Our Teachers
Cynthia Calgaro Bragg
Cindy Bragg rehearsing in the studio.
Cindy Bragg took her first formal dance classes with Ms. Grace (founder of School for Swans) when she was just 3! She has continued training ever since, studying Classical Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Modern, Yoga, Stretch, and Pilates. She danced soloist roles at Radford University and choreographed for the Virginia Dance Company at UVA. Cindy has a Masters in Teaching from UVA, is certified to teach preK-6th grade in VA, and has achieved National Board Certification. She has been teaching since 1992, when she began working as an apprentice dance instructor.
In addition to teaching, Cindy serves as the Recital Producer for the annual School for Swans recital.
Elenaluisa Alvarez
Elenaluisa Alvarez
Elenaluisa Alvarez grew up in Lima, Peru, and trained at the Estudio de Ballet Lucy Telge, under the guidance of Gloria Centurion and Patricia Ramirez. There she was able to perform with the Municipal Ballet of Lima as Clara in the Nutcracker and Cupid in Don Q, among other ballets.
In 2013 she moved to North Carolina to study Dance Performance at East Carolina University, where she trained in ballet, modern, jazz and tap. There she earned the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) grant highlighting choreography. After graduating in 2017 with Magna Cum Laude, she went to take part in the international Dance Journey program with Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company in Israel.
She danced with the Bowen McCauley Dance Company, under the direction of Lucy Bowen, in Arlington, Virginia, from 2018 to 2021. She performed with Bowen McCauley Dance Company at the Kennedy Center in May 2019 and 2021.
After a year of performing with Wonderbound contemporary ballet company, she joined BodyVox dance company where she is a performing artist as well as school faculty.
Elenaluisa joined the teaching staff at School for Swans in the Fall of 2018 and teaches the Pointe Strengthening class on Monday evenings.
Rachel Goldberg
Ballet and tap teacher Rachel Goldberg on stage for the final bow with students, May 2022 recital.
Rachel Goldberg has taught dance to students of all ages, ages 2 through 92. She started teaching when she was in high school, and has been teaching in Northern Virginia for the past 9 years. Growing up in the Chicago area, Rachel had the privilege of studying at Ruth Page Ballet School, Gus Giordano Dance Center, the Ballet Russe School of Inesse Alexandrovich, and at the Interlochen National Music Camp. She learned multiple dance forms including ballet, tap, jazz, modern and folk dance before moving to New York and other East Coast locations to further her dance studies and performance.
Rachel danced with the Ballet Theater of Pennsylvania, Scranton Civic Ballet, Harrisburg Ballet, and Ballet Theatre of Maryland (formerly Ballet Theatre of Annapolis) performing classical ballet, contemporary, modern and jazz works. Rachel has performed locally with Helping Arts through the Arts. Firmly believing that everyone can dance, Rachel looks forward to sharing the joy of movement with her students.
Outside of the dance studio, Rachel enjoys the outdoors, needlework, and spending time with her husband and three children.
Erin Mitchell Nelson
Ballet Teacher Erin Nelson
Erin Mitchell Nelson has been a professional dancer, teacher and choreographer for more than 20 years.
Her various credits include company member with the Latin Ballet of Virginia and Wellspring/Cori Terry and Dancers (Michigan); Educational Programs Assistant for the Latin Ballet of Virginia; teaching artist in Virginia and Michigan public schools; faculty at Western Michigan University Department of Dance; and Program Coordinator for Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell.
Erin holds a BFA in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University, and an MA in Arts Management from American University. She has toured throughout the United States and Mexico, and continues to work as a freelance choreographer. She is the Cofounder and Managing Director of Taffety Punk Theatre Company in Washington, DC.
Erin lives in Alexandria with her husband and twin sons.
© 2025 School for Swans, LLC
BALLET + TAP CLASSES FOR CHILDREN + ADULTS
OLD TOWN, ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA
430 S. Fairfax St. Alexandria, VA 22314
703-338-1330 | [email protected]
Photos by Louise Krafft