The Ballet Academy

Alison Miller, Director

 Alison Miller holds a BA degree in Dance from Goucher College and a MA in Performing Arts from American University. She has completed the International Ballet Teachers Workshop in Mississippi and Paris, the Bolshoi Academy in Colorado, the Royal Academy of Dance, Professional Development Course, Primary through Grade 5, and several Vaganova training workshops as part of her ongoing training.  In 2014, she attended a 2-day intensive DancePhysiotherapy workshop for Dance Teachers and Health Professionals addressing preventing and managing dance injuries. In 2016, Ms. Miller attended the Finis Jhung teachers workshop, NYC and in 2019 attended the 4 day seminar Cuban National Ballet Intermediate Years Seminar, presented by Maestra Ramona De Saa, Director of the Cuban National Ballet School, Towson, MD.  In 2024, Alison became a certified teacher Progressing Ballet Teacher, Level 1.

In addition to owning and directing the Ballet Academy, Ms. Miller is actively involved in the dance community. She has taught and performed in the Washington-Baltimore area and for over 30 years. She has choreographed for theater productions at Prince Georges Community College, University of Maryland and The Chamber Theater. She has lectured at the Cosmos Club on dance history, served as the dance representative to the Maryland Alliance for Arts Education and on the committee to form the MD State Comprehensive Education Plan. She has also served as treasurer, secretary, festival chair and president of the Maryland Council for Dance, and as the MC/D Festival Showcase Chair.  Additionally, Miss Miller served as a Helen Hayes nominator in 2002. In 2007, she was honored as a National Honor Roll Outstanding American Teacher, and in 2009, the Maryland Council for Dance honored her with the 2009 Outstanding Service and Contributions to Dance in Maryland. Ms. Miller has been the Artistic Director of the Performing Arts Repertory Company (PARC) since 2003.                                                                                                   Contact Alison: stg_am@msn.com

         Micki Freeny, Ballet  

Micki has been a student of ballet her entire adult life, Micki has danced at the Ballet Academy since 1983. She has taught numerous classes at BA, most recently adult beginner ballet and pre-ballet. Micki enjoyed a long career in public libraries where for many years she specialized in children’s services. She has done extensive work and research in early literacy and children’s literature, and she has been presenting pre-school story times in public libraries for over 40 years.

Rachel Knudson,  Ballet and Modern   

Rachel Knudson teaches ballet, modern dance and creative dance. She holds a Master’s Degree in Dance Education from George Washington University and a Maryland Educator Certificate, Pre-K-12.  Currently she teaches dance at the Ballet Academy and Metropolitan Ballet Theatre and Academy.  Ms. Knudson is also a Wolf Trap Master Teaching Artist.  In this capacity, she develops and leads workshops throughout the United States for early childhood educators that provide strategies for integrating dance with early childhood STEM curriculum and conducts residencies in Pre-K and Kindergarten classrooms.  Ms. Knudson danced professionally with Pacific Northwest Ballet and studied modern dance at Jacob’s Pillow and the American Dance Festival. She also attended the Teacher’s Institute at the Creative Dance Center in Seattle, Washington.

 Alex Miller, Jazz, HipHop, Contemporary, Children’s Ballet

Alex teaches Ballet in the Youth Division, Hip Hop in the Adult Division and Hip Hop, Modern and Core Class for Master classes and summer workshops. Alex has taught dance for St. Ambrose and YMCA summer camps. She has choreographed for the Senior Repertory dancers and PARC repertory dances, Northwood High dance company and Billboard performances, and for Pulse, Ithaca College’s Hip Hop Competition Team. She has danced for over 16 years, 4 years with the Dance Theater of Harlem Kennedy Center Residency. summer ballet in Nice, France, participated in Finis Jhung teachers workshop, NYC.  In 2024, Alex earned her certification in Progressing Ballet Technique, level 1.  She is an International Marketing and Finance Major at Ithaca College. 

Catherine Ramsey, Children’s Ballet

Catherine Ramsey has been dancing at the Ballet Academy for the past 14 years, and accredits the foundation of her ballet training to Alison Miller. She has also danced under Tensia Fonseca at Maryland Youth Ballet, and Sajanee Mack of D’amore Dance. For the past five years, she has volunteered as a class aide in the children’s classes at the BA with both Ms. Miller and Ashley Thomas. In addition to her involvement with senior repertory, she is a senior at Bishop McNamara High School, where she attends with an annual ballet scholarship in collaboration with their Fine Arts Endorsement Program. She plans on pursuing a double major in dance and political science, in hopes of attending law school and eventually creating legislation for establishing fine arts education abroad.

Ashley Thomas, Children’s Ballet

 Ashley Thomas teaches children’s ballet and creative movement. She has taught Creative Movement, Pre-Ballet, Ballet, and Musical Theater Jazz classes at the Ballet Academy, Greenbelt Recreation Center, and Greenbelt’s Creative Kids Camp. Ashley has danced for over 20 years at the Ballet Academy, Eleanor Pernia Studio of Dance, and the Briggs Chaney Dance Center. Most recently, Ashley was a member of Purdue’s Contemporary Dance Company. Ashley currently works as a Speech-Language Pathologist for Montgomery County Public Schools. When Ashley is not working, she enjoys spending time with her dog, listening to musicals, and going to Target.