Our Faculty

Carlye Flieder

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

Assistant Director

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!

Valeria Ivleva

Ballet

Valeria is an experienced ballet dancer, teacher and choreographer, with accolades including winning first place in the 2005 Grand Pas Competition from Donetsk, the gold medal and a special award in 2006 Galician Terpsichore International Ballet Competition, and the silver medal and a special award in 2007 Crystal Shoe Kharkov International Ballet Competition. She has diplomas from Kharkov Ballet Theatre, a B.F.A. from the Kiev University of Performing Arts, and a Masters from the National University of Ukraine, all with honors. Valeria’s name is included in the Honorable Book of Fame in Kharkov. She has taught master classes in the United States, Europe, and Africa, and was a Ballet Instructor /Choreographer, Director/Assistant Director of productions with Mystic Ballet Company and Academy of Mystic, Connecticut. Previously Valeria was a principal ballerina and the Deputy Artistic Director of Baltimore Ballet. She was also previously a principal dancer with Russian Grand Ballet, Kiev University of Performing Arts, Kiev Municipal Academic Opera and Ballet, Cairo Opera Ballet Company, Étoiles Russes de la Danse in Switzerland, Kiev Youth Ballet, and Regalul Baletului Rus in Romania. Valeria is also an award winning choreographer who has worked closely with Tony Award winner George Faison, who served as Michael Jackson’s choreographer. Valeria was most recently a ballet instructor and choreographer at The Kirov Academy of Washington DC. During her career at The Kirov Academy she trained many students who won individual awards at YAGP, as well as received the Outstanding Teacher Award.

Lindsay Grymes

Contemporary

Lindsay Grymes is a Freelance Choreographer, Dancer, and Pilates Instructor based in the Washington D.C. and NYC area. She graduated from Marymount Manhattan College in 2020 with a B.F.A. in Choreography and continued to gain her Comprehensive Pilates certification in 2022. Lindsay’s body of work is dedicated to her curiosity and enthusiasm regarding human potential. She believes that every person offers nuance to the world, spiritually and physically, and aims to bring that to light through her choreography.

During her time at Marymount, under the direction of Katie Langan, she worked with artists such as Anthony Morigerato, Angelica Stiskin, Jenn Freeman, Yin Yue, Adam Barruch, and many more. At school she honed into her love for creating dance and what it took to make audience members feel at home through watching dance. She was awarded the single “Golden Key” in choreography for her class as well as had the honor to showcase her work at Jazz at the Lincoln Center, STEPS on Broadway, Peridance APEX, etc. Through the years 2017-2020, her love for community brought her to facilitate a “Works in Progress” showing twice a year for choreographers within the university.

Lindsay’s recent credits include her work Falter Upward commissioned by the Joffrey Ballet Concert Group, as well as Echo Within Cognition commissioned by Artists Revealed Dance Company.

She carries her love for dance and humanity in everything she does and through teaching, she embraces each student’s individualized potential. Lindsay’s mission is to not only unlock and surface one’s beauty but to do so through the power of discipline and comradery.

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.

Annika Lowe

Acro/Tumbling

Annika is a fully certified Acrobatic Arts Instructor. She continues her passion for Acro and Tumbling at American University where she also studies International Relations. Annika began gymnastics at age 3,and started coaching in her home studio Carolina Dance and Gymnastics at age 14. She is looking forward to working with dancers to help enhance their training.

Sophia

Ballet

Sophia began her ballet training at age 10, spending several years as the student of the internationally-recognized ballet mistress Valeriia Ivlieva at Baltimore Ballet and Tami Gee’s Dance Schools. She has also studied and taken master classes at the Russian Grand Ballet, the Peabody Conservatory, the Mariinsky Ballet, and CityDance. In Saint Petersburg Sophia studied with prima ballerina Irina Perren and Marat Shemiunov. During these years she performed as soloist in many ballets, including The Nutcracker, Carnival of the Animals, Swan Lake, Gershwin Rhapsody, and Paquita. She has participated in many competitions, among them the Youth American Grand Prix, the World Class Talent Experience, Legacy, and the Atlantic Ballroom Sport Challenge, winning a number of awards.

In 2019, Sophia was accepted into Towson University’s Dance program, studying under Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Tracie Burton-Hooper, and Vincent Thomas. She joined Dance Baltimore Collective where she performed at Center Stage in Baltimore.

Sophia has taught at Baltimore Ballet and Candace Sheppard Dance Academy, and she has given master classes at C Unit Dance Studio. She is currently a class assistant under Amber Daniels with Beer and Ballet classes. While specializing in ballet, Sophia also has experience in Latin ballroom dance, jazz, contemporary, and lyrical. Sophia is very excited to share and pass on to students the knowledge and experience she has gained throughout the years.

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.

Marco Beheluli

Hip-Hop

Marco Beheluli is a professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer who specializes in Hip-Hop, Afro Dance, and Street Styles. Born and raised in Northern Italy, Marco moved to Rome at 23 years old. He then went on to become one of the most sought after hip-hop dancers and teachers in Italy, working at the most prestigious studios in the country. Marco has taught in many countries around the world and has worked with various choreographers including Andye J, Amari Marshall, Kenzo Alvares, and Kassidy Bright.

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.