Faculty | Ballet Institute of San Diego

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Egle Spokaite

Founder, Artistic Director

Prima Ballerina of The Lithuanian National Ballet Theatre of 21 years and the winner of 4 International Ballet Competitions around the world, Egle Spokaite also had a stellar career as actress, ballet educator, fashion model, and public speaker. Want to learn more about Ms. Egle’s career, life, and achievements?

In 2008, Egle graduated from Lithuanian Music and Theater Academy with the degree in choreography and pedagogy (ballet education) and started her teaching career by founding “Egle Spokaite Ballet School” In Lithuania (2009), that quickly grew to 700 students, before she moved to Boston, MA and subsequently to San Diego, CA. In 2016, Egle Spokaite founded the Ballet Institute of San Diego – the school dedicated to quality dance education, where music, aesthetics and subtleties of dance movements come into Harmony, and each student is nurtured to seek and achieve her/his potential. Egle’s students yet again travel the world winning numerous international ballet and contemporary dance awards

Mr. Zachary Leighton

Ballet teacher

Zachary Leighton began dancing at age nine in Southern California and went on to train with the Houston Ballet Academy and the University of Oklahoma’s Oklahoma Festival Ballet. He performed professionally with Dayton Ballet, Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre, City Ballet of Los Angeles, and other companies while teaching ballet and tap throughout California. Most recently, Zachary served as Assistant Artistic Director of Ketchikan Theatre Ballet School in Alaska, where he taught, choreographed, and produced performances. He brings BISD extensive professional experience and a passion for inspiring the next generation of dancers.

Diane Sablan

Young students' teacher

Ms. Diane brings over 15 years of experience teaching, coaching, and mentoring children in dance, athletic, and educational settings. Her performing arts background began with dance and musical theatre through the SDJ Theatre program.

Diane helps young students develop coordination, strength, flexibility, body awareness, confidence, and fundamental movement skills. She creates an encouraging and inclusive environment while building a safe foundation for technical development and artistic expression.

Irene Henderson

Contemporary dance teacher

Irene Henderson, originally from Madagascar, began singing and dancing at the age of 9 after moving to San Diego, CA. Irene has earned her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from the American Musical and Dramatics Academy in Los Angeles, and has been dancing professionally ever since.
Her credits include the James Corden Show with the Jonas Brothers and touring with Kanye West. In 2021, Irene began working for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as a dancer and a vocalist. On top of Irene being a professional performer, she also loves teaching dance and choreographing to dancers’ strengths as well as challenging them creatively and technically. Her strengths in teaching and choreography are contemporary, jazz, technique, and improvisation.

Dasha Tertova

Guest Faculty & Choreographer

“DASHA” is one of the most exceptional dancers/choreographers in professional community today. She is the founder and CEO of DARTS non-profit organization. Dasha is a unique choreographer with a wide range of skills and performing abilities. She was born in Moscow and over the years worked with companies such as Moiseyev Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet(Moscow) and the Riverdance company( European tour).
After receiving her Masters from Russian Ballet Academy, Russian Theater Academy, Dasha has been working in US. Since then, her professional credits include Madonna, Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce, Cirque Du Soleil (MJ), MTV Music Awards, Billboard Awards, Pharrell, Daft Punk, and many more. She continues to teach master classes across the US and internationally ( NYC, DC, Italy, Russia, Netherlands, Japan, Israel, and Spain).
Dasha is a professor at the American Music and Dramatic Academy College (AMDA LA).
She has received multiple Outstanding Choreography awards from YAGP Youth American Gran Prix- the pearl of Classical and Contemporary ballet Competitions.