Sheila Hoffmann-Robertson, founder of the The Loudoun School of Ballet, studied dance at the University of Maryland and with the Washington School of Ballet and performed with the Maryland Dance Theatre and the National Ballet Company. She is certified with the Cecchetti and Vaganova Councils, is a member of Dance Masters of America, and has taught, choreographed, and lectured professionally for more than 35 years. In addition to having taught and lectured throughout the United States, Mrs. Robertson has accepted invitations to Russia, the People's Republic of China, and Austria.

Caitlin Jordan grew up dancing at the Loudoun School of Ballet.  During that time, she performed exclusively with the Loudoun Ballet Company, Jazz&Co, and participated in the Tanzsommer tour in Austria in 2002. Caitlin also attended the Joffrey New York Intensive for 3 summers.  She holds a B.A. in Dance with concentrations in ballet and jazz from Point Park University, where she performed works by Nicolas Petrov, Doug Bentz, Sema Konur, and her own work in collaboration with Maeghan Flynn.  Caitlin currently works as a teacher at South Riding Child Care, is a Pilates Instructor at Landsdowne Resort, and conducts private Pilates and Dance lessons. Caitlin is also a founding company member of Alight Dance Theater, based in Greenbelt, Maryland

Cherie Maroni, Director of Guidance, is originally from the New England area, and began dancing at the age of 3. She has more than 20 years of dance, performing, and teaching experience, and has studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Lyrical at schools throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Cherie has a degree in Exercise Science from New Hampshire Technical College. She is a certified fitness instructor and is also CPR and defibrillator trained. In addition to being the school's Guidance director, Cherie teaches in both the Ballet and Contemporary departments. She says she enjoys working with the students and parents to optimize their dance experience and watching them develop into beautiful dancers.

Connie McCrary has been dancing since she was six and holds a BS in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Education and a minor in Dance.  She has been teaching ballet, jazz and tap in California and Virginia for 18 years. This is her second year at LSB. She is married and has four sons.  In her spare time she loves reading, photography, swimming, and hiking.

Sharon Mercke, Director of Contemporary Dance. Artistic Director, JAZZ&CO DANCE Sharon received her degree from James Madison University and continued her dance training in New York City and at George Mason University. She became the school's first Director of Contemporary Dance in 1991. She has both performed and choreographed regionally in musical theater productions including A Chorus Line, West Side Story, and 42nd Street, and taught dance as an adjunct faculty member at Shenandoah University. Her choreography has been performed at NYCDA, WCDA and the Youth America Grand Prix. Sharon founded and developed the school's contemporary dance company which has evolved into JAZZ&CO DANCE, a pre-professional performing company which she directs with Kristen Stanley. Her goal as a teacher and director is to provide strong technical instruction in an encouraging environment in which students will grow and flourish.

Maureen Miller received her early dance training in Newcastle, Australia. She successfully completed all the Royal Academy examinations, including Solo Seal. Her training then continued on scholarship at Rosella Hightower Centre de Dance Classique in Cannes, France. Her professional career began at the age of 18 with the Slovene National Ballet Company in Yugoslavia. While dancing with the Slovene National Ballet Company, she toured in France, Germany, Italy, and Austria, and performed as guest artist and soloist with the Paris Opera Ballet in Cannes, France. After Yugoslavia, Ms. Miller traveled to the United States where she joined the Maryland Ballet Company in Baltimore. There, under the direction of Petrus Bosman, she performed as soloist and served as Ballet Mistress. Ms. Miller is an acclaimed choreographer and has been a valued and well-respected teacher in the metropolitan Washington area for many years. Honored in Who's Who among American Teachers in 2000, 2004, 2005, and 2006, her teaching experience includes The Maryland Youth Ballet, The Washington School of Ballet, The Joy of Motion Dance Center, Capital Ballet, and Arlington Center for Dance. She has owned and directed her own school and is the former Ballet Mistress to D.C. Contemporary Dance Theater. She is also the Artistic Director for the Loudoun Ballet Company.

Erica Molina attended the University of North Carolina for two years with a major in Contemporary dance under the instruction of many known professionals in both Ballet and Modern. She then transferred to The National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts in Georgetown, DC where she received a diploma in acting. She received her training in ballet at the Maryland Youth Ballet in Bethesda, MD, where she performed with such companies as The America Ballet Theatre. She is trained in other forms of dance, including Modern/ Contemporary, Lyrical, Tap, Jazz, Flamenco and is working towards her certification in Zumba. She has already received her teaching certification from Dance Masters of America in Ballet, Modern and Jazz, and is now pursuing a career teaching theater and dance, as well as being a performer in the Metropolitan Area. Erica currently teaches dance and choreographs musicals for local private schools.

Chuck Paynter, a Richmond native, began dancing while he was a student at James Madison University and spent his summers working at Busch Gardens. After graduation, he continued his studies with David Howard, Irene Fokine, and at the American Dance Festival.  Chuck had eleven year professional career dancing with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Omaha Ballet, and the Richmond Ballet.  He performed solo and principal roles in ballets by many great choreographers including Petipa (Giselle, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty), George Balanchine (Four Temperaments, Nutcracker, Concerto Barocco, The Prodigal Son),  De Mille (Rodeo), Prokovsky (The Great Gatsby), and Naharin (Tabula Rasa) Chuck is married to former dancer Suzanne West Paynter and is the proud father of three children.

Candra Preshong has trained with Michelle Sarson, Mark Mejia and Linda Kintz, and master instructors all over the country through classes and continuing education workshops. She has extensive training in jazz, lyrical, ballet and contemporary modern techniques and has been teaching since 2000. After forming her own professional contemporary company, Fusion Dance, along with Kellie Payne, she and Kellie have now broadened their master teaching and choreographic skills to the pre-professional level with their company, Impact Dance. This pre-professional program is all inclusive and allows the younger dancer the opportunity to get the highest level of technique and experience concert choreography. Performing with Fusion Dance has allowed her to grace the stages of the Lincoln Theater, the Lisner, the Jack Guidone, Ernst Cultural Center, and the Lang Theater. Candra enjoys the satisfaction that comes from training dancers and helping them achieve their full potential through a mixture of technique, style, and conditioning.

Danielle Sirinsky, Director of our Preschool Department, holds a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She hails originally from Chicago, and has taught, performed, directed, and choreographed throughout the Chicago land and Eastern Pennsylvania areas, including musical theatre productions and a variety of workshops. In Allentown PA, she was a dance faculty member at That’s Dancin!, taught theatre and dance at the Pennsylvania Youth Theatre, and was a Theatre Faculty member at the Lehigh Valley High School of Performing Arts. Since moving to Leesburg, Ms. Sirinsky has been enjoying teaching music, theatre, Zumba and being a mom to her daughters Mia and Lila.

Tammy Skov , Office Manager, has been with The Loudoun School of Ballet for more than ten years. Her background includes experience in various office settings, including the federal government, the Loudoun County Public School system, and property management. Prior to joining our staff, Tammy worked directly with the public, interacting with individuals on various levels, which she says was good preparation for her current position.

Lisa Startsman received her early training at the Canton Ballet in Ohio. She attended the University of Akron on scholarship where she trained with Jerry Burr and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Ballet. She continued to train with the Ohio Ballet and in New York City with Nancy Bielski and Robert Blankshine. Ms. Startsman performed with the Canton Ballet, The Experimental Dance Ensemble, and The Cleveland Opera. Ms. Startsman has been teaching in the area for more than 18 years. She has been recognized as an Outstanding Educator by the Governor’s School for Humanities and Visual and Performing Arts of Virginia. She is certified with the Cecchetti Council, passing all of her teacher’s exams with honors. Currently, she teaches an enrichment program for the Washington Ballet under the direction of Kee Juan Han. Ms. Startsman is the Assistant Director of the Ballet Department at the Loudoun School of Ballet and the Ballet Mistress for the Loudoun Ballet Company.

Kim Thornley has worked in the D.C. metro area as a director, choreographer, instructor and performer.  She has worked in dinner theater, community/children's theater, dance companies including Dancin' Unlimited and Feet First Dance Company and at the Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts Center.  She received dance training at the Stone-Camryn School of Ballet in Chicago and the Gus Giordano Dance Center in Evanston, Illinois.  She earned certification as a ballet teacher associate with the Cecchetti Council of America.  She studied acting at the Theater Lab in Washington, D.C., and voice over techniques with the Such a Voice Company.

Charles Wilkinson, Director A lifelong educator and musician, Charles Wilkinson has managed business operations for the Loudoun School of Ballet since 2005. He was a founding member of the Loudoun Ballet Company, serving as board chairman from 1986-1991 and as president from 1992-1994. Beyond having taken a few turns as Drosselmeyer in “The Nutcracker,” he is not a dancer, and his admiration for the dedication, determination, and ultimately, the grace of our students and instructors is unconditional.