Damaris Cauglan
Artistic Director
Damaris Caughlan founded Metropolitan Ballet of Tacoma in 1986 where she has passionately worked as a teacher, director, and choreographer. Damaris studied dance under the direction and mentoring of Jan Collum. Damaris studied in the former Soviet Union and is certified by the Minsk Choreographic School, Byelorussian Ministry of Culture. Additionally, Damaris is certified as a PBT (progressing ballet technique) instructor.
Brenda Mabus
Office Administrator
Brenda Mabus has been a part of MBT since the beginning in 1986. She has been everything from Company dancer, teacher and currently the office administrator. She works full time for Multicare and is a mother to 2 beautiful daughters.
Annalise Nilson
Director of Lower School Division
Annalise Nilson is an alumni of MBT. After dancing in the company division, she went on to complete a Bachelor of the Arts in Dance at Pacific University. She has trained in ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, choreography, and improvisation. She strives to develop meaningful relationships with students and help them find their own
confidence and artistry. When she isn’t teaching or dancing with the company, Annalise enjoys creating props and set pieces for MBT.
Liberty Knerr
Instructor
Liberty Knerr grew up dancing with Damaris and performed with the company through high school and off and on while in college. She attended the University of Washington, where she double majored in dance and psychology. Libey has cherished the years dancing with MBT and the friendships made along the way. She’s thankful for her husband Brian who always supports her love of dance and is overjoyed to share the studio and stage with her two children Mikayla & Cooper. Besides teaching the Level 4 ballet class at MBT, Ms. Libey also enjoys working at
her local elementary school.
Anna Krumpos
Instructor
Anna Krumpos has been dancing with MBT since she was eight years
old. She went on to receive a BFA in Dance and Minor in Arts Management from Dominican University of California/Alonzo King LINES BFA Program. She performed with Garrett Moulton Productions in San Francisco before returning to Tacoma in 2020. Anna loves teaching contemporary and ballet to the company and is grateful for the sanctuary MBT has created in her life over the years.
Carol Munsey
Instructor
Carol Munsey teaches Adult Ballet. She is a licensed physical therapist’s assistant, a licensed massage therapist and a certified Pilates mat instructor. She has been dancing since 1968 and joined the MBT family in 1995. She is currently exploring the art of flamenco. When not dancing, Carol lives at Periwinkle Pastures Poultry farm with her guy, Stuart, 47 chickens, 2 dogs and 3 cats. Any spare time goes to sewing, knitting, spinning yarn and playing in the garden.
Karen Haas
Piano Accompanist
Karen Haas enjoys bringing live music to MBT classes from the studio’s marvelous grand piano. When not “tickling the ivories”, she is busy as a Storyteller and bringing the past to life with a wide variety of engaging Living History presentations. As well as weaving words, Karen spins and weaves fibers as she brings traditional crafts to life. To learn more about Miss Karen’s “other lives”, check out her website at karenstoryteller.com.