Adult Classes

Adult Classes

Introduction

Recommended Classses

Programs & Classes

Teachers

At Morton Street Dance Center, our adult classes are designed for individuals of all experience levels—from those taking their very first dance class to seasoned dancers returning to the studio. Whether your goal is to improve fitness, develop new skills, express yourself through movement, or simply enjoy the art of dance, our experienced faculty provides exceptional instruction in a welcoming and supportive environment. Discover the joy of dance, build confidence, and become part of a vibrant community where learning and creativity are celebrated at every age. Dance is for everybody.
At Morton Street Dance Center, our adult classes are designed for individuals of all experience levels—from those taking their very first dance class to seasoned dancers returning to the studio. Whether your goal is to improve fitness, develop new skills, express yourself through movement, or simply enjoy the art of dance, our experienced faculty provides exceptional instruction in a welcoming and supportive environment. Discover the joy of dance, build confidence, and become part of a vibrant community where learning and creativity are celebrated at every age. Dance is for everybody.
At Morton Street Dance Center, our adult classes are designed for individuals of all experience levels—from those taking their very first dance class to seasoned dancers returning to the studio. Whether your goal is to improve fitness, develop new skills, express yourself through movement, or simply enjoy the art of dance, our experienced faculty provides exceptional instruction in a welcoming and supportive environment. Discover the joy of dance, build confidence, and become part of a vibrant community where learning and creativity are celebrated at every age. Dance is for everybody.

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PROGRAMS & CLASSES

Beginner Jazz Fitness 

A fun, upbeat class that combines jazz dance fundamentals with fitness-based movement. Perfect for beginners, participants improve coordination, flexibility, stamina, and confidence while enjoying great music and movement.

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Modern – Beginner & Intermediate

Designed for adults with some dance experience or adventurous beginners, this class explores modern dance technique, floor work, movement dynamics, and choreography in a supportive and welcoming atmosphere.

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Ballet – Beginner & Intermediate

Designed for adults with some dance experience or adventurous beginners, this class explores ballet dance technique, floor work, movement dynamics, and choreography in a supportive and welcoming atmosphere.

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Ballet – Beginner & Intermediate

Designed for adults with some dance experience or adventurous beginners, this class explores ballet dance technique, floor work, movement dynamics, and choreography in a supportive and welcoming atmosphere.

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Full Circle Dance Company Open Class

Open to company members and community dancers, this advanced-level class provides an opportunity to explore technique, artistry, choreography, and movement in a collaborative environment.

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Silver Swans Ballet

Designed specifically for adult dancers ages 50 and beyond, Silver Swans promotes strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, and well-being through ballet-inspired movement. No prior dance experience is required, and all abilities are welcome.

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Yoga

Our yoga class builds strength, flexibility, balance, and body awareness through mindful movement and breath. Students develop proper alignment, improve mobility, and cultivate focus in a supportive, welcoming environment.

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YOUR TEACHERS

Donna L. Jacobs

• Ballet • Modern • Conservatory • Repertory • Full Circle Dance Comp.


34+ Years with MSDC

Ms. Jacobs has led Morton Street Dance Center for over 30 years and its resident company, Full Circle Dance Company, for more than two decades. A School of American Ballet National Visiting Fellow and Certified Teacher of Progressive Ballet Technique, she brings extensive expertise in ballet, modern dance, and dance education. Her leadership and choreography have earned recognition from numerous arts organizations, while her dedication to training dancers has helped countless students grow and achieve success.

Sam Koseff

• Ballet • Modern • Contemporary • Pointe


1 Year with MSDC

Liz Pelton

• Teen Ballet • Conservatory


20+ Years with MSDC

Liz has taught ballet and modern dance at Morton Street for ten years. Her early training was at North River Arts Ballet and Boston Ballet in Massachusetts. Before coming to Baltimore, she performed in Boston, Chicago, Washington, and New Haven. She is a graduate of Georgetown University, where she was student director of the Georgetown Dance Company. She has created dance performance projects at Roland Park Elementary School and The Park School. Liz has been a member of Full Circle Dance Company since 2001 and has been its Associate Artistic Director since 2018.

Julianna Pahr

• Ballet • Acro • PrePointe/Pointe


11+ Years with MSDC

Julianna began her dance training at the Berkshire Dance Theatre in Adams, Massachusetts. While at her home studio, she studied with many talented teachers, took examinations for Cecchetti USA, and also instructed the younger students. After her high school graduation, she continued to pursue dance at Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland. During her time in college, she performed for the Fall and Spring Dance Concerts, choreographed for her Independent project, traveled to Edinburgh to study modern dance at Dance Base, and also interned at a small not for profit modern dance company, The Collective. She is currently is the Studio Manager at Morton Street Dance Center and is a Certified Teacher of Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT).

Nina Pongratz

• Modern • Adult Ballet • Musical Theater


4+ Years with MSDC

Nina received her BA in Dance and Media & Comm from Muhlenberg College 2013 (USA), her MA in Contemporary Dance Performance from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance 2015 (IRE), and her Post-Cert. in Anatomical Sciences from The University of Edinburgh 2017 (UK). Since 2019, she has been the upper school dance and theatre educator at McDonogh School where she directs the annual musical and dance concerts. Prior to McDonogh, Nina was the Director of Dance at the Middlesex School (USA), The Independent Theatre Workshop (IRE), and has taught at numerous schools, colleges, and universities such as Wheaton College (USA) and The University of Limerick (IRE).

Emily Wampler

• Parent and Tot • Pre Dance • Ballet • Conservatory • Pointe



2 Years with MSDC

Emily began her dance training at the age of three with Tricia Sloan Dance Center in Wenonah, NJ. She trained in various styles such as ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, jazz funk, pointe, musical theatre, and partnering. After graduating in 2020, Emily chose to further her studies in dance at Towson University. She is expected to graduate in December of 2024 with BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography with a certification in PreK-12 Dance Education.

Alicia Williams

• Creative Movement • Ballet • Modern


1 Year with MSDC

Alicia Williams is a Maryland native, born and raised in Baltimore City. She graduated from the Baltimore School for the Arts in 2008 and later attended Coppin State University as a dance major. She then danced for two years with Ballethnic, a ballet company located in Atlanta, GA. Upon her return to Maryland, she performed with Afrohouse in the theatrical version of Cloud Nebula. She choreographed and performed in Timothy Amukele's cantata What Sweeter Music, and has served as a guest choreographer for the dance programs at Montgomery Community College and Coppin State University.

Jill Morrison Vasbinder

• Silver Swans Ballet • Open Adult Modern


2 Years with MSDC

Jill Vasbinder Morrison, BA (Barnard College), MFA (SUNY Purchase), is a dancer, scholar & community activist currently teaching dance studies at UMBC. After performing with the Lisa Leizman Dancers in Massachusetts and Full Force Dance Theater in Connecticut and New York City, Jill went on to be office manager of Hartford Children’s Theater, Assistant Director of Dance and the Hartt School Community Division, University of Hartford, and Artist Director of Common Ground Dance Company. She has taught Ballet, Modern, Composition, Ballroom, Latin and Swing dancing since 1995 in New York, Maryland, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

Donna L. Jacobs

• Ballet • Modern • Conservatory • Repertory • Full Circle Dance Comp.


34+ Years with MSDC

Ms. Jacobs has led Morton Street Dance Center for over 30 years and its resident company, Full Circle Dance Company, for more than two decades. A School of American Ballet National Visiting Fellow and Certified Teacher of Progressive Ballet Technique, she brings extensive expertise in ballet, modern dance, and dance education. Her leadership and choreography have earned recognition from numerous arts organizations, while her dedication to training dancers has helped countless students grow and achieve success.

NaTori Blackman

• Modern • Repertory • Adult Jazz Fitness


5 Years with MSDC

NaTori Aliyah, trained in a variety of styles such as ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, tap, and African at Morton Street Dance Center in Baltimore, MD. NaTori joined Full Circle Dance Company in 2015 and then furthered her training at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA for two years. After discovering her love for commercial dance, NaTori traveled back and forth from Baltimore to Atlanta where she began working in the industry as a commercial dancer/choreographer. She trained under choreographers/directors such as Alan Ferguson, Ben Marc, Amerah McCormick, Oth’than Burnside, Ebony Tye, Jeremy Green, Anthony Redd Williams, Chris Lucky and many others.

Algernon Campbell

• Adult Modern • Modern • Repertory


21+ Years with MSDC

Algernon is a 1994 graduate of Morehouse College with a B.A. in Theatre. He trained at the Ballethnic Academy of Dance and at Spelman College, completed the Alvin Ailey Certificate Program, and has performed with the Joan Peters Dance Company, Seraphim Dance Company, and Dallas Black Dance Theatre. He has worked with renowned choreographers such as Donald Byrd, Donald McKayle, Yuriko, Robert Battle, Chuck Davis, Fred Benjamin, and many others, and has danced the works of Bruce Woods, David Parsons, and Darryl Sneed.

Donna L. Jacobs

• Ballet

• Modern

• Conservatory

• Repertory


Years with MS

Jill Vasbinder Morrison, BA (Barnard College), MFA (SUNY Purchase), is a dancer, scholar & community activist currently teaching dance studies at UMBC. After performing with the Lisa Leizman Dancers in Massachusetts and Full Force Dance Theater in Connecticut and New York City, Jill went on to be office manager of Hartford Children’s Theater, Assistant Director of Dance and the Hartt School Community Division, University of Hartford, and Artist Director of Common Ground Dance Company. She has taught Ballet, Modern, Composition, Ballroom, Latin and Swing dancing since 1995 in New York, Maryland, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

NaTori Blackman

• Modern

• Repertory

• Adult Jazz Fitness


Years with MS

Diedre Nyota Dawkins is a 2003 N.Y.C. Bessie Award winner for outstanding dance performance and a 2016 recipient of the President Obama Lifetime Achievement Award for National and Community Service. She is also the 2020 Evidence Award recipient for Artistic Expression with the theme “Sistas Prepared, Positioned and Pivotal for Such a Time as This”. She is the founder and director of “Dance is Healing” a mentorship program for middle school girls and was voted 2016 Teacher of the Year at ConneXions: A Community Based Arts School. Diedre graduated from The N.Y.C. High School of the Performing Arts and received her B.F.A. in dance from New York University Tisch School of the Arts and her M.F.A. in choreography and performance from The University of Maryland College Park.

Algernon Campbell

• Adult Modern

• Modern

• Repertory


Years with MS

Algernon is a 1994 graduate of Morehouse College with a B.A. in Theatre. He trained at the Ballethnic Academy of Dance and at Spelman College, completed the Alvin Ailey Certificate Program, and has performed with the Joan Peters Dance Company, Seraphim Dance Company, and Dallas Black Dance Theatre. He has worked with renowned choreographers such as Donald Byrd, Donald McKayle, Yuriko, Robert Battle, Chuck Davis, Fred Benjamin, and many others, and has danced the works of Bruce Woods, David Parsons, and Darryl Sneed. Since moving to Baltimore, he has worked with the Kathy Smith/Adrian Bolton Dance Company, Full Circle Dance Company, the Morton Street Dance Center, the Washington Ballet at the ARC, Experimental Dance Concepts, Body Moves, and Greater York Dance.​​

Elizabeth Hafey

• Yoga


3 Years with MSDC

Elizabeth’s early dance training began at the Wheaton Studio of Dance in Maryland, and after a family move to California, continued at The Dance Academy in Modesto and Berkeley Ballet Theater. While attending the University of Virginia for college, Elizabeth danced and choreographed with the Virginia Dance Company and the Mahogany Dance Troupe. Following graduation, Elizabeth spent a summer at The Ailey Summer Intensive in New York and continued training in the DMV area. Thereafter, she danced with local dance companies in Virginia, D.C., and Baltimore. Elizabeth is a dancer with the Full Circle Dance Company, and is a certified yoga instructor.

Nina Pongratz

• Modern • Adult Ballet • Musical Theater


4+ Years with MSDC

Nina received her BA in Dance and Media & Comm from Muhlenberg College 2013 (USA), her MA in Contemporary Dance Performance from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance 2015 (IRE), and her Post-Cert. in Anatomical Sciences from The University of Edinburgh 2017 (UK). Since 2019, she has been the upper school dance and theatre educator at McDonogh School where she directs the annual musical and dance concerts. Prior to McDonogh, Nina was the Director of Dance at the Middlesex School (USA), The Independent Theatre Workshop (IRE), and has taught at numerous schools, colleges, and universities such as Wheaton College (USA) and The University of Limerick (IRE).

Jill Morrison Vasbinder

• Silver Swans Ballet • Open Adult Modern


2 Years with MSDC

Jill Vasbinder Morrison, BA (Barnard College), MFA (SUNY Purchase), is a dancer, scholar & community activist currently teaching dance studies at UMBC. After performing with the Lisa Leizman Dancers in Massachusetts and Full Force Dance Theater in Connecticut and New York City, Jill went on to be office manager of Hartford Children’s Theater, Assistant Director of Dance and the Hartt School Community Division, University of Hartford, and Artist Director of Common Ground Dance Company. She has taught Ballet, Modern, Composition, Ballroom, Latin and Swing dancing since 1995 in New York, Maryland, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

Elizabeth Hafey

• Yoga


3 Years with MSDC

Liz has taught ballet and modern dance at Morton Street for ten years. Her early training was at North River Arts Ballet and Boston Ballet in Massachusetts. Before coming to Baltimore, she performed in Boston, Chicago, Washington, and New Haven. She is a graduate of Georgetown University, where she was student director of the Georgetown Dance Company. She has created dance performance projects at Roland Park Elementary School and The Park School. Liz has been a member of Full Circle Dance Company since 2001 and has been its Associate Artistic Director since 2018.

Nina Pongratz

• Modern

• Adult Ballet

• Musical Theater



Years with MS

Liz has taught ballet and modern dance at Morton Street for ten years. Her early training was at North River Arts Ballet and Boston Ballet in Massachusetts. Before coming to Baltimore, she performed in Boston, Chicago, Washington, and New Haven. She is a graduate of Georgetown University, where she was student director of the Georgetown Dance Company. She has created dance performance projects at Roland Park Elementary School and The Park School. Liz has been a member of Full Circle Dance Company since 2001 and has been its Associate Artistic Director since 2018.

Jill Morrison Vasbinder

• Silver Swans Ballet

• Open Adult Modern


Years with MS

Jill Vasbinder Morrison, BA (Barnard College), MFA (SUNY Purchase), is a dancer, scholar & community activist currently teaching dance studies at UMBC. After performing with the Lisa Leizman Dancers in Massachusetts and Full Force Dance Theater in Connecticut and New York City, Jill went on to be office manager of Hartford Children’s Theater, Assistant Director of Dance and the Hartt School Community Division, University of Hartford, and Artist Director of Common Ground Dance Company. She has taught Ballet, Modern, Composition, Ballroom, Latin and Swing dancing since 1995 in New York, Maryland, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

RECOMMENdEd CLASSES

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    Private Lessons

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    Acro

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