Mid-Atlantic Center for the Performing Arts

MCPA is proud to have an excellent staff, with the expertise to work with students at every level in their training.

MCPA Co-Director - Kristin Hernandez

Mrs. Hernandez studied all styles of dance with Donna Wienecke from age 6. She attended Towson State as a dance education major, and has been teaching for over 25 years. She has been a member of NADAA, DMA, DEA, Maryland Council for Dance, an affiliate of the American Ballet Academy, and is a former regional director for Christopher Ballet Teacher Seminars.

MCPA Co-Director - Shannon Torres

Mrs. Torres received her early training at the Susan Ina Dance Studio. She went on to continue her training at the Baltimore School for the Arts and Towson University, where she received her B.F.A. in Dance. She spent her summers studying at the Joffrey Ballet and the Eglevsky Ballet. Mrs. Torres studied with such notables as Sylvester Campbell, Stephanie Powell, John Clifford, and Broadway star and choreographer Hinton Battle. Incredibly, she even found herself performing on the same stage with Nureyev at the BSO.

She has been awarded for her choreography in such diverse arenas as the Youth America Grand Prix and the Jazz Dance World Congress, where in 2003 “Fragile”, her choreography from MCPA, was selected as 1 of the top 20 in the United States.

Students trained by Mrs. Torres have performed on Broadway in Cats, Chicago, Wicked, Rockettes Spectaculars, as well as in companies such as Alivin Ailey, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, ABT, Hubbard Street, and Danceworks. Many of her students have gone on to become teachers themselves.

Instructors

Ninel Cherevko
Ninel graduated from Lvov Choreographic Institute (Ukraine) in 1991.  One of her teachers was a direct student of the greatest Russian teacher, A. Vaganova.  In 1988 Ninel was selected for the Ukrainian Youth Ballet competition and in 1990 to dance with Lvov Ballet Theatre. Ms. Cherevko was a soloist and principal dancer with Lvov Ballet Theatre, Donetsk Ballet Theatre, Moscow City Ballet and Ballet Theatre of Maryland.  In 1994 and 1995 Ninel danced in the International Festival "Stars of World Ballet" with stars of Kirov Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Paris Opera, German and Canadian Ballet.  She was promoted to Highest Category Ballet Artist in 1995.  Ms. Cherevko repertoire includes leading roles in the greatest classical ballets, such as "Swan Lake", "Don Quixote", Paquita", "Giselle",  "Coppelia", "Nutcracker", "Romeo and Juliet", "Chopiniana", "La Bayadere"., "Cinderella"., "Sleeping Beauty", "Walpurgus" Night".  Also repertoire include other classical, modern and contemporary works by world famous choreographers, "ForestSong", "Lileya", "Samson and Dalila", are some of the works.
 

Dmitri Malikov

Lindsay Curlee

Lindsay began dancing at MCPA at age 2, and is the primary instructor in the Children's program. She attended Baltimore City College as a dance education major, and graduated with a BFA in K-12 certification at the top of her class. She was an extra in the movie "Step Up", and was asked to choreograph a few barre exercises while on set. She continues her training by attending dance teacher seminars and conventions.

Danielle Homan

Danielle trained at MCPA, and attended Carver Center for the Arts as a Dance Major. She is an accomplished choreographer, presenting work at the High School Dance Festival, and receiving accolades at both the regional and national level. She attended Villa Julie college, and recently received her pre-school teaching certification.