Miss Abigail Fine, Director/Owner Miss Abigail Fine, certified dance educator and “Director Of The Year” in 2005 is “Raising The Barre” at her state-of-the-art studio located in Needham, MA. Miss Abigail is dedicated to offering each style of dancer a well-rounded education and lives to inspire dancers to have confidence in who they are. She encourages them to reach for the stars and always raise their own personal barre. Abigail has been studying dance since the age of three. Her classical and contemporary education is in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Acrobatics, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Modern, Latin Ballroom, Baton Twirling and Musical Theater. As a young dancer she performed in theatrical productions and dance competitions. Abigail received numerous awards for her achievements in performance. Growing up as a well rounded dancer, singer and actress Abigail quickly learned the importance of the fundamentals and keeping an open mind. As a teacher she sets out each day to inspire dancers and her teachers to open their minds to new concepts and movement sequences forcing them to improve on a daily basis. As Abigail entered her teenage years, her dance teacher who later became one of her best friends and her mentor for life, began the apprentice program and soon was invited to begin a teaching certification program through Dance Teachers Club of Boston and Dance Masters Of America. Once she completed the years of classes and passed the written and physical exams she received her teaching certification in Dance Instruction & Music Theory. In the summer of 2000, Abigail was selected as part of the first staff for the Britney Spears Camp For The Performing Arts and worked along side celebrity and famous choreographers teaching and inspiring hundreds of inner-city youths from all over the country. Abigail has studied with top master instructors and choreographers from all over the world. To name a few; Mia Michaels, Brian Friedman, Wade Robson, Debbie Dee, Chris Judd, Greg Russel, Dave Scott, Bob Rizzo, Laurie-Ann Gibson, Shane Sparks, Tyce Dioriio and many more. It is Abigail's belief that dancers and athletes must understand their bodies and how to take care of them properly. In college Abigail received her Bachelors degree in Exercise Physiology with a double major Nutrition and Health, and her minor in Dance and Somatic Movement Therapy. It is Abigail’s fundamental belief that the fitness and dance world must be brought together to help dancers respect their minds and bodies. Abigail strives to give each dancer the attention they deserve and understands that each dancer is an individual and learns at a different pace. Abigail’s reputation precedes her and her students have been known to fall in love with her infectious laugh and loving demeanor and warmth. Abigail has vowed to herself and her dancers to impart her love for dance, movement and self expression on them every day. In return she asks each of her dancers to try their very best, working each day at achieving more confidence, body control, strength, flexibility and understanding of choreography. It is her lifelong dream and mission to inspire all of you!
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	Miss Brandie Souza Miss Brandie began dancing at the age of 7. As a resident of Connecticut, she grew up in Dayville where she studied dance at Dottis School of Dance in Danielson, CT and Diane Power Dance Dimensions in Woodstock, CT. She has a well-rounded dance background consisting of tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical / contemporary and hip-hop. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Lasell College with a BA in marketing. She has taught throughout the Boston area and has experience teaching all levels and styles of students. Numerous of Brandie's competition dances have received regional and national recognition, top scores and special awards for choreography, performance, and costume/concept design. Judges say Brandies choreography is unique, creative, outside the box, fun and has refreshing fantastic twists on the fundamentals. Brandie has been actively involved in musical theater, college and high school NCAA dance teams, and choreographed beauty show and talent searches. One highlight of her dance career was beating out hundreds of dancers and making it to the final rounds of the first ever Boston Celtics Dance Team. Brandies passion has always been dance and she loves teaching others who share the same passion. She is grateful for the opportunity to teach others and she loves being able to positively impact the minds of dancers and make a difference in each of their lives. Back
	Miss Cailin Casey Miss Cailin began her dance training in Woodstock, CT at Diane Powers Dance Domensions. She grew up in a well rounded dance program which allowed her the options of becoming a performer and teacher in the future. Throughout High School Cailin was recognized but her peers as a leader and received many high level awards throughout her competitive dance years. Cailin went on to pursue her Bachelors degree in Performing Arts from the nationally recognized dance program at Oklahoma City University. During those four years in college, Cailin also became an active member of the American Spirit Dance Company under the direction of the famous, Jo Rowan. After college, Cailin auditioned and worked professionally throughout New York City. She was then cast as a chorus dancer in Jubilee, which sent her to live in Las Vegas for six months. After her stay in Las Vegas she was cast in the ensemble of The Producers and then 42nd Street here in Boston, which is where she decided to get married and start her family. In addition to teaching, Cailin has recently been selected as a judge with Dancers Inc. The National Dance Competition and Turn It Up Dance Challenge. Judging competitions has given Cailin a unique perspective on contemporary ideas in choreography and she is excited to bring that knowledge to our competitive students as well as our recreational classes. Cailin is honored to be joining the faculty at AFDS and is looking forward to a fun and inspirational year. Back
	Miss Carolyn Breton Miss Carolyn was born and raised in Dracut, MA. where she began her dance training at a local studio under the direction of Lisa Pilato. Having been a major part of the competition program, Carolyn was recognized by her teachers and peers for her well rounded excellence. After graduating, she went on to study, on scholarship, at the University of the Arts working with well-known artists such as Kim Bears-Bailey, Zane Booker, Ronen Koresh, and Brian Sanders. Carolyn then continued her studies at The Boston Conservatory under the direction of Yasuko Tokunaga. She has performed works by "Group Motion" and as a soloist in both of Jose Limon's classics, "The Winged" and "There is a Time". Recently Carolyn was a featured choreographer in Boston Conservatory's 2010 spring performance with the premiere of, "The Chase". Carolyn continues to attend intensive summer programs in New York, including Parsons Dance & The Pulse, working with Emmy nominated choreographers from ‘So You Think You Can Dance' and ‘Dancing With The Stars'. Carolyn is currently teaching, choreographing, and working towards her BFA in dance at The Boston Conservatory and is looking forward to helping the AFDS students to further broaden their vocabulary and technical skills through creative and innovative choreography. She will use ballet fundamentals as well as contemporary more out of the box creative methods to inspire and motivate each dancer to do their best and always remain positive and open minded. Miss Carolyn just wants dancers to give it their best and "see what comes out". Back
	Miss Elissa DiBona Elissa DiBona twirled her way into the dance studio at only 2 years old. At 6, she auditioned for the Boston Ballet, and spent 12 years seriously studying the Vaganova (Russian) tradition of ballet. She performed with the Company for several years in the critically acclaimed Nutcracker at the Wang Center in Boston. To compliment her ballet training, Elissa also studied tap, jazz, and lyrical genres, competing regionally and nationally throughout New England. She continued her studies at Hofstra University in New York, pursuing her love of dance, as well as minoring in Creative Writing and Psychology. After graduation, Elissa made the decision to move to New York, teaching and choreographing full time at dance studios on Long Island. In 2005, she was the co-founder and Artistic Director of the FAITH Dance Project, a contemporary ballet company that performs in Manhattan. She holds a graduate degree from Boston University, having studied Performing Arts Management. She is in love with her students, and wants to share her love of ballet and all things pink and sparkly with her "kids"! Back
	Miss Alyson Abramson Miss Alyson began dancing almost as soon as she could walk, having started her dance training at the age of 3. Throughout her dance career she has won numerous awards including four-time national dance competition champion in group, solo, and duet/trio categories. Her passion for dance unwavering, she attended Dean College and received her undergraduate degree in Dance and Fine Arts. Alyson is also an accomplished choreographer having choreographed numerous amateur and professional musical theater productions. She has over twenty years experience teaching children in the Boston, Providence and New York areas and is beloved by her students for her infectious laugh and ability to instill confidence and positive self-image in her students. Back
	Miss Michelle Block Michelle has been dancing locally since she was 5 years old. She has studied jazz, tap, ballet, hip-hop and lyrical, and has competed as a member of several hip-hop and jazz teams. Michelle has also attended master tap classes with locally and nationally-acclaimed tappers. She was a member of Needham High School's Varsity Dance Team for four years, during which the team won the State Championship and performed at home football, soccer and basketball games. Michelle is studying Speech-Language Pathology, as well as Spanish at Boston University. She continues to study all types of dance at school and in the Greater Boston area, and she is an active member of BU's Salsa Club. Michelle brings great enthusiasm to dance classes. She enjoys sharing her love of dance and being a role model to the younger dancers at AFDS! Back
	Miss Brittany Klash Brittany Klash brings to AFDS over 18 years of performance and competitive dance experience. She began training at the Dance Arts Centre in Fitchburg, MA under the direction of Jim Cassie and Melissa Luoma. As a member of the dance team Brittany performed throughout the United States and abroad. Deciding on dance as her calling, Brittany received a BA in Dance from Dean College where she studied choreography, pedagogy and was a member of the Dean College Dance Company. While attending Dean College she also had the opportunity to study modern dance with artists from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. After graduation, she began teaching and became a member of the Boston Dance Alliance and Perceptions Contemporary Dance Company performing through-out New England and NYC. Brittany currently dances with the Boston Tap Company where she has performed at Fenway Park, the Bean Town Tap Festival, the Wang Theatre and at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival on the inside/out stage. Brittany is looking forward to bringing her extensive, well-rounded experience and her passion for dance to AFDS students. Back
	Miss Kerry Sullivan Miss Kerry has over twenty years of professional dance training in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, tumbling, pom, cheer and contemporary dance. She is the former captain of the Weymouth High School Dance Team; as well as a three year captain and choreographer of the Nationally recognized University of New Hampshire Competitive Dance Team. As choreographer of the UNH Dance Team, Kerry led the team to the Top 20 Division I Jazz placements in the 2009 and 2010 Universal Dance Association College Dance Team National Championships. At the 2010 championships, Kerry choreographed the UNH Dance Team National Pom routine, resulting in a third place finish. Professionally, Kerry holds the position of "Veteran Head Instructor" for the Universal Dance Association camps and conventions. Kerry has taught and coached high school and college dance teams across the country and has been a sought after technique and choreography consultant for studio and school dance teams across the country. Kerry is excited to be working with the AFDS students and looking forward to enriching their education and pushing them to strengthen their lines, placement and performance skills. Back
	Miss Joanie Block Joanie Block has been teaching, choreographing and performing professionally for 25 years. She is excited to join the AFDS faculty and motivate dancers of all ages to enjoy movement again. Her dance education includes extensive study in Manhattan with Muriel Mannings of The New Dance Group Studio, Merce Cunningham at The Cunningham Studio and Nat Horne of The Alvin Ailey Dance Center; and in Boston with Ann Tolbert at Brandeis University, Clair Malardi at Harvard University, Susan Rose at Danceworks, and Dorothy Hershkowitz at The New Art Center and Boston Ballet. She has performed with Lis Fain, Nikki Hu, Benita Bike and for 10 years with Dorothy Hershkowitz. Joanie has taught classes and Master Classes at Brandeis University, The Wellesley Public Schools, Boston Ballet, and many other local studios. Joanie is holding an exciting Modern Dance Class for Adults, of all levels, on Monday & Wednesdays from 9-10:30am. This class is a drop in class but please call ahead to let us know you are planning on coming. This wonderful class combines Graham, Cunningham and Limon techniques with an emphasis on lyricism, musicality, phrasing and breath. There is a thorough warm up, across the floor and long movement combinations in a warm, non-competitive environment. This class is a wonderful place to start if you are returning to dancing. Back
	Miss Emily Paley Senior Apprentice Emily Paley began dancing at the age of 3, and continues to study with her mentor and teacher, Abigail Fine. She is a student at Newton North High School where she is active in Theatre Ink, the school theater program. Emily has appeared in many community theater productions in the Greater Boston area and toured with The Friends of Broadway for 2 seasons, dancing and singing in many venues, including at Disney World. She has performed in the finale of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and was selected to sing the National Anthem at Fenway Park during the Red Sox Cancer Awareness Day. She is the producer and director of A Cappella for a Cure, an annual fundraising concert for the American Cancer Society, featuring the best of local high school and college a cappella groups. Emily has competed at many regional dance competitions both in groups and as a soloist, consistently earning high gold and platinum awards. Emily's love of dance and theater is matched by her love of children. She has been a dance teacher's assistant for 3 years and is excited to pass on her passion for dance and the performing arts to her students at A Fine Dance Studio. Back
	Miss Leora Haber Senior Apprentice Leora Haber began dancing at 3 years old and quickly was well known for her outgoing personality and stage presence. She began competing very young and took home many high honors and platinum trophies for her tap and jazz routines. Leora studied classical ballet, jazz and tap at Broadway Bound Dance Center, in New Jersey, then moved to Boston in 2006. She has been dancing and performing at a competitive level as a group member in Jazz, Hip Hop & Tap. She performed as a soloist in the contemporary genre for the last 2 years and last spring Leora received a top platinum trophy at the Nexstar dance competition ranking her in the most elite of dancers. Her natural ability and knowledge make her an amazing teacher who motivates dancers to work their hardest each day. She is detailed oriented and makes sure each child understands why and how to execute the steps and movements correctly. Leora loves children and lives to inspire them all to enjoy dance. Back
	Miss Caitlin Medalie Senior Apprentice Caitlin is an accomplished dancer, singer, actress and cheerleader. She is motivated daily to improve our students technique and self-esteem. Her smile lights up the room and makes all the dancers feel at home and loved. Caitlin's strength and flexibility has earned her top awards around the country for her performance excellence. Dancing and tumbling since she was very young, Caitlin finds being at AFDS her home away from home and feels true release and therapy when she dances. The dancers all look up to Caitlin not only because she is a positive role model but also because she is always pushing herself to be the best she can be, which easily rubs off on our dancers. Back