Karina Melikyan

Founder/Artistic Director of KKSD

Karina has been trained in Vaganova style classical ballet  at the Yerevan State Choreographic School. Upon graduation she joined Opera and Ballet National Theatre of Yerevan as a ballet artist.

She then studied languages at Yerevan State University and earned her MS in oriental studies in 2008. During the course she traveled to Syria and took her passion to dance with her. While learning the language she also taught Armenian dances in Damascus, Syria.

Upon moving to USA, Karina continued pursuing her dream of teaching dance and worked with a number of ballet schools in the greater Seattle area. Karina founded KKSD in 2015.

Shushanik Babayan

Guest Choreographer

Shushanik was born in Yerevan, Armenia. First step in dance world she did  at the Yerevan State  Dancing Art College and graduated as an artist of ballet in 2010. Same year Shushanik joined ,,Barekamutyun’’ State Dance Ensemble of Armenia and shortly was promoted as a soloist. Her breakthrough performance was in ,,Siretsi’’, which became her signature performance. Meantime she continued her studies at Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography. Currently Shushanik works as an instructor of classical ballet (Vaganova method) and National dances in Los Angeles area.

Alisa Sargsyan

Pianist, Music Educator, Composer

Alisa is an award-winning composer, pianist and music educator currently based in Kirkland, Washington, USA.University of Washington alumna, Alisa holds a Master of Music degree in Composition, a Master of Arts degree in Piano Performance from the Yerevan State Conservatory of Music and a D.M.A. from the Academy of Arts and Sciences. Among her honors are Grand-Prix in the Juniors Assembly of the Arts International Competition, First Prize and Gold Medal in the Amadeus Belgian-Armenian competition, Third Prize in the Benjamen Britten competition. Alisa alsо received a Special Prize from Moscow News Newspaper and a Fellowship from Arno Babajanian Foundation. Her compositions have been performed in the USA, UK, Finland, Netherlands, Russia, Armenia and Georgia. Among Alisa's latest works is the Little Prince ballet, commissioned by Karin Kirkland School of Dance and successfully premiered in the United States in June 2022. A box office success, it gained positive reviews from both the critics and the public. For the past several years Alisa has participated at KKSD summer programs and annual performances as a pianist/educator.

Yasmin Araujo Ferreira

Classical Ballet and Modern Dance Instructor, Performer

I began my dance training at the age of six in Brazil, where I studied at Basileu França. At eighteen, I moved to Romania to work with a professional ballet company, gaining valuable international stage experience. I am an active performer and do modeling for ballet projects. I enjoy teaching, sharing my knowledge and passion for classical ballet with the next generation of dancers. I joined KKSD as an instructor in 2026 and have performed in KKSD’s annual performances and ballet productions “The Snow Queen” and “The Little Prince”.

Luz Franco

Flamenco Dance Instructor

Luz Franco’s passion for dance and music ignited during her early years. She began with ballet classes, but it was flamenco that truly captured her heart. At 16 she attended a flamenco show in her hometown in Mexico, and from that moment, flamenco became an integral part of her life. Luz has actively participated in workshops conducted by renowned flamenco artists across Mexico, the United States, and Spain. These experiences have enriched her understanding of this captivating art form and allowed her to connect with fellow dancers and enthusiasts from diverse cultural backgrounds. Luz believes that flamenco has a unique ability to bring people together. It transcends borders and unites individuals from various walks of life, allowing them to experience its rhythm, passion, and cultural significance firsthand.

Datev Tavitian

Armenian National Guest Instructor/KKSD Alumna

Datev, a Kirkland, Washington native, has been dancing at KKSD for over eight years. Her dedication to Armenian dance led her to become one of KKSD's first graduates in 2023.

With roots from Armenia and the Middle East, Datev's heritage deeply influences her journey. Introduced to Armenian/National Dance by KKSD founder Karina in 2015, Datev's connection to her roots grew stronger, inspiring her to share her heritage. Seeking excellence, she pursued advanced Armenian dance training at "Nane Dance Studio" in Yerevan, Armenia, enriching her repertoire with unique cultural forms and techniques.