MEET THE STAFF
Priscilla is a distinguished dancer, teacher and choreographer. She started her training early in the Cecchetti Ballet Method under the guidance of Pamela Moore of the National Ballet. She then attended and studied at Adelphi University under the direction of Norman Walker. Upon her graduation she returned to perform with the National Ballet and continued her training at the prestigious Maryland Youth Ballet Company under Eric Hampton. Ms. Mooradian has performed with the Annapolis Theater of Magic and numerous industrial shows in the area. She returned to her training after receiving a full scholarship to Michigan State by the Cecchetti Council of America. She holds an Advanced Grade VII Ballet certificate in the Cecchetti method. Priscilla guest teaches and choreographs nationally and internationally. She has produced two groups to participate in the RC/TS “Winners” dance industrial showcase in California. She produced two numbers for “Christmas through a Child’s Eye” at the Merv Griffith Resorts in Atlantic City. She choreographed for Northern Virginia Opera Company, and “Revenger’s Tragedy” for the Washington Shakespeare Opera Company. She has choreographed several musicals at the surronding high schools and received great recognition for “Anything Goes” at the University of Maryland. She was also recognized as an assistant choreographer in the second National Tour of Big in New York City and associate choreographer for the Merrily We Roll Along at the Kennedy Center and associate choreographer for the Disneyland Production of “Snow White” and the Enchanted Musical at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA.
Ms. Mooradian has received numerous choreography awards with her outstanding choreography within her competitive show troops and has been artistic director of the Calvert School of Dance for over 30 years. The Calvert School of Dance is one of three studios in Maryland to be ranked in the top 50 studios in the Northeast region for the Federation of Dance Competitions. For the 2012 competition season, Priscilla’s show troops have received 3 FDC (Highest Scoring Number) awards.
Samantha Johnson began her dance training as a student of the Calvert School of Dance. Calvert, which holds a place in the top 50 Northeastern Schools under the Federation of Dance Competitions, was founded over forty years ago by her mother, Priscilla Mooradian. A love and passion for dance was cultivated in Samantha at an early age and she studied ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, gymnastics, pointe and modern until she graduated from high school.
She now co - owns the studio with her mother Priscilla. She is the Artistic Director and runs the Award Winning Competition Team. Her numbers have won multiple Choreography Awards and High Point Awards along with multiple National Grand Championships. Her unique style of teaching has changed the way CSD competes. Her specialty is Contemporary and Lyrical.
Samantha started her professional career at the young age of 14. During the course of her career she performed in numerous shows through the Washington D.C, Maryland, and Virginia area, including but not limited to, the Helen Hayes Awards and several Christmas and Halloween performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C with the composer Marvin Hamlisch and the National Symphony Orchestra. She also guest performed at the Lincoln Center on Broadway, with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra receiving her Broadway credit. She even performed in a Christmas Special for Maurice Hines as a "Rockette". This was all under the prestigious choreographer, Karma Camp.
In 2009, she was part of a professional dance group in the metropolitan area under the direction of Jesse Beaudoin. She also guest taught numerous workshops at the 2010 On Stage America nationals in Cape May, New Jersey, as well as co-choreographed the opening gala.
In the fall of 2010 she attended Savannah College of Art and Design graduating with a degree in Graphic Design. While attending college she worked and traveled around the country with Revolution Talent Competition. She worked with them from 2010 - 2019. After that, she then went on traveling the world with Starpower International Competition.
In 2018, she was brought on by Mrs. Karma Camp as the Assistant Choreographer for the annua July 4th Celebration at the White House. The show was broadcasted live and many of her students were able to perform.
Contemporary, Lyrical & Showtroop
Wyndee McGovern is a master teacher certified by Dance Educators of America as well as Dance Masters of America.
She was the Artistic Director of Spotlight Studio of Dance in Millersville, MD overseeing a complete program of Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Tap, Acrobatics, Lyrical & Hip-Hop for dancers ages 2 to 18. Under her direction, Spotlight Studio has become a competitive force in the dance community. Wyndee’s dancers are consistently recognized for their finely-honed technique and diversity of training. Spotlight has won many awards, both for performance and choreography. In 2002, her choreography for “Slippin’into Darkness” earned her a position as a finalist in the Jazz Dance World Congress’ Choreography Event sponsored by “Leo Dancewear”, which recognizes outstanding achievement in choreography throughout the world. In that same year, she founded “Jazzfuzion”, a pre-professional performance company, specializing in Contemporary and Jazz. In March 2004, Wyndee and her Company made their Broadway debut in “Nothin’ Like a Dame – 2004 at the St. James Theater with their interpretation of Michael Jackson’s “In The Closet”. Spotlight is also the home of “Oasis Dance Ensemble” consisting only of Spotlight trained dancers and choreographers and was awarded the “Silver” Medal for Choreography at the 2009 Leo’s Choreographic Event held at the Jazz Dance World Congress in Chicago, Ill.
Also in 2009, Wyndee was commissioned to choreograph for the noted Kirov Academy of Ballet’s Holiday Concert in Washington, DC. That same year they gave her the opportunity to implement a new Contemporary program for their advanced/pre-professional levels.
Wyndee serves as chief dance advisor the to the “Winning Way” College Preparation Program continuing to research and help advance young dancers through the college and career path and implements this program to her Junior and Senior year students providing mentoring, guidance and inspiration to those that participate. Wyndee continues to serve as a judge and adjudicator for many reputable organizations including Dance Masters of America Title Pageants and Performing Arts Scholarship Program, Showbiz National Talent Competition, Legacy Talent, Dance Educators of America, Onstage America and Accent on Youth Talent Competitions.
Her dancers are currently performing in hottest ticket on Broadway "Hamilton" on Broadway as well as the newly opened Hamilton in Chicago, Ill, “The Bad Boys of Dance - Rock The Ballet”, The Radio City Rockettes, The Lion King in Las Vegas, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and many Collegiate Dance Companies and Dance Teams. Wyndee made her television debut in “Health Matters” discussing a program she developed in partnership with Dr. Alan Sokoloff of the Yalich Clinic and “Doc for the Baltimore Ravens for Dance Injury Prevention. “The McGovern Method” of body conditioning, training and injury prevention has been presented in Baltimore County Public Schools as well as MAPHERD Convention for the state of Maryland. Her proudest moment by far was when her Mentor and Teacher, President of Dance Educators of America - Fran Peters assisted in helping her "Method" get adopted by Dance Educators of America into their Teachers Training program.