Nancy Meeter Owens (Ballet) began her dance training as a child in Southern California. She began her professional studies in ballet with Richard Ellis, Christine DuBoulay, and Rosemary Doolas, modern with Nana Shineflug, Tara Mitton, and Anna Czajun, and jazz with Lou Conte, Claire Bataille, and Joel Hall. She performed and toured with the Chicago Moving Company for six years, and performed as a guest artist. Nancy received her B.A. in Dance Performance and Education from Northeastern Illinois University, her M.F.A. in Dance from the University of Iowa. Nancy was the Artistic Director for Mountain Shadows School of Dance in Great Falls, Montana. She owned her own studio, The Montana Movement Center. She served on the Board of Directors of the Montana Dance Arts Association, and worked for the Great Falls Symphony Association as a choreographer and Ballet Mistress. Nancy has also taught at St. Mary’s College and been a guest teacher recently for several studios on the east coast.

Andrea Cooper (Ballet, Tap) began dancing at the age of three and hasn’t stopped. She has received training in tap, ballet and jazz. As a dance student she traveled to Atlantic City each summer to perform in Tony Grant’s Stars of Tomorrow on the Steel Pier. While majoring in textiles and design at the University of Maryland she continued her dance studies with the University and participated in several variety performances. Upon graduating and becoming an Air Force wife she danced and performed with a local performing arts company in Texas. She had the opportunity to assist with the choreography and well as perform in the musical production Brigadoon. After traveling around the United States and Europe, Mrs. Cooper returned to the Washington D.C. area and has resumed her dance studies on a continuous basis, training in NYC each summer. In April 2007, she attended the Dance Open Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Heather Oakley (Ballet) Heather has been studying and performing for 20 years. She has studied with Abigail Francisco, Irena Prochotsky (Washington Ballet Center), Adrienne Dellas (Kirov Academy), and many others. Heather also majored in ballet at Point Park College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Susan Spowe, Nicholas Petrov, and Ronald Hutson) and is currently attending the College of Southern Maryland pursuing a degree in dance. She has performed throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania in such ballets as Les Sylphides and La Bayadere as a soloist. Heather has also performed in the Nutcracker in such roles as Snow Queen and Arabian.

Fiona Green(Jazz) has been studying the performing arts for the past 21 years. She has trained in a variety of disciplines of dance including; ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, contemporary dance, poms, musical theatre, and various forms of ethnic dance. She has studied at studios throughout New Jersey and New York City with choreographers such as, Ann Reinking, Wade Robson, Fhinus Jung, David Howard and Ray Leeper. She was the President of the Salisbury University Dance Company and featured choreographer for the annual Fall Showcase. Fiona has performed as a back up dancer for the Neil Young/ Crazy Horse Tour, the Jazz Dance America Invi­tational at Pace University in New York City, Madison Square Garden for the New York City Knick’s, and for the movie, Step Up 2. She was also the assistant choreographer for the Mrs. NJ Pageant. Fiona is the Coordinator of Marketing and Development for Jane Franklin Dance, a professional contemporary dance company in Arlington, Virginia. She was both the coordinator and adjudicator of the Youth Dance Festival for the Metro D.C. region. Most recently, Fiona has become one of the Co-Directors of “All Out Productions”, a fresh new production company that brings master teachers together to inspire, educate, and motivate the next generation of dancers throughout the country.

Barbara Smith (Pilates) Barbara was a member of the dance theater in college and has been involved with various forms of fitness education for 30 years. She recently earned her Pilates mat certification and was previously a student of Pilates at Abigail’s. She has always had a keen interest in health and fitness and believes that Pilates is a discipline that can benefit anyone for life, and is a perfect way for dancers to improve their strength, balance, and focus.

Jeff Crespi (Yoga) has been passionate about the practice and teaching of yoga for over four decades. He has traveled throughout the world from the Himalayas to the Amazon forests sitting at the feet of many truly wise women and men who have helped guide him on his journey. He has taught in the Washington DC area for nearly twenty five years having helped thousands on their journey of discovery. Mr. Crespi, in a previous reincarnation has been a string bassist performing with such great artists as Rita Moreno, Cecil Taylor and Gunther Schuller on many of the great stages of the world including Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and Lincoln Center. He lives on a small farm in Huntingtown Md with his wife Kathryn Stafford, Jake the beagle, Miles and Simone, the cats of the manor.

Samantha Harding  Assistant Jazz Teacher

Angela MacWilliams  School Administrator