Meet the People Who Inspire.
Our teachers bring professional experience, internationally recognised qualifications and a genuine passion for teaching to every class. Across Dance, Music and Taekwondo, they guide each student with expertise, encouragement and care.
The team
Riyas Valiya
Taekwondo Teacher
Mohammad Nasurudeen
Taekwondo Teacher 
Aya Arsouzi
Music Teacher
Almast Hakobyan
Music Teacher
Maribel Espelita
Teacher Assistant 
Satya Kumari
Security In-charge
Ballet Teacher | RAD RTS
Magda Nastase
Miss Magda Nastase is a Royal Academy of Dance Registered Teacher (RAD RTS) with over 10 years of professional teaching experience. A graduate of the National Ballet School in Bucharest and holder of a Master’s degree, she brings extensive international experience from Canada, Australia, and Romania.
Her professional performance experience includes renowned productions such as Swan Lake, Giselle, and Cinderella.
Passionate, creative, and dedicated, Miss Magda focuses on developing each dancer’s technique, confidence, artistry, musicality, and love for ballet, while creating a positive and encouraging environment for every student.
Proprietor
Mangalika Jayalath
Mangalika became principal of The Ballet Centre by the end of 2008 and officially became the owner in 2012, having handled accounting, finance, media and staff management. She began the initiative to open a branch in Motor City and facilitates the biannual dance productions. In January 2018 the school's production of Alice in Wonderland raised 75,000 AED for cancer research. Her stated goal is a family friendly school that she would be proud to send her own children to.
Read the full profileChief Instructor, UAE ITF Taekwon-Do
Sabum Abdurahiman
A 6th Dan black belt, international instructor, examiner and Class A umpire. Sabum has taught ITF Taekwon-Do for 32 years, 17 of them in the UAE, and has trained children, adults, army commandos, air force police and forest department personnel. He received a best fighter award in 1984 and a best instructor award from Russia in 2009. He is a member of the Asian Taekwon-Do Association and the International Taekwon-Do Federation, vice president and umpire chairperson of the Taekwon-Do Association of India, and president of UTAK.
Read the full profileHead of Music
Ravien Prakash George
More than 25 years teaching music from beginner to diploma level, in both academic and studio settings. Ravien holds a Licentiate Diploma in Piano and an AMus TCL Diploma in Music Theory from Trinity College of Music, London, and Grade 8 Flute from ABRSM. He has been a music teacher in Dubai since 2000 and Head of Music from 2010, and has trained and conducted school choirs and orchestras.
Read the full profileDeveloper and Lead Teacher
Tala Kudrya
An early childhood educator with practical experience since 2015, Tala developed the centre's early years approach based on recognised Early Years methods, and authored the course materials that go with it, including exercises, music, songs and finger play rhymes. She has also taught piano since 2011, for leisure and for examinations, across pop and classical repertoire, and writes lead sheets to introduce chord learning and composition.
Read the full profileReception and Administration
Ailyn Elcanto
Ailyn joined The Ballet Centre in 2022 and is usually the first person families meet. She handles class enquiries, schedules, registrations and payments, and is happy to help with anything at the front desk.
Junior Accountant
Deepika Kodithuwakku
More than nine years of professional experience across several industries. Deepika supports the centre's daily financial and administrative operations.
Read the full profileMeet Them in a Class.
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