Patricia Lavoie [ Ballet/Pointe & Variations ]
A native of Bedford, NH, Trisha has danced professionally with the Connecticut Ballet, New Jersey Ballet and the Des Moines Ballet. Prior to her professional career, Trisha received some of her early training at Point Park College and the Pennsylvania Ballet. She later continued her studies in New York City under scholarship 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 New Hampshire area, Trisha has taught for the Des Moines Ballet School, the Newton Arts Center and Spectrum Dance Theater.

Lea Apple [ Ballet ]
Ms. Apple began her dance training in Nashua, NH under the direction of Arlene Ashton. She later studied at various studios in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Lea then studied in New York City under the direction of Margaret Craske and Diana Byer. She went on to dance with New York Theatre Ballet Company. Ms. Apple graduated magna cum laude from Bradford College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Arts. During her time at Bradford she continued her studies in ballet, jazz and modern. We are happy to welcome Ms. Apple to SNHDT.

Douglas Davis [ Boy's Ballet & Pas de Deux ]
Mr. Davis is a former member of both the Bern and Zurich Ballet in Switzerland, and the Berlin Ballet in Germany. He received his early training with Stefan Wenta, and later with Irena Kovmoska at the Los Angeles Ballet School and the School of American Ballet (SAB) in New York City. Mr. Davis has been an instructor for the Zurich Opera House School, and is a former faculty member at the Middlesex Ballet Academy in Pepperell, MA.

Melissa Desrosiers [ Modern/Ballet/Adult Ballet ]

Melissa has been with SNHDT since it opened in 1996.  She received her early training with Patricia Rousseau in Merrimack, NH and performed locally with Granite State Ballet from 1985 through 1989.  She also trained with Betsy Collins, Clyde Nantais, Allan Kinzie, and James Rearson.  She earned a BFA degree in Dance Performance at Butler University in Indianpolis.  Melissa performed and choreographed for Spectrum Dance Company and Jennie & Company after college while teaching in Southern New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts.  She also works as administrator for SNHDT and for the Youth Ballet.

Tracy DiJulia [ Pre-School ]
Tracy 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. Tracy has performed with the Northeast Youth Ballet, Youth Dance Company, Granite State Ballet and the American Express Cruise Festival.

Robyn Goulette [ Ballet & Guest Modern Instructor ]
Robyn holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Boston Conservatory. She has danced professionally with the Granite State Ballet, MJT Dance Company, North Shore Civic Ballet and owned and directed Spectrum Dance Company in Townsend, MA for nine years. Previously, Robyn served as Assistant Director of Dance at the Franklin School for Performing Arts in Franklin, MA.

Laura Hall [ Tap/Dance Conditioning ]
Laura currently studies in Boston with Jeanette Neill and Clyde Nantais. She also studies extensively with Danny Buraczeski, founder and artistic director of JazzDance. Laura attended Jacobs Pillow for two seasons, where she studied with such notable artists as Dianne Walker and Billy Seigenfeld. Laura has performed with Jennie & Company in Fitchburg, MA, and has also with West End Dance Company, under the direction of Jeanette Neill. Laura works as a physical therapist assistant at Apple Therapy Services in Bedford, NH. She is a certified Pilates Practitioner through Polstar Education.  Laura has been teaching at SNHDT since it opened in 1996.

Nancy Hoffman [ Ballet & Beginner Tap ]
Nancy is a former member of the Boston Ballet, where she danced professionally for over seven years. As a member of the company, Nancy appeared in two world tours, including a tour in London with Rudolph Nureyev, performing Swan Lake. Prior to her professional career, Nancy received her early training at the LaPierre School of Dance, the Boston Ballet, and the School of American Ballet in New York City. Nancy has also taught for the LaPierre School of Dance, Jackie Casey's School of Dance and Jan Davis School of Dance. Nancy has been with Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater since 1997.

AnnMarie Lidman [ Pre-School/Pre-Ballet/Ballet ]

AnnMarie has had over ten years of training in classical ballet.  Among the productions in her performance history are The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and Paquita.  Her training also includes modern dance and tap.  Her teaching experience encompasses four years working with students age 2 through 8 at SNHDT including the Children’s Summer Dance Camps.  Ms. Lidman is also the co-founder of New Vision Video and Photography, specializing in dance and theater events.

Tara Pannell [ Intermediate Tap & Adult Tap ]
Tara has over fifteen years of training in tap, modern, jazz and classical ballet.  She is an alumni of SNHDT and went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Colby-Sawyer College.  While at Colby-Sawyer, Tara was an integral part of the college's dance organization.  She sat on the executive board as treasurer and vice president consecutively, while teaching and choreographing for campus performances.

Theresa Sculley [ Pre-School, Pre-Ballet, Tap & Ballet ]
Theresa began her ballet training at age 6 at the Classical Ballet School of Rhode Island where she eventually became a soloist performer and a teacher.  She continued her training at Granite State Ballet.  She then went on to teach at Broadway Bound Performing Arts Center and Success Dance and Performing Arts Center.  Theresa has performed in many productions including Coppelia, Les Sylphides, Ave Maria and Giselle.  Theresa also owned and directed a local pre-school for 10 years where movement and music were an important part of the curriculum.

Joan Talarico [ Pilates/Somatics, Dance Conditioning ]
Joan is a certified Pilates Instructor through both the Physical Mind Institute and the Stott Institute. In September 2000, she opened The Studio, a Pilates-based movement center. Ms. Talarico has performed with the Ballet Arts Dance Ensemble and the Granite State Ballet. She considers her work with Cambridge's Marcus Schulkind as a significant influence in her presentation of the Pilates method. Joan has been with Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater for six years.

Marina Van Winkle [ Ballet & Pointe ]
Marina Van Winkle is a native of Kiev, Ukraine. Ms. Van Winkle is a graduate of the A.M. Gorky Teaching Institute in Kiev and holds a M.S. in Education. As a professional, Ms. Van Winkle has performed with the Classical Dance Ensemble in Kiev where she has appeared in principal classical and character roles in ballets such as Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. Marina has taught for The Classical Dance Ensemble in Kiev, Ukraine and the Colonial Figure Skating Club in Acton, MA. She is currently on the faculty at The Acton School of Ballet and The New Hampshire Academy of Performing Arts in Seabrook, NH.

Sallie Werst [ Jazz & Hip-Hop ]
Sallie is a recent graduate of Pace University in Manhattan where she received a B.A. in business with an art minor. A former student of SNHDT, Sallie studied ballet with Trisha Lavoie since the age of five and also studied jazz with Laura Hall and Jen Hammar. After graduating high school, Sallie continued dancing in NYC at Ballet Academy East under Darla Hoover, and later joined the work/study scholarship program at STEPS on Broadway. Sallie was introduced to hip-hop at a guest workshop with dancer/choreographer Darrin Henson. She was immediately drawn to the intricate choreography, deep rhythms, and high energy dance form.