Sandra Zaicko- Owner, Director

Originally from a dance oriented family based in North Carolina, Sandra grew up in a dance studio quickly growing a passion for the art studying all genres of dance. Sandra attended Governor’s School of North Carolina for Performing Arts through Dance and North Carolina School of the Arts. Sandra attended Elon University where she continued dancing and performing with the Elon Dancers. Throughout college, Sandra taught at two local dance studios and took on the role of Technical Director for their competitive teams. This is where she fell in love with the art of teaching.

Sandra graduated in 2008  and moved to Maryland where she began her career at Centre Pointe Performing Arts. Sandra has been the recipient of many top choreography awards including national award winning performance groups. Sandra is an active member and certified to teach through Dance Masters of America, Mid-Atlantic Chapter 17.

Susan R. Joines- Founder, Classical Track Director

Susan holds a BA degree in dance from Towson University and an MA degree in dance from George Washington University. Ms. Joines studied classical ballet at both Peabody Institute and Baltimore Ballet. Susan founded Centre Pointe Performing Arts in 1983, after studying and performing in New York, Boston and Washington D. C. Ms. Joines also spent time working in the Development Department of the world famous City Center Theatre in New York. Ms. Joines founded Common Ground Dance Company in 1999 and served as Artistic Director for many years. Susan served three years as a panelist with the Maryland States Art Council. She has been on the dance faculty of such prestigious dance programs as Towson University, George Washington University and Harford Community College. She also served as a dance specialist for Cecil County public school system for two years, in addition to being a faculty member at Notre Dame Preparatory in Towson, MD. Ms. Joines is excited to have been appointed this year to the Harford County Cultural Arts Board as a board member, she is looking forward to working with the board as an advocate for the arts in Harford County, overseeing grant opportunities and investing in the advancement of the arts in the county.

Ms. Joines, is currently Director of the classical track, associated with the Maryland Classical Dance Academy – the non-profit arm of the classical division of Centre Pointe. Students studying under the Direction of Ms. Joines, along with instruction from the very talented Centre Pointe Performing Arts instructors have been accepted into such prestigious dance institutions as Arizona University, Oklahoma University, Oklahoma City University, Elon University, Towson University, North Carolina School of the Arts, University of Philadelphia School of the Arts, University of Maryland Baltimore County – Linehan Scholar Program for Dance, Mercyhust College of Dance and Pointe Park College for Dance.

Students have also been awarded such honors as Maryland Distinguished Scholars for the Arts in Dance, National Foundation for the Arts semi-finalists in dance, along with Youth American Grand Prix top soloists. Graduates have gone on to perform in professional venues such as , Complexions Contemporary Ballet Company – New York, Disney Dream Cruise Lines, Joffrey School of Contemporary Ballet Touring Company, Bliss Lau fashion week, McDonald Selznick Associates (MSA) representation for dancers in New York, X-Box Launch Dancer event, Bad Boys of Dance guest artists, So You Think You Can Dance – Ticket to Vegas winners.

Nicolle Canapp- Director, Children’s Program

Nicolle Canapp began her dance training early in life at Dj’s Dance Studio under the direction of Doris Jean Stroh, where she danced competitively for many years. She attended many conventions and traveled to NYC to study at the Broadway Dance Center. She continued her dance training while attending the prestigious Point Park University and received a B.A. in Dance. Nicolle furthered her dance education at Western Kentucky’s University Dance Educators of America teacher’s training school. While in college, Nicolle was awarded a dance scholarship and was a resident dancer in their Dance Company. In 2018 she became a Certified Module One teacher through Acrobatic Arts and became a USA Gymnastics Safe Sport Instructor.

Nicolle spent time as professional dancer with Carnival Cruise Lines and American Entertainment Productions before returning to Maryland to begin a very successful teaching career. She taught for over 15 years with D.J.’s Dance Studio in Perry Hall, where she was the recipient of many choreography awards for their competitive teams. Nicolle has choreographed the children’s theater at the Cockpit in the Court (BCCC), as well as performing and choreographing for local Dinner Theaters. In her early dance career she could be seen dancing at Memorial Stadium as the Baltimore Orioles Ball Girl and as a member of WJZ TV’s show, Shakedown.

Nicolle joined the Center Pointe Performing Arts Family in 2010 while it was Dancemoves where she has had the pleasure of revamping the Children’s Program and working with the youngest troupe members. Nicolle is honored and thrilled to be teaching her second generation of dance students and looks forward seeing them grow and learn.She has a passion for teaching children of all ages. Many of her former students have gone on to perform for touring companies, entertainment companies and cruise lines.

Anne O’Brien

Anne Magill O’Brien grew up in Bryan, TX and graduated from the University of Texas in 1997 with a B.A. degree in history. While in college Anne danced with and choreographed for the UT Dance Team, and was a member of Third Coast Jazz Dance Company. Ms. O’Brien taught at Art In Motion Dance Studio in Illinois, along with choreographing for their National award winning competitive performance groups. Anne received a second bachelor’s degree in Dance Performance and Education, with K-12 Certification from Towson University, completed in 2005. Anne has been the recipient of many top choreography awards during her time as Director of Dancemoves’ Nationally award winning performance groups. Anne is also the proud mom of Daniel and Lucie and Rosie.

Brandon Perry Russell

A native of Fort Worth, TX, Brandon began his dance training late at the age of 17 at Diane West Dance Studio, Texas Ballet Theatre School and Debbie Allen Dance Academy. In 2001, Brandon was named NYCDA’s regional outstanding senior male and won NDA’s best senior male dancer national title. Brandon continued his academic and dance training at Southern Methodist University studying a variety of dance techniques and composition, where his choreographic aspirations were nurtured by Larry White and Nathan Montoya. While attending SMU Brandon was awarded numerous scholarships and trained all over the country, including such prestigious institutions as Edge Performing Arts, The Ailey School, Dance Theatre of Harlem School, Joffery Ballet School, Houston Ballet School and many more. Upon leaving SMU Mr. Perry-Russell moved to New York, to pursue his career in dance.

He has performed with Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble, Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre, Lydia Johnson Dance, Errol Grimes Dance Group, Rohan Bearden Contemporary Ballet, Balance Dance Theatre, Subtle Changes Inc. Mr. Perry-Russell has taught ballet, modern, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, gymnastics and choreographed for various companies, schools, studios, fine arts programs, summer intensives and is a proud founding choreographer and Operations Manager for Bad Boys of Dance.

Debra Henry

Debra (aka Debbie) Ballwanz Henry graduated magna cum laude from Notre Dame of Maryland University formerly known as College of Notre Dame, where she was the recipient of a Scholarship for the Arts and received Honorable Mention for the Maryland Distinguished Scholarship of the Arts. She is also a graduate of the Institute of Notre Dame, for whom she choreographed Anything Goes, 42nd Street along with choreography placed on the IND Dance Team. Debbie has danced under the direction of Jean Kettell and performed with the Baltimore School of the Washington Ballet. She has studied under the Maryland Gifted and Talented Summer Camp for the Arts and has taken master classes throughout her training by prominent dancers and choreographers. Debbie has been an Instructor with Centre Pointe Performing Arts since its inception and with Dancemoves for more than 20 years prior. She danced with the Common Ground Dance Company from 2005-2008 and served on its board of directors for a period of time. For many years, she also has worked integrally on rehearsals with CPPA’s winter production, the Nutcracker and the annual recital.  Debbie believes the skills, values and discipline learned in dance transcend into all aspects of life, including business and personally. To that end, she has simultaneously pursued a career in marketing for the past 25 years.  She is also the Director of Marketing & Business Development for the law firm of Gordon Feinblatt LLC, a proud mom, wife and a lifelong learner.

Hannah Grzymala

Hannah Grzymala is a Maryland native and recent graduate of Marymount Manhattan College earning a BFA Major in Dance with Concentrations in Jazz, Modern, and Ballet and a Minor in Arts Management. She studies under esteemed faculty including Katie Langan, Nancy Lushington, Lone Larsen, Karen Gayle, Harriet Clark, Catherine Cabeen, and Sheila Barker, to name a few. While at Marymount, she has performed new choreography and repertoire with several working artists such as Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish, Peter Chu, Loni Landon, Andrea Miller, and Anthony Morigerato. Hannah has had the pleasure of continuing her education with recognized companies such as Parsons Dance, Rioult Dance NY, the Radio City Rockettes, Martha Graham Dance, and Paul Taylor American Modern Dance, to name a few. Other performance credits include choreographic festivals both in NYC and Maryland including the Spark Dance Forum, CBG Dance Fall Festival, Steffi Nossen Choreography Showcase with Mobilized Voices Dance Collective, and the Baltimore Dance Invitational with Invisible Wings Dance Project. Hannah is also a fitness and cross-training enthusiast and holds her Balanced Body Pilates Mat Certification and is a Barre Fitness instructor

Kelly Sneddon

Originally from Baltimore, MD, Kelly began her dance education under the direction of her mother, Susan Joines. Upon graduation she attended North Carolina School of the Arts studying under Brenda Daniels. Kelly went on to continue her dance education as a trainee at The Joffrey Ballet School in NYC, where she studied with Davis Robertson and Brian McSween. There she was a member of the Joffrey Ballet Touring Company. In 2009 Kelly was recognized as a Maryland Distinguished Scholar for dance as well as ballet finalist for the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts. Kelly went on to become a member of Complexions Contemporary Ballet in 2012. In 2014, Kelly became a soloist in Cirque du Soleil’s The Beatles LOVE show, in Las Vegas. Ms. Sneddon recieved the honor of becoming a Capezio athlete in 2015. Kelly became a certified health coach in 2014 after studying at The Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, Dance Informa Magazine, and Dance Magazine.

Molly Dodd

Molly began her dance training at the age of four at the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Performing Arts in Joppa, Maryland. She continued her dance training through high school at the Baltimore School for the Arts where she focused on ballet technique and had the opportunity to perform as the “Lead Elf” in the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s annual Tap Dancing Santa’s in their Holiday Spectacular. Molly earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Ballet Performance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She also continued her training in contemporary and jazz and performed works by Ronen Koresh, Douglas Becker, Anastasia Babayeva, and Tommy Waheed-Evans. She received the UArts faculty award for “ Outstanding Performance in all Styles”.

Molly has lived in New York the past 4 years working on her freelance dance career while spreading her love and passion of dance by teaching. Molly is thrilled to share her passion with the students of Centre Pointe Performing Arts!

Norma Pera

Pera began teaching at BSA when it opened in 1979, and assumed leadership of the department in 1992 upon the retirement of noted classical dancer Sylvester Campbell. She began her training at the age of three at Carnegie Hall in its children’s ballet class, and continued it from the age of seven onward in the studio of Martha Manners on Long Island, NY. She has performed with the Radio City Music Hall’s ballet company, Rudolf Nureyev and Friends, and the Maryland Ballet. She also trained under Elena Tchernichova for years, and taught classes at Carnegie Hall and in Baltimore. Campbell was a colleague at the Maryland Ballet and recruited her to join him at the then brand-new School for the Arts. At that time, many of the dancers had no previous training in ballet, and Pera enjoyed the challenge of crafting a class that taught not only the physical movement of ballet, but also its history and traditions.  After she became Dance Department Head, she created men’s, pas de deux, and men’s and women’s variations classes. BSA also became one of the few high schools in the country to be allowed to perform the works of the celebrated choreographer George Balanchine.  Dancers who have trained under Ms. Pera have gone on to successful careers both in and outside the world of dance. She has placed graduates with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Bejart Ballet, the Charlotte Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Kidd Pivot, Lines Ballet, the Pennsylvania Ballet, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, the Sacramento Ballet, and the Washington Ballet, among others. Other BSA dance alumni work at such prestigious organizations such as DreamWorks Animation, the Kennedy Krieger Institute, the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs; they also work as doctors, social workers, and dance studio owners, among a wide variety of other fields.

Rhoda McClure

Rhoda has been teaching dance in the Baltimore area since 1986. Prior to her career as a teacher, Rhoda was a competitive baton twirler, held the title of Miss Maryland College Majorette, taught many State & National Title winners, was an NFL Baltimore Colt Cheerleader. She attended Towson University where she studied Education with an emphasis in Mathematics. Using her extensive knowledge of children and their developmental stages, Rhoda created a comprehensive syllabus for the young dancer combining principles of early childhood education with primary dance movement. Emphasis is placed on the pure joy of dance in a fun, encouraging, yet disciplined atmosphere. Rhoda was thrilled to join the Centre Pointe faculty in 2011 and is looking forward to touching the lives of many young dancers. Along with her satisfying career as a dance educator, her most special role is that of mother of 3 & Rho Rho to 7 grandchildren !!

Allie Jones

Allie has been competitively performing since the age of six. She began her training at Mid- Atlantic Center for the Performing Arts and later continued at Dance Explosion. Allie trained with Deborah Engerman, Shannon Torres, Colleen Parker and many others. She has won various high scores, titles, awards and scholarships throughout the US in jazz, lyrical, ballet and contemporary. Her solo placed in the top ten for Youth American Grand Prix and her studio placed in the top twenty for Jazz Dance World Congress. She also attended summer intensives at The Rock School, Nutmeg, New York City Dance Alliance, Complexions, Broadway at Tropea and others. Allie is a graduate of Baltimore School for the Arts where she trained in classical ballet and modern under the direction of Norma Pera, Stephanie Powell, and Sandy Lacy.At the age of 16, Allie was given the opportunity to be an extra in the movie Step Up. She also attended The Boston Conservatory and was awarded The Jan Veen Scholarship. Throughout her dance career, she has been able to travel all over the country and Europe to train with professionals. Some include Desmond Richardson, Dwight Rhoden, Michele Assaf, Joe Lanteri, Mia Michaels, Denise Pons Leone and many more. Allie holds a degree in Dance from UMBC. 

Jillian Miller

Jillian Miller a Baltimore native, started dance at the age of 2. She competed as a member of Mid Atlantic Center for the Performing Arts achieving countless titles and awards on a National level. She attended High school at Carver Center for Arts & Technology as a dance prime. Then started her college journey as a Jazz dance major at University of the Arts, Philadelphia. She then attended Towson University and received a bachelor’s degree in Dance, completed in 2005. After graduating she moved to Los Angeles, California to begin her professional dance career. In LA she was represented by Bloc Talent Agency for dance and Angel City Talent for acting and commercial. Some of her favorite bookings include dancing on the entire last season of Nick Cannon’s “Wild-n-out”, performing alongside Justin Timberlake at the Espy Awards, dancing on multiple episodes of “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”, and performing in numerous music videos and national commercials. She even had the opportunity to film a few comedic skits with “Funny or Die”. During her time in LA she studied dance at Millennium Dance Complex, Edge Performing Arts Center and Debbie Allen Dance Academy taking class from some of the best dance teachers in the world. She is now a wife and proud mom of Dalen, Harper and Finley. Jillian feels that dance is truly a gift and you should share it with as many people as possible.

Winnette McGovern

Cyra Duncan

Jamie Esposito

Sia Loukas- Forever in our Hearts!