Buffa Hargett - Buffa has a dance background that includes ten years in Europe and over thirty 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 thirty years, she has directed the studio, managing a staff of twenty dedicated professionals.  In addition to teaching, work includes scheduling and coordinating over 120 classes per week and over 1400 students (dance and fitness), and developing and presenting shows throughout the year, especially our year end recitals.  She created the Burke Civic Ballet seventeen 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 of Jazz, Tap and Lyrical along with Judging and Choreographing nationwide for Dance Makers Inc., Southern Association of Dance Masters, Chicago Dance Masters, Jazz On Tap Festival and Jazz On Tap 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. Tom’s beginnings on the professional stage were with Carowinds, Busch Gardens and Tokyo Disneyland theme parks. Tom also taught in Japan for Shojiku Kageki Dan and Osaka Kageki Dan dance companies, performed, choreographed and trained dancers for Crystal Cruises. His most recent work for Crystal Cruises was choreographing their newest million dollar musical entitled “Standing Room Only.” He has taught for Buffa’s full time since 1996 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 - Liesl 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 – Nickolai 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 eleven 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.  Recently she performed locally with Cirque De Soleil. 

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.  Dancing at Buffa's at 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 16 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. Melissa’s competition work has won Outstanding Teen Choreography Battle of the Stars, and 2nd place Overall Teen at Nationals.

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 and she has taught for many years in the Prince William County School System as well as with Flint Hill Academy. Lisa underwent an in-depth training program with Buffa and has been teaching classes and working with the Burke Civic Ballet’s Nutcracker for the past 6 years.

Tanya Salewski - Tanya has danced for 30 years: first performing for her family in her small bedroom turned studio, then as captain of the Robinson high school dance team, and on the George Mason University’s nationally-ranked Masonetttes. Tanya loves choreography and was formerly the choreographer for the PVI Catholic high school dance team. She is frequently sought out as a free-lance choreographer by dance teams across the area. Tanya (as Mrs. Salewski) teaches English at Oakcrest School for Girls in McLean. To her it is still dance: Dance is the poetry of motion just as literature is the choreography of words.    

Lindsay Snider - Lindsay has been an assistant and teacher at Buffa's for seven years and was a member of Dance Company, as well as a soloist for the Burke Civic Ballet in roles such as Clara and Dewdrop. She was also a member and captain of the Lake Braddock Dance Team. She attended the University of 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.  Her choreography has won many awards including Outstanding Choreography, High Scores, Future Stars of America and Battle of the Stars. Lindsay is excited to be teaching at Buffa's, her dance family since the age of six.

Laura Steen - Growing up in Pittsburgh, PA, Laura was part of a competitive dance company and attended Point Park University’s Summer Dance Intensives.  In 2005, Laura was the lead dancer in the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera’s rendition of A Little Night Music at the Benedum Theater.  Laura received her BFA in dance from George Mason University in 2008, where she performed in many professional, student, and faculty works including those by renowned modern dance choreographers, Paul Taylor, Susan Marshall, Patrick Corbin, Susan Shields, and Kate Skarpetowska.  After graduating, Laura moved to New York City where she trained at Dance New Amsterdam and Broadway Dance Center. Now that she is back in Northern Virginia, she is very excited to be among the many talented dancers, teachers, and choreographers at Buffa’s Dance Studio.

Karlyn Williams - Karlyn was a member, choreographer and president of the Mozaic Hip Hop Dance Team at James Madison University performing at various venues in the area. She taught hip hop and jazz for three years in Harrisonburg, VA. She has been an assistant and substitute teacher at Buffa’s Dance Studio for six years and was also a member of the Dance Company. Karlyn also performed in various roles for the Burke Civic Ballet and was a member and captain of the Lake Braddock Dance Team.  Buffa’s has been a second home to Karlyn since the age of three. She is thrilled to have the privilege of teaching at Buffa’s.

List of Instructors

Buffa Hargett

Tom Alexander

Liesl Balatsenko

Nickolai Balatsenko

Nikki Gambhir

Melissa Hargett

Lisa Mitchell

Tanya Salewski

Lindsay Snider

Laura Steen

Karlyn Williams