Jennifer has a B.A. in dance from The University of Akron and is Pilates certified. She has also studied dance at The University of North Carolina. She attended New York University's Summer Dance Program, where she had the opportunity to study with with Bebe Miller, David Dorfman, Doug Elkins, and Doug Varone. She has worked with Boston Ballet’s Citydance program, and has been teaching in the Boston area since 1998. She has performed with The Choreographer’s Group in Cambridge, MA and continues to stay active in the dance community. She has attended teaching seminars in Boston, MA and Las Vegas, NV.
Jackie O’Riley began Irish dancing in her teens in the Boston area, and learned from many of the local dancers. Since then she has developed a deep passion for this community tradition and has been seeking out dancing across Ireland and the US, attending workshops, classes, and ceilis. She currently studies with Kieran Jordan and has performed in A Christmas Celtic Sojourn, A St. Patrick’s Day Celtic Sojourn, BCMFest, and Re-Jigged in Nova Scotia, among others. She recently attended the summer school at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick, Ireland. Her classes focus on the musicality and strong community aspect of this tradition, while still emphasizing rhythm, timing, and technique.
Jenny Treat grew up in Concord, NH where she started dancing at the age of 3. Most of her dance training was under the direction of Jennifer Beauvais-Rienert at the New Hampshire School of Ballet in Hooksett, NH. While training at NHSB Jenny competed with the dance company winning numerous awards and performed lead roles in the schools’ annual Nutcracker and spring concerts.
Jenny recently graduated from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. She graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and was awarded the Dance Faculty Award for Excellence in Dance. While at the University of the Arts Jenny had the privilege of training with some of Philadelphia’s most honorable dance professionals such as Scott Jovovich, Roni Koresh, Ginger Cox, Kim Bears-Bailey, Brian Sanders, Molly Misgalla, Wayne St. David and Zane Booker.
Jackie Grady Dance Teacher
Jackie was educated and trained at The Boston Conservatory of Music. She competed regionally and nationally in dance for 10 years. Also, she has studied acrobatics and gymnastics. Jackie has been teaching for over 15 years, and formerly owned and operated her own studio's in New Jersey and Massachusetts.
Eden Roessel Dance Teacher
Eden Roessel recently graduated from Skidmore College with a B.S. in Dance. At Skidmore, Eden studied ballet, modern, jazz, and tap, performed in many faculty and student choreographed shows, and produced her own choreography. She also had the chance to work with guest artists from Doug Varone and Dancers and American Ballet Theatre, among others, and performed in works choreographed by Isadora Duncan, Doris Humphrey, Donald McKayle, and Robert Battle. Most recently, Eden completed an internship with the National Dance Education Organization, and studied with the Martha Graham Dance Company during their summer residency at Skidmore.
Pam Vlahakis Yoga Teacher
Pam is a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Teacher Alliance. She has a Masters in Education and is a Licensed Dietitian. She completed her yoga teacher training in 2001 at Yoga Spirit Studio in Essex, MA. He eclectic teaching style integrates various yoga traditions including Kripalu, Iyengar, and Astanga. Her teaching is also inspired by continuing study and training in Yoga Therapy and Medical Qi Gong. She teaches adults, kids, and family yoga.
Drika Overton Guest Dance Teacher
Drika Overton’s career has spanned over 25 years and includes work as a performer, teacher, choreographer, producer, and presenter. She is the creator and artistic director of the internationally recognized Portsmouth Percussive Dance Festival and MaD Theatricals, a unique collaboration of nationally and internationally recognized jazz and tap artists creating the critically acclaimed productions Clara's Dream a jazz nutcracker, and Music Hall Follies: A Vaudeville in 9 Acts with special guest artists Bill Irwin and Fayard Nicholas. Since 1990 she has produced and performed in concerts to promote jazz and tap to wide audiences throughout the region.
Drika has shared the stage with such acclaimed artists as Savion Glover, Jimmy Slyde, Buster Brown, Brenda Bufalino, Dianne Walker, and Keith Terry.
Drika teaches master classes and residencies at schools, colleges and universities, studios and festivals throughout the United States. Most recently she was commissioned to teach and choreograph work for dance companies at Rhode Island College in Providence and at Auburn University in Alabama.
Lisa Thibodeau Dance Teacher
Lisa Thibodeau holds a Master's degree in Dance Education from Lesley University. Additionally, Lisa has studied choreography with Garth Fagan in Brockport, NY. She has studied many forms of dance including Jazz, Modern, Creative Movement, African, Ballet, Contact Improvistation, and both International and American styles of Ballroom and Latin dancing. Lisa studied Ballroom with Kari Hyytienen and Ann Heiermann, and has had coaching from Jean-Marc Generoux and Edward Simon.Throughout her studies and career she has taught students ages 3 to adult with a variety of educational needs.
Colleen Edwards Dance Teacher
Colleen was born in Boulder, Colorado where she began her dance career twenty years ago. She studied and performed with the Boulder Ballet in works such as,The Nutcracker,Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, as well as a premier of Bella Luna. Colleen was also a founding Junior Company member of the Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet, which fueled her passion for choreography. Colleen staged her first full length ballet,Oasis, in 2004, and that same year was commissioned by the Boulder Ballet to choreograph for their BBII, Juliet.
Colleen attended the prestigious Boston Conservatory, where she furthered her dance education and earned her B.FA. in Dance Performance. She studied pedagogy with Donna Silva, and began teaching. Colleen has taught in cities around the country such as Alexander and Alexandria, Virginia and also in New York State and Louisiana.
Colleen has performed in High School Musical 2, in New York, at the Yorktown Stage and this past year has been a company member with the Baton Rouge Ballet Theater performing as a soloist in their Nutcracker: A Tale from the Bayou, and as the Winter Fairy in Cinderella. Colleen now lives in Quincy, MA with her dog and three bunnies.
Susan Donahue Zumba and Yogilates Teacher
Sue Donahue grew up in the Acton area and has been a fitness instructor since 1990. She is a certified personal trainer with additional certifications in Group Exercise and Zumba. Sue has taught classes from Boot Camp and Step to Yogilates and Zumba from Boston to California. She has a Masters Degree in Education and solid experience teaching individuals of different ages and multiple fitness levels.
Andrea Dumas Dance Teacher
Andrea Dumas started her dance education and training under the direction of Terri Gordon at Mass Motion Dance in her hometown, Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Andrea has been trained in various styles of dance, including Ballet, Modern, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Lyrical. She is a recent graduate of Keene State College, where she received a B.A. in Dance and minored in Communications. At Keene State, Andrea had the pleasure of working with Marcia Murdock, William Seigh, Candice Saylers, Cathy Nicoli, Nii-Yartey, and Heidi Henderson. Andrea has also attended and performed at the American College Dance Festival.
Faculty 
Faculty