Our Faculty

Kelsey King: Owner and Artistic Director

Kelsey began dance training extensively in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, hip hop, and pointe at a young age. She quickly gained recognition for her strength, flexibility, and stage presence, which she now works to instill in her students. As the Artistic Director, Owner, and Head Teacher at Maryland Performing Arts Center, she uses the knowledge she gained through her professional-level certification with Dance Masters of America to provide her students with the best education possible.

The award-winning choreography she continues to set on her students, both individually and in groups, has made her a recognized choreographer and a sought-after master teacher in studios statewide, from companies such as Broadneck High School Dance Company, the Anne Arundel County Dance Ensemble, and the Anne Arundel County School system. She actively choreographs for our East Coast Dance Company and also directs and performs with Essenza, our resident traveling professional dance company.

In addition to her love of dancing, Kelsey also loves to sing. She received her vocal training from the renowned Peabody Conservatory and from Eric Arceneaux, recording artist and founder of the “Arceneaux Approach,” a company he created to offer vocal coaching to singers worldwide. In 2010, Kelsey toured with Arceneaux and others as a backup dancer.

For the 2016-2017 school year, Kelsey has been chosen as Stevenson University’s Head Coach for its esteemed Dance Team. She conditions the team, recruits dancers, and sets choreography on them regularly for events like the annual homecoming game and national competitions.

Kelsey is Zumba, and Zumba toning certified and has even designed and patented a unique Barre class for adults called "Barre 360." It is because of her versatility, dedication, dance training, and love of her position that she has developed such strong, genuine relationships with each of her students, who are her motivation to continue to move, educate, and grow.

Kristy Cooke: General Manager

Kristy has been part of our dancing family since 2009. She has taken on multiple roles throughout the years, and during her time as a teacher, she attended 3 American College Dance Festivals in order to grow as a leader and bring back new knowledge and choreography ideas to her students after spending time with professionals from all over the United States.

In 2013, Kristy graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, with a degree in Dance Education. She then completed 2 years of teacher training through Dance Masters of America at Buffalo University and is certified to teach Zumba to both children and adults. In addition, she was formerly a member of Anne Arundel Community College’s Dance Company and spent many years performing with MPAC’s professional dance company, Essenza.

Kristy was promoted to General Manager in 2015. As a result, she has grown close to many of our dance families. She loves interacting with our students and parents on a daily basis, and to her, our studio is a home away from home.

Patrick Harrington: Assistant Director - Elite Dance Company Manager

Bio coming soon!

Lyssa Wopat: Ballet Director

Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Lyssa Wopat began dancing at age four at EMC Performing Arts Studio in Pennsylvania.  In 2013, Ms. Wopat began studying at University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) as a ballet major. While at the school, Lyssa studied under Susan Jaffe, Susan McCullough, Jared Redick, Jennet Zerbe, Laura Martin, Dayna Fox, Mikhail Tchoupakov, Nina Danilova, Fanchon Cordell and Frank Smith.  After graduating in 2017 with her BFA, Ms. Wopat began dancing professionally with The Georgia Ballet, under the direction of Daet Rodriguez, where she danced until the spring of 2020.  Lyssa has performed roles in Paquita, Balanchine's Raymonda Variations, the first regiment of Stars and Stripes, Donizetti Variations, Napoli, La Bayadere, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Serenade, as a soloist in Les Sylphides, a Cigarette Girl in Carmen, and as Flower, Spanish, and demi- soloist in Snow in The Nutcracker.  After her professional ballet career, Lyssa earned her Master's degree in Sport and Performance Psychology from Lock Haven University.  As a ballet teacher, Lyssa implements her extensive knowledge in both ballet and performance psychology, thus creating a safe environment in which students can blossom as dancers, artists, and humans.  Ms. Wopat is very excited to join the Maryland Performing Arts Center team!

Colette Cross: All Levels All Genres

Colette Cross has been teaching dance for over 30 years.  She has a BFA in Dance Performance and Education from Towson University.  She was a company member with the Ballet Theater of Annapolis and also The Moving Company.  She is excited to bring her experience and her love of dance to MPAC!

Parker Cross: Acrobatics Coach

Bio Coming Soon!

Jordan Browning

Jordan Browning is the Assistant Dance Team Coach for Stevenson University from 2018 to present.  Jordan has been dancing for over 20 years and is trained in Hip-Hop, Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Tap and Pom.  Jordan was a member of the Stevenson Dance Team all 4 years of her college career.  She was Captain from her Sophomore to her Senior year.  She has also been a guest instructor for Bel Air Dance Academy, Maryland Performing Arts Center's Extreme Dance Camp, Inferno Dance Camp, as well as choreographed for Oakdale High School's Dance Team.

Michael Gellert: Vocal Department Director

Michael Gellert comes to Maryland Performing Arts with a variety of musical experiences; most recently as the Director and musical arranger of a 110 voice women's acapella chorus, Harbor City Music Company, an award-winning chapter of the worldwide singing organization known as Sweet Adelines. He is currently teaching vocal instruction at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park, MD. Mr. Gellert performed in the Baltimore Opera Company as a chorus member and secured several supporting roles, including Wagner in Faust, Gregorio in Romeo and Juliet, and the Marquis in La Traviata. He performed in over 40 Operas culminating in 120 performances at the Opera Company. Since he began his private study in Baltimore and Gettysburg with Forrest Barrett in 1973 and in Washington with Todd Duncan, Mr. Gellert has had a steady stream of voice students of all ages.