Maggie Sapienza

Maggie Sapienza began studying ballet with David and Elyse Roxander when she was ten years old. She joined Dance Theatre Seven's Professional training program in 1995. In 1998 the Professional Program offered teaching experience to its most advanced dancers. Maggie immediately fell in love with teaching and by the end of the year she showed so much talent that Mr. Roxander was using her as his rehearsal assistant as well as one of the dancers in his production of Surealia. This continued through 1999 when she decided to pursue a career in teaching. She was hired full time at Dance Theatre Seven and is the first staff member trained exclusively by Dance Theatre.

Maggie directed the Preschool Program for over 7 years, co-directed the Professional Program, and was Ballet Mistress for the full length ballet Surealia. Upon retirement of the Roxander/White family, Maggie took over as owner and director of Dance Theatre Seven.

Other Instructors

Peta Barrett began her training in Florida at the Palm Beach Ballet Center studying under Joan Miller and Victoria Leigh. She spent her high school years training at the North Carolina School of the Arts with Melissa Hayden, Warren Conover, Duncan Noble and Fanchon Cordell. During that time she was accepted to train in Budapest, Hungary with the Hungarian National Ballet. Her training was also spent with Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet, Miami City Ballet and the San Francisco Dance Center. Peta began her teaching career in Pennsylvania at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Pittsburgh Youth Ballet Company and Point Park University.

We are also so grateful for our other instructors: Eric Fenn, Antonia Minnecola, Mary Grimes, and Malarie Whiting.

Isabella Qureshi

Isabella Qureshi began her dance training when Dance Theatre opened in 1988. Upon graduating from high school she was accepted into the dance department at Maymount Manhattan College where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in dance/media studies. She returned to DT7 as the head of the jazz program in June of 2007.

Kalika Ansel

Kalika Ansel began her training at Dance Theatre Seven at age 11. When she was 13 years old she entered the Professional training Program, run by David and Elyse Roxander, to pursue her love of dance. By the time she was 15 she became interested in teaching and she began working side by side with Maggie Sapienza in the Preschool Program. She soon fell in love with working with the younger students and decided to pursue teacher training as well as dancing. Working directly with Jody White for 4 years as her rehearsal assistant, she learned the techniques of teaching, rehearsing, and preparing for a full length performance.

In the summer of 2006, Kalika joined our staff. She was the second instructor to be trained by Dance Theatre Seven. She now works with beginning through advanced dancers and has become a great companion and motivator for the students she works with.