Buffa Hargett - Buffa has a dance background that includes ten years in Europe and over twenty years in the U.S. studying with Dothan Civic Ballet, Birmingham Civic Ballet and Ballet Russes in NYC.  Influential instructors have included Alexandra Danilova, David Howard and John White.  She has a B.S. from the University of Alabama where she was President and soloist with the University Dancers.  Advanced teaching work and certifications include in-depth studies, workshops and seminars in the Cecchetti, Royal Academy of Dance and Vaganova methods of ballet.  For the past twenty eight years, she has directed the studio, managing a staff of twenty dedicated professionals.  In addition to teaching, work includes scheduling and coordinating over 100 classes per week and over 1200 students (dance and fitness), and developing and presenting shows throughout the year, especially our year end recitals.  She created the Burke Civic Ballet fifteen years ago with the goal of providing a community-based performing and educational outlet for students and adults.  Teaching and sharing the joy of dance is her central goal, and the goal she has set for the studio.  Her philosophy is that dance is for everyone; dance builds strong, flexible, disciplined bodies and minds, and enhances the total person -- the creative, mental, emotional and social.  Through her guidance, everyone at the studio spreads the love of the profession and reflects sincere caring for the students.

Tom Alexander -Tom is an Instructor/Judge/Choreographer nationwide for Dance Makers, Dance Troupe, Dance Masters, Dance Teachers United, Southern Association of Dance Masters, Chicago Dance Masters, Jazz On Tap Festival and Tour.  He began dancing at age 13 with Ray Hollingsworth and has worked with stars such as Debbie Reynolds, Dolly Parton, Rita Moreno, Marie Osmond, Ella Fitzgerald and Bob Hope and danced at Carowinds and Busch Gardens and Tokyo.  Tom also taught in Japan for Shojiku Kageki Dan and Osaka Kageki Dan dance companies, performed, choreographed and trained dancers for Crystal Cruises and has been an adjunct Professor for Catholic University.  He has taught for Buffa’s full time since and is the Director of the Multi-Award Winning Dance Company where he gives his students the absolute best by staying current with the ever-changing forms of dance.

Liesl Balatsenko is from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Michigan Opera Theater before moving to Orlando, Florida to continue her studies.  In 1996, she joined Orlando Ballet, where she performed in numerous ballets.  She competed in the Paris International Competition in 2000, coached by Irina Kolpakova, and was awarded a silver score in the Youth American Grand Prix.  As a dancer with Ballet Internationale, she toured China, and most recently she was a dancer with Atlantic Southeast Ballet in Charleston, South Carolina.

Nickolai Balatsenko was born in the Ukraine and began his study of ballet at the Kiev Academy of Ballet when he was 11 years old.  Nickolai's first professional position was with the National Ballet Usti in the Czech Republic, and then the Donetsk Ballet after touring with the Ballet Classique of Paris. In 1999, he moved to the United States and joined Washington Ballet.  He later danced with Ballet Theatre of Maryland and Ballet Internationale in Indianapolis, Indiana. He also toured Seoul, South Korea with Universal Ballet and danced with Atlantic Southeast Ballet in Charleston, South Carolina.

Nikki Gambhir - Nikki has been a student at Buffa's since age three and has taught children’s classes, jazz, lyrical and hip hop at the studio for the past ten years.  While a student at Buffa’s, she was a member of the Dance Company and performed as a soloist in The Burke Civic Ballet’s Nutcracker.  She attended Robinson High School then graduated from George Mason University in 2004 with a Bachelor in Political and Persuasive Communication.  Nikki currently dances for the X-Faction and has previously danced for Expansion Dance Project, a hip hop dance company based in Washington, DC and Capitol Movement.  She has performed at numerous venues around the DC area and has opened for B2K.   

Melissa Hargett - Melissa graduated from William and Mary with a BBA in Operations and Information Technology.  She received a Minor in Dance and was President of Orchesis, the College Modern Dance Company.  She choreographed for many University productions and studied Modern, Ballet, Dance Composition and Dance History.  After graduating, Melissa was an Information Technology Specialist with IBM.  Starting at Buffa's since the age of three, she has been an assistant teacher, teacher and assisted with Burke Civic Ballet’s Nutcracker, as well as scheduling and coordinating the studio’s activities for the past 15 years.   Further education includes a Vaganova ballet seminar with John White, the University of the Arts program in ballet and the yearly Dance Teacher Conference in New York City with movement classes and instructional workshops led by the world's top dance educators.

Danielle Hogan - Danielle has been dancing since the age of three.  She began at Buffa's as a student and was trained as an assistant and a substitute teacher.  She has studied under master teachers Kit Andree, Frank Hatchett and Al Gilbert and attends dance conventions throughout the year including Dance Makers and Tremaine.  After graduating from Lake Braddock, she attended East Carolina University majoring in psychology and minoring in child development and family relations continuing her dance training under Mavis Ray and participated in their traveling tap troupe.  She began teaching at Buffa's full time in 1988 has been involved in every aspect of the studio including performing, choreographing and fundraising for the Burke Civic Ballet.  She and her husband, Jeff have four children, Morgan, Brendan, Mallory and Ryan.  Danielle has taught preschool at Lord of Life in Burke for the past 8 years.

Lisa Mitchell - Lisa’s background includes dance at Buffa’s since she was 3 years old and cheerleading at Robinson High School where she graduated in 1998.  She holds a degree from Radford University where she majored in English and minored in dance with a concentration in ballet, jazz and pointe.  Further education includes an Elementary Education teaching license from George Mason University in 2002.  She under went an in-depth training program with Buffa and has been teaching children’s classes for the past 5 years, along with teaching at Flint Hill Academy.

Leanne Mizzoni - Leanne received a degree in Dance Pedagogy from the Hartt School at the University of Hartford where she studied Music Theory, Dance Administration, Kinesiology, Dance History, Music in the Classroom, Composition and Dance Production as well as Ballet, Modern, Pointe and Character.  Leanne choreographed a contemporary ballet Tre Amori, setting her own lighting and costumes.  Her dance education includes The Metropolitan Ballet, Virginia Ballet Company and summer study at Virginia School of the Arts and the Joffrey Ballet School.  She has taught for Dance Connecticut and Browne Academy and this is her third year teaching at Buffa’s.  Currently she dances with Manassas Dance Company and works at Cinnamon Tree.

Tanya Salewski - Tanya has over 30 years of dance and drill team experience as a performer, instructor, coach and choreographer.  She was a member of the Robinson High School Dance Team, where she served as captain her senior year.  Tanya then continued her dancing at George Mason University where she was a member of the nationally ranked - Masonettes.   Upon graduating from college, Tanya began teaching high school and discovered her love for coaching.  She is currently entering her 14th year as the coach and choreographer for the Paul VI Catholic High School Dance Team.  Tanya has been a freelance choreographer for many local high schools and dance troupes in the area.   

Lindsay Snider - Lindsay has been an assistant and teacher at Buffa's for seven years and was a member of Dance Company and a soloist for the Burke Civic Ballet in roles such as Clara and Dewdrop and was a member and captain of the Lake Braddock Dance Team.  She attended the University of Alabama and completed her major in dance focusing on Anatomy for Dance, Dance History, and Dance Composition.  Lindsay was a member of Dance Alabama, where she choreographed and performed various pieces.  In addition, she danced for Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre, a company designed to prepare students for the diverse opportunities of a dance career.  Lindsay is excited to be teaching at Buffa's, her dance family since the age of six.

List of Instructors

Buffa Hargett

Tom Alexander

Liesl Balatsenko

Nickolai Balatsenko

Nikki Gambhir

Melissa Hargett

Danielle Hogan

Lisa Mitchell

Leanne Mizzoni

Tanya Salewski

Lindsay Snider