Annemarie's Staff and Faculty

Annemarie Fairhurst – Studio Owner, Director, Teacher

 Annemarie’s classical ballet training began under the instruction of E. Virginia Williams, founder of the Boston Ballet. She holds certificates in developmental training and is a certified instructor of classical ballet, tap and jazz through Dance Masters of America and Dance Teachers Club of Boston. Annemarie attended the Finis Jhung Summer Workshop in New York City the past two consecutive years.  Additionally, Annemarie is a coach and judge of Rhythmic Gymnastics and member of the Special Olympic Committee. Alongside her studio, Annemarie founded a Special Olympic program for Rhythmic Gymnastics at the Middle and High School levels. Annemarie is safety certified and thrilled to be entering her 31^st year in business

Chrissy Reynolds - Assistant Director, Performance Company Director, Teacher

Amanda Belanger – Teacher, Performance Company Faculty

Amanda graduated with a BFA in dance from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst where she worked with Jim Coleman, Terese Freidman, Heidi Henderson and Susan Waltner. She most recently performed with Flipside Dance Theatre and The Ipswich Moving Company. Amanda has been with the studio for nine years and teaches for the pre-school program as well as various levels of modern, jazz and ballet. Amanda also works with the Movement Project Performance Company as a choreographer and instructor. The studio is happy to have Amanda on-board after the birth of her two children.

Jill A. Jackson – Teacher, Performance Company Faculty

Jill is a choreographer, performer and instructor who has been dancing since she was three years old. She graduated with a dual major in Dance Performance and Communications from Roger Williams University in Rhode Island, where she received an award for “Outstanding Achievement in Dance.” Her movement background includes extensive studies in modern, tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, improvisation, performance art, authentic movement, mime, Alexander technique, yoga and pilates. She worked with Sean Curran, Heidi Latsky, Doug Elkins, Heidi Henderson, Ray Elliott Schwarz, and Audra Carabetta and performed with many Boston area dance companies including Moving Laboratory, Meghan McLyman and Dancers, FlipSide Dance Company, Zen Monkey Dance Project, and Ipswich Moving Company. Jill presented her own choreography at Roger Williams University, the Dance Complex, Green Street Studios, and American College Dance Festival, where it was chosen for the Gala Performance. Her dance company, Fresh Squeezed Dance, performed at Green Street Studios as part of the Space Grant Artist Award. Jill taught at the Dance Complex, Newport High School, New Hampshire School of Ballet, and Ipswich Moving Company School of Dance. This is Jill’s 5^th year at Annemarie’s Dance Centre.

Wendy Garland - Teacher

Wendy Garland appeared on the stage with several ballet companies, community and college theater productions.  She received her dance training at the School of Performing Arts (CT), Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and Hartford Ballet.  Wendy teaches ballet, jazz and tap for students ages 3 through the advanced levels. Wendy also teaches ballroom and is a certified Zumba instructor. This is Wendy’s 4^th year at the studio.

Denise Sullivan - Teacher

Denise graduated from The Boston Conservatory with her BFA in Dance.  She studied at Broadway Dance Center in New York, Pointe Park College in Pittsburgh, PA and Harvard Summerdance in Cambridge.  She continues to take dance classes at Jeannette Neill Dance Studio in Boston.  Denise has taught at dance schools in PA, NC and MA.  While her husband was stationed in Camp LeJeune, NC she founded Dance Ten, which gave children from military families an affordable option to exceptional dance studies.  When she returned to Massachusetts she became the Dance Director at One Stop Fun in Westford where she taught all levels of ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and choreographed optional floor routines for gymnasts level 6-9 and Prep Op Teams. When Denise became a mom she stepped away from teaching to be home with her son Christopher.  Now that he is in school she is excited to return to the studio and teach again and Annemarie’s Dance Centre is excited to have her on board.

Jennifer Carlson Delinks - Performance Company Faculty

Jenny trained at the Imperial Academy of Dance in Connecticut and continued her studies at Emerson College, receiving a BFA in Dance.  She is a member of FlipSide Dance Theater, Ipswich Moving Company, and performs with Karen Murphy.  She is also the director of the Ipswich Moving Company School of Dance, which she opened in 2001. Jenny has been hired to teach at the Perry Mason School In Colorado this summer where she will share her extensive knowledge of aerial dance. This is Jenny’s 3^rd year working for Annemarie’s Dance Centre.

Donna Ciccarelli - Teacher

Donna grew up in Connecticut studying ballet, tap and jazz at the Dance Arts Centre in Bristol. Before moving to Massachusetts, Donna taught aerobics full-time. After moving to Massachusetts, she earned an Associates Degree in Business from Newbury College while continuing to teach aerobics part-time. Donna now lives in Ashland with her husband and two daughters. This is Donna’s third year working at the studio. This past summer Donna received her certificate of completion at the 2008 Ailey Extension Finis Jhung’s Summer Workshop held in New York City. We are thrilled Donna will be teaching our preschool students in the fall.

Michelle Barbato – Teacher

Michelle has danced and assisted at Annemarie's Dance Studio for over 15 years.  She recently joined the staff, teaching the studio's combination classes and level one in various disciplines. Michelle graduated from Framingham State College with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and is licensed to teach Pre-K through Grade 2.  She is now pursuing her Masters of Education.