your human spirit and a good foundation of technique, musicality and creative ability is where I like to focus my classes.
Joe Paolucci
Resident Massage Therapist
Joe is a is a sought after sport and dance massage therapist here in the DMV and New York City.
With more than 25 years of experience, Joe specializes in deep tissue and Russian sports massage incorporated with acupressure and Swedish massage techniques.
Having worked in a chiropractic setting, he has been a masseur at the Four Seasons Hotel Spa and massage provider at the Kennedy Center for a variety of entertainers for 20 years.
His holistic approach to health prioritizes therapeutic massage as an essential part of one’s health regimen. Joe has studied at the Potomac Myotherapy Institute and the Baltimore School of Massage and he has two bachelor degrees from the University of Maryland.
Notables he has had a chance to work with are Nelson Mandela, Ian Mckellen, George Bush Sr., The United Ukrainian Ballet, Suzanne Farrell Ballet, ABT, Arthur Mitchell and Dance Theater of Harlem.
Massage is an important part of any physically demanding art and Joe looks forward to working with you.
Barry Charles Maloney
CFO
General Counsel
Barry Charles Maloney, Esq/CPA, is the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) and General Counsel to the Academy and the Séber Method Foundation since 2017. He is also the Managing Partner of the Washington, DC, law firm of Maloney & Knox, PLLC, which represents numerous other businesses locally and nationally. Barry is the author of numerous legal manuals and legal forms predominately for sales and marketing agencies.
He received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Georgetown University School of Business Administration and a Juris Doctor degree from George Washington University Law School, where he received the award for the Most Outstanding Law Student in the Nation from Delta Theta Phi Legal Fraternity.
Barry is also a Certified Public Accountant. Before entering private practice, Barry served as Special Counsel to the US Economic Stabilization Program and was the Senior Branch Attorney at the US Securities & Exchange Commission, where he wrote an industry-changing monograph on the public offering process.
Before catching Potomac fever at Georgetown and becoming a Washingtonian, Barry resided in Syracuse, NY. He is an avid biker, skier, and ice-hockey player (ask him about winning a faux Stanley Cup with his linemate & NHL Hockey Scoring Legend Gordie Howe). He loves the Adirondacks and enjoys watching and attempting all forms of dance. To master the moves and understand the passion associated with the dancing arts, he has even been a student in several virtual classes at the Academy. His comment – “Dancing is Such Incredibly Great Fun!!”
Barry is a member of the US Supreme Court, US Tax Court, DC Court of Appeals and the District of Columbia Bars and the American Bar Association. He specializes in general corporate, tax, securities and trade association law, and all types of business entities, including limited liability companies, partnerships, sole proprietorships, non-profit organizations, and trusts. His law firm also engages in financial and accounting services for trade associations and select clients which activities are overseen by Barry. See www.maloneyknox.com.
Ian Brown-Gorrell
Director of Performing Arts & Business Development
Jazz, Tap, Acting, Alexander Technique, Voice
A Washington area native and proud member of the Actors Equity Association, Ian has performed on Broadway and off for over 15 years and continues to collaborate actively with performing arts organizations in New York, Pittsburgh, and DMV. An award-winning performer Ian has gotten honors including Best Actor Award (Role as Phil Davis), WATCH award Nominee, Gene Kelly Award, and Best in Festival Short Film Comedy (Berkeley Video and Film Festival).
Prior to co-founding NGAC, he has performed, taught, and choreographed in local theatres including Olney Theatre, Toby’s Dinner Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Adventure Theatre, and The Kennedy Center. Across the country Ian has appeared at Lincoln Center, Nederlander Theatre, The McKittrick Hotel (Sleep No More), The Muny, Pittsburg Public, West Virginia Public Theatre, and others. Throughout his career Ian has worked and trained under greats such as Stephen Sondheim, Marvin Hamlisch, Ron Tassone, Bridget Connors, Jack Allison, Christopher Cherry and Micheal Kahn.
With more than a decade of experience in professional theatre, dance, and film, Ian’s passion is in youth art program development. He has experience in both profit and non-profit platforms, for community youth theatre programs, arts camps and young artists competitions, including The Arts Barn, Greenbelt, Phoenix Productions, and Adventure Theatre, among others.
Awarded a degree in dance and musical theatre from Point Park University and has trained at Julliard. His extensive background in the Alexander Technique has led him on the journey to develop a triple threat technique to train the next generation of youth.
Ryan Alvarado
Adjunct Youth Teacher
Voice & Speech, Performing Arts
Ryan Alvarado was born in The Bronx, NYC and attended the Acting Conservatory at SUNY Purchase College and would take class from the likes of Lisa Benavides, Joan Potter, Charles Tuthill, Leigh Dillon, Narda Alcorn, Richard Crawford and Jill Echo. Upon leaving college Ryan would go on to originate the 1st Broadway National Tour of Hamilton: An American Musical where he served as the alternate for Alexander Hamilton. He’s also been fortunate enough to perform in many plays, musicals and Shakespearean works at theatres all across the country like Milwaukee Rep, STAGES St. Louis, The MUNY, Kansas City Starlight, Portland CenterStage, Seattle Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Shakespeare Theatre, Classical Theatre of Harlem, Roxy Regional, Seacost Rep, Westchester Broadway Theatre, White Plains Performing Arts Center and The Gateway Playhouse.
Ryan has a deep passion for working with the next generation of performers. He approaches acting with a focus on realism and pushes students to embrace the story-teller that is already inside them in order to understand the true art of acting. He thinks, as actors, we are tasked with harnessing the inner spirit of expression in order to grow organically. With a strong foundation and a good sense of craft everyone can find a way to access their inner artist and how they can be most effective in the creative process.
Ryan looks forward to working with all students that have a passion for the arts and a hunger to grow. “All you need is an open mind and a willingness to give it a try”. Forever thankful to his family, friends and all the people who helped him along the journey. Te amo mucho!