We are so excited to have the following guest artists come this summer to teach and inspire our dancers!
Christina Belinsky
Christina is a dancer, choreographer, film-maker, and dance educator based in the Western Mountains of Maine. She is a graduate of Dean College with an A.A. in Dance and University of the Arts with a B.F.A. in Modern Dance Performance. Her career spans many genres of dance from ballet to musical theatre, concert dance to television and film. Favorite credits include 1st Broadway National Tour of Finding Neverland (Ensemble/ Peter Pan cover), the National tour of Joseph…Dreamcoat (Dance Captain/Swing), the International tour of The Aluminum Show (Dance Captain/Swing), HGTV, MTV, Dance Mom’s, HBO’s The Gilded Age Seasons 1-3 and Westworld. She has worked with industry leaders such as Andy Blankenbuehler, Mia Michaels, Karla Puno Garcia, Joey Pizzi, Stephanie Klemmons, Nancy Braun and John Carrafa. Christina is the founder of “The Dance Advance”, a pre-professional intensive offering one-of-a-kind workshops and seminars. She has been a guest teacher at Broadway Dance Center, Think Tank NYC, New York City’s Stage Door Connections as well various universities, studios and dance conventions throughout the country. Christina ‘s choreography has been presented at Majestic Empire Theatre in San Antonio, Philadelphia’s Drake Theater, The Tank NYC, The Muse Brooklyn, New Hampshire’s Majestic and Palace Theatre, Boston’s Dance Complex, Third Life Choreographers’ Series as well as at the Built On Stilts Performing Arts Festival on Martha’s Vineyard. Christina is the founder and producer of the Artists in Motion Film Festival at the Gem Theater in Bethel, Maine. Her dance films have been screened at Dance on Camera Festival at Lincoln Center, American Dance Festival, SXSW Music and Film Festival, LA Dance Film Festival and commissioned by the New England Dance Fund and the Maine Arts Commission. She is the creator of Artists In Motion Apparel, an upcycled hand silk-screen printed dance studio-to-streetwear clothing brand @artistsinmotionapparel Christina is proud to be a member of Actors’ Equity, SAG/AFTRA and a founding member of Impact Dance Adjudicators
Camryn Brothers
Camryn Brothers (she/her) is a professional dancer and choreographer originally from Billerica, MA. She grew up dancing at Dance Etc, and trained and performed throughout the tri-state area with Aurora Borealis Dance Company.
It was during this time in which Camryn realized that she had a passion for movement and creation. Immediately after graduating high school, Camryn moved to New York City to complete Broadway Dance Center’s Professional Semester Program where she trained closely with their world renowned faculty.
She has worked closely and assisted artists such as Cat Cogliandro, Neil Schwartz, Hayden J Frederick, and Emily Greenwell to name a few.
Camryn has choreographed for Broadway Dance Center’s Professional Semester students, and hosts monthly classes at Ripley Grier Studios in Manhattan. She is also currently on faculty at Rockwell Dance Center. Camryn consistently puts fun and authenticity at the forefront of all of her work.
Jack Caravallo
Based in Massachusetts, Jack Caravallo has been dancing and choreographing for over 20 years. Combining his love for athletic story-telling with a strong passion for inspiring others, he began teaching at Rap N Tap School of Dance in 2022 while expanding his dance studies at college. In May 2024 he graduated Salem State University where he received a B.A. in Contemporary Modern Dance with a minor in English. Jack was a recipient of a Creativity Award in Dance in 2023, which is the University’s highest honor in the arts. After graduating college, Jack started adjudicating and teaching masterclasses for dance competitions across New England. Jack is also a performer with Exit Dance Theatre based in Newburyport, MA. His specialties include contemporary forms, jazz, tap, and ballet.
Kirsten Coco
Kirsten Coco is a performer, choreographer, and teacher based in New York City. She is originally from Salem, NH and grew up dancing at Donna Coco’s Performance Plus in Salisbury, MA. Kirsten received her BFA in Dance from NYU Tisch School of the Arts in 2019. Since graduating, Kirsten’s performance credits include: Company dancer with Ballet Nepantla (currently), Jon Lehrer Dance Company, Groundworks Dance Theatre, Z Artists Group, and Chutzpah Dance. Other credits include The Aditya Birla Awards in Mumbai, India, Jeremy Nelson’s “Unfurled” at Radio City Music Hall, The Scottish Ballet Dance Exchange at the Joyce Theatre, and the Dance Spirit Magazine “Audition Wear” photoshoot and article. Kirsten has also shared her choreography at the Jack Crystal Theatre in NYC and has the pleasure of teaching and choreographing at dance studios across New England. Throughout her dance journey, Kirsten has found that her love for dance is able to be shared with dancers of all ages through her choreography and teaching, because it allows her to spread knowledge and curiosity to others through her movement.
Taylor Cocco
Flora Dickens
Flora started off as a competitive dancer and competed up until the age of seventeen. She has won multiple scholarships, awards, regional/national titles, and self-choreography awards. She has worked with talented dance photographers including Jordan Matter and Shark Cookie. In 2018 Flora was awarded an invitation and scholarship to attend the Bolshoi Ballet Summer Intensive from YAGP’s Larissa Saveliev, placing 1st in contemporary and 2nd in classical. She is trained in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, modern, hip hop, lyrical, pointe, and acrobatics. Outside of training in the studios growing up, she was mentored and trained one on one with Alex Wong in ballet and contemporary. She has recently expanded her dance career by teaching and choreographing at studios around the state of Massachusetts teaching ages from ages 5-18. Her pieces have won many top scoring awards and choreography awards, one being the highest scoring routine of an entire competition. Some exciting news is you can find her on this year’s Season 17 of So You Think You Can Dance as top 12 girls and top 24 overall!! Flora is excited to share her passion for dance and loves meeting and working with new talent!
Heather Easley
Heather Easley is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and artistic director originally from Columbus, Ohio. She grew up attending dance competitions and conventions before later going on to receive her BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Heather has performed across the US and internationally as a freelance artist, as well as a company dancer. Along with performing, Heather has a deep love for teaching and choreographing. She regularly works as a guest instructor, working with studios throughout the country. In 2022, Heather joined Dance Division Faculty as an Associate Professor at The Boston Conservatory at Berklee. There, she had the pleasure of working with both Commercial and Contemporary dance majors, as well as joining staff for the Summer Dance Intensive. Heather brings her expertise in teaching into choreographing and adjudicating. Her choreography has been presented at The Boston Conservatory Theater, the Paramount Theater, Agganis Arena, and more. She has worked in collaboration with Berklee’s Dancing With the Stars benefit show, HBO, Cirque du Soleil, and had the pleasure of choreographing Berklee’s Honorary Doctorate Concert, honoring Roberta Flack, Usher, and Sona Jobarteh. As an adjudicator, Heather has been on many panels for the past 4 years, working with various organizations. Heather loves to bring her competition and professional background together to provide the best feedback possible to those she works with.
Tristan Marshall
Tristan Marshall began his dance training at the age of 14 in Plymouth, MA. He trained extensively in ballet, hiphop, contemporary, lyrical, modern, and jazz, and competed in those styles for 3 years. From there, he went on to receive his Bachelor of the Arts in Dance from Hofstra University on Long Island, NY in 2019. Throughout his time in this dance program, Tristan received many accolades for his choreography. Since graduating, he has found a love for teaching & working with young students. During the school year, he teaches at local studios, with a focus in technique and artistry, regardless of the style he’s teaching. Then, throughout the summer, he travels to different studios to teach at workshops, intensives & choreograph. On top of teaching, in the winter & spring, he works with Sheer Elite International Dance Competition as an Announcer, Awards Manager & Events Director. Tristan loves travelling, so getting to combine these two passions is something he looks forward to each year. He performed with DanceWorks New York City for four seasons and had choreographed three pieces for their company; one virtual & two main stage. Having recently moved back to Massachusetts, Tristan is excited to continue growing as an Artist & Educator, and looks forward to starting his new journey with DanceWorks Boston!
Marissa Masson
Marissa Masson is a New England based dancer, choreographer, and educator. She graduated with her B.S. in Accounting with minors in Dance and Business Administration, as well as her MBA from Salve Regina University. While at Salve, Masson was a member of Extensions Dance Company and the Business Manager of SRU Dance Club. She received the 2019 Salve Regina University Dance Award. She has since returned to Salve as a guest choreographer and has also set work at Providence College. Masson’s choreography has been presented in festivals throughout the New England area and beyond. She is an adjudicator and faculty member at Dance to Inspire Dance Competition and Accelerate Dance Experience. She is the Administrative Manager and Co-Director of the Ensemble at Pantos Project Dance in Waltham, MA. Masson is also a certified personal trainer and the manager of group classes at Best Fitness Chelmsford. She holds additional certifications in Barre, Pilates, Indoor Cycling, and Group X Instruction.
Chelsea McNamara
Chelsea is a New York Based artist who has received her BFA in Dance from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, with a minor in Business, Entertainment, Media and Technology. Originally from New Hampshire, she grew up competing in several genres of dance, including ballet, Pointe, contemporary, modern, tap, jazz, lyrical, musical theatre and hip hop at Kathy Blake Dance Studios. She attended several prestigious summer dance intensives including Alonzo King Lines Ballet and Boston Ballet. In the summer of 2021, she traveled to Agropoli, Italy to perform in the Agropoli Danza Festival where she worked with notable Italian choreographers. Now, she continues to work professionally in New York City. She has most recently worked with Complexions Contemporary Ballet Company, Stephen Petronio, and Rhonda Malkin.
Candace Mitchell
Candace is a professional dancer, choreographer, classical coach, and teacher from Boston, MA. Her early training focused in The Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus, of which she has completed, and has continued into her current teaching and performing career. She has received a BA in dance and business from Dean college Joan Phelps Palladino School of Dance. While there, she completed an internship with the Boston Ballet, working with their Education and Community Initiative program to help bring dance into Boston public schools. She received awards for excellence in dance, choreography, and academics, and participated in the ACDA New England Gala Concert. Some of the choreographers she has worked with include Laura Young, James Morrow, Kristina Berger, Bill Evans, and Ricardo Foster. She has also performed in festivals with companies such as Urbanity Dance, and Koresh Dance Company. She has received multiple accolades for her competitive pieces such as choreography awards, top placements, titles, and choice awards from a variety of competitions including top 24 placements at YAGP and 1st overall placements at UBC. Candace is currently judging, choreographing, and focusing on the education of her students.
Lauren Pina
Lauren has been dancing for the past 23 years. The majority of her dance training was done at Erica’s Dance Academy where she was a part of their competition team, was an assistant teacher, and began to choreograph her own solos. Lauren continued her dancing career through college at the University of New Hampshire where she took classes in Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Choreography, and Aerial dance. She was also a member of the UNH Jazz, Tap, Aerial Dance Company for her junior and senior years. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in dance. Lauren is currently the performance troupe director at Studio 109 in Rochester, NH and a dance instructor at Sole City Dance in Somersworth, NH. Lauren is also an adjudicator for Headliners Dance Competition for the 2026 season. Aside from being a dance educator, she is also a member and choreographer for Passion Dance Project, an adult dance company based in the NH Seacoast.
Jill S Rucci
Jill S. Rucci is a visionary choreographer, educator, and the Founder/Director of 8&1 Dance Company (Dallas and East). A graduate of Dean College, Rucci’s career is defined by a relentless pursuit of excellence, with a training pedigree that spans from NYC’s Alvin Ailey and Broadway Dance Center to Los Angeles’ Millennium and Edge. Her performance credits are equally distinguished, including appearances at the Joyce Theatre, Lincoln Center, and the AT&T Performing Arts Center. As a creator, Rucci has been hailed by critics as a “profound creative mind.” Her work has been presented across the U.S. and internationally in Olbia, Italy. Beyond the stage, she is a dedicated mentor who has served as a guest artist and choreographer for programs at JWU, Richland, and Collin College. Now crafting her 2026-27 season, Jill remains dedicated to the evolution of the craft, using her platform to mentor and ignite a fire in the next generation of performers to move with purpose and technical excellence.
Kathryn Scarpetti
Kathryn began dancing at the age of three and discovered her passion for tap at five. With over 21 years of experience in both competitive and recreational dance, she joined the pre-professional tap company Speaking in Taps in 2018, under the direction of her mentor, Aaron Tolson. Her training includes prestigious programs such as the School of Creative and Performing Arts in Vermont, The Intensive directed by Derick Grant and Aaron Tolson, and the Joffrey Summer Tap Intensive, among others. Kathryn has taught at the Boston Tap Party festival and at numerous dance studios. She has performed in a variety of notable productions and venues, including the Boston Urban Nutcracker, Disney Springs, and as an opening act for Recycled Percussion. In addition to her work in tap, Kathryn is a certified Zumba instructor and serves as a backup dancer for drag performer Clara Divine.
Todd Shanks
Todd Shanks has been featured in Dance, Dance Spirit, Dance Studio Life, Dance Teacher, and Dancer magazines. As a performer, he has appeared in music videos, commercials, and TV programs such as The Electric Company, The View, and Good Day NY, as well as campaigns for Volvo, Ford Motors, Wrigley’s, and more. On stage, he has performed with Synthesis Dance Project, Jette Performance Company, The Westchester Philharmonic, and at the NFL Kickoff shows in 2015 and 2017. His choreography has been featured in a BIC “Soleil” commercial, The View, ABC Nightly News, NYC’s Carnival, and a New Line Cinema production. Todd spent over a decade on faculty at Steps on Broadway and has taught at institutions such as the University of Florida, Boston University, Skidmore College, Ballet Hispanico, and many more. He is currently the Program Coordinator for the Palladino School of Dance and an Assistant Professor at Dean College, as well as touring with Manhattan Dance Project, Revel Dance Competition and Dance Educators of America.
Kelsie Tinney
Kelsie Tinney is a professional dancer from Boston, Massachusetts. Having trained and studied in numerous forms of dance since an early age, She graduated from the Dean College Joanne Palladio School Of Dance with her BFA in Dance , B.S. in Business, and A.A. in Early Childhood Education. Though not limited to, she is known for her Hip Hop and Jazz choreography and performances. Kelsie has worked with many artists such as Flo Rider, New Kids On The Block, and Demi Lovato. Kelsie is also a Competition Adjudicator, judging for multiple competitions all over the US and in Europe for the past 9 years. She also knows the role as a studio owner, and is invested in her students’ growth and development as pre-professional dancers. She has been teaching numerous styles of dance including Hip Hop, Jazz, Jazz Funk, Heels, Contemporary, Lyrical,Tap, Musical Theater, Technique Leaps Jumps and Turns, Stretch and Strengthening for over 10 years. As well, Kelsie is a Certified Degreed Member of Dance Masters of America and Dance Masters of New England Chapter 5. Kelsie has been interviewed and published in Dance Spirit Magazine in regards to her experience as a studio owner, teacher, and Judge in the competitive dance world. As well she holds multiple competitive accolades for her choreography including IDA People’s Choice Awards, IDA Best in Category, Choreography Awards, Titleist, Most Entertaining, National dance team invitations, first place overalls, top tens, UDA top three placements, and more. Kelsie has a love and passion for teaching, and strives in advancing dancers not only physically but also with the history, knowledge, and love of dance.