Academy Leadership
Sara Jansen Clayborne, Chief Executive Officer
Originally from New York, Sara is a choreographer, educator, and arts leader with more than two decades of experience in dance training and youth development. She trained under Diana Byer and Sallie Wilson at the Ballet School of New York and began her professional career with New York Theatre Ballet.
In 2007, Sara co-founded Charlottesville Ballet and now serves as Chief Executive Officer of the organization. Sara brings a deep understanding of technical development, artistry, and student growth to the school. She has a strong passion for understanding child development, psychology, and the ways students learn and grow. As an American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher in Primary through Level 7 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum, Sara integrates this developmentally sound pedagogy with her knowledge of child development to support a holistic approach to training at Charlottesville Ballet Academy. She is committed to creating an inclusive, nurturing environment where students can grow artistically, physically, and personally through dance.
Keith Lee, Artist Laureate and Director of Diversity & Inclusion
Keith hails from the Bronx, NY and began training at the High School of Performing Arts in NYC. In 1969, Keith was the first Black soloist to join the American Ballet Theatre and he went on to dance with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. His repertory included the choreography of such luminaries as Alvin Ailey, George Balanchine, Agnes DeMille, Lar Lubovitch, Jerome Robbins, Birgit Cullberg, Harold Lander, and Antony Tudor, as well as performance credits in theater and broadway musicals. He has served as ballet master for Ailey and Dallas Black Dance Theatre, and Capitol Ballet, and has been teaching and choreographing for dance companies across the world.
Keith has called Central Virginia home since 1994, and he was named Artist Laureate by the City of Lynchburg where he continues to work as a freelance choreographer, master teacher, and performing arts coordinator. The first Keith Lee Dance Summit took place in 2026 at the Virginia Center For The Creative Arts, celebrating his long time collaborations with New York, Washington, Virginia, and Tennessee artists. He has shared his vision and 50-year dance legacy with the Charlottesville Ballet since 2008, and he serves as Resident Choreographer and Director of Diversity & Inclusion for the entire organization.
Anne Shaffer, Office Manager
Anne trained in the arts from a young age, initially focusing on both ballet and violin. While her focus turned more towards violin for many years, which included performance and instruction, Anne was delighted to have returned to dance, working from volunteer to Assistant Studio Manager and then, for the last 6 years, Studio Manager with Ecclesia School of the Arts. Anne is excited to be a part of the Charlottesville Ballet family. Serving as Office Manager for Lynchburg Ballet Academy, Anne’s focus is on keeping daily operations seamless and welcoming for students, families, and staff alike. With a strong passion for supporting the performing arts, she handles administrative logistics, scheduling, and student coordination with clear organization and care. When she’s not keeping the studio running smoothly behind the scenes, Anne enjoys finding new adventures with her family.
Academy Faculty & Staff
Bethany Cox
Bethany began dancing at the age of three and trained in South Florida before continuing her education in Lynchburg, Virginia. She also studied dance through Liberty University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Education and Counseling. She later became a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), bringing both educational and behavioral expertise into her teaching. Since 2019, Bethany has choreographed for local schools, theater programs, and community productions. She has taught in the studio setting since 2024, specializing in tap, jazz, and musical theater. She continues to perform in local theater and has served as Dance Captain for multiple productions. Bethany is passionate about helping dancers build confidence, technique, and a lifelong love of dance.
Devin Edelen
Devin grew up in Charlotte Hall, Maryland, where she trained at Elite Dance Company in ballet, lyrical, jazz, contemporary, open, hip-hop, tap, and musical theater, with a special focus on lyrical. Throughout her training, she had the opportunity to perform at venues across the country, including in Chicago, and participate in master classes with professional dancers and choreographers from around the world. Devin has received multiple choreography and judges’ awards recognizing her technique, artistry, and performance. In 2024, she was honored as Ms. Ticket to Broadway in the Senior Advanced division. Devin has experience teaching and choreographing everything from individual solos to large productions. She is passionate about creating an encouraging, disciplined environment where students can grow in technique, creativity, character, and confidence. Outside of dance, Devin loves spending time with her husband, Elijah, and watching Marvel movies with him.
Abby Owen
Abby resides in Lynchburg, Virginia, where she thrives as a creator, performer, choreographer, and educator. Originally from Kissimmee, Florida, Abby trained as a competitive dancer, holding multiple awards in national competitions. She received her BFA in Musical Theatre from Liberty University, followed by her MFA in Dance from Hollins University. While studying dance abroad, Abby trained in a variety of performance genres with internationally acclaimed artists, including Butoh, the avant-garde Japanese dance-theatre form. In Lynchburg, Abby has served as Artistic Director of Dance Works at the University of Lynchburg and as Company Director for Ecclesia School of the Arts. She is excited to share her love of storytelling through dance with the Lynchburg Ballet Academy.
Adelaide Shaffer
Adelaide is a dedicated dancer, instructor, and artist raised right here in Lynchburg. She began her training at age nine, building a versatile foundation across jazz, tap, hip-hop, musical theatre, and modern, with a primary passion for ballet and pointe. In addition to her extensive studio training, Adelaide has performed in numerous local musical theatre productions with the Masterworx community and is making her professional performance debut with Alluvion Stage Company in My Fair Lady. This fall, she is attending Liberty University to pursue a major in Dance and a minor in Graphic Design. As a passionate educator working to instill a love of dance, Adelaide loves sharing her deep appreciation for movement and artistic expression. Outside of the studio and stage, she enjoys spending time with family, adventuring to Disney, crafting, and relaxing with her favorite movies and shows. Adelaide is thrilled to join the faculty at Lynchburg Ballet Academy and looks forward to inspiring the next generation of dancers!
Photo credits: Alisa Foytik and more!