Dance Faculty

Bayardo Martinez Jr., (Mr. B), is a Maryland native who began his dance journey as a self-taught, then competitive Latin ballroom dancer. He obtained a B.F.A. in vocal music education from CUNY Queens College and earned an A.A. in dance performance from Montgomery College. Bayardo received a B.A. in dance performance, choreography, and education from the University of Maryland (College Park), where he adapted various modern dance styles into his own dance proficiency. 

Bayardo graduated summa cum laude from Saint Mary’s College of California with an M.F.A. in dance and dance management, where he presented and published his thesis work, “Reflexiones Mosaico: Impacting Future Perceptions From Introspective Mirrors”, an analysis of colorism, discrimination/racism, and the lack of educational resources that students of color experience and receive in public schools.

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With his background in Latin ballroom, social, and traditional dance styles, Bayardo served as coach and choreographer for Magruder Rumberos, a Latin dance competition team at Magruder High School in Rockville, Maryland. He has led the team to victory by winning first place in dance categories that include group and solo works at The Music Center at Strathmore and Millenium Stage at The Kennedy Center.

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In addition, Bayardo is an “Elite Lambda”, serving as vice president of the Gamma Epsilon Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area Professional/Graduate Chapter of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda, Fraternity Inc. He strives to make an impact in arts education by increasing the participation of dance for people of color. Bayardo also serves as the Dance Education Advocacy Lead for the Maryland Dance Education Association. 

Bayardo (Mr. B), currently works as the dance chairperson for the Jim Henson Academy of Visual and Performing Arts at Northwestern High School. He educates, mentors, and produces dance works for students in both VPA and Comprehensive dance programs. Aside from teaching, Bayardo continues to create works and perform in the Washington D.C. area, while pursuing his Ph.D. degree.

Julia Smith, (Ms. J),  was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, and grew up playing in and around her father’s biochemistry lab at the American University of Beirut. Her mother taught Theater and Communications at the Beirut College for Women (now the Lebanese American University) and directed a children’s theater company at the American Repertory Theater of Beirut, where Julia began performing at the age of 7. Her first ballet class was with Margaret Haddad in Lebanon. After moving stateside, Julia studied ballet with Irina Prochotsky, and Yuli and Luba Vzorov in Bethesda, MD. She was later accepted into the Pennsylvania Ballet School where she studied with Lupe Serrano and the ballet masters of the Pennsylvania Ballet.

She received the Creative and Performing Arts Scholarship from the dance department at the University of Maryland and earned her BA in Dance. Before receiving her MFA from the University of Maryland, Ms. Smith taught all of the ballet courses for dance majors at the university. Afterward, she became an Assistant Professor of Dance at Anne Arundel Community College. She has spent the last 4 years as a dance educator at Charles H. Flowers High School in Prince George's County, MD.

Her professional dance career spans several decades. Julia has danced for Alvin Mayes, Anne Warren, Alcine Wiltz, Word Dance Theater, Tango Mercurio, DanceSmith, Tommy Parlon Dance Projects, Gesel Mason, Boris Willis Moves, Pam England, CityDance Ensemble, DC Dance Theater (Rincones and Company), Bowen McCauley Dance, Daniel Singh, and Tony Powell Music and Movement. Julia’s choreography has been performed at Dance Place, The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, and The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.

Vicki Tchanqué, (Ms. Tchanqué), began her pre-professional performing arts career in her early teens. Along with 59 other students, she became part of the second graduating class of Duke Ellington School of the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Classical training in ballet, modern, jazz, traditional West African dance, theater, and music for dancers provided a strong foundation for her beginnings.  After three years of intensive study at Duke Ellington, Ms. Tchanqué attended the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts (previously known as University of the Arts) in the fall of 1981. 

During a lengthy interruption in Ms. Tchanqué’s college career (1982-1993) she performed with various dance companies in the area (The Jason Taylor Dance Theater, Adrian Bolton’s Dance Co., The African Heritage Dancers & Drummers and Spirit Wing’s Dance Co.).  In 1993, she returned to dance in academia and completed her undergraduate degree in dance at the University of Maryland (College Park) as a Creative and Performing Arts Scholar. Upon completion of her Bachelor of Arts, Ms. Tchanqué apprenticed with Garth Fagan Dance Co. in Rochester, N.Y., before pursuing her M.F.A. in Choreography and Performance with a certificate in teaching K-12.  While pursuing her Master’s, Ms. Tchanqué owned and operated Jubal Dance Co. and Co-founded “In the Company of Women,” a dance company of 5 women dedicated to making dance works that speak to social issues.  Ms. Tchanqué has taught dance for a total of 35 years, beginning in the private arena, and she is currently in her 26th year of teaching dance in public education.

Kevin White, (Mr. Kevin), began his dance journey with musical theatre at the SEED school in Washington, D.C. At 14 he took his first formal classes at the Putney Summer Arts Program in Vermont with Nicole Pouliot. White spent the latter of his teen years taking classes at the Dance Institute of Washington and Joy of Motion. In his early adult years, Kevin joined the modern dance program at Kent State University, where he also founded and choreographed the Legacy Dance Team. He has trained in various dance styles including ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop and West African. 

His professional career began with Taurus Broadhurst Dance, and continued with Maverick Lemons , The Black Leaves Project, and Jane Franklin Dance. With Jane Franklin, White performed and choreographed sight specific modern dance pieces. White has taught toddlers to senior citizens for over a decade in the DMV area; styles include modern, broadway jazz, contemporary African, house and more. He is most passionate about his work with many of the DMV’s studios and after school programs offering quality arts experiences to children of all backgrounds. 

White is currently teaching youth hip hop at Dance Place and contemporary with Company E’s movement center. He is most excited for his new journey as the adjunct instructor for Northwestern High School’s VPA Dance program.