Katie Gillis
Katie Gillis is a former NHAPA dancer and Seacoast Civic Dance Company member. She attended UNH where she majored in Marketing and minored in Dance, and was a member of the UNH Dance Company. Katie also instructed dance in the Durham/Dover area throughout her college years. Katie graduated in 2011 and we are thrilled to have her back to NHAPA. Currently, Katie teaches Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Jumps & Turns. Katie also works as the Digital Marketing & Events Manager at WaterWipes in Portsmouth, NH.
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Caitlin Hanacek
Caitlin has been a member of the NHAPA family for 30 years and is thrilled to return to the seacoast and join the faculty! She has taught and choreographed for competitive dance teams in Virginia and DC for the last 10 years. She spent most of her time on faculty at the Virginia Regional Ballet. Her students have gone on to receive scholarships for dance at various colleges and others have joined professional dance companies. Her dance training began at NHAPA, where she was a member of the Seacoast Civic Dance Company and served as captain of the company. Caitlin went on to study at the University of New Hampshire where she was a member of the UNH Competitive Dance Team. After completing her freshman year, Caitlin moved to New York City to intern at Broadway Dance Center. After auditioning and training in New York, Caitlin finished her degree at the University of Maryland graduating in 2010 with a BA in Psychology. She then went on to receive her M.A.Ed in Elementary Education from The College of William and Mary. In addition to teaching dance, Caitlin teaches language arts at Learning Skills Academy in Rye, NH. All while juggling her two precious little girls.
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Cassie Lehtola
Cassie (Tobey) Lehtola grew up in Hampton Falls, NH where her love for dance started at the age of three right here at NHAPA. After high school, she went on to receive her BA degree in psychology from Keene State College. During that time, she began her career as a dance instructor at MoCo Arts in 2006. This award winning dance and theatre organization is where she dedicated the next 16 years to teaching students of all ages as well as participating in outreach programs, which brought dance into school systems within the region. Cassie specializes in styles including but not limited to, jazz, tap, hip hop, and musical theatre. She prides herself in creating an energetic and inclusive learning environment as well as award winning choreography for her students. During her time at MoCo, Cassie was also committed to the young arts programs, teaching many multi-art camps for young children with budding curiosities for performing and the arts. While living in the Monadnock region, Cassie spent time instructing for the New Hampshire Dance Institute (NHDI), another wonderful non-profit organization that brings dance to the regional school systems. Cassie is excited to have recently moved back to the seacoast with her family and to continue inspiring and cultivating young minds as they embrace their love of dance and the arts.
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Kimberly Ostrowski-Alderson
Kim Alderson comes to NHAPA with a wealth of instruction and performance experience. Kim has trained extensively with the School of the Hartford Ballet and the Boston Ballet Center for Dance Education. In addition, she has attended and received her certificate from the David Howard Teacher Training Seminar, Finis Jhung Teacher Training Seminar and Ruth Petrinovic Teacher Training Seminar. Kim has performed with Ballet New England, New England Ballet Company and presently performs with the Haverhill Chamber Ballet. Kim has been on the faculty of Ballet New England, Fusion Dance Academy and the New England Ballet School and Company where she has instructed Ballet levels I-VI as well as developing program curriculum and choreography.
We are confident her expertise, energy and enthusiasm will be a wonderful addition to our team. Please join us in welcoming her to the NHAPA family. |
Alyssa Vacca
Alyssa Vacca graduated from Elon University with a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography as well as a BA for Arts Administration. She has recently interned with Koresh Dance Company in Philadelphia and Urbanity Dance in Boston. Her love for dance started at a young age and since then she has been trained in a variety of styles as a Joffrey Ballet School Contemporary/Jazz Trainee. Currently, Alyssa is a company member with the Boston Community Dance Project’s adult company and is a member of the Dance As Art photography project with photographer Kevin Richardson. Alyssa has taught a variety of classes from LA to Boston and is ambitious to continue growing her knowledge and working in the field. NHAPA is proud to have an alumni like Alyssa back as a faculty member.
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Kayla Waldron
Kayla began her dance training at the age of eight at local Seacoast dance schools including NHAPA. While at NHAPA she performed with their junior performance company. Kayla has been instructing on the Seacoast for over ten years. Her choreography has won awards in many local, and national level competitions . She has experience with every age of dancer, and believes anyone can dance.
She has taken her skills to the next level by partaking in many conventions and workshops, such as Monsters of Hip Hop and Turn It Up Dance Challenge. Kayla has studied with known choreographers Excel (NYC), Kelly Peters, and took classes at Jeanette Neils in Boston. She studied with Dance Masters of America, and was certified in 2014. Other than teaching in the studio, Kayla has been a dance director for Newburyport’s Theater in the Open summer arts workshop since 2013. She enjoys teaching students how to create their own movements, and to be proud of what they develop in the process. She has choreographed musicals for The Firehouse Center for the Arts. She is an active member of Exit Dance Theatre. A modern based company out of Newburyport. Directed under Fontaine Dubus. With the company she has performed, as well as choreographed for multiple seasons. Most recently, Kayla became a certified instructor of Rhythm Works, an interrogative dance program for student with special needs. Kayla is elated to be back with NHAPA, this time as an instructor. She hopes her students take a lot from her classes, and grow as dancers as well artists. |