Faculty

Noelle Reese

Ms. Reese teaches master classes and adjudicates competitions around the country. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performing Arts/Dance and is also a certified yoga instructor. Noelle has danced a variety of roles in classics such as Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Les Sylphides, Giselle, Raymonda, La Bayadere and The Nutcracker along with numerous original ballet and contemporary works.

Ms. Reese has choreographed and acted as dance consultant for several independent films, expos and photo shoots, as well as producing original works for companies and studios. She has appeared in campaigns for companies including Anheuser-Busch and Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

As an instructor she has seen her students accepted to prestigious scholarship and summer programs and go on to work professionally not only as concert dancers in the U.S. and Europe but in Broadway shows including "Legally Blonde", "Bring It On" and "Radio City Christmas Spectacular" and movies like "High School Musical 3", "Step Up:Revolution" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". Students from DA are regularly accepted to prestigious programs including Bolshi, Kirov, PNB, The Rock School, CPYB, Butler, Sarasota Ballet and Houston Ballet.

Ninel Cherevko

Ninel was born and studied in Lviv, Ukraine. Upon graduation, she started her professional career in Lviv National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre and continued with Donetsk Ballet, Moscow City Ballet, and Ballet Theatre of Maryland. During her dancing career, Ninel participated in the annual Stars of the World Ballet/World Ballet Stars international festival and various galas, toured the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and many European countries.

Ninel performed diverse leading roles in classical and contemporary ballets including Giselle, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadere, Coppelia, Esmeralda, Le Corsaire, Nutcracker, Walpurgis Night, Paquita, Chopiniana, and in Jorg Mannes’s Four Kisses to name a few. She was critically acclaimed for her performance in Giselle, La Bayadere, Sleeping Beauty, and Le Corsaire. She performed alongside such legendary dancers as V. Pisarev, L.Semenyaka, A. Ratmansky, A. Vetrov, N. Semizorova.

She has seen her students accepted to some of the most prestigious college and dance programs including Julliard, Joffery, New York University, and Butler University among others. Her students have continued on to professional careers with such companies as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, Atlanta Ballet, and Charlotte Ballet. Additionally, dancers trained by Ninel have been recognized for excellence in the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Youth America Grand Prix, and many other competitions throughout the USA. In both 2018 and 2019 she was recognized with the Outstanding Teacher Award from World Ballet Art Competition.

Dmitri Malikov

Dmitri is a 1987 graduate of the famed Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. Upon graduation he joined the Donetsk Ballet. He was a principal dancer with the Lvov Ballet Theatre in Ukraine and the Moscow City Ballet. In 1994 and 1995 he was part of the International Festival “Stars of World Ballet,” and in 1995 was promoted to the Highest Category of Ballet Artist. Malikov is featured in the 2002 book, A Young Dancer’s Apprenticeship: On Tour with the Moscow City Ballet.

Dmitri has performed in the United Kingdom, Poland, Estonia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore and Italy. He came to the United States in 1999 as a principal dancer with the Ballet Theatre of Maryland under the direction of Edward Stewart.

Malikov has been teaching, coaching and choreographing for young dancers in the area since his arrival in Annapolis. Dmitri has been teaching at the Dance Academy of Severna Park since 2001 and has staged The Nutcracker for DA's resident ballet company Chesapeake Ballet Company since 2003 along with other classics like The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Coppelia.

Samantha Lucas

Samantha began her training at Rose Marie Floyd's Contemporary Civic Ballet in her hometown of Royal Oak, MI. Here she studied the Cecchetti Method, passing with high marks up through grade 7, performed lead roles with the Company and was also part of the teaching staff.

Samantha earned a scholarship to Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts where she earned her BA in Performing Arts/Dance. During her time here she had the opportunity to perform original contemporary ballet choreography by Peter Merz as well as a variety of classical works.

Upon graduation, Samantha joined Ballet Theatre of Maryland as an apprentice. While at MBT she was on faculty with the associated ballet school. In 2018 Samantha was appointed to Rehearsal Assistant for the professional company and was also promoted to Principal dancer. In this capacity, she prepared for lead roles in the classical repertory and original works while also coaching company soloists and corps de ballet members. Samantha retired from MBT after the 2020 season and is thrilled to join the Faculty at The Dance Academy.

Samantha’s focus in the classroom is to foster a positive and supportive environment for students to not only learn ballet technique and discipline but also problem-solving skills, confidence and self-discovery.

Rachael Scaringe-Thomas

Rachael Scaringe-Thomas is a native to Maryland. As an AACC alumna, she earned her associate degree in dance, and studied under the direction of Lynda P. Fitzgerald for over seven years. Her choreography was performed at American College Dance Festivals and Maryland Council for Dance. While at AACC, she studied with Megan Morse Jans, Torens Johnson, and Vincent Thomas. Scaringe-Thomas went on to pursue her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from University of Maryland University College.

She danced professionally with Jane Franklin Dance Company for several years, and guest accompanied Dragonfly Dance. During her time in Virginia with Jane Franklin, she performed at the Capital Fringe Festival in Washington D.C., Atlas Dance, Arlington County Schools, and Intersections Dance Festival. Scaringe-Thomas has taught and choreographed over the last 12 years in Maryland, D.C, And Virginia. She has taught at Ballet Theatre of Maryland, Misako Ballet Studio, and The Dance Academy in Severna Park.

As a guest choreographer, she has has choreography for over 45 different schools for the Anne Arundel County Public School System. Her pieces have been accepted into the Maryland State Dance Festival and Gala. She also has served as an adjudicator for the Maryland State Dance Festival and AACPS Performing & Visual Arts Programs. Scaringe-Thomas has a passion for teaching and sharing the love of dance with her students.

Sarah Cox

Sarah was born and raised in Severna Park, MD. She has been dancing since age 5, and this is her 6th year teaching. She is trained in the Cecchetti and Vaganova Ballet techniques, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Yoga, and Acro. She has performed classical ballets, contemporary and musical theatre pieces, and attended various workshops and summer intensives with the Chesapeake Ballet Company, the American College of Dance Association, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Ballet Magnificat!, American Repertory Ballet, and more.

In Spring 2018, she graduated from Frostburg State University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a minor in Dance. Sarah received her teacher certification from Acrobatic Arts for Primary through Level 6 instruction in Fall 2018. She has been a choreographer for Mountain City Center for the Arts, Mt. Savage Middle School’s Show Choir, Frostburg State University’s Dance Company, and The Dance Academy.

Barbie Caulder

Barbie began her dance training at Brownstone Dance in Omaha, Nebraska at age 4 and was instantly in love! She has been training and teaching ever since. Being dedicated to movement and a healthy life-style she sought her ACE CPT, FNS certifications which she held for many years while working as a personal trainer.

Barbie teaches tap, jazz, and contemporary. She shares her love of dance with her two children, both students at DA and members of Chesapeake Ballet Company.

Chelsea McFarland

Chelsea began dancing at DA when she was just 3 years old and became an assistant teacher at age 14. She danced with Chesapeake Ballet Company from a young age and began teaching for DA at 16.

She received her Bachelor of Science in Speech/Language Pathology and Audiology from Towson University. During her time at Towson she was also a member of Charm City Ballet and and remained on staff at DA. Chelsea will complete externship and receive her Audiology Doctorate from Indiana University this Spring.

Chelsea teaches Primary and Company level Ballet, Jazz, and Contemporary

Anwar Thomas

Anwar studied Theater Arts and Dance at Anne Arundel Community College and has been teaching a multitude of styles for the past 18 years. He has choreographed and taught for Bowie High, Arundel High, The Fairhaven School, Morgan State University and The Park School. His work has received awards from Broadway World as well as a Helen Hayes nomination for Best Choreography: The Color Purple (Toby’s Dinner Theater)

Just Like Mike in A Chorus Line, at my sister Maryam's dance recital was my first introduction to dance. I thought, "I want to do that!" So I did and I haven’t looked back since. Thank you for the continued support of my family and friends. My beautiful wife Rachael and son Camden, whom I love so much.

To my current students and future students I say this: Dance with passion, so this art form will forever feel brand new!”