Faculty

Michelle DeAngelis is Founder and Director of Culver City Academy of Ballet. She received her early ballet and teacher training with the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre, School of American Ballet, Princeton Ballet School, and Ballet Central New Jersey. Michelle started her professional dancing career with the Montgomery Ballet and Virginia National Ballet, and then moved to Los Angeles to join the American Contemporary Ballet as a soloist in the company. She has also danced with Ballet Project Orange County as a company dancer. After retiring from a career in ballet, Michelle opened Michelle's Dance Academy in July 2022. After 2 years, Culver City Academy of Ballet was opened, to facilitate & further promote the growth of its students in ballet.

Caroline grew up training at Boston Ballet School in her native Boston, MA. As a teenager she moved to New York City to further her ballet education at Gelsey Kirkland Academy. Caroline received additional training from San Francisco Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, the Princess Grace Academy in Monaco, Miami City Ballet and the International Ballet Masterclasses in Prague. Caroline has worked at Natalia Kremen Ballet School in London and is passionate about fostering the next generation's love of dance. She is currently the Rehearsal Director of CCAB.

​Originally from Denver, CO, Claire began dancing at 4 years old under the training of Jennifer Jones Micek and Staci Kinkead-Fox at the Dance Conservatory of Denver. Here she trained in a variety of dance styles, performed principal and soloist roles, and placed an additional emphasis on choreography, setting numerous solos and group pieces for studio productions. In 2019 Claire graduated cum laude from Butler University with a BA in Dance Pedagogy, fulfilling ballet performance aspirations, and a long time goal of learning the most constructive ways to be an encouraging and inspiring instructor for dancers of all ages. Claire is now a professional ballet dancer with American Contemporary Ballet in Los Angeles

Based in Los Angeles, Ruby Stewart has performed with acclaimed companies including The Realm Company and American Contemporary Ballet. Ruby’s performance work is supported by years of technical training and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance from Butler University. Her teaching experience spans early childhood to adults. Ruby is
passionate about creating empowering spaces where students of all levels feel supported, strong, and inspired to grow through dance.

Kristin Steckman is orginially from Hollidaysburg, PA. Kristin received her training from Allegheny Ballet Company and The HARID Conservatory. She then went on the dance professionally with both the Richmond Ballet and later American Contemporary Ballet in Los Angeles. She has previously taught at the Richmond Ballet with their Children's Division in the Invitation to Dance, Pre-Primary Ballet, and Primary Ballet programs before moving to Los Angeles. 

Lydia Marie McDonald is originally from Longwood Florida. She began her dance training at the age of 12 and has trained in styles such as modern, ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, musical theatre, improvisation, and more. Lydia received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of North Texas in 2018 and spent two seasons dancing as a company member of imPULSE Dance Project during college. Immediately after graduating college, she became member of Ad Deum Dance 2nd company for 2 seasons. Now in L.A., Lydia is a company member of Benita Bike’s Dance Art and Geometry 2. 

Dana Jacobson grew up in Maryland and moved to New York City at age 14 to study at the School of American Ballet. She was invited to join the New York City Ballet at age 17, where she danced for 7 years, performing in over 100 works by Balanchine, Robbins, Wheeldon, and others, and touring internationally. Upon retiring from NYCB in 2016, Dana launched a private ballet coaching business. Her students have gone on to dance professionally across the U.S. and Europe. Dana also graduated from Columbia University with a major in Dance and received a personal training certification through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, expanding her practice to include strength and injury-prevention programs for dancers.