Our Faculty

Carlye Flieder

Owner/Director

Carlye Flieder was born and raised in Philadelphia, and began dancing at the age of two. Once she danced her first duo at the age of six, she knew dance would be an integral part of her life forever! While studying dance at American University, Carlye realized there were more facets to the art form than she could have imagined. After graduating with a major in Broadcast Journalism and Dance, Carlye moved to Los Angeles to strengthen her craft before opening C-Unit in 2006. Carlye continues to attend classes, seminars, and workshops in Los Angeles and New York every year in order to stay up to date with teaching techniques, movement, and choreography. She is most proud of all of the dancers that have grown up with the C-Unit family, and seeing them develop up into outstanding young adults that have gone on to pursue a wide range of careers including dancing professionally!

Caitlin Maher

Jazz/Hip-Hop/Pre-school Hip-Hop/Resident Choreographer

Caitlin started dancing under the direction of Carlye Flieder since she was 8 years old. For 10 years, she studied ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop with Carlye, and was one of the earliest members of the C-Unit Company. From an early age, Caitlin began assistant teaching with Carlye, and taught her own class when she was 17. In 2009, Caitlin attended Occidental College in Los Angeles, where she continued her dance training. In 2014, Caitlin returned to C-Unit to begin teaching at C-Unit. She is happy to be home with her C-Unit family!

Kathleen Sabbatini

Ballet

Miss. Kathleen has been teaching ballet for over a decade. She taught at the The Washington School of Ballet for 6 years. Becoming Children’s Ballet Mistress and Repetitor for the Washington Ballet’s Nutcracker production.

Miss. Kathleen’s own training started here in DC. She had the honor of training at the Kirov Ballet Academy and the National Ballet of China. And was a finalist in the Shanghai International Ballet Competition.

In 2001, Kathleen toured China as a soloist with the Inwood Dance Company. While studying at UVA, she danced with Rhapsody Ballet Ensemble. After college she continued to perform. Dancing with Cirque Du Soleil, MOVEius Dance, Fusion Dance, and Olney Ballet Theatre.

Elina Gordienko

AP Technique, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Guest Choreographer

Bio Coming Soon!

Vladimir Djouloukhadze

Ballet

Mr. Djouloukhadze, a student of the legendary Vakhtang Chabukiani, was coached by Vaganova’s students Natalia Dudinskaya, Tatiana Vecheslova, Fea Balabina.

Mr. Djouloukhazde had an international career as a principal dancer with the highest awards and performances in over 20 countries in Europe, Asia, America and Africa. He partnered with prima-ballerinas of various leading ballet companies, including Nina Ananiashvili, Nadezhda Pavlova, Ludmila Semenyaka. Mr.Djouloukhadze has been teaching ballet for 40 years and holds Masters Degree in Ballet Teaching and Choreography from the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts (GITIS). He has been developing his students into the winners of major international ballet competitions, including the Varna International Ballet Competition and the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson. His students have gone on to become principals, soloists and members of some of the world’s most prominent companies, including the Royal Ballet, American Ballet Theatre , Mariinsky Ballet, Washington Ballet. To name a few, Michele Wiles, Rasta Thomas, Brooklyn Mack, Matthew Golding, Melissa Hough, Jonathan Jordan, Danny Tidwell, Chauncey Parsons.

Olga Yarashevich

Latin/Ballroom

Olga Yarashevich has taught and choreographed for more than 18 years. She trained in Belarus and went on to receive her Master Degree in Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts.

Olga studied Ballroom and Latin since the age of 6 & danced professionally until 2017. She became a successful ballroom dancer in Belarus and achieved a world-class status representing Belarus on International competitions all over the world. She moved to America in 2009 to pursue her dance career.

Olga shares her knowledge and passion for dance with her students from beginners to competitors in both American and International Styles. She inspires to master the Ballroom Dancing for social events, wedding receptions and competitions.

NADTA Certified.

Christina Jackson

Contemporary/Lyrical

Known for her delivery of untamed movement with a flare of mystery, Tina is a vessel of hope seeking truth and wisdom. A multi-hyphenated talent, she’s a classically trained dancer, fitness model, fashion stylist, creative, and Lululemon Ambassador. Tina was born and raised in Baltimore Md., and began dancing at the age of 3.  By age 13, she realized that dance was bigger than herself, and wanted to further her technique and grow as a performer. As a result, she applied and was accepted into The Baltimore School for the Arts and graduated in 2007. She continued her education at the University of Maryland College Park under the Creative and Performing Arts Scholarship where she graduated with two degrees: Dance and Public Relations. Shortly after she moved to NYC in 2011 and started her professional  dance career. She began as an apprentice in the prestigious commercial contemporary  Dana Foglia Dance Company and worked her way to company member traveling the world performing Foglia’s repertoire.  Shortly after she moved to Los Angeles to pursue  more opportunity in commercial dance. She has danced in commercials for SONY, Heineken and Lululemon, And Free People Movement. Done film , TV for Jimmy Kimmel, HBO Max Euphoria, Jimmy Fallon, The Talk, and Good Morning America and more. Performed in numerous Award Shows such as the Grammy’s, the VMAs, BET Awards and the American Music Awards, and Beyonce’s unforgettable Coachella performance. And many more live performances and music videos with some of the biggest artists including: Beyonce, PINK, Nerd, Kelly Clarkson, Madonna, Cardi B, Grimes, Nicki Minaj and more. She also was on tour with Oprah for her 2020 Vision Life in focus tour. Christina is extremely excited to bring her vision to these young dancers!

Jimmie Manners

Hip-Hop Foundations

Jimmie Manners was born in Washington D.C. and raised in Maryland. His first ballet class was at the age of three and from then on dance was his life. Attending Thomas G. Pullen Performing Arts school from K-8th grade, Baltimore School for the Arts high school and University of the Arts on a full scholarship, Jimmie studied ballet, modern, jazz, tap and African dance. In 2006 he moved to New York City and was invited to be a member of Rhapsody the Company (a hip-hop based performance company), where he trained and performed in the authentic hip-hop style of dance. While being represented by Bloc Talent Agency, Jimmie has had an extensive career in New York City and California. Performing with many Iconic artists such as Eve, Ciara, Pharrell, Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar and even being a principal performer in Jennifer Lopez’s Vegas residency “All I Have” for two years, Jimmie has reached the summit of the dance industry. As a true renaissance man, Jimmie has also performed on television and the big screen, having a prominent role as Earl Johnson on HBO’s award winning show “The Wire” and being featured in “Step up Two” where he actually got to work with Channing Tatum choreographing the club scene. Jimmie has choreographed and taught all over the world, including Broadway Dance Center in New York City, Israel, Italy, Paris and Barcelona. He continues to teach and choreograph while also balancing his new management company Young Coco Management. His mission in life is to spread love and knowledge through the arts.

Kaylie Gonzalez

Acro/Tumbling

Kaylie Gonzalez received her dance training at Edna Lee Dance Studio in Linthicum, MD. She is trained in ballet, lyrical, jazz, contemporary, pointe, and acro. Kaylie is currently a Dance and Choreography major as a student at  Towson University. She has performed in numerous dance concerts such as the Bald Ballerina Benefit concert, Sweetbird Productions, and the Maryland Festival Ballet where she has performed many soloist/principal roles. In 2019, she was crowned Miss Dance of Chapter 17 under the Dance Masters of American organization and continued on as a top ten finalist at the national event. Kaylie is currently enjoying teaching at the Edna Lee Dance Studio and Maryland Festival Ballet intensive, assisting the competitive dance team, and furthering her training in this industry. She is thrilled to be joining the faculty at C-Unit as she follows her dream of becoming a professional teacher/choreographer.

Ana Tomioshi

Tap

One of today’s most popular dancers in Brazil. Known as the “tap dance fairy” for her lightness and charisma on and off stage.

One of the 25 tap dancers selected around the world to participate of the first Jacob’s Pillow Tap Program, directed by Michelle Dorrance.

Worked as a dance teacher and choreographer for 7 years at Sheila’s Ballet, one of the most prestigious dance schools in Brazil.

Featured faculty at the most important tap festivals in Brazil.

Received scholarships for DC Tap Festival, LA Tap Festival, UK Tap Festival and Jersey Tap Festival.
Choreographer of the piece that represented Brazil at the Annual DC Tap Fest Concert in the year of 2016. In 2018, choreographed for the same event with Charles Renato.
Two times champion of advanced tap dance solo at Joinville’s Dance Festival, the biggest and most respected dance festival in Latin America. Also nominated as best female dancer of the festival.

Mariah Appleton

Contemporary

Mariah Appleton is a professional choreographer, freelance performer, and dance educator, from Montgomery County, Maryland. She has been training in the art of dance since age two, in various genres including jazz, lyrical, ballet, contemporary, conditioning, tap, improvisation, composition, hip-hop, and modern. Mariah trained at Spotlight Studio of Dance, under the direction of Wyndee McGovern, who helped adapt her eye for technique. She attended summer programs, including New York City Dance Alliance, Hubbard Street Dance Intensive, Eastern Cheer and Dance Association, and many ballet intensives throughout the DMV area. She performed with the Backstreet Boys in 2006, at the NFL Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she received a national college dance scholarship. Mariah traveled with Eastern Cheer and Dance Association, teaching dance clinics all around the country her last two years of high school.

She graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a double major in Psychology and Dance. While at UMBC, Mariah attended the American College Dance Festival, under the direction of Tzveta Kassabova. During her time in school, she was privileged to have her pieces, Fallen, in 2009, and her own solo piece, Bare, in 2011, featured in Misako Ballet Company’s winter showcase. For two years, Mariah served as a company member of ROOTED Dance Productions, where she performed with Shange Dance Productions, and at many venues including Dance Place, Howard University, and the Baltimore Museum of Art. She continued her education after graduation with Christopher K. Morgan and Artists, and performed with them in Takoma Park, Maryland. She has performed with Kinetics Professional Dance Company over the years, as well as becoming a guest choreographer for them in 2017.

Mariah has been spreading her love for dance with students all over Maryland and Virginia, for twelve years. She is a master teacher with the Mid Atlantic Pom and Dance Association (MAPDA) and has won numerous awards for her choreography in regional and national competitions, in the past decade. In 2018, she received the President’s award, highest scoring dance of the entire competition, at Dance Educators of America, for her musical theater piece “Big Time”. Mariah is a guest choreographer in the public school system in Anne Arundel, Howard, Baltimore, and Hartford Counties. She is currently working with many competitive companies, as an artistic director and choreographer, throughout Maryland, focusing on movement quality, technique, and proper education of the body. She looks forward to her first season teaching for C-Unit Studio!