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, Musical Theatre, dance composition, voice, acting, music theory, keyboard basics, stage make-up, and costuming.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
BalletCenter Studios specializes in holistic ballet training focused on the individual needs of students, with class placement based on a student's progress and abilities rather than age. It provides serious training in Ballet and Contemporary dance in a loving and forward thinking environment, while also providing space for recreational and supplementary classes. The program accepts students from ages 3 years old to adulthood, with classes ranging from creative movement pre-ballet Nurseridance through the pre-professional level, and from an adult student's first acquaintance with ballet up to the professional dancer looking for 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. Adult classes are geared to all levels of proficiency, from absolute beginners to professionals.
The leadership team includes Michelle Bartolomei as Owner and Artistic Director and Trystan Merrick as Owner and Program Director. The Mission Hills Studio has been serving the San Diego community for over 25 years. The stated mission is that the system of instruction inspires dedication, demands both discipline and a high standard of achievement, and instills a love of the arts and music, all in an atmosphere of love and encouragement.
Students from this program have been accepted into programs at Royal Ballet School, Dutch National Ballet, English National Ballet, San Francisco Ballet School, School of American Ballet, Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Miami City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Washington Ballet, Houston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Philadelphia Ballet, Ballet West, Colorado Ballet, Kaatsbaan, and others. They have danced as trainees and professionally with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, City Ballet of San Diego, California Ballet, San Diego Ballet, Ballet Austin, Ballet Met and more.
Owner and Artistic Director 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. She has served as Ballet Director at Centreville Academy of Dance and Dancensations Dance Centre in Northern Virginia and created ballet programs for 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, and performed as a soloist with the Shenandoah Dance Ensemble and the Tidewater Ballet. She 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.
Owner and Program Director Trystan Merrick studied ballet under Ahita Ardalan, formerly of the Paris Opera Ballet, and has toured internationally performing in 18 countries on five continents. Trystan has performed the works of Twyla Tharp, Robert Cohen, James Canfield, Peter Anostos, Septime Webre, Merce Cunningham and George Balanchine, and started their professional career with Nevada Ballet Theater in 2007. They have 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, and have presented choreographic work for DISCO RIOT, San Diego Dance Theater, and The California Ballet. Trystan 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, and continues to train with her and Trystan Merrick; he has trained over summers at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Ballet Austin, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. He 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 her Jazz & Tap training with Pam Thompson, Michael Rooney, Gregory & Maurice Hines, and Savion Glover. She performed locally with California Ballet, San Diego Ballet, Jazz Unlimited and Three’s Company, and danced in Los Angeles in commercials and industrials, TV, and movies including “La Bamba,” “The Menedez Brothers,” “Silk Stalkings,” and “Renegade.” She 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.” She started teaching at 15 and has been teaching and choreographing in San Diego and Orange County ever since, and she 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 March 16, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
BalletCenter Studios specializes in holistic ballet training focused on the individual needs of students, with class placement based on a student's progress and abilities rather than age. It provides serious training in Ballet and Contemporary dance in a loving and forward thinking environment, while also providing space for recreational and supplementary classes. The program accepts students from ages 3 years old to adulthood, with classes ranging from creative movement pre-ballet Nurseridance through the pre-professional level, and from an adult student's first acquaintance with ballet up to the professional dancer looking for 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. Adult classes are geared to all levels of proficiency, from absolute beginners to professionals.
The leadership team includes Michelle Bartolomei as Owner and Artistic Director and Trystan Merrick as Owner and Program Director. The Mission Hills Studio has been serving the San Diego community for over 25 years. The stated mission is that the system of instruction inspires dedication, demands both discipline and a high standard of achievement, and instills a love of the arts and music, all in an atmosphere of love and encouragement.
Students from this program have been accepted into programs at Royal Ballet School, Dutch National Ballet, English National Ballet, San Francisco Ballet School, School of American Ballet, Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Miami City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Washington Ballet, Houston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Philadelphia Ballet, Ballet West, Colorado Ballet, Kaatsbaan, and others. They have danced as trainees and professionally with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, City Ballet of San Diego, California Ballet, San Diego Ballet, Ballet Austin, Ballet Met and more.
Owner and Artistic Director 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. She has served as Ballet Director at Centreville Academy of Dance and Dancensations Dance Centre in Northern Virginia and created ballet programs for 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, and performed as a soloist with the Shenandoah Dance Ensemble and the Tidewater Ballet. She 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.
Owner and Program Director Trystan Merrick studied ballet under Ahita Ardalan, formerly of the Paris Opera Ballet, and has toured internationally performing in 18 countries on five continents. Trystan has performed the works of Twyla Tharp, Robert Cohen, James Canfield, Peter Anostos, Septime Webre, Merce Cunningham and George Balanchine, and started their professional career with Nevada Ballet Theater in 2007. They have 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, and have presented choreographic work for DISCO RIOT, San Diego Dance Theater, and The California Ballet. Trystan 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, and continues to train with her and Trystan Merrick; he has trained over summers at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Ballet Austin, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. He 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 her Jazz & Tap training with Pam Thompson, Michael Rooney, Gregory & Maurice Hines, and Savion Glover. She performed locally with California Ballet, San Diego Ballet, Jazz Unlimited and Three’s Company, and danced in Los Angeles in commercials and industrials, TV, and movies including “La Bamba,” “The Menedez Brothers,” “Silk Stalkings,” and “Renegade.” She 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.” She started teaching at 15 and has been teaching and choreographing in San Diego and Orange County ever since, and she 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 March 16, 2026.
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