Owners/Directors:
Jan Williams
Artistic Director/Owner
Jan Williams has instructed, directed and choreographed in classes, workshops and dance productions for over 33 years. In addition to B&W’s annual programs (including productions of The Lion King, Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, Guys & Dolls, The Wizard of Oz, Grease, Aladdin and Beauty & The Beast) she has been the director of B&W’s award-winning performing group for over 20 years. Under her direction the B&W Company Dancers have performed at the Kennedy Center Open House, the Northern Virginia Tap & Jazz Festival, Walt Disney World, Capital Center and King’s Dominion. Students who have trained with her have gone on to perform in the Broadway touring production of ‘Aida’, Thodos Dance, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Dancin’ Unlimited, the Washington Redskinettes, Jacksonville Jaguar Cheerleaders, Washington Wizardettes, and on Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance. Students have also won both regional and national titles at various dance competitions. Performance credits include live and televised work with West Coast Dance Theatre, Rec Russell Dance Company and the San Francisco Ballet (while in student program). Training includes study at Ballet Arts of San Francisco, San Francisco Ballet, Roberta Meyer (NYC Ballet Soloist), Rec Russel and NYC, LA and other instructors on faculty with NYCDA, WCDE, JUMP, SHOCK, Tremaine Dance in addition to Yogafit Certification and Pilates training. Jan currently instructs the advanced levels of ballet, lyrical and jazz in addition to yoga and private instruction.
Teresa Barton
Administrative Director/Owner
Teresa feels very fortunate to have been able to combine her lifelong love of dance and dance training with working with young children. Teaching children to dance is combining the best of both worlds for her and she has been fortunate enough to do so for well over two decades. It is her belief that working with the younger dancer takes a nurturing nature and a desire for these little dancers to leave the dance room feeling good about themselves and what they have accomplished. It is also her goal to develop a love of dance and performing in each one of them that they will build on as they grow each year.
Teresa has very much enjoyed and been inspired by taking continuing education master classes with children’s work master teachers such as dance icon Al Gilbert in NYC and the dynamic and talented Joelle Martinec, among several others. While she has incorporated some of their syllabus and programs into her classes to most effectively get across the fundamentals of dance to her younger students, Teresa feels it is the many years of experience in the dance room with each different age that has taught her the most of how to get each concept across to them.
While Teresa feels that her work with the youngest dancers is her true calling in life, she has immensely enjoyed her work as director of Barton & William’s Mini and Petite Competition Teams. Her choreography with this age group has won many Top Overall scores at various regional and national dance competitions over the years. Many of her competition students have gone on to become members of Barton & Williams performing and competing companies and tap troupes, then on to their college dance teams-- and a few to joining the staff at B&W.
Teresa knew at a young age she wanted working with children to be a part of her life, but changed her focus from childhood education to business administration in college, which served her well as she managed a successful dance school in Northern Virginia for 4 years before opening Barton & Williams School of Dance, Ltd. in 1989 with business partner Jan Williams. Teresa is so very proud of the wonderful staff they have assembled at Barton & Williams and of all of the wonderful training and experiences so many talented youth have experienced and grown from at B&W.
Teaching Staff:
Megan Barnes
Megan Barnes has been dancing since the age of five. She began dancing at B&W at the age of eight and studied ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, and pointe for numerous years. She has also participated in several conventions in which she had hip hop, contemporary, modern, and musical theater training. Megan was a member of B&W’s Company for five years. As a member of the Company, she performed solos, duos, trios, and group routines. Megan has also auditioned for a variety of other venues to include such things as: Disney World, Stiletto Entertainment, Alabama Theater, Atlanta Ballet, Richmond Ballet, and the Kirov. Megan has also coached the Junior Varsity Dance Team at North Stafford High School where she choreographed routines for games and competitions.
Kelly Barton
Kelly Barton has been dancing since the age of 4 and teaching dance since the age of 16. Kelly has received dance training in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and pointe and was a competitive dancer for several years as a studio dancer and also on her varsity high school dance team. Kelly graduated from James Madison University in 2000 with a degree in Media Arts & Design, Television Production and a minor in Advertising. After graduation, Kelly worked with Interface Media Group in Washington, DC for 5 years in the television field. Kelly has been at B&W since 2005 and is our Office Manager as well as an instructor. Kelly enjoys teaching young dancers and has choreographed routines for our Petite, Junior Mini, and Mini competition troupes. Kelly lives with her husband Marc and two daughters, Ashley and Emily.
Ivy Bryngelson
Bio Coming Soon!
Amie Fowler
Amie Fowler is a recent graduate of North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Political Science. Amie graduated from North Stafford High School, where she was a member of the Varsity Cheerleading Team that won District, Regional, and State AAA Cheerleading Championship Titles under the direction of Mark Smith from 2000-2004. She coached for North Stafford Varsity Cheerleading and Varsity Dance Teams from 2008-2009. Amie has been dancing for over 20 years, during which time she performed and competed on B&W’s Kid, Junior, and Senior Companies as well as Senior Tap Troupe. Amie has received numerous awards and scholarships, including “Shake the Floor” and “Break the Floor” Tap Scholarships in NYC (2003-04), New York City Dance Alliance Outstanding Jr. Dancer (1998-99), selected for 2000 Power Pak Tour, Debbie Reynolds Studio Scholarship to Hollywood, CA, and full year scholarships to Tremaine Dance Conventions, Broadway Dance Center and West Coast Dance Explosion. She also performed on Stars at Sea for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.
Mimi Hellmuth
Mimi Hellmuth began her storied dancing career at an early age - her first professional gig was at age 8 when she danced in Atlantic City, NJ in Tony Grant’s “Stars of Tomorrow” show that was headlined by Frank Sinatra.
Mimi grew up dancing. She is a technically trained dancer in all genres (with a passion for Tap!) and received her Associates Degree in Theatre and Dance from Sullins College in Bristol, TN. She has studied under the Hines Brothers, Kit Andre, Mallory Graham, Savion Glover and Mike Minery. Mimi has taught in the DC Metropolitan area for over 25 years at various studios, and for the last 12 years, she’s taught exclusively at B&W. She has given master classes at Mary Washington College, the Arlington Theatre and Thomas Jefferson High School. Mimi has performed for the Washington Redskins and Wizards, and at Wolf Trap and the Smithsonian. Her theatre performance include: Godspell, Little Shop of Horrors, 42nd Street, Pajama Game and A Chorus Line - where she was directed by famed Broadway producer, Eric Schaefer. Mimi was also one of the first certified Jazzercise instructors in Virginia and taught a large following from 1979-1992.
Mimi’s dancing students have benefited from her expertise and experience, enjoying many successes over the years, especially at local and national dance competitions. At the Hall of Fame competition in 2007, Barton & Williams had the highest overall score and Teresa Barton and Mimi enjoyed a Caribbean cruise compliments of Hall of Fame.
Mimi resides in Richmond with her husband and has two grown daughters. She enjoys reality TV (especially “Dancing with the Stars”) and loves spending time with her two grandchildren, Ava and Grayson.
Trish Hill
Trish Hill has been teaching at B&W for over 17 years. She currently teaches the hip hop classes, and also jazz and tap classes of all ages, including adults and an all boys hip hop. She has over 27 years of teaching experience, and over 43 years of dance training. Trish attended East Carolina University, where she majored in Dance Choreography. Trish has choreographed routines for our Kid Company for competitions across the area. She has judged for the Governor’s School of Virginia and local competitions. Trish has also coached for a local high school in Stafford for their Junior Varsity and Varsity teams. She resides in Stafford with her husband Randy and daughter Amie Fowler.
Anne Johnson
Bio Coming Soon!
Brandi McAleese
Brandi McAleese began dancing at the age of 3. Throughout her teenage years, she trained at several local studios, including Barton & Williams. After graduating from North Stafford High School, Brandi moved to Virginia Beach to continue her studies in dance at Denise Wall’s Dance Energy. Brandi has studied and trained with many professional teachers and choreographers such as, Denise Wall, Travis Wall, Danny Tidwell, Ivan Koumaev, Jaimie Goodwin, Tara Foy, Jason Parsons, Tony Testa, Lauren Adams, Danny Wallace and many others. Brandi traveled to New York City to dance at The Sheraton New York for the New York City Dance Alliance Gala and The Hudson Theater. Brandi also had the opportunity to perform at The Joyce Theater in New York City to help raise money and awareness for Dancers Responding to Aids. She has performed live with the Rascal Flatts at the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater. Brandi is professionally trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical/contemporary, hip-hop, tap and musical theater and has received training in ballroom dancing, tumbling, acting and singing. Brandi recently made it through to “Vegas Week” on Season 7 of Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance, finishing in the top 96 dancers out of thousands who auditioned for the show.
Jenn Pyles
Jenn Pyles is from Fairfax, Virginia. Jenn received her dance training in Maryland as a Superstar with Gary Pate and a PM dance company member with Fran Peters. She is a graduate of James Madison University where she was a 4 year member of the nationally ranked Dukettes. She received her degree in business management and minored in dance. Jenn worked for Universal Dance Association for seven years as an instructor, head instructor, Philadelphia parade event staff, and national dance team championship judge. After college Jenn coached two different high school dance teams over seven years. Jenn continues to judge local dance team competitions and is a business teacher in Fairfax County. She has been teaching at B&W for over nine years.
Katie Radziszewski
Katie Raziszewski has been dancing for over 19 years at Barton and Williams. She was a company and tap troupe dancer for several years, appearing as Ariel in "The Little Mermaid" recital 2006 and again in our 20th Anniversary Gala. She is a graduate of George Mason University where she received a BFA in Dance, with a minor in Events Management. Katie has danced for the NBA, for the Washington Wizards, and the NFL, for the Washington Redskins. In 2004 she was a part of the State Champion cheerleading team at North Stafford in 2004 for the AAA division. Katie also danced with Capitol Movement Project, a nonprofit performing arts company. She has been teaching dance classes for seven years. She has been fortunate to perform in many incredible places like Royal Caribbean and Carnival cruises, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Disney World, the Warner Theater, Hong Kong, Aruba, and Marco Island Florida.
Melanie Rice
Melanie graduated from Towson University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance. While in college, she performed and choreographed for several choreography showcases and benefits throughout the Baltimore/Washington DC metro area, and also began teaching dance to students at private studios. Upon graduation, she began her teaching career at B&W, where she has continued since September of 1995.
In 2001, Melanie graduated with a J.D. from George Mason University School of Law, and was admitted to the Virginia State Bar in October 2001. She has been an associate at the law firm of Nichols Zauzig Sandler, P.C. since January 2003, where her practice is focused solely on domestic relations/family law. Melanie has also served on the Board of Directors for the Rappahannock Council on Domestic Violence since 2002.
Melanie has been married for twelve years to her husband, Ralph, and is the proud mother of her son, Liam.
Kristy Wills
Kristy Leigh Santmyer Wills was born and raised in Stafford, Virginia. She started dancing at the age of 5. At the age of 8 she began training at Barton & Williams School of Dance. She continued dancing at Barton & Williams for 10 years until she graduated high school. From the age of 12 Kristy competed on B&W’s company at numerous competitions and conventions. She won multiple scholarships & traveled to several east coast states to train with famous teachers and choreographers, including Mia Michaels and Debbie Allen. Kristy’s travels included a trip to Philadelphia for a 3 week summer intensive with the Philadelphia Performing Art Center and to North Carolina and Pennsylvania through West Coast Dance Explosion’s scholarship program.
Kristy has been a part of the B&W family since the doors opened in 1989! She trained along side the owners Teresa Barton & Jan Williams as a class helper, assistant, and substitute, helping out wherever she was needed. Barton & Williams is her home away from home and appreciates all the love & support for the past 23 years.
Now Kristy's own daughters are now enrolled Barton & Williams and hope to follow in their mother's footsteps!