BalletCenter Studios
BalletCenter Studios, 246 W Washington St., San Diego, CA 92103
About
BalletCenter Studios offers ballet training along with Ballet, Contemporary dance, lyrical, jazz, and tap. The program also includes creative movement pre-ballet Nurseridance, summer dance camp, and classes in voice, acting, music theory, keyboard basics, stage make-up, and costuming.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
BalletCenter Studios states that it specializes in holistic ballet training focused on the individual needs of its students, with class placement based on a student's progress and abilities rather than age. The program provides classes from creative movement pre-ballet Nurseridance through the pre-professional level and for adult students from first acquaintance with ballet up to professional dancers seeking supplemental classes. Its curriculum is based on the French and Vaganova techniques and incorporates contemporary dance science, with an emphasis on technique, placement, line, sustainability, and artistry, and it also provides space for recreational and supplementary classes. Adult classes are geared to all levels of proficiency from absolute beginners to professionals.
BalletCenter Studios is led by Owner and Artistic Director Michelle Bartolomei and Owner and Program Director Trystan Merrick. The Mission Hills Studio has been serving the San Diego community for over 25 years. According to the program, students have been accepted into prestigious programs at multiple major ballet schools and companies and have danced as trainees and professionally with multiple ballet companies.
Michelle G. Noblejas-Bartolomei has been teaching ballet since 1986 and has taught and choreographed at numerous academies in the Washington D.C. area and Florida, served as Ballet Director at Centreville Academy of Dance and Dancensations Dance Centre in Northern Virginia, and created ballet programs for both children and adults at the Skyline Health Clubs in Falls Church, Virginia. She began her training at age 5, studying with the Washington Ballet and the Boston Ballet, received scholarships to attend the Joffrey Ballet in New York City and the Ballet Academy of Northern Virginia, performed as a soloist with the Shenandoah Dance Ensemble and the Tidewater Ballet, attended Shenandoah Conservatory for studies in Musical Theatre including jazz dance, dance composition, voice, acting, stage make-up, stage craft, and lighting, and has choreographed and performed with a touring children's theatre company. Trystan Merrick studied ballet under Ahita Ardalan, formerly of the Paris Opera Ballet, has toured internationally performing in 18 countries on five continents, has performed works of Twyla Tharp, Robert Cohen, James Canfield, Peter Anostos, Septime Webre, Merce Cunningham and George Balanchine in addition to most of the full length classical ballets, started a professional career with Nevada Ballet Theater in 2007, has danced as a principal artist for San Diego Ballet, San Diego Dance Theater, Malashock Dance, Owen Cox Dance, Concept Zero, City Ballet of San Diego, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, and The California Ballet, has presented choreographic work for DISCO RIOT, San Diego Dance Theater, and The California Ballet, and has developed experience as a teacher, choreographer, and artistic leader over the past 17 years.
Michaela received her training at the American Academy of Ballet and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and has performed with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Cincinnati Ballet, City Ballet of San Diego, and the California Ballet Company. Barrett began his training with his mother, Michelle Bartolomei, continues to train with her and Trystan Merrick, has trained over summers at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Ballet Austin, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, has been a guest performer for San Diego's local companies and schools such as the California Ballet School and Company and City Ballet of San Diego, and is currently an apprentice with City Ballet of San Diego. Stephanie received her ballet training from Marius Zirra, Wayne Davis, Judy Sharp, and Maxine Mahon, and jazz and tap with Pam Thompson, Michael Rooney, Gregory and Maurice Hines, and Savion Glover, has performed locally with companies such as California Ballet, San Diego Ballet, Jazz Unlimited and Three’s Company, danced in Los Angeles in commercials and industrials, TV, and movies including “La Bamba,” “The Menedez Brothers,” “Silk Stalkings,” and “Renegade,” danced with Norwegian Cruise Lines where she played Diane Lorimer in the original Broadway version of “42nd Street,” as well as “Meet Me in St Louis” and “Sea Legs Goes Hollywood,” has been teaching and choreographing in San Diego and Orange County since age 15, and holds a B.A in Fine Arts from U.C. Irvine, a Masters in Education from Chapman, and a CA Clear Teaching Credential. Judith Sharp was the ballet mistress for the California Ballet Company in 1988 and has been an instructor for the U.C. San Diego Department of Theater and Dance.
Last updated June 18, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
BalletCenter Studios states that it specializes in holistic ballet training focused on the individual needs of its students, with class placement based on a student's progress and abilities rather than age. The program provides classes from creative movement pre-ballet Nurseridance through the pre-professional level and for adult students from first acquaintance with ballet up to professional dancers seeking supplemental classes. Its curriculum is based on the French and Vaganova techniques and incorporates contemporary dance science, with an emphasis on technique, placement, line, sustainability, and artistry, and it also provides space for recreational and supplementary classes. Adult classes are geared to all levels of proficiency from absolute beginners to professionals.
BalletCenter Studios is led by Owner and Artistic Director Michelle Bartolomei and Owner and Program Director Trystan Merrick. The Mission Hills Studio has been serving the San Diego community for over 25 years. According to the program, students have been accepted into prestigious programs at multiple major ballet schools and companies and have danced as trainees and professionally with multiple ballet companies.
Michelle G. Noblejas-Bartolomei has been teaching ballet since 1986 and has taught and choreographed at numerous academies in the Washington D.C. area and Florida, served as Ballet Director at Centreville Academy of Dance and Dancensations Dance Centre in Northern Virginia, and created ballet programs for both children and adults at the Skyline Health Clubs in Falls Church, Virginia. She began her training at age 5, studying with the Washington Ballet and the Boston Ballet, received scholarships to attend the Joffrey Ballet in New York City and the Ballet Academy of Northern Virginia, performed as a soloist with the Shenandoah Dance Ensemble and the Tidewater Ballet, attended Shenandoah Conservatory for studies in Musical Theatre including jazz dance, dance composition, voice, acting, stage make-up, stage craft, and lighting, and has choreographed and performed with a touring children's theatre company. Trystan Merrick studied ballet under Ahita Ardalan, formerly of the Paris Opera Ballet, has toured internationally performing in 18 countries on five continents, has performed works of Twyla Tharp, Robert Cohen, James Canfield, Peter Anostos, Septime Webre, Merce Cunningham and George Balanchine in addition to most of the full length classical ballets, started a professional career with Nevada Ballet Theater in 2007, has danced as a principal artist for San Diego Ballet, San Diego Dance Theater, Malashock Dance, Owen Cox Dance, Concept Zero, City Ballet of San Diego, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, and The California Ballet, has presented choreographic work for DISCO RIOT, San Diego Dance Theater, and The California Ballet, and has developed experience as a teacher, choreographer, and artistic leader over the past 17 years.
Michaela received her training at the American Academy of Ballet and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and has performed with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Cincinnati Ballet, City Ballet of San Diego, and the California Ballet Company. Barrett began his training with his mother, Michelle Bartolomei, continues to train with her and Trystan Merrick, has trained over summers at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Ballet Austin, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, has been a guest performer for San Diego's local companies and schools such as the California Ballet School and Company and City Ballet of San Diego, and is currently an apprentice with City Ballet of San Diego. Stephanie received her ballet training from Marius Zirra, Wayne Davis, Judy Sharp, and Maxine Mahon, and jazz and tap with Pam Thompson, Michael Rooney, Gregory and Maurice Hines, and Savion Glover, has performed locally with companies such as California Ballet, San Diego Ballet, Jazz Unlimited and Three’s Company, danced in Los Angeles in commercials and industrials, TV, and movies including “La Bamba,” “The Menedez Brothers,” “Silk Stalkings,” and “Renegade,” danced with Norwegian Cruise Lines where she played Diane Lorimer in the original Broadway version of “42nd Street,” as well as “Meet Me in St Louis” and “Sea Legs Goes Hollywood,” has been teaching and choreographing in San Diego and Orange County since age 15, and holds a B.A in Fine Arts from U.C. Irvine, a Masters in Education from Chapman, and a CA Clear Teaching Credential. Judith Sharp was the ballet mistress for the California Ballet Company in 1988 and has been an instructor for the U.C. San Diego Department of Theater and Dance.
Last updated June 18, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.