CHOREOGRAPHERS
Get to know the choreographers for
Momentum: A Mixed Bill
Lindsey Bell
Lindsey Bell is originally from Maryland and began her training at White Marsh Ballet Academy under the instruction of Sandra Harris and Shari Bickel. Upon graduating high school, Lindsey studied at the University of Oklahoma School of Dance where she was mentored by Mary Margaret Holt, Jeremy Lindberg, Clara Cravey, Steve Brule, and Ilya Kozadayev. At OU, Lindsey was able to perform classical and contemporary works as well as perform in the musical, On The Town, and the opera, Don Giovanni. She also choreographed for the Young Choreographer's Showcase on her fellow peers.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2015, Lindsey joined the Ballet Theatre of Maryland as an Apprentice. She was promoted to Soloist in 2017 and has been a Principal with the company since 2019. With BTM, she has performed many different roles including the Evil Queen Regina in Snow White, the Spanish Princess and a Big Swan in Swan Lake, the title role in Dianna Cuatto's An American Southwest Carmen, Lucy in Eddie Stewart’s Dracula, Swanhilda in Coppelia, Myrtha in Giselle, and the pas de deux female in Les Sylphides. Lindsey has had the opportunity to choreograph on the Ballet Theatre of Maryland dancers with her works Mudita premiering in 2021, Sanctuary in Chaos in 2022, ἀγάπη (agapē) in 2023, and her most recent work Linda Rae in 2024.
Emily Carey
Emily Carey, originally from Chesapeake VA, received her early ballet training under Janina Michalski, Suzanne Lownsbury, Patricia Sorrell, and Lydia Roberts Coco at Ballet Virginia. While training, she was gifted the opportunity to student teach under Patricia Sorrell which first introduced her to the world of dance instruction and ultimately instilled her passion of teaching the art of dance. Emily received additional training from Virginia Ballet Theatre, Atlanta Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Houston Ballet, and Nashville Ballet. Following high school, Emily joined Nashville Ballet’s second company, NB2, where she performed in company and outreach productions, leading many creative movement story-time performances throughout the greater Nashville community.
In 2012, Emily joined Ballet Theatre of Maryland as an Apprentice under the direction of Dianna Cuatto. She rose through the ranks to Principal dancer in 2017 and throughout her career was featured in many roles including, a soloist in Anthony Tudor’s Continuo, Clara in Cuatto’s The Nutcracker, Morgan Le Fay in Cuatto’s Excalibur, Princess Samira in Cuatto’s Aladdin, the title role in Cuatto’s Snow White, Swanhilda in Cuatto's Coppélia, Mina in Edward Stuart’s Dracula, a soloist in Le Sylphides, Kitri in Don Quixote and has danced the Peasant Pas de Duex from Giselle and the Grand Pas de Duex from Paquita.
In addition to dancing professionally for BTM, Emily has served on faculty since 2013 and as a company Ballet Mistress and Student Rehearsal Assistant since 2020. In 2021, she became Conservatory Principal of Ballet Theatre of Maryland’s Conservatory of Dance. Emily retired from her professional dancing career in the spring of 2023 and continues to teach company and Conservatory classes, run rehearsals, and lead BTM’s Conservatory of Dance as Principal.
Karen Fleming
Karen Fleming, a native of Yorktown, VA, grew up studying dance at Margie Williams Studio of Dance and Virginia Regional Ballet under the tutelage of Danile Giesy, Heidi Robitshek, William Walker, and Adelle Carpenter. Upon graduation, she chose to further her studies at the University of Richmond on full scholarship as a Richmond Artist Scholar. During her time at UR, Karen had the privilege of dancing with and serving as the Company Captain for the Department of Theatre & Dance’s resident performance company, University Dancers. Karen also choreographed two fully-produced works for University Dancers, and both received awards from UR’s School of Arts & Sciences. After graduating summa cum laude with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance and English in 2021, Karen joined the Ballet Theatre of Maryland and has since enjoyed dancing in ballets such as Giselle, The Nutcracker, Les Sylphides, Don Quixote, and The Sleeping Beauty. She is thrilled to be making her professional choreographic debut in this season’s production of Momentum!
Isaac Martinez
Isaac Martinez trained at the Hartt School in Connecticut, then transferred to the University of Oklahoma. He completed his degree in Ballet Pedagogy, earning awards for his performance and choreographic works. After graduation, he danced professionally with Ballet Spartanburg for two seasons before joining Ballet Theatre of Maryland as a soloist dancer. His repertoire includes classics as well as original works by various choreographers in various styles.
Isaac has also choreographed and collaborated on several works, including three premieres for the Ballet Theatre of Maryland. He teaches at the Conservatory and is thrilled to dance his sixth season with BTM as a principal dancer.
Roman Mykyta
Roman Mykyta is a professional choreographer and dancer with deep expertise in character styling and techniques. He developed an interest in Ukrainian dancing at an early age and soon after began studying ballet both in the Cecchetti Method and in the Vaganova Ballet Technique.
In 2014, he began his professional career, joining the Ballet Theatre of Maryland under the artistic direction of Dianna Cuatto, where he danced for three seasons, performing in many ballets and soloist roles.
In 2017, Roman moved to Kyiv, Ukraine to study dance pedagogy and choreography, earning a Bachelor's degree from the National Pedagogical University Dragomanova. In Ukraine, he also had the opportunity to study as a guest at the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts, to work with the Studio Company of the Virsky National Ukrainian Folk Ensemble in Kyiv, and to perform with the Horlytsya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble in Kyiv and the Yunist Honored Ukrainian Folk Ensemble in Lviv.
In 2021, Roman returned to Maryland where he continues to perform, teach and choreograph throughout the Washington DC Metro area.
Since his return, his work in Ukrainian Dance, as both a performer and choreographer, has been highlighted and featured at many events and venues, including the Kennedy Center, the 2022 World Dance Showcase, the 2022 World Arts Festival Residency, and the 81st National Folk Festival.
Roman has been recognized as a Master Artist in Ukrainian Folk Stage Dance and awarded a Folklife Grant by the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC). He was also awarded the Mark Ryder Original Choreography Grant by the Howard County Arts Council; and nominated for Best Choreography in a Musical by Broadway World Baltimore.
Since 2021, Roman has created and set over twenty original works performed by professional ballet companies and professional ballet artists in Maryland.
Roman is fluent in English, Spanish, and Ukrainian.
Ashley Taylor
Ashley Taylor is a performer, award-winning choreographer, dance teacher, and writer based in New York City. Ashley danced with Ballet Theatre of Maryland from 2014-2018 and has since performed freelance soloist roles with several contemporary ballet companies, including a featured role in a collaborative performance at Carnegie Hall. Ashley’s choreography has been presented by Ballet Theatre of Maryland, Dumbo Dance Festival, River Dance Festival, Ballet Hartford’s Awakening Festival, VidaDance Company, University of Alabama Department of Theatre and Dance, and in multiple independently produced concerts. Her works include Into the Light, A Way in the Wilderness, Magic, Won’t Let Go, and This Moment, All We Have. She is the founder of Ara Dance Project and is a proud wife and mama of two beautiful children who have recently started asking for their own ballet shoes.