Susan Searles (Artistic Director/Owner/Operator) has been involved with dance since the age of 7. She spent several years studying dance and teaching tap, jazz and musical theatre at the Pamela Christo Dance Centers of Lynn and Danvers. She has also had the opportunity to study dance with Lynda Gache (former Rockette and June Taylor Dancer), Adrienne Hawkins (Boston Conservatory), Danny Sloan and Jeanette Neil of Boston, as well as the notable jazz and tap choreographer, Frank Hatchett. Susan is an accomplished choreographer and has choreographed many musicals for Groton-Littleton Theatre, Groton Summer Theatre and area high schools.

Marcy Stanton Manzi (BFA) is a graduate of the acclaimed Boston Conservatory of Music. Marcy is the recipient of countless awards received at dance competitions throughout the United States and has been a guest performer (dancer) with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She is also a former member of the Rainbow Tribe Dance Company of Boston. Marcy is an accomplished teacher of jazz, tap, ballet, modern, lyrical and hip hop as well as an expert choreographer. Marcy is also a member of Dance Masters of America and Dance Teachers Club of Boston.

Yolenta Valekaite was born in Lithuania and began dancing at the age of six. She received her training at the Vilnius Ballet School . At age 16 she was awarded Honorable Mention at the Ballet Competition for Juniors in Moscow . She has been a soloist and principal dancer in the Lithuanian National Ballet Company. Yolanta has also performed and toured with the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow as well as the Chicago Ballet.

Jessica Walsh is our fun, enthusiastic and totally cool hip hop teacher who received much of her dance training and teaching experience at Lisa Pilato School of Dance. Jessica has a cool “West Coast” hip hop style much of like what you see in music videos. She recently studied hip hop with the famous Kenny Wormald who was featured in “You Got Served” and “DanceLife” on MTV. Jessica was the 2005 and 2006 2nd Place Award Winner in American Dance Award's “Dancer of the Year”. She also received the highest Hip Hop Award and Special Awards from ADA, Dance Ovations, and IDC. One of her hip hop dances was chosen to represent the USA in the Olympics in Germany; she has also had the opportunity to audition for “So You Think You Can Dance”. Jessica was also a featured performer at Epcot Center and Walt Disney World. Jessica is an accomplished dancer of ballet, tap and jazz.

Katy Nordhougen (B.A.) Katy brings over 30 years of dance training and over 10 years of dance teaching experience in the areas of classical ballet, pointe, tap, modern and jazz as our newest faculty member. She performed with Donna Miceli’s Youth Dance Company throughout her teens and is a graduate of Roger Williams University with a minor in dance education. Katy is also a certified Zumba and AFAA Group exercise instructor. She currently lives in Pepperell with her two sons—Jack, 5 and Teddy, 3. Welcome Katy!

Lindsay Castner (M.Ed.) Lindsey, our new bona fide IRISH STEP instructor, comes to us as a registered instructor with the American Association of Irish Dancers and Teachers, along with being a member of the Boston Dance Alliance. She received her Master’s Degree from Rivier College in Educational Studies specializing in children with learning disabilities and human development. She received her Irish Step dance training with Mary Heavey-Quinn, T.C.R.G, Claire Sullivan, T.C.R.G. and Kieran Jordan, T.C.R.G. (“Beyond the Feis” and “Sean-nos Irish Dance”). She has experience in Cape Breton Dancing (Scottish style) as well. She has had over 11 years of Irish Step teaching experience in schools throughout New England. Lindsay will be teaching competition (feis) and non-competition classes for us. Welcome Lindsay!