Cindee White
As a child performed in the National Ballet’s production of the “Nutcracker” under the direction of Frederick Franklin in Washington, DC while studying with Miriam Williamson in College Park, MD. As a teenager she studied with Ellen Young at the Ellicott City Theater Ballet and later with Caryl Maxwell in historic Ellicott City, where she was one of the original company members of the Ellicott City Ballet Guild. She performed in and choreographed several musicals in high school, and in college performed with Howard County Summer Theatre. Upon completing her degree in dance from Towson State University, she danced professionally in “Unto These Hills” in Cherokee, N.C. and co-founded the Ellicott City Cancan Dancers. In 1983, Cindee started Ballet with Cindee Velle (BCV) at Stonehouse in the Long Reach Community Center in Columbia, MD. In April 2023, BCV moved a new location on Red Branch Road in Columbia, MD under the name BCV Dance Center. She also directs several local satellite dance programs. Cindee has a special interest in worship dance. She started The Columbia Chamber Ballet in 1991 which continues to perform The Nutcracker annually in community venues. Cindee has completed several dance teacher workshops in the Vaganova method, and workshops with Finis Jhung in New York City. As an adult she studied at The Maryland Youth Ballet and frequented the Broadway Dance Center in NYC.
Aimee Velle Moran
Aimee received her BFA in Dance Performance from East Carolina University in May 2008, where she also received the “Outstanding Senior Award” for dance performance. While there she performed in ECU’s Loessin Playhouse summer theatre production of “West Side Story.” She began training at the age of three at Ballet with Cindee Velle in the Baltimore/Washington area, where she was also a member of the Columbia Chamber Ballet for nine years and competed on their competition team from age five. She has received training in a variety of dance styles including, ballet, jazz, musical theatre, lyrical, pointe, tap, contemporary, and modern. She danced with Baltimore Opera in “Aida” and she performed with Royal Caribbean as a dancer on the Enchantment of the Seas. After returning home, she performed with the modern company, Deviated Theatre, in their original production of “siGht.” Most recently she performed with Vaught Contemporary Ballet in “1920”. Aimee has also taught children and adults of all ages in multiple areas of dance since she was fourteen. Aimee is very passionate about her dancing and hopes to continue growing in her professional career, along with her teaching. Aimee is the Competition Director and Co-Owner of BCV Dance Center.
Rachel Otten
Nikki Kelly
Nikki received her early dance training at Ballet with Cindee Velle, during which she danced with The Columbia Chamber Ballet and won many awards on The Competition Team at local and national dance competitions. Nikki continued her dance training at Towson University earning a BFA in dance performance and education. Her junior composition piece was chosen to be showcased at the prestigious American College Dance Festival. Nikki has taught a wide variety of dance styles for many years at multiple studios in the area. She has won many prestigious awards for her choreography at local, national and world dance competitions. She has performed at TU, and danced with The Collective, The Harford Ballet Company, Merge, Deviated Theatre and Vaught Contemporary Ballet. Nikki is also a part of the BCV Dance Center Administration Team.
Anna Carlisle
Anna is a Maryland native who began dancing at the age of three with Ballet with Cindee Velle. She attended Towson University and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography. Anna studied Ballet, Modern, Pointe, Partnering and a composition series culminating in a senior capstone performance project titled “Unmasked”. While studying at Towson University, she has had the privilege of training under Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Catherine Horta-Hayden, Vincent Thomas, Alison Seidenstricker and Susan Mann. After graduating, Anna moved to New York City and attended Broadway Dance Center’s Professional Semester, studying intensely under industry leading choreographers and teachers. After spending a year and a half training in New York City, Anna is excited to continue sharing her passion for dance with the students at BCV Dance Center. Anna believes in creating a safe, inclusive space for dancers to express themselves through movement and most of all have fun!
Shelly Masone
Shelly has been teaching dance to both children and adults for over twenty-five years. Staring out in Pennsylvania, she taught and choreographed Tap, Jazz, Acrobatics, Lyrical, Gymnastics, Ballet, Preschool and Exercise at the Linda Butcho Dance Studio and Kat & Co. Dance Studio, in both their WV and PA locations prior to joining Ballet with Cindee Velle in Columbia, MD at the turn of the century. She was soloist for the Kitchen Sink Dance Company directed by Michael McGowan and has instructed dance camps at West Virginia University, Kiddie Academy, elementary and high schools, as well as local dance studios. Shelly is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Governor’s Arts School, majoring in Jazz. She has her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration from West Virginia University with a major in marketing and a minor in Dance and Spanish. In 1994, she performed live on ESPN at the Hula Bowl. Shelly and her tap students performed in the Boscov’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia, PA in 2005. Shelly has continued her training through clinics and workshops with the Canadian Dance Company, Step Stewart, Fiona Morris, David DeMarie, Joe Tremaine, Katy Lyon Palumbo, Broadway Dance, Tony, and local artists. Shelly’s students and her choreography have competed nationally, receiving numerous top ten and overall awards. She looks forward to instilling a confidence in your little dancer through dance to help them achieve all their dreams.
Caryl Maxwell
Caryl is our guest artist in residence, who came to this area from New York City, where she performed with the Metropolitan, New York City and Philadelphia Lyric Operas, the Radio City Music Hall Ballet and the Larry Richardson Modern Dance Company. She holds a B.A. degree form Mercer University and certificates in the Cecchetti technique, earned while on a scholarship with the National Ballet of Canada in Toronto. She has attended numerous teaching seminars including the National Ballet of Canada and those in the Vaganova Syllabus, as well as teaching seminars to dance instructors. Ms. Maxwell, a former faculty member at Towson State University, the Maryland Ballet and the Marietta Civic Ballet in Georgia, has guest taught at numerous schools throughout the region. Most recently she directed Caryl Maxwell Classical Ballet and the Ellicott City Ballet Guild for over 25 years in historic Ellicott City, MD. Currently she is Director of Schools for Dance for the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) and is giving master classes throughout Maryland.
Debbie Braun
Debbie teaches Jazz, Tap and Ballet extensively throughout Howard County and beyond. In addition to being on the faculty at Stonehouse she has developed and instructs our PTA dance program at Centennial Lane Elementary School. She also co-directs and performs with the Ellicott City Cancan Dancers. She has studied Jazz with Wally Saunders, Paula Lynn and Tim Roberts. Debbie was awarded a scholarship at the Maryland Ballet under the direction of Danny Diamond. To keep current with the latest dance styles and trends in dance education she attends dance classes and seminars at studios in Washington DC, New York City and locally. She also directed the Hip Hop Kids who performed at the Preakness Celebration. Her acting credits include “Runaway Bride”, “Cecil B. Demented” and numerous TV commercials.
Amy Spears
Amy started dancing at age 4, at Ballet with Cindee Velle where she studied ballet and jazz. Amy was a member of the BCV competition team, winning awards in numerous regional and national competitions. She also performed in the Nutcracker with The Columbia Chamber Ballet throughout Howard County and Baltimore. Upon graduation from high school, she began to teach dance classes at various elementary schools around Howard County. She has been teaching for BCV Dance Center now for 22 years and enjoys what she does very much! And now, Amy’s daughter is on the BCV Dance Center competition team as well.
Catherine Rach
Cat began dancing at the age of 3 with Ballet with Cindee Velle. As a member of the Columbia Chamber Ballet and Competition Team in her teenage years, she has studied and performed under Cindee Velle White, Debbie Braun, Kathy Culler, Karen Cerkez and Ashley Haker. At the age of 18, Catherine began teaching for Cindee at an after-school program at Centennial Elementary. All while continuing to dance at Howard Community College under the direction of Lester Holmes and Carolyn Keleman. In 2002, she became a member of The Howard County Ballet directed by Kathi Ferguson, performing in their Nutcracker and various spring shows. Currently, Catherine teachers for Roger Carter Center, a satellite program for BCV Dance Center, for their after-school Ballet/Jazz combo class.
Emily Drechsler
Emily is an alumna of both The George Washington University with an M.A. in Education and Human Development as well as Loyola University with an M.S. in Clinical Psychology. Growing up in a military family, Emily danced throughout the country with numerous training schools including the Ballet Repertory Theater (Albuquerque, NM), Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (Carlisle, PA), Chambersburg Ballet Theater (Chambersburg, PA), and the Center for Ballet Arts (Fairfax, VA) before continuing her training as an adult ballet dancer with Cindee Velle. Emily was a junior company member with Ballet Repertory Theater New Mexico, and a Senior Company member with the Chambersburg Ballet Theater and Center for Ballet Arts between 2008 and 2011. Emily’s performance repertoire includes: The Nutcracker (Soldier, Snow, Arabian, Waltz of the Flowers), Coppelia (Corps), Don Quixote (Corps), Sleeping Beauty (Fairy of the Golden Vine), Firebird (Infernal and Priestess), and original choreography. Emily teaches ballet technique and pointe classes to preschool through intermediate students at Ballet with Cindee Velle. Emily is currently working towards an Associate’s Degree in Dance and preparing to pursue a doctorate in occupational therapy and will be attending American Ballet Theater’s Teacher Intensive Training Program in 2023. Diversity and disability accessibility in dance is a strong passion for Emily, and she hopes to encourage inclusivity and belonging for all in the ballet world.
Gail Rondon
Leslie McKay Rufolo
Leslie McKay Rufolo began her performing career in musicals and theater. She then went on to earn a BFA degree in dance, while concurrently studying theater and voice at Towson University. Ms. Rufolo has danced with the resident company of Towson University, the Elliott City Ballet Guild, and has performed in a variety of productions both on the stage and in music videos. Ms. Rufolo has more than 20 years of dance experience teaching, performing, and choreographing in the Baltimore area. Her experience includes the techniques of: ballet, jazz, tap, musical theater, modern, as well as tumbling, and gymnastics. She has also choreographed a variety of musicals. Ms. Rufolo currently teaches and choreographs dance at Chapelgate Christian Academy where she also directs a program for students with learning differences and coaches the Cheer Team.
CJ Cunningham
CJ began
Claire Kobulnicky
Claire began dancing when she was 4 years old and primarily received her training at both Ballet with Cindee Velle and Caryl Maxwell’s Classical Ballet, where she studied ballet and pointe along with a variety of other dance forms. She enjoyed performing various solos with both studios, with the Italian and Clara variations from The Nutcracker, and “The Dying Swan” being her favorites. She continued to dance and choreograph at Grove City College, where she graduated with a B.S. in Elementary Education and Physics/General Science/ Secondary Education in 2000. Claire was named the Head Choreographer for the college’s dance troupe “Orchesis” and had the privilege of directing their performances during her junior and senior years at GCC. For the last 20+ years, in addition to raising four children, she has enjoyed teaching dance classes and choreographing for various public, private, religious, and homeschooling venues. She thanks God for the gift of dance and is delighted to be back teaching for BCV this year.
Emily-Rose Brock
Emily-Rose Brock is currently attending Towson University as a Dance Performance and Choreography Major (B.F.A.) with an additional PreK-12 Dance Education Concentration. She has been dancing at Ballet with Cindee Velle since age 2, studying Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Jazz, and Tap. Emily was a member of the BCV competition team for 7 years, winning multiple awards and special invitations, including Discovery Spotlight, Power Pak, Wild Dance Intensive, and getting a special award for a piece she co-choreographed. She also danced in The Nutcracker with the Columbia Chamber Ballet for 13 years. She has assisted with classes at the studio since age 11 and started teaching classes at age 15.
Apprentice-Katelyn Otten
Katelyn started dancing at the age of 2, with Ballet with Cindee Velle. Katelyn is currently, a Senior at Centennial High School. She studies Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, and Hip Hop. This is currently Katelyn’s 15th year as part of the Columbia Chamber Ballet and her 16th year on the Competition Team. Throughout her many years of competing, Katelyn has won many overall awards, special awards, invites to dance intensives and scholarships. She is also 2022 Starpower Nationals Premier Title Winner. Katelyn is currently choreographing for a couple of our competition team students. Katelyn also assists with office administration tasks.
Katelyn is a part of the Dance Company at Centennial High School. She studies Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary. She was selected to be a part of The All-County Dance Performance Ensemble. She is currently choreographing for her Team as well as for Dance I. Katelyn is a part of the National Dance Honor Society.
Shani (Candace) McKindra
Shani started dancing at the age of 6, at Arabesque Dance studio in Columbia for 2 years. She then transferred to Ballet with Cindee Velle, where she studied Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, and participated on the competition team and The Columbia Chamber Ballet. Throughout High School, she continued at the Studio, and joined the Dance Team at Oakland Mills high school. Upon graduating from high school, she went to Virginia Intermont College where she studied Ballet, Pointe, Modern, and Jazz for two years. Shani then transferred to Point Park College in Pittsburgh where she studied Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Tap, Folk, and Dunham technique. She graduated with a B.A. in Dance, with a concentration in Jazz. She has attended several Master classes, continues to take class and had the opportunity to perform with Neil Young on stage. Shani is thrilled being back home with Cindee Velle’s Studio. She also teaches at Worthington’s P.T.A Program, and St. Patrick’s Catholic school.