The Cato Center Staff & Instructors

Kelsey Kocur; Artistic Director

Sara Cato Bailey; Artistic Advisor/Talent Manager

Colleen Kocur; Studio Manager

Melissa Dewberry:  Studio Coordinator

Susan Cato; Assistant Front Desk & Relations

 

Sara Cato Bailey; Artistic Advisor/Talent Manager

FULL TIME INSTRUCTOR: BALLET, TAP, JAZZ, MODERN, CONTEMPORARY - BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED LEVELS:

 Sara Cato grew up in Annapolis, Maryland where she trained in dance right outside of Washington, D.C.. Upon graduation she accepted an offer to dance professionally in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. There she performed in several shows including,"Beauty and the Beast" and "Tarzan Rocks!" She worked for other Orlando based company’s that include, "Hard Drive Production Company, ' "Capone’s Theater" and "Universal Studios, Orlando. ' Most recently, she was a member of "Common Ground Dance Company." a modern based Professional company in Baltimore. In 2002, Sara founded Cato Academy Of Dance, in Severna Park, Maryland. Students trained by Sara have been awarded titles such as "Miss Showbiz," "Senior & Junior Miss Stars of Tomorrow," "Miss K.A.R," and were selected to join national dance groups such as, "Kids Artistic Review KIDS," and "Caravan Kids." Her work has earned over 15 National Choreography Awards. Her students have joined casts in annual Ballets at Maryland Hall, with the "Miss Iowa Organization", and the "Macy’s Day Parade" in New York City.  She is currently finishing her studies at Goucher College in "Dance Education" with a minor in "Art Business" and continues to teach at "Dancemoves Studio of Dance" in Baltimore, "Above The Barre Academy of Dance" in Davenport, Iowa and throughout the Anne Arundel County School System. Her most recent work is as a "modern dancer," in the Touchtone Pictures Movie, "STEP UP," which just concluded its filming in Baltimore City and will be released this year! Sara has expanded Cato Academy into "The Cato Center For Performing Arts" in 2006.


Kelsey Kocur;  Artistic Director

  JAZZ, LYRICAL, MODERN, HIP HOP,BALLET, TAP, CONTEMPORARY- BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED LEVELS:

   Kelsey is the only teacher who has worked for Sara Cato since Cato Academy was founded.  Kelsey is repected highly by the other teachers and is loved by the families that surround the studio.  She has danced since the age of three and has studied Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Jazz and Lyrical at an advanced level for the past six years.  Kelsey has been appointed roles in several full length ballets such as, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and was the Sugar Plum Fairy in the annual performance of the Nutcracker.  She has won numerous top awards for solo work and has recently choreographed state recognized pieces for the Broadneck High School Dance Company, under the direction of Melissa O'Neil.  This past year, she served as an intern for Sara concentrating on Choreography, Dance/Vocal education, Art Administration and Production.  She is currently studying Voice at the Peabody Conservatory and continues training in aspiration to work as a professional singer/dancer/model.  Kelsey was named the Assistant to the Director during the expansion of the Center.  As Assistant and Head Teacher, she will play a vital role in the creative and artistic process of the Center.   


 Bat Udval

FULL TIME INSTRUCTOR: BALLET, POINTE / Pas de Deux- INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED LEVELS

 Bat attended the "Perm Choreographic College" in Perm, Russia from 1981-1989.  He was a pricnipal dancer at "The Ballet and Opera Theater" in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia, the "Russian STate Ballet" in MOscow, Russia and the "Cleveland Ballet" in Cleveland, Ohio.  He has trained and performed in over 20 countries with a repertory of classical ballets which include: Don Quixote (Basil), Coppelia (Franz), Le Corsaire (Slave), Swan Lake (Prince), Ober (Pas de Deux), Romeo and Juliet (Mercutio), Diana & Acteon (Pad de Deux), Paquita (Pas de Deux), La Bayadere (solo), Giselle (Albrecht), Sleeping Beauty (Prince), La Fille Mal Gardee (Coline), and The Nutcracker (Prince).  Bat's contemporary repertory includes such ballets asL A Midsummer Night's Dream, Dracula, The Miraculous Mandarin (as a guest with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra), Carmina Burana, Celebration and Ode, Snow Withe and Sernenade (1st movement).  He won 3rd place at the "International Ballet Competition" in Tokyo, Japan and 2nd place in "The 7th International Ballet Competition" in MOscow, Russia.  Bat curretnly remains as a guest principal dancer for the "Russian State Ballet."


Jordan Doring:

FULL TIME INSTRUCTOR: BALLET, TAP, JAZZ - BEGINNER LEVELS

 Jordan Doring has been dancing for the last twenty years.  Trained in Severna Park, she studied both Cecchetti and Vagonva methods of ballet in addition to tap, jazz and modern dance.  She recieved her Associates of Arts degree in Dance from Anne Arundel College.  She was also a member of the award winning AACC Dance Company.  Jordan has been teaching for the last six years and loves sharing her enthusiasm for dance with her students.  She curretnly attends the Catholic University of America and is the director of the Anne Arundel County Parks and Recs camp program. 


 

Ashley VanDerwerker:

FULL TIME INSTRUCTOR: LYRICAL, JAZZ, CONTEMPORARY, MODERN- INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED LEVELS. BEGINNER BALLET AND PRE-POINTE 

   Ashley VanDerwerker has been dancing for over 20 years.  She most recently appeared in West Side Story at the Walnut Street Theater, in Philadelphia, as Francisca.  She appeared in Saturday Night Fever in Las Vegas, Nevada as the featured dancer, Maria Huerta. She also performed in Los Angeles at the 2004 MDA Jerry Lewis Telethon with the cast of Saturday Night Fever.  Ashley appeared in the commercial for the National Tour of Evita and was a featured dancer in the Boscov’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2003 in Philadelphia.  In New York City Ashley was the dance captain for Kinetic Dance Theater in the production of The Sleeping Giant and was a collaborator and dance captain for the production of The Cyclone.  She has performed with numerous teachers and choreographers in and out of the New York City area.  Ashley spent 3 years as the dance captain for Paramount’s Kings Dominion in Richmond, VA and is now on the hiring staff for the entertainment department.  She has taught in New York and the DC area and has judged for DanceUSA in numerous cities and Stage of Dreams dance competitions.  She graduated from Marymount Manhattan College with a double major in Dance and Communications and is currently working towards her doctorate in Physical Therapy.


Deborah Engerman

FULL TIME INSTRUCTOR: Intermediate / Advanced Ballet / Pointe

 

(picture and bio coming soon)

Christie Bleakly

FULL TIME INSTRUCTOR: Intermediate / Advanced Ballet / Pointe

(picture and bio coming soon)


Leah Smearman

FULL TIME INSTRUCTOR: Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced Ballet

(picture and bio coming soon)

Kristy House

FULL TIME INSTRUCTOR: Beginning / Intermediate Ballet / Jazz/  Tap

(picture and bio coming soon)


Lyneka Maldonado

 

GUEST TEACHER: HIP HOP - BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED LEVELS

 

 Lyneka has been dancing since the age of eight.  After five years of ballet, tap and jazz she decided to pursue training specifically in hip hop.  After graduation, she became the coach and choreographer for hte pom squad at Arundel High School.  Under her direction the team won Pom and Dance State Champions two years in a row.  She continued to train in hip hop by joining the world reknown dance company, "Culture Shock." As a member, Lyneka has performed all over the United States.  She also performed as a back up dancer for artist's including Lil'Mo and Busta Rhymes.  She is currently a hip hop instructor at Gold's Gym in Annapolis.




Melissa O'Neil Bell

GUEST TEACHER: MODERN- INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED LEVELS 

  Melissa Bell graduated summa cum laude from Towson University with a Bachelor's of Fine Arts degree in Dance.  She is certified to teach dance in public schools for grades K-12.  Originally from New Jersey, Melissa began her dance training at the age of seven and received much of her training from the "New Jersey School of Ballet."  She has performed with "Burklyn Ballet Theater", "Towson University Dance Compnay", "The Stephanie Powell Danse Ensemble", and with "The Collective" where she is currently a senior member.  She has performed in places such as NYC, the Frankfort Arts Festival, Dance Place, appeared in "Dance Baltimore!" and other sponsored events at the Hippodrome Theater and te Baltimore Museum of Art.  Melissa currently teaches dance full-time at Broadneck High School where she directs their dance company and the Anne Arundel County Dance Ensemble.  Last year, she was invited to serve on the Board of Directors for the "Maryland Council for Dance" where she helps promotes dance education throughout Maryland. 


Lauren Lizewski; Apprentice

Lindsey Warner; Apprentice