Our Professional Program runs from September through May and provides comprehensive, progressive training for dancers seeking consistent development and a structured dance education. Students receive focused instruction designed to build technical strength, musicality, artistry, and performance skills. The season culminates with our annual concert and includes additional performance and enrichment opportunities.

Pre-Professional

See Classes

Our Enrichment Program offers 6–8 week courses for youth and adults who wish to explore dance, continue training, or participate in a flexible format. These courses provide quality instruction in a supportive environment for dancers at various experience levels.

Dance
Exploration

See Classes

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.

Adult

See Classes

Our Professional Program runs from September through May and provides comprehensive, progressive training for dancers seeking consistent development and a structured dance education. Students receive focused instruction designed to build technical strength, musicality, artistry, and performance skills. The season culminates with our annual concert and includes additional performance and enrichment opportunities.

Pre-Professional

See Classes

Our Enrichment Program offers 6–8 week courses for youth and adults who wish to explore dance, continue training, or participate in a flexible format. These courses provide quality instruction in a supportive environment for dancers at various experience levels.

Dance
Exploration

See Classes

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.

Adult

See Classes

PROGRAMS & CLASSES

Our Professional Program runs from September through May and provides comprehensive, progressive training for dancers seeking consistent development and a structured dance education. Students receive focused instruction designed to build technical strength, musicality, artistry, and performance skills. The season culminates with our annual concert and includes additional performance and enrichment opportunities.

Pre-Professional

See Classes

Our Enrichment Program offers 6–8 week courses for youth and adults who wish to explore dance, continue training, or participate in a flexible format. These courses provide quality instruction in a supportive environment for dancers at various experience levels.

Dance
Exploration

See Classes

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.

Adult

See Classes

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.

Nyah Banks

• Modern • Enrichment


2.5 Years with MSDC

Nyah Banks is from Owings Mills, Maryland, where she received most of her performing arts training. Nyah received her BFA in contemporary dance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts with a minor in Arts Entrepreneurship. She has also obtained her Pilates Mat Teaching Certification. She has worked closely with choreographers such as Darrell Grand Moultrie, Igal Perry, Juel D. Lane, Grady Bowman, Ashley Lindsey, and Mariana Oliveira. Nyah has enjoyed working on a variety of dance films and projects, and throughout these processes she has developed a love for choreographing and directing movement. Nyah is currently a dancer with Kinetics Dance Company and the Enrollment Coordinator for Morton Street Dance Center.

Moniq Bevans

• Modern • Enrichment • Jazz • Repertory


3 Years with MSDC

Moniq is a warm, grounded artist that is passionate about her craft. Her main desire is to provoke healing through her art and every encounter. Moniq is a 2021 graduate from The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles, California where she received her BFA in Dance Theatre. She has been dancing since the age of 8 with a heavy foundation in liturgical & modern dance. She has studied various styles throughout her artistic journey with the goal of becoming a well rounded dancer. Moniq is excited to embark on her career by bringing her artistry to the table in this industry. ​​

NaTori Blackman

• Modern • Repertory • Adult Jazz Fitness


5 Years with MSDC

NaTori Aliyah, a Baltimore native, began dancing at the age of nine. She 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.

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.

Camille Weanquoi

• Modern • Repertory


9 Years with MSDC

Camille Weanquoi is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher who hails from the Bronx, NY. She received most of her dance training at Harlem School of the Arts where she was a scholarship recipient of the HSA college preparatory/pre-professional dance program. She's also a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Bachelors of Arts in Dance & Winston Salem State University with a Bachelors of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on psychology and 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.

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.

Nyah Banks

• Modern

• Enrichment



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.

Moniq Bevans

• Modern

• Enrichment

• Jazz

• Repertory

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.

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.​​

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.

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.

Nyah Banks

• Modern • Enrichment


2.5 Years with MSDC

Nyah Banks is from Owings Mills, Maryland, where she received most of her performing arts training. Nyah received her BFA in contemporary dance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts with a minor in Arts Entrepreneurship. She has also obtained her Pilates Mat Teaching Certification. She has worked closely with choreographers such as Darrell Grand Moultrie, Igal Perry, Juel D. Lane, Grady Bowman, Ashley Lindsey, and Mariana Oliveira. Nyah has enjoyed working on a variety of dance films and projects, and throughout these processes she has developed a love for choreographing and directing movement. Nyah is currently a dancer with Kinetics Dance Company and the Enrollment Coordinator for Morton Street Dance Center.

Moniq Bevans

• Modern • Enrichment • Jazz • Repertory


3 Years with MSDC

Moniq is a warm, grounded artist that is passionate about her craft. Her main desire is to provoke healing through her art and every encounter. Moniq is a 2021 graduate from The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles, California where she received her BFA in Dance Theatre. She has been dancing since the age of 8 with a heavy foundation in liturgical & modern dance. She has studied various styles throughout her artistic journey with the goal of becoming a well rounded dancer. Moniq is excited to embark on her career by bringing her artistry to the table in this industry. ​​

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.

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.

Camille Weanquoi

• Modern • Repertory


9 Years with MSDC

Camille Weanquoi is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher who hails from the Bronx, NY. She received most of her dance training at Harlem School of the Arts where she was a scholarship recipient of the HSA college preparatory/pre-professional dance program. She's also a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Bachelors of Arts in Dance & Winston Salem State University with a Bachelors of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on psychology and 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


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.

Camille Weanquoi

• Modern

• Repertory


Years with MS

Camille Weanquoi is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher who hails from the Bronx, NY. She received most of her dance training at Harlem School of the Arts where she was a scholarship recipient of the HSA college preparatory/pre-professional dance program. She's also a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Bachelors of Arts in Dance & Winston Salem State University with a Bachelors of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on psychology and education. She's had the privilege to study under many influential dance artists such as Kim Grier-Martinez, Imani Faye, B.J. Sullivan, Duane Cyrus, Urban Bush Women, & Rod Rodgers. Camille is currently a 3rd year candidate for Dunham Technique teacher certification & currently teaches African diaspora dance forms along with other styles of dance in the Baltimore area.

Alicia Williams

• Creative Movement

• Ballet

• Modern



Years with MS

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. Her choreography was recently selected for inclusion in the Baltimore Black Choreographers Festival. She presently dances with local modern dance company Full Circle.

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Modern

Modern

Introduction

Recommended Classses

Programs & Classes

Teachers

Modern dance encourages freedom of movement, creativity, and self-expression. Students explore floor work, improvisation, strength, coordination, and movement dynamics while developing a strong technical foundation.

The below information provides an outline for our program structure and class offerings. Once you've selected your classes, we will review and approve your registration.

Levels 1 & Above: Placement is based on ability, experience, and technical development rather than age alone. New students may schedule a placement evaluation with the Director before registering.
Modern dance encourages freedom of movement, creativity, and self-expression. Students explore floor work, improvisation, strength, coordination, and movement dynamics while developing a strong technical foundation.

The below information provides an outline for our program structure and class offerings. Once you've selected your classes, we will review and approve your registration.

Levels 1 & Above: Placement is based on ability, experience, and technical development rather than age alone. New students may schedule a placement evaluation with the Director before registering.
Modern dance encourages freedom of movement, creativity, and self-expression. Students explore floor work, improvisation, strength, coordination, and movement dynamics while developing a strong technical foundation.

The below information provides an outline for our program structure and class offerings. Once you've selected your classes, we will review and approve your registration.

Levels 1 & Above: Placement is based on ability, experience, and technical development rather than age alone. New students may schedule a placement evaluation with the Director before registering.

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  • 2026/2027 SeaSon

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  • 2026/2027 Season