staff

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 34th year in business.
 

Chrissy Reynolds - Assistant Director, Performance Company Director, Teacher
 Chrissy Reynolds graduated with a BFA in dance from Emerson College in May of 1999 where she studied with Tommy Neblett of Prometheus Dance, Janet Taisey Craft of the Ipswich Moving Company and Peter Dimuro of the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange.  In May of 1999 she founded FlipSide Dance Threatre.  FlipSide has performed at Green Street Studios, The Dance Complex and The Oakland Arts Center in California.  Chrissy taught extensively throughout Massachusetts including Boston University and the Munroe Center for the Arts in Lexington.  During her summer intensive program at the University of Hawaii, Chrissy taught creative movement, tap and jazz to children. In 2004 Chrissy started the Movement Project Performance Company, a teen dance intensive that offers students the opportunity to perform concert-length and quality choreography. Professionally, Chrissy currently dances with the Ipswich Moving Company. This is Chrissy’s 10th year at the studio.
 

Amanda Belanger – 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 11 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.


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 9th 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 we are happy to have her on board. This is Denise's 4th year with us.
 

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 7th 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. "She completed the Ailey Extention Finis Jhung's Summer Workshop in 2008 and The Pulse NYC Teacher Workshop in 2010."This is Donna's 7th year at the studio teaching our Pre-school through Level 1 classes.
 

Michelle Barbato – Teacher
 Michelle has danced and assisted at Annemarie's Dance Studio for over 16 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.

 

Shelley Smalley – Teacher
 Shelley graduated from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville with a BS in Early Childhood Education.  She has taught preschool in Charlottesville, VA and returned to the Boston area to start a family. The studio is lucky to have Shelley assist the morning preschool classes throughout the week and teach the age 2 Dance with Me classes.

 

 

Audra Carabetta - Teacher
 Audra received her BFA in dance from UMass Amherst in 1997 and her MFA in Performing Arts from Smith College in 2009.  Audra has been dancing,  teaching and choreographing in the Boston area for over a decade. She has been on faculty at Amherst College, Smith College, U Mass, Amherst, Bridgewater State College, Holy Cross College, Ballet Arts Center of Winchester and Acton School of Ballet. Audra has performed with choreographers and companies such as: Lorraine Chapman The Company, Caitlin Corbett Dance Company, Brian Crabtree, Marcus Schulkind, Weber Dance, Daniel Mckusker and the Ken Pierce Baroque Dance Company. Her dancing has taken her to places such as Holland, London, Canada and New York City. Choreographically, Audra has received attention via awards and grants and her work has been presented at various venues. Audra received the Emerging Artist Award, the Performance Works Project Award, and a grant-based award  through the Massachusetts Cultural Council for choreographic projects at Green Street Studios in Cambridge, MA. We are happy to have her onboard. This is Audra’s first year with the studio.

Susan Craver - Teacher
 Susan  has been teaching dance for over 20 years. She grew up on the North Shore and received her BA degree from U Mass /Boston. She continued schooling and is certified to teach grades K-12. She has taught dance in East Boston, Revere, Sudbury, Ashland, and is presently teaching at Dancers Workshop, Fairbanks Senior Center in Sudbury, Callahan Senior Center in Framingham , Summerville Assisted Living, and The Metrowest YMCA. Susan is having fun doing lots of movement with the Senior Set. She got certified in Zumba fitness for both adults and kids in 2008 and is loving it!   She's been an active member of the Dance Teachers Club of Boston since 1990 and is happy to be doing something she loves!
 

Sarah Zakrzewski - Teacher
 Sarah has grown up in Framingham, studying dance at various studios since the age of seven. For the past nine years, Sarah has danced at Annemarie's Dance Centre, as well as assisting classes on a regular basis and substitute teaching when needed. In 2010, Sarah spent the year studying the disciplines of Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern and Hip Hop dance at Dean College in Franklin.  She is continuing her studies  to complete her Bachelor's degree at Framingham State University, and is happy to be joining the staff of Annemarie's Dance Centre this season.

Sue McKechnie - Dancewear Shop / Costume Coordinator
 Sue McKechnie has two daughters who attend Annemarie’s Dance Centre.  Formally in retail, Sue has taken on the job of keeping our dancewear room stocked. She is also involved with costume ordering and distribution.