The Faculty

A native of Bedford, NH, Ms. Lavoie has danced professionally with the Connecticut Ballet, New Jersey Ballet and the Des Moines Ballet. She received training at Point Park University, the Pennsylvania Ballet and in New York City with Robert Blankshine, Chris D'Amboise, Nannette Glushak, David Howard, Finis Jhung, John Prinz, Gerard Sibbrett and BoJan Spassoff. In addition to teaching extensively throughout the NH area, Ms. Lavoie has taught for the Des Moines Ballet School, the Newton Arts Center and Spectrum Dance Theater.

Ms. Apple began her dance training in NH under the direction of Arlene Ashton. She then studied in NYC under the direction of Margaret Craske and Diana Byer. She danced professionally with New York Theater Ballet Company. Ms. Apple graduated magna cum laude from Bradford College with a BFA in Creative Arts. She currently teaches at various local dance studios.

Ms. Cote studied dance at such prestigious schools as the Maryland School of Ballet, The American Ballet Theatre Summer School and The Academy of The Washington Ballet. She was a founding member and principal dancer with Washington Ballet. Ms. Cote had ballets created for her by Choo-San Goh including Birds of Paradise, Schubert Symphony, and Fives. She held the title of resident choreographer at The Washington Ballet and has received numerous awards for her professional choreography.

A former scholarship student at The School of American Ballet, Mr. Davis has danced professionally with the Los Angeles Ballet, Zurich Ballet, Frankfurt Ballet and The Bern Ballet. In addition to teaching throughout the New England area, Mr. Davis is a faculty member and artist-in-residence with SNHDT.

Ms. DiJulia has been teaching throughout the New Hampshire and Massachusetts area since 1997. She received her early training at Donna Miceli's Dance Center in Tewksbury, MA. She has performed with the Northeast Youth Ballet, Youth Dance Company, Granite State Ballet and the American Express Cruise Festival.

Ms. Goulette holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Boston Conservatory. She has danced professionally with the Granite State Ballet, MJT Dance Company and North Shore Civic Ballet. She served as Assistant Director of Dance at the Franklin School for Performing Arts. Ms. Goulette also owned and directed Spectrum Dance Company for nine years.

Trained in modern, tap and jazz, Kristina's passion lies with tapping. She has studied with tappers Josh Hilberman, Diane Walker, Drika Overton, the Klaus Brothers and Laura Hall at SNHDT. She has participated in programs like Portsmouth Percussive Dance Festival and Boston Summer Dance Festival. A graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Health Management and Policy, she works at Catholic Medical Center as a Financial Analyst. Kristina is excited to combine her love of music, dance and teaching in the upcoming year.

Ms. Lidman has many years of dance training in classical ballet, including several years at SNHDT. Her training also includes modern dance and tap. She currently teaches at various local dance studios and has been instrumental in the development of our children's summer dance programs. Ms. Lidman also owns her own professional photography studio, specializing in portraits as well as dance and theater events.

Mr. Sun received his primary ballet training from Richard Thomas and Barbara Fallis, at the New York School of Ballet. He has taught extensively throughout the Northeast since 1989, including Boston College, Boston Ballet and The Ballet Space. Mr. Sun has taught various classes at SNHDT since its inception.

Ms. Werst is a graduate of Pace University receiving a B.A. in Business with an Art Minor. A former student of SNHDT, she has danced in performances of Don Quixote, Giselle, La Bayad'e, Black Swan Pas of Swan Lake, George Balanchine's Valse Fanatisie, and The Nutcracker. Ms. Werst was introduced to the hip-hop style at a workshop in NYC with dancer/choreographer Darrin Henson and continued with classes at STEPS, Broadway Dance Center, and Dance New Amsterdam. Ms. Werst is currently a cheerleader with the New England Patriots.

Ms. Stuart received her B.S. degree in Dance, with a concentration in Dance Therapy from Skidmore College. She has been a roster artist and trainer with the VSA Arts of NH since 1985. Professional teaching credits include theater faculty of New England College, associate artistic director and choreographer for Petit Papillon and the Children's Ballet Theater of NH.

Laura Horne is a graduated of Skidmore College holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Dance. She further studied on scholarship at the Alvin Ailey School and continued her studied in NYC with Mary OÕDonnell, Finis Jhung, Frank Hatchett and at the Actors and Directors Lab with Jack Garfein. He teaching credits include the Lycee International Schools in Los Angles and Kathy Blake Dance studios in Amherst, NH. Laura has performed Off Broadway, at the American Dance Festival and at Scotland's Edinburgh Festival.

Heather Budinscak is a fully certified STOTT Pilates instructor and has been teaching Pilates to athletes and post-rehab clients since 2003. She has her Bachelor and Masters degrees in dance. In 2003, she graduated with a Masters of Fine Arts from New York Universities' TISCH School of the Arts. While in NYC Heather studied Pilates under Kathy Grant, one of the few remaining disciples of Joseph Pilates. Heather began dancing at age 5 while living in Denmark, and while growing up had the wonderful opportunity to continue her education throughout the US, including with both Patricia Lavoie and Robyn Goulette. With 10 years of professional dance performance and choreography in Philadelphia and NYC, Heather is thrilled to have the opportunity to return to the dance world and educate dancers on the principles and exercises of this performance enhancing technique once more.

Jay is an alumnus of SNHDT, where he was trained in ballet and jazz and performed in The Nutcracker, Graduation Ball, The Magic Toyshop, Don Quixote and Le Corsaire. Jay also trained with and was part of the Palace Teen Company at the Palace Theatre in Manchester. He has performed in numerous productions at the Palace Theatre including 42nd Street, Sweet Charity, The Producers, The Wedding Singer, All Shook Up and Pippin.

Mr. Briones was born in Mexico City and is a graduate of The National School of Classical Ballet, The National School of Contemporary Dance and The Royal Academy of Dancing in Mexico City. His performing and teaching credits include Ballet Austin, New Haven Ballet, Connecticut Ballet & Ballet Theatre of Annapolis. Mr. Briones is currently the Co-Founder Mid-Pointe Project, NYC

Ms. King is currently on faculty at Steps on Broadway in NYC and has taught internationally at Dance Works, Dansstage Dance Festival, the Paris Centre. She has also been on faculty at Peridance in NYC. She has performed in such musicals as Cats, A Chorus Line and Fame. Ms. King is a former company member of Impulse Dance Co.

A former member of the world famous Radio City Music Hall Rockettes in New York City, Ms. Mello has appeared on the David Letterman Show, Good Morning America, and the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. She has shared the stage with Joel Grey in Cabaret and with Mickey Rooney in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Ms. Mello has also trained with such notable instructors as Lynn Simonson, Michael Shawn, Ann Reinking and Lee Theodore, founder of American Dance Machine.

Mr. Pawlyshyn is a graduate of the Professional Division of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, where later he joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. He also holds a Graduate Certificate from the Pavlo Virsky Character Studio in Kiev, Ukraine. He has danced with Louisville Ballet, Nevada Dance Theater and Boston Ballet. Upon retiring from dancing, he was invited to join the staff of the Boston Ballet School, where he taught for seven years. Mr. Pawlyshyn is currently the Director of the Kansas City Ballet School.

Ms. Talarico is a certified Pilates Instructor through both the Physical Mind Institute and the Stott Institute. She is currently the owner of The Studio Within, a Pilates studio. Ms. Talarico performed locally with Ballet Arts Dance Ensemble and the Granite State Ballet. She considers her work with Marcus Schulkind as a significant influence in her presentation of the Pilates method.

Ms. Van Winkle is a graduate of the A.M. Gorky Teaching Institute in Kiev and holds an M.S. in Education. She has performed with the Classical Dance Ensemble in Kiev, appearing in both principal classical and character roles. She has taught for The Classical Dance Ensemble in Kiev, the Colonial Figure Skating Club, The Acton School of Ballet and The NH Academy of Performing Arts.

Janice Niggeling is originally from Merrimack, N.H. and an alumnus of SNHDT. She continued her dance education at Ballet Academy East in NYC while earning her degree in finance from Fordham University. She has danced with the Broadway companies of The Phantom of the Opera and West Side Story. Other credits include dancing in The Radio City Christmas Spectacular and with The Metropolitan Opera.

Thomas Ortiz is originally from Merrimack, NH, where he began his dance training at Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater, under the direction of Trisha Lavoie. He recently graduated from Marymount Manhattan College where he earned a BFA in Dance in 2009. While at Marymount he had the honor of working with world renowned choreographers David Parsons, Pedro Ruiz, Molissa Fenley, Edgar Zendejas, Robert Battle, and Stephen Petronio. Since graduation Thomas has had the privilege of working and dancing in Chet Walker's company WalkerDance, and is preparing for a Joyce SoHo season with Kim Gibilisco Dances in March.

Lauren Stewart received her early training at Southern NH Youth Ballet, Ballet Academy East & the School of American Ballet(SAB) in NYC and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. In 2003, she was invited to perform in the corps de ballet with American Ballet Theater in MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. From August 2003 to 2004, she performed with Cincinnati Ballet, and in August 2004 she joined the Joffrey Ballet, where she was a company member until June 2009. In September 2009 she joined the Suzanne Farrell Ballet.

Bafana Solomon Matea, is a founding member of JUXTAPOWER. He was born in Pretoria, South Africa where he had his first classical training in dance. He received a scholarship to study at the Alvin Ailey Dance School in 1999. Upon graduation, he joined Ballet Hispanic, Elisa Monte, Juxtapower, Dance Synonymous and Battery Dance Theater. Bafana has toured countries like Australia, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Malaysia, Vietnam, Israel, Jordan, and many more.

Ashley Sass received her early training at the South Dayton School of Dance and later received additional training on full scholarship at the Rock School, Pittsburgh Youth Ballet and Hubbard Street Dance in Chicago. Ms. Sass is a graduate of Point Park University holding a BA in Dance. While at Point Park, she earned the opportunity to perform at the Kennedy Center of Performing Arts. It was here where she was awarded the Northeast Performer of the Year. She has danced professionally with Atlanta Ballet, Dayton Ballet, and is now on faculty at South Dayton School of Dance and adjunct professor at Wright State University. In 2009, Ashley received the Monticello Award for Best Emerging Choreographer and the Barbara Weisenberger Award for Best Choreography for “Aloft.” In 2010 she received the Project Tier Award for her work “Sudden Impulse. In 2010 & 2011 Ms. Sass also received the National Choreographic Award.

Ursula was awarded a ballet scholarship to Ballet Austin Academy and The Joffrey Ballet School where she graduated in 1996. Since then she has danced professionally with Connecticut Ballet, New York Dance Theatre, New York Ballet Dance Theatre, Dayane Faye Dance Theatre, River Ballet Company, Ballet New York, Ad Hoc Ballet and Ballet Neo. She has been a member of the Staten Island Ballet for over six years where she has danced soloist and principle roles in classical and contemporary ballets. Since 2008 Ursula has been a faculty member at Ballet Forte in Chester, NJ and founded The Latin Choreographers Festival in NYC. Ursula also teaches Gyrokinesis and is the Co-Founder of Mid-Pointe Project in NYC.