"Annie" is our enthusiastic and optimistic leader. 

Too active to sit around and wait, Annie has an innate need to learn and create new paths.  Her experience with GE, while obtaining her Bachelor's degree in Communication at Universidad Iberoamericana, taught her a great deal about best practices. She later had the opportunity to become the General Manager of a Non-Profit Pre-professional Theatre Company and toured to the New York Musical Festival as well as overseas to the World Fair in Shanghai and the Daegu Musical Festival in South Korea. She collaborated with branding firms and several companies that allowed her to use her skills as a visual communicator for companies of all scales. Annie simultaneously built her own design business and learned the ropes of her family's Real Estate Business in Mexico. Star City School of Ballet brings together her leadership skills, marketing and branding experience with her love for the performing arts.  

Tess Post began her life-long dance journey at age four in Norfolk, Va. after being taken to see a live performance of The Ballet Russe by her grandparents. She received her early training with Gene Hammett, Teresa Martinez, and Perry Brunson and continued her studies in N.Y. at the Joffrey and American Ballet Theatre schools.
Her professional career included The Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Radio City Music Hall Ballet Company, and Educational TV. After that she returned to Tidewater to teach and perform throughout the region. Tess was instrumental in implementing Liturgical Dance for the Catholic Diocese in Richmond.
Tess moved to the Roanoke Valley with her husband Gene in 1978 and seeing a need for strong classical ballet training, performance, and appreciation in the region, she began to actively promote the art of classical ballet.
In the fall of 1987 Tess opened The Post School of Ballet in Salem and this has continued on to become the Star City School of Ballet. Over the years, hundreds of young dancers have been taught and mentored by Ms. Post. Many of these former students have gone on to professional careers in dance, or dance-related fields.
In 1990 she founded the Southwest Virginia Ballet where excellence in character, training, and performance would be paramount for aspiring young dancers. During her sixteen years as Artistic Director, she set many of the classics for the company, including The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Les Sylphides, Graduation Ball, and The Firebird; as well as original works, including Water Lilies, Ephemeron, Sandprints, and The Snow Maiden. She also choreographed
several productions for Opera Roanoke and for the Roanoke Symphony’s Holiday Pops.
In 2006 her husband was offered a position with GE in Schenectady. She then decided to sell her school to long-time associate Sandra Smeltzer and move to upstate NY with him. In 2013, GE moved them back to the Roanoke Valley. Since returning she has taught at the SW Virginia Center for Dance and the Star City School of Ballet. Ms. Post is excited to become the interim Director of the Star City School of Ballet.

William Smith has returned to his native city to inspire the next generation. With a heart full of passion and a vast knowledge of Ballet, he aims to ignite dreams and transform the lives of his students at Star City.

William began his dance training at William Ruffner Middle School, under the instruction of Teresa Timko Mayer.  Mayer introduced Smith to The Post School of Ballet, under the direction of Terri Tess Post. William continued his studies with Mrs. Post until his senior year and then went on to join the Dance Theatre of Harlem, in New York City. Under the direction of Arthur Mitchell he performed in countries such as Innsbruk, Austria, Beijing and Shanghai China, Cape Verde, Africa and various other countries in the United Kingdom and Europe. While performing in London, William was spotted by then artistic director of Scottish Ballet, Ashley Page and
invited to audition for the company. A decade of dancing with the Scottish Ballet gave him the opportunity to work with world renowned choreographers such as Geoffrey Holder, Richard Alston, Patricia Neary, Michael Smuin, Val Caniparoli and many others.

Sandra Smeltzer is the previous owner and director of The Dance Centre of Southwest Virginia. She earned a B.A. in Ballet Pedagogy from Virginia Intermont College, graduating summa cum laude, and an M.A. in Dance from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. During her youth and college years she performed with the Bristol Ballet under the direction of the late Constance Hardinge. Bristol Ballet is recognized as of the original honor companies of the Southeastern Regional Ballet Association. Additionally, Ms. Smeltzer danced with the Mary Washington College Dance Company, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music Dance Company, Cincinnati Opera, and Virginia Tech Dance Theatre. Throughout her career she has had the opportunity to study with prominent figures in the dance world, including Sonja Dragmanovic, Kathy Harty, Oleg Sabline, James Truitte, Robert Barnett, Robert Joffrey, Frederick Franklin, George Zoritch, Sally Brayley-Bliss, Edward Vilella, and many others. One summer she had the priviledge of studying with Hilda Butsova, a member of Anna Pavlova's company.  Mrs. Smeltzer previously served as an Assistant Professor of Dance at Virginia Tech, where she was awarded a Certificate of Teaching Excellence from the College of Arts and Sciences. Her teaching experience includes positions at Virginia Intermont College, Academy of Virginia Beach Ballet, Emory and Henry College, UVA-Wise, and Washington and Lee University. Moreover, Mrs. Smeltzer was the Artistic Director of Virginia Tech Dance Theatre and Washington and Lee Jazz and Tap Ensemble, and she also held the position of Associate Director for Southwest Virginia Ballet.

Will Smith is a multifaceted artist and entrepreneur whose career bridges classical ballet and arboriculture with distinctive flair. A professional ballet dancer for nearly two decades, he has performed with respected companies including Roanoke Ballet Theatre, Manassas Ballet Theatre, and Ballet Theatre of Maryland, bringing powerful artistry to stages across the East Coast. As a choreographer, Will’s works have earned grants and critical attention, including *Poetry in Motion*—a ballet for Deaf audiences featured in *Dance Magazine*—and numerous collaborations with the Taubman Museum and Roanoke City.

Beyond the stage, Will is a dedicated educator, shaping young dancers for over 15 years through institutions such as Little Leapers, Showcase Dance, and the Ballet Theatre of Maryland’s satellite school. His versatility extends to musical theatre with recurring performances at Roanoke’s Attic Theatre.

In a unique professional pivot, Will became a certified arborist in 2020 and now owns and operates The Dancing Lumberjack, a tree care and removal company that harmonizes his passion for nature with his lifelong artistry.

Will currently serves as Resident Choreographer for the Southern Appalachian Dance Collective, continuing to create original works that captivate audiences and honor the expressive power of dance.

Caitlin Smith is a dedicated ballet artist and educator with over 12 years of professional performance experience and a continued presence in the Roanoke Valley dance community. A graduate of Butler University with a BFA in Dance (2011), Caitlin performed with respected companies including Roanoke Ballet Theatre (2015–2023), Manassas Ballet Theatre (2013–2015), and Minnesota Ballet Theatre (2011–2013). Her commitment to dance education spans more than a decade, shaping students across all ages—from preschool beginners to pre-professional dancers. Caitlin has taught ballet, pointe, pas de deux, and Pilates at institutions such as Roanoke Ballet Theatre, Little Leapers, and Joy of Dance in Northern Virginia. Her teaching style merges classical technique with a nurturing approach, fostering both artistry and physical confidence. Caitlin’s artistry, teaching, and service reflect a passion for movement, community, and lifelong growth.

Lawrence Blake, a graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts,  is a seasoned dancer, educator, and choreographer with a wealth of experience in the dance industry, renowned for his innovative choreography and dedication to teaching the art of dance.  At Star City, Lawrence focuses on helping our male dancers achieve their dance goals. 

Lawrence danced professionally with both the North Carolina Dance Theater and The Joffrey Ballet.  His teaching experience has taken him across the US and abroad at various institutions including BalletKadiem in Stockholm, Sweden; Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA; University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; and more.  He was Assistant, Associate, and Interim Dean at the Sharon Disney Lund School of Dance at the California Institute of the Arts and Resident Choreographer for the Los Angeles Chamber Ballet, as well as Associate Artistic Director of the Pasadena Dance Theater.

Kayla Dixon discovered her love for dance at the age of 10. Born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia, she trained in various styles of dance, including jazz, tap, clogging, ballet, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, modern, and hip hop. While in high school, she began teaching and choreographing for her studio and other local organizations. During that time, she had the privilege of participating in all-inclusive dance classes, where she found joy in providing children of all abilities the opportunity to experience dance as both a joyous and therapeutic activity. Shortly after graduating high school, Kayla's professional career really took off when she was hired to choreograph and perform as a background dancer for “Weird Al” Yankovic’s Mandatory World Tour.

Since then, Kayla has used her diverse training to lay a robust foundation for her multifaceted career in the dance and entertainment industry.  Today, she continues to teach and choreograph while traveling the East Coast as a judge for dance competitions. And in conjunction with her dancing, Kayla enjoys editing music and offers her professional editing services to dancers all over the United States. Her passion for the stage has also led her to a career in the production world where she is able to integrate her love of dance with the technical aspects of entertainment.  At local performances you may find her holding a camera, running lights, or working as a sound enginee. In addition to her dance and production related work, Kayla has managed social media and customer service relations for various businesses. All of her experience has made her feel right at home at Star City, where she oversees marketing and community engagement. Kayla's ability to connect with people and promote the arts makes her an invaluable asset to Star City.

For marketing leads and inquiries Kayla can be reached at 

kayla@starcityschoolofballet.com 

Jenni Vaughn, a proud native of Roanoke and a devoted mother of three, brings a wealth of experience to Star City. With her extensive background in both office administration and teaching dance she is well-equipped to inspire and guide students in their dance journey. 

Jenni's love for the arts began at the age of four, when she started exploring various artistic outlets, including dance, cheerleading, baton twirling, and piano. Her early exposure to these disciplines ignited her passion for performance and creativity.  In the late 1990's, while cheering at Roanoke College, Jenni found her way into the world of Ballroom Dancing.  This new venture led her to a decade-long career as both an instructor and professional dancer, where she performed and competed at various events. Her dedication and talent in ballroom dancing not only shaped her professional life but also deepened her love for teaching and performing. After taking a brief hiatus to start a family, Jenni returned to the world of dance with renewed vigor. She took on dual roles as an office manager and d anceinstructor,  blending her administrative skills with her passion for teaching.

Jenni's ability to connect with both young dreamers and adult learners has made her an invaluable asset to the dance community.

Mitzi Keeley, born in the Star City, started dancing performing when she was only two years old. She continued to tap and later represented the Roanoke Valley in the Miss Virginia Pageant twice with dance as her talent. Mitzi has continued to perform on stage including Mill Mountain Theater’s 42nd Street, and Southwest Virginia Ballet's Nutcracker.

In addition to teaching Creative Dance here at Star City, Mitzi holds a full time job and loves working with amazing college students as the Dance Coordinator at Roanoke College.

Isabel Meyers is a talented modern dance artist and choreographer with a passion for teaching and guiding the next generation of dancers.

Isabel grew up as a student of the Academy of Dance in Warner Robins, Georgia and went on to earn her degree in Dance from Hollins University in the spring of 2021. For three years, she served as the co-director of the Hollins Repertory Dance Company, where she organized and choreographed company performances and taught dance classes in her community.

Isabel is an alumni of American Dance Festival and Bates Dance Festival, and she is certified with the National Dance Institute Art of Teaching.

Jacob Myers is a dedicated dance and gymnastics educator whose career bridges artistry, athleticism, and mentorship.  With over a decade of teaching and performance experience, his teaching spans all ages and skill levels. Jacob’s foundation in both dance and gymnastics stems from training at institutions like Manassas Ballet Academy and the Rakovski National Gymnastics Training Center in Bulgaria. His accolades include a a degree in General Studies from NOVA, nomination to Team USA Aerobics for the World Games 2021, and national competitive titles with NAIGC. He comes to Star City most recently having danced professionally with Manassas Ballet Theatre, where his versatility shone in works ranging from Dracula to Sleeping Beauty. His choreography, acting, and singing experience has been featured in productions like The Wiz and CCA Drama Program.

Jacob's  adjucating experience with Edge Talent Competition is just one more example of why he is a perfect fit for Star City as we venture into the world of competitive dance. 

Justine Thomas is a dedicated educator with a passion for inspiring young dancers and aspiring writers. With a strong foundation in dance, she is pursuing further education at Hollins University to achieve her dream of becoming a dance teacher and author.

Our dedicated greeter dog, Juno, plays a vital role in creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for dancers of all ages. As soon as students walk through the door, Juno greets them with a wagging tail and a big, friendly smile. Her presence helps to ease any nerves and brings a sense of joy to everyone she meets. Whether she's offering a paw for a high five or simply basking in the attention and belly rubs, Juno's unconditional love and playful energy set the tone for a positive and inclusive dance experience for all who enter our studio. Come on in and say hi, she loves when you rub at the back of her coat behind her service vest.

Pedro Szalay was born to Hungarian parents and is a native of La Guaira, Venezuela, where he started dancing with Ms. Machado. He was later coached by Vladimir Isayev at Ballet Nacional of Caracas. In his professional career as Pedro has been coached by many greats like Madame Darvash in New York and he has performed in countless ballets.  His professional career as a teacher has taken him all over the United States and many other countries.  Pedro currently stays busy as our director at Star City School of Ballet, teaching the Spanish-language, choreographed movement program Dance Español that he founded, holding the title of artistic director of Southwest Virginia Ballet, and volunteering with Carilion. He retired to Scotland recently.