My Journey as Drosselmeyer By Michael Howerton
My journey with SJDT began at the age of 9, when I first performed in The Nutcracker, as a 1st act party boy. I studied
Artistic Directors
Mariana Zschoerper
Artistic Director
Mariana began her ballet training at the age of 3, scoring the highest admittance score of 8,000 children applying for The Bolshoi Theater School in Brazil. Mariana trained at The Bolshoi Theater School from 2000-2007 and performed soloist roles in Brazil, Italy, Germany, France, and Russia. She was chosen to do an internship with The Bolshoi Ballet in Russia and received private coaching by Vladimir Vassiliev and Ekaterina Maximova. Mariana performed Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker, while completing her internship with The Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow.
Mariana graduated from The Bolshoi Theater School as the Valedictorian of her class, and received a Certificate of Vaganova Method for Teaching. In 2007, Mariana joined the professional Bolshoi Ballet company in Brazil, performed as a soloist for 3 years, and also started her teaching career that year. In 2010, Mariana joined Company Ballet in Sao Paolo as a Principal Dancer and competed nationally, receiving many awards for her work in Brazil. She was a Finalist at the Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition NYC Senior Division 2015-2016. She won First Place and Honorius at the Bravo Ballet Competition in 2010.
In 2011, Mariana joined the Baltimore Ballet as a Principal Dancer and also coached the advanced dancers in the school. In 2013, she received a merit scholarship to The Boston Conservatory, and in 2017, graduated with her B.F.A. as the Valedictorian. In 2016 and 2017, Mariana performed as a guest in many schools for The Nutcracker and as a Principal Dancer for Charleston City Ballet. Mariana has had the opportunity to perform with stars of the ballet world: Alla Scalla di Milano, European Ballet UK, Natalia Osipova, Ivan Vassiliev, Marianlea Nunez, Ekaterina Krysanova, Marta Romagna, Marcelo Gomes, Tiago Soares, Cecilia Kerche etc.
Mariana has trained rhythmic gymnasts in Brazil and in Canada and choreographed for and privately coached gymnastic and ballet students for competitions. Mariana also has a certification in acting for TV and completed two years of college for journalism in Brazil . She is fluent in English, Portuguese and has basic Russian, French and Spanish. Mariana looks forward to working with the dancers, teachers, board and wonderful families!
Augusto Silva
Associate Artistic Director
Augusto started his dance training at seven years of age in Sao Paolo, Brazil. During his eight years as a student at Conservatorio Carlos Gomes and Especial Academia de Ballet, Augusto had the opportunity to perform notable works like Basilio in Don Quixote and James in La Sylphide, where he placed first in the biggest ballet competition in South America. In 2010 he was selected to represent his Country at the USA.
International Ballet Competition, where he won a contract to Nashville Ballet. Augusto worked as a Soloist with the Nashville Ballet, under Artistic Director, Paul Vasterling from 2011 – 2017, performing key roles like the Jester in Cinderella, Blue Bird in Sleeping Beauty, the clever Bonvolio, in Romeo & Juliet and the title role in Vasterling’s world premiere of Peter Pan. Mr. Silva was also featured in Dominic Walsh’s The Whistling.