06/26/2026
The quality of a dance program is never determined by a building, a schedule, or even a performance.
It is determined by the people who stand in front of children every week.
At Miss Kim’s and Miss Kim’s NEXT STEP, we have invested heavily in building a ballet faculty that is committed to excellence, consistency, and child development. We believe that every dancer deserves teachers who not only understand ballet technique, but who also know how to inspire confidence, resilience, discipline, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
We are especially fortunate to have Anna Zheleznyakova serving as our Artistic Director of Ballet. As a Russian-trained classical ballerina with an extensive professional career, Anna provides leadership for our ballet curriculum, faculty development, and advanced training programs. Her influence extends far beyond the dancers she teaches directly, helping ensure a consistent and progressive ballet education throughout our organization.
Alongside Anna, faculty members Katy Pingleton, Kelly Gilliam, Cricket Foster, and our dedicated ballet team work together to create meaningful training opportunities for dancers at every stage of their journey.
Our ballet pathway includes:
• Ballet at Miss Kim’s (Ages 2–10)
A full-year program focused on building strong foundations, confidence, coordination, and a love of dance.
• Dedicated Ballet at Miss Kim’s (Ages 8–10)
Directed by Katy Pingleton and enhanced with Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT) training led by Kelly Gilliam.
• Traditional Ballet at Miss Kim’s NEXT STEP
A once-weekly ballet and PBT program taught by Cricket Foster.
• Dedicated Ballet at Miss Kim’s NEXT STEP
An advanced training program under the direction of Anna Zheleznyakova for dancers seeking focused ballet education and artistic development.
Providing children with access to exceptional teachers is one of the most important investments we can make in their future. We are proud of the faculty, culture, and training environment we continue to build for the next generation of dancers.
