Our staff
We’re excited to bring our passion for dance to you.
STUDIO DIRECTOR
Mariia Donets
Meet Mariia Donets, our Studio Director. Mariia started dancing at age 4, and from that moment on, dance became her lifelong passion. She began her career as a professional ballroom dancer, going on to win the Ukraine, Polish, and Slovenian Open Championships, and reaching the finals of some of the world's biggest dance competitions, including the Austrian Open Grand Slam, among others. Mariia graduated with honors from the St. Petersburg University of Arts and Social Sciences, majoring in Classical and Contemporary Choreography.
During her career as a contemporary dancer, Mariia was part of some of the finest contemporary dance companies, including "Bye Bye Ballet" in St. Petersburg, BDDC, and "Far For" in Moscow. She has led and participated in numerous workshops alongside some of the greatest dancers and choreographers in the world, including members of Nederlands Dans Theater and Batsheva Dance Company.
Her greatest inspiration is the beauty of transformation — of body and mind — through movement. Watching her students grow in technique and discover their own artistic and emotional potential remains, for Mariia, the most cherished part of being a teacher.
Sama Mammadova
Meet Sama Mammadova, our esteemed dance contemporary and ballet instructor. Sama's passion for dance began at an early age and led her to pursue a 12-year classical ballet education at the renowned Baku Academy of Choreography. During her time at the academy, she specialized in the classical department, honing her skills and technique to become the accomplished dancer she is today.
Sama's dedication and talent have been recognized at prestigious competitions, including events in Russia (Astrakhan) and Kazakhstan (Almaty), where she secured third and fourth place honors, respectively. Her commitment to her craft has taken her to renowned venues such as the Opera and Ballet Theater, Heydar Aliev Palace, State Song Theater, and the Azerbaijan State Academic Musical Theater, where she has graced the stage in captivating ballet performances both domestically and internationally.
Following the completion of her studies, Sama broadened her horizons by joining a modern dance group, where she spent two years as an integral member. Together, they performed alongside famous singers at prominent concerts, captivating audiences on some of the biggest stages.
Sama's wealth of experience and expertise make her an invaluable addition to our team, and we are excited for her to share her knowledge, passion, and artistry with our students.
Coach Sam
Meet Coach Sam, our dedicated acro instructor. Coach Sam discovered acro gymnastics at the age of 8, and it didn't take long for her to fall head over heels — quite literally — for flipping, tumbling, and cartwheeling every chance she got. What began as pure childhood joy on the mats soon turned into a genuine calling. By 14, she was already coaching at her local gym, and she's carried that same enthusiasm for teaching with her ever since.
Over the years, Coach Sam has developed a coaching style built on patience, encouragement, and a deep belief in every student's potential. She strives to create a positive, supportive environment where every athlete feels empowered to grow — not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. For Coach Sam, gymnastics has never been just about mastering skills; it's about building confidence, resilience, and a lifelong love of movement that students carry with them well beyond the studio. Whether a student is nailing their very first cartwheel or refining an advanced tumbling pass, she meets them exactly where they are and celebrates every step of progress along the way.
Above all, Coach Sam's goal is simple: she wants every child to leave class feeling proud of what they accomplished, a little braver than when they walked in, and excited to come back for more.
Nicole Belov
Meet Nicole Belov, our hip-hop instructor. Nicole has an extensive dance history spanning over 15 years across various styles, including but not limited to hip hop, contemporary, and ballroom. She trained under Mariia for five years before attending university, where she was an active member of her university's competitive open-style hip hop dance team, Cruz Ctrl — a team that specializes in fostering every dancer's growth with an emphasis on family and freestyle hip hop values.
On Cruz Ctrl, Nicole served as Artistic Director for one year and Executive Director for another. In both roles, she was one of the team's primary choreographers, and her choreography was featured in sets for competitions like Prelude NorCal and World of Dance Bay Area, as well as Cruz Ctrl's home showcase, Mainstay. She has also taught community classes and workshops for Cruz Ctrl, as well as masterclasses for Deep Dance Studio.
Nicole hopes to introduce dancers of all ages to the possibilities of hip hop and inspire them to develop their own unique style through unconventional combinations of dance genres.
Alexandra Gutman
Meet Alexandra "Sasha" Gutman, our esteemed classical, character, and contemporary ballet instructor and choreographer. Sasha's passion for dance began at age 7 in her hometown of Austin, Texas, and led her to pursue training at the Indiana Ballet Conservatory and Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory, working with prominent teachers such as Alyona Yakoleva Randall, Tatiana Pali, Alexei Tchernichov, Eleanor D'Antuono, Victoria Mazzarelli, Joan Kunsch, Tim Melody, Kirk Peterson, and Denise Limoli. At 16, she was selected to join the world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia, and after completing her first year, was invited to skip two years and advance directly to the graduating class.
Sasha's dedication and talent have been recognized at prestigious international competitions, including 2nd place at the Playa Del Carmen International Ballet Competition '20, 1st place in both the Classical and Contemporary categories at the National Ballet Competition '21, and 3rd place at the Washington DC Grand Prix '21. Her commitment to her craft has taken her across Texas and Southern California as a guest artist, to City Ballet of San Diego as a professional company dancer and member of the artistic and administrative staff, and on tour with the International Classical Ballet of Ukraine through France, Germany, and Switzerland.
Following her early graduation from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Sasha returned to the U.S. to teach classical and character dance at the Akhmedova Ballet Academy and served as Director of San Diego Dancework's Pointe Program, where she staged productions and coached dancers for competition.
Sasha's wealth of experience and expertise make her an invaluable addition to our team, and we are excited for her to share her knowledge, passion, and artistry with dancers of all ages and styles this season at Deep Dance Studio.
Christel Barrera
Meet Christel Barrera, our talented hip-hop instructor and choreographer. Christel's passion for dance began at age seven, when she became the youngest member of her church's dance ministry — first taught hip hop by her own mother. That early spark grew into a lifelong passion for using dance to inspire, mentor, and build community.
For eight years, Christel served as the Dance Ministry Choreographer at Cathedral of Faith, leading and training dancers for large-scale Easter and Christmas productions performed before audiences of more than 5,000 people. She also performed and choreographed aerial bungee routines, blending storytelling with dynamic performance to create memorable productions.
Beyond the church stage, Christel has performed in Ultimate Brawl, Prelude, Flourished, and Superhuman, and has trained under Sorah Yang, Francis and Erika Tyrell, Commonality, and Young Skull Club.
Christel holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology and is currently studying Early Childhood Development — a background that shapes her teaching philosophy: every child deserves a safe, encouraging space to grow, take healthy risks, and discover confidence. For Christel, dance is about more than learning choreography; her goal is to help students grow not only as dancers but as kind, compassionate, and resilient individuals who lead with confidence, grace, and respect.