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Meet Our Team
Executive Director
Cari Zawodny
Bio Coming Soon
Artistic Director - Ballet & Pointe
Farah Zoetmulder
Ms. Farah began dancing at age 5 at Interplay Ballet in Toronto, Canada, under Anna McCowan Johnson and Arnold Spohr. She later attended and graduated from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School under David Moroni and Julia Arkos.
While in Winnipeg, Ms. Zoetmulder was awarded the Paddy Stone Choreographic Award and appeared as a dancer with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet before moving to Anchorage.
Locally Farah has appeared as a dancer for the Anchorage Opera, The Anchorage Symphony, Theatre Artists United, and Anchorage Ballet. She is considered one of the best ballet and pointe instructors in the State of Alaska and has had several students under her instruction place in the top 3 at the Youth America Grand Prix, classical division. Farah's students have been accepted into numerous professional ballet schools, companies, and Universities, including The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, The Kirov Academy, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, The Royal Ballet School in London, American Ballet Theatre, Ballet Arizona, Houston Ballet, and Ohio State University.
Associate Director - Ballet, Pointe & Contemporary
Emma Lochner
Ms. Emma is from Charlottesville, Virginia. She started dancing when she was two years old and has been studying dance for nineteen years. She enjoys designing choreography and exploring new ways to express the many facets of humanity and the beauty of creation through the art of dance. Mrs. Emma trained with San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet, Ballet San Antonio Academy, Anchorage Classical Ballet, Ballet Magnificat, Eastern Virginia School of Performing Arts, and Central Virginia Ballet. She graduated in December of 2020 from Randolph College with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Studio Art Minor.
Associate Director- Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Acro & Contemporary
Cady Lynn O'Brien
Ms. Cady Lynn began her dance training in Sitka, Alaska at Sitka Studio of Dance. As an adult, she moved to London, England to study at the dance conservatory Tinity Laban. Ms. O'Brien had the opportunity to teach at a dance workshop in South Korea. Her performance credits include Chopinana, the Nutcracker, and Gisselle with Anchorage Ballet; Cravan, Dusk to Dawn, and the Nutcracker with Pulse Dance Company. She holds a degree in Dance Studies and a Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education.
Administrative Supervisor
Jacqueline Robinson
Bio Coming Soon
Administrative Assistant
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Dawn Bockelman
Bio Coming Soon
Instructor - Ballet & Pointe
Niki Maple
Niki has received training from the School of Ballet, Ballet Etudes, American Ballet Theatre, and Milwaukee Ballet. She has Performed with Milwaukee Ballet II, Eugene Ballet, Alaska Dance Theatre, James Sewell Ballet, Pulse Dance Company, and choreographers Courtland Weaver, Alice Bassler Sullivan, Toni Pimble, Gilmer Duran, James Sewell, and Amy Seiwart.
Instructor - Ballet
Deana Chambers
Deana took her first ballet class at age nineteen and received her dance education from Ballet UAB, Chaffenburge Ballet, and Alaska Dance Theatre. She has performed for Ballet UAB, North Dakota Ballet, and Alaska Dance Theatre.
Instructor - Ballet & Pointe
Sarah Jefferies
Sarah has been a jewel in the ADT community for years, formerly serving as Associate Artistic Director of the organization. Her dance education includes ADT, Richmond Ballet, Butler University, Jordan College of Fine Arts, Lou Conte Dance Studio, and University of Kansas. Sarah has danced professionally with ADT, Peoria Ballet, Storling Dance Theatre, Kansas City Ballet, California Ballet, and the San Diego Opera.
Instructor - Ballet & Jazz
Blair Robinson
Blair began dancing at age four. She has trained with Alaska Dance Theatre, Joffery Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem. Blair has performed with The Radio City Rockettes, Les Folies Bergere, and the national tour of Movin' Out, performing original choreography by Twyla Tharp. Blair recently became a certified teacher in American Ballet Theatre's National Training Curriculum Pre-Primary through Level 3.
Instructor - Jazz & Contemporary
Sari Phillips
Sari started dancing at the age of 7 at Alaska Dance Theatre. She went on to study dance at the division 1 dance program at Colorado State University where she majored in dance with an emphasis in performance. Here, she studied under Carol Roderick- previously a member of the professional division faculty at Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. She has worked with numerous companies and artists including Alvin Ailey II, Ballet West, the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company, Diavolo Dance Theatre, Jefferson Starship, and Joffrey Ballet. During her time living in Las Vegas, she trained extensively with Millennium Dance Complex, dancing alongside the hottest artists in the city. She has performed locally with Theatre Artists United and the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Currently she is an RN at Providence, a certified yoga instructor and teaches Jazz and Broadway classes at Alaska Dance Theatre. She recently won the Broadway World award for Best Choreography for her work on The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Mad Myrnas.
Instructor - Hip Hop, Jazz, Acro, Contemporary & Tap
Colby Deemer
Colby Deemer is a local Alaskan Dancer who has traveled around the world reaching and performing. He has worked with the Deutsche Ballet Company, Vaga Lume, Kids Artistic Revue, Dance Driven, as well as in Alaska. In 2019, he brought his experience back to Anchorage to share what he has learned from his time abroad. His training has allowed him opportunities to perform with Dick Van Dyke, The Mountain Dew Tour, The Portland Trailblazers, Nappy Tabs, Nick Lazarino, and Mike Minery, Mr. Deemer has 15 years experience teaching in Tap, Hip Hop, Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical and more. He is excited to be sharing his knowledge with the emerging generation of dancers.
Instructor - Contemporary
Taylor Hicks
Taylor is a lifelong Alaskan and dancer of 23 years. She has trained at Ketchikan Theatre, Broadway Dance Center, Alvin Ailey, STEPS on Broadway, and American College Dance Association conference. Taylor joined UAA's dance program where she found her love for modern dance, improvisation, and choreographing under Brian Jeffrey and Katherine Kramer. Taylor holds a Bachelor's of Arts from UAA, majoring in Theatre with a Dance Emphasis. She dances as a company member of Momentum Dance Collective & Assistant Director/ performer with Sunlight Collaboration.
Instructor - Jazz, Contemporary & Tap
Rhiannon Roseman
Rhiannon began dancing at age five. She has received her dance education from Dance Spectrum Alaska and Alaska Dance Theatre. She has performed with UAA's Dance Ensemble as well as in UAA's New Dances and Momentum Dance Collective's Breaking Ground. Her choreography credits include Seven Brides for Seven Brothers with Service High School and Goldenview Middles School.
Instructor - Ballet
Maggie Johnson
Maggie Johnson was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. She started dancing at the age five, at the age of eighteen Maggie graduated from the Anchorage Ballet. Ms. Johnson has also trained and performed with The Nutmeg Conservatory, Milwaukee Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theater, Bossov Ballet Theater, and UAA. Recently Ms. Johnson has performed in a music video with Ayla Ray. Maggie was the opening act to the 2022 Trend Alaska Fashion Show as well as performing with the Anchorage Opera in the production. Ms. Johnson is passionate about dance and enjoys passing her love of dance with others.
Instructor - Ballet
Nicole Gustine
Bio Coming Soon
Instructor - Ballet & Contemporary
Ava Holzberger
Ava began formal dance instruction at age four. As a military child, she had the opportunity to train and perform across the country, receiving instruction in Vaganova, Balanchine, Cecchetti, French, Cuban, and Bournonville training methods. Ava has performed in many full length productions and creative works, acquiring a diverse classical and contemporary repertoire. Ava trained with Alaska Dance Theatre’s pre professional program and Company from 2020-2023, performing in AK Holiday, Nutcracker Excerpts, Showcase, and On The Verge. Ava will be attending University of Alaska Anchorage for Pre-Major Nursing, while continuing to explore and grow in her dance journey.
Instructor - Hip Hop
Damian Guerrero
Bio Coming Soon
Instructor - Acro
Tony Seeger
Hello, my name is coach Tony and I am from Columbus Ohio. I have coached many styles of gymnastics such as Acrobatics, Rhythmic, and women’s Artistic. With a decade of experience behind me, I am super excited to teach your athletes what I know and maybe learn from them as well!
Instructor - Hip Hop
Jayden Coulson
Bio Coming Soon
Instructor - Jazz & Contemporary
Emily Darby
Emily’s Dance education includes Ballet West’s Academy, Alaska Dance Theatre, and Barbara’s School of Dance. Her true love is Musical Theatre and she has danced and sung her way through many roles including “Cassie” in A Chorus Line, “Marian Pero” in The Music Man, “The Baker’s Wife” in Into the Woods, and “Mabel” in Pirates of Penzance. Her love of music and dance led her to receiving her B.S. of Music and Dance at Utah Valley University, supported by both a vocal performance and Ballroom Dance Touring Company scholarship. Between dancing and singing, Emily gave birth to her four wonderful children and traveled the world- before settling down in Anchorage. Most recently, Emily has been performing with The Anchorage Opera, The Midnight Sun Theatre Company, and arranging music and conducting the choir at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Instructor -Ballet
Skylar Berg
Bio Coming Soon
Pianist
Margarita Merkusheva
Margarita began studying piano at age five. She is a graduate of the Vologda Music College in Russia in piano and voice and furthered her studies at the Armenian Musical Conservatory in the class of renowned pianist Professor Robert Oganian. Her music has inspired dances by many noted choreographers, including Israel (El) Gabriel of the University of California, Irvine, and is performed in productions by New World School of th Arts, Anchorage Ballet, and ADT. She has released two CD's, It's My Life and Believe in Yourself.
Join The Strongest Team of dance instructors in Alaska
Are you Passionate about teaching dance? We Need You!
Are you a dance teacher looking to work at a fun, fierce, and fabulous studio where you are well respected and highly appreciated? Alaska Dance Theatre is always looking to hire top talent to teach. Spend your time in state-of-the-art studios with plenty of light and space. Work with the best students and the award-winning staff. Loads of opportunities to choreograph and grow your talents, realize your artistic vision, paid-for-by-ADT professional development opportunities, exciting new projects to build your resume! Send a cover letter and resume to Farah Zoetmulder, Artistic Director. Out-of-state talent welcome.