Denna Smith -Artistic Director brings 33 years of teaching experience in ballet, jazz, tap and ballroom to the IPAC. Her training began under Dorothy Ewing in Winchester, Va continuing at Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music and later at American University. Her approach to classical training has been influenced by her studies of the English syllabus at the Royal Academy of Dancing in London and Toronto and the Russian syllabus under Jurgen Schneider, former ballet master of American Ballet Theatre.
Winston Smith -Managing Director has 33 years of ballroom dance experience as a competitor and teacher. His training includes both International and American Social Ballroom Dancing under Geoffrey Fells and Albert Franz. Winston holds an Associate Teaching Certificate from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. His former coaches includes World Champions Peter Eggleton and Michael Barr.
Nancy Stevens – Nancy Stevens is Washington, Maryland and Virginia Champion in 1976,1977, 1978 and World Competitor ranking 20th in the under 17 age bracket. Over the past 15 years as department head, Nancy has combined her experience as a competitor to aspire many students into Irish competitions. Nancy has a degree in business from James Madison University and a degree in education from Shepherd University. She has choreographed the musicals Fiddler on the Roof, Annie, Oklahoma and Willey Wonka for Loudoun County Public Schools.
Susan Banks brings 47 years experience as a dance professional to the IPAC. After training at the National Ballet School of Washington, D.C. on a Ford Foundation Scholarship, Susan danced 7 years with the National Ballet Company and 5 years with Houston Ballet. After retiring from the stage she served as director of the Houston Ballet Academy for 10 years. Since returning in 1996 she has taught for the Washington Ballet, Maryland Youth Ballet and the IPAC for 9 years.
Christine Franz brings 28 years of teaching experience to the IPAC. She studied ballet under Leda Anchutina Eglevsky at the Eglevsky Ballet in Long Island, New York and then went on to train at The American Dance Machine at The Broadway Dance Center and Steps in New York City. Christine had the priviledge of being a student of many great Broadway legends including Lee Theodore, Nannette Charisse, Wayne Cilento, Peter Gennaro, Lisa Gennaro and Anne Reinking.
Raegin Domenico is our newest faculty member. She is a 2012 graduate of Shenandoah University with a
Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Her experience includes stage, commercial and film. Raegin is a third year member of the IPAC faculty.
Shan Dai -Guest Faculty -Principal dancer with the Central Ballet of China and taught at the Bejing Dance Academy. Came to the United States in 1986 to teach at University of Rochester. Assistant Director at the Inwood Performing Arts for 15 years
.