About Us

Since 1971, MYB has been successfully preparing young dancers for a career in the performing arts as well as providing classes to dancers of all ages and levels, and by presenting professional quality, yet accessible, award winning ballet performances for the entire region.

MYB began in founder Hortensia Fonseca’s basement in the 1960’s. Outgrowing the space, she moved into a studio in Bethesda and in 1971, MYB was incorporated as a non-profit organization. In 1976, Michelle Lees was brought on as Associate Artistic Director and led MYB to become one of the foremost classical ballet training programs in the region as Artistic Director and Principal. Retiring after 42 years, Lees was followed by Olivier Munoz, a 1981 Laureate of the Prix de Lausanne and an acclaimed principal dancer with many international companies. Munoz led MYB for 4 years, taking several students to successful YAGP competitions in 2021 and 2022.

Since 2007, MYB has been located in Downtown Silver Spring where it has flourished and annually trains 1,000 children and 600 adults. MYB consistently produces dancers that move on to professional careers in dance companies across the country, are accepted to performing arts conservatories, or attend some of the country’s highly ranked academic institutions.

Today, MYB continues its tradition of training excellence under Artistic Director and Principal, Deidre Byrne. Byrne is an MYB alum who trained under MYB Founder, Tensia Fonseca. Upon graduation she immediately entered the School of the Cleveland Ballet on full scholarship. She joined the Cleveland San Jose Ballet two years later where she danced for 13 years and was a soloist in much of the company’s repertoire. Upon her return to the DC area, she performed with Bowen McCauley Dance. Byrne earned her BS in Business Marketing at the University of Maryland University College and worked at the Kennedy Center with the Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell Program. She is a certified teacher in the ABT® National Training Curriculum, Primary–Level 5. Byrne, together with an incomparable faculty, continues to focus on revitalizing MYB’s programs and bring dancer’s training into the 21st century. 

MYB began in founder Hortensia Fonseca’s basement in the 1960’s. Outgrowing the space, she moved into a studio in Bethesda and in 1971, MYB was incorporated as a non-profit organization. In 1976, Michelle Lees was brought on as Associate Artistic Director and led MYB to become one of the foremost classical ballet training programs in the region as Artistic Director and Principal. Retiring after 42 years, Lees was followed by Olivier Munoz, a 1981 Laureate of the Prix de Lausanne and an acclaimed principal dancer with many international companies. Munoz led MYB for 4 years, taking several students to successful YAGP competitions in 2021 and 2022.

Since 2007, MYB has been located in Downtown Silver Spring where it has flourished and annually trains 1,000 children and 600 adults. MYB consistently produces dancers that move on to professional careers in dance companies across the country, are accepted to performing arts conservatories, or attend some of the country’s highly ranked academic institutions.

Today, MYB continues its tradition of training excellence under Artistic Director and Principal, Deidre Byrne. Byrne is an MYB alum who trained under MYB Founder, Tensia Fonseca. Upon graduation she immediately entered the School of the Cleveland Ballet on full scholarship. She joined the Cleveland San Jose Ballet two years later where she danced for 13 years and was a soloist in much of the company’s repertoire. Upon her return to the DC area, she performed with Bowen McCauley Dance. Byrne earned her BS in Business Marketing at the University of Maryland University College and worked at the Kennedy Center with the Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell Program. She is a certified teacher in the ABT® National Training Curriculum, Primary–Level 5. Byrne, together with an incomparable faculty, continues to focus on revitalizing MYB’s programs and bring dancer’s training into the 21st century. 

Let there be no doubt that Maryland Youth Ballet holds as core values: racial equality, equity, and justice. Therefore, we stand in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and especially in support of our Black students and employees; you matter to us and we are dedicated to your dignity as well as your success.

The instances of racial injustice brought to the forefront of our public consciousness are shocking and heartbreaking. Now is the time to ask how we can improve as an organization and how we can influence our community to do better using the power of the performing arts to put an end to racism and discrimination.

For decades, MYB has taken pride in our pursuit of ballet training excellence and as we focus on the importance of excellence in fulfilling our social responsibilities, we will strengthen MYB’s work on challenges surrounding racism in the ballet world.

Notwithstanding the unprecedented disruption brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, MYB pledges to:

• continue to offer the highest quality of classical ballet training to young dancers with potential, regardless of skin color or need, who wish to pursue a career in the performing arts, and
• continue evaluating our programs to ensure training equity for all our students.

In addition, MYB supports the inclusion of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) culture and artistry in our organization and throughout the dance community.