HISTORY
Jennifer O'Neil McLaughlin formed Allegro Dance Academy in 2006. ADA offers a variety of classes at the studio on Factory Street. There are three large studios, large viewing windows, separate dressing areas for boys and girls, a student study area, play room, waiting areas for parents and plentiful, convenient parking. All students (recreational or pre-professional) receive professional instruction from dedicated teachers. All of our staff continues to learn and be inspired by some of the nation’s best choreographers by attending regional and national dance conventions.
INSTRUCTORS
| Owner and Artistic Director, Jennifer O'Neil McLaughlin, has professional and collegiate dance training with over a decade of studio teaching experience in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Illinois and Iowa. Jen has studied dance since age 3 with various studios including the Donna Miceli Dance Center (MA), Jeannine's Dancers' Stoppe (NH), Gus Giordano Dance Center (Chicago, IL), Broadway Dance Center (New York, NY) and attends numerous dance conventions and workshops around the country. Miss Jen is certified through the Dance Teacher’s Club of Boston and Dance Masters of America.
Jen received her bachelor's degree from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA where she was co-founder and choreographer for the Holy Cross Dance Ensemble. Before opening Allegro, Jen directed more than 400 students in a dance program at the Family Museum in Bettendorf, Iowa where she taught and choreographed all genres of dance. She has also served as a judge for several high school and college dance team auditions. Miss Jen’s choreography has won numerous awards and special recognition on the regional and national level. Miss Jen’s experience as a studio owner is even more rewarding than she could have imagined! She is proud to have students go on to pursue their dance careers in college and of all her her students that continue to have dance in their lives long after they graduate from high school! She looks forward to many years of encouraging her students to grow and pursue their dreams! |
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| Erin Coughlin trained on scholarship with Granite State Ballet, Burklyn Ballet Theater and Joffrey Ballet. She performed principal roles including Effie (La Sylphide), Kitri (Don Quixote), Paquita, Puss n' Boots, Odile (Swan Lake), Arabian Pas de Deux, Sugar Plum Fairy, as well as original works. Miss Erin has a B.A. in Psychology and an M. Ed. in Special Education. She loves teaching children and is a former schoolteacher for infants, toddlers, kindergarten and first grade. She has taught Ballet for three year olds to adults. Miss Erin teaches pre-school through Advanced Ballet and is excellent at motivating and encouraging her dancers to be their very best! |  |
| Sarah Gagne began dancing at age 7. She trained with Jeannine Miceli Martin and also apprentice taught elementary tap, jazz and beginner ballet with various faculty of Jeannine's Dancer's Stoppe. Sarah is a licensed hair stylist and teaches pre-school and elementary dance classes at Allegro. Her enthusiasm for dance is contagious! |  |
| Ritta Lherault brings over 18 years of recreational, competitive, and professional dance, gymnastics and cheerleading training to Allegro. Riitta trained with the area’s top instructors and choreographers before attending college at The Boston Conservatory where she graduated as a Dance major. For the past 8 years, Riitta has been teaching dance throughout New England to 2 year-olds through adults in Jazz, Hip-Hop, Modern, Tap and Ballet. Ms. Lherault is certified with the United States Gymnastics Association and has been successfully coaching Gymnastics throughout the Boston area. She coaches all levels of competitive gymnastics. We are excited for Riitta to join the Allegro Staff! |  |
| Robyn McClelland began dancing at the age of three with the Marshall Sisters in Lowell, MA. She then, at the age of five, moved to the Donna Miceli Dance Center where she danced for twelve years. In addition to dance, Robyn was a cheerleader for many years, choreographing her team’s routines for games and competitions. After starting a family, Robyn coached cheering and choreographed routines in Arizona, Maine and New Hampshire for eleven years. Last year, Robyn joined Allegro as an assistant teacher. In addition to dance and cheer, Robyn is a volunteer at her youngest daughter's elementary school two mornings a week. Robyn is very excited to join Allegro this year and will be teaching Let’s Get Movin’ (Mommy & Me), pre-school and combo 1 classes. |  |
| Brad McLaughlin joins the Allegro staff as both the Business Manager and Stretch & Strength instructor. Brad studied Exercise Physiology at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell and attended Palmer Chiropractic College in Davenport, Iowa. In 2007, Brad became a certified personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise (ACE). He currently manages Fitness Together in Chelmsford, MA where he works one-on-one with clients to reach their fitness goals through personally designed exercise and nutrition programs. He works both with seasoned athletes and people with extensive health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure and knee replacements. Brad is thrilled to join his wife Jen at Allegro and to be working with the dancers and adults in Stretch & Strength classes. He is also happy to be working in the office as the studio’s Business Manager. |  |
| Deb has been in the dance world for more than 15 years. She started as a "dance mom" when her daughter began dance at 2 1/2 years old. Since then, Deb has been involved in the studio as a seamstress, performance chaperone, backstage volunteer, office manager and cake designer/baker for the Allegro Birthday parties. By day, Deb is a manager of a Women's Imaging Center and also works as an Xray technologist on the weekends. She is the proud mom of Nicole a Dance major at Dean College. |  |
| Brea Perdue - Allegro is thrilled to welcome Brea to our staff! In demand as a choreographer and dance educator, Brea choreographs for individuals and dance teams as well as teaches workshop classes throughout the country. Starting her training at her mother's studio, Suzanne Perdue's DANCERS EDGE in MA, Brea has trained in Boston, NYC, and LA, and assisted some of the top teachers in the country, including DOUG CALDWELL, JOHN CRUTCHMAN, JOE LANTERI, JOE TREMAINE, WADE ROBSON and other notables. During her competitive career, Brea received many scholarships, high score and overall high score awards at both regional and national levels. She performed in an Off-Broadway show at age 13, with DAN KARATY of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, toured with ballet company DANCE PRISM and was a member of SYNERGY DANCE THEATER for 10 years. Her choreography has been recognized receiving Top Choreographer Awards. Allegro is thrilled to welcome Brea to our staff!- |  |
| Jenn LeMay began dancing at the age of two at the Donna Miceli Dance Center. She later moved to join Jeannine's Dancer's Stoppe where she remained until she graduated high school. During her time at JDS she studied various types of dance including: ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical and modern. She also apprentice taught with Miss Jen and many other teachers in the children's ballet, jazz and tap classes. Jenn has received her bachelor's degree in education from Colby-Sawyer College and during her time there, she ran the dance club and team. Jenn currently works in the Salem School District and will be teaching the Teen Hip Hop and Jazz classes. She is so excited to be working with all of the amazing people at Allegro! |  |
| Shawn Krayenborg is originally from California and has trained from a very young age in Hip-Hop and Breaking. He has been in several movies including Ten Things I Hate About You with Heath Ledger. Shawn auditioned in 2007 for So You Think Dance and made it through to the final Vegas cuts. He is a dynamic teacher and performer and we are excited to have him on staff teaching many levels of Hip Hop! |  |
| Christine March-Kamman - Miss Christine began her dance career in the Boston area, at the age of three under the direction of Joan O'Brien and from there went on to study with many nationally renowned teachers and choreographers. At 14, she began her teaching apprenticeship in many disciplines including Jazz, Tap, Modern, Lyrical and Ballet. After graduation she founded Reach for the Stars an inner-city dance program designed to allow all who want to dance the opportunity regardless of their ability to pay. Christine moved to NH in her 20's to attend Daniel Webster College to pursue her BA studies in Business and Accounting. Upon arrival she began teaching dance at many local schools. Again wanting to share her passion of dance to those less fortunate she became the Director of Star City Dance Troupe. Miss Christine has choreographed routines for Dance and Cheerleading that were awarded many local and national titles. Christine was a semi-pro cheerleader for the Granite State Warriors and has coached Cheerleading to local youth organizations for over 20 years and held the position as Cheerleading Director for the Nashua Police Athletic League for the Jr. High division. Her love of children has inspired her to work with the Nashua School Department as a Substitute Teacher. Christine attends many workshops to stay current with the ever-evolving world of dance and is very excited to make Allegro her new home to share her (more than) 30 years of dance teaching experience with all of her students! |  |
| Lynne Monk joins our office staff after being a "studio mom" for several years to her 3 dancing children! Lynne brings many years of business experience and a smile to each day at Allegro! |  |
| Jessica Coski graduated from Pinkerton Academy and Allegro in 2010. While a student here, she was member of our Senior Dance Company and an Assistant teacher. She recently graduated from Michael's School of Hair Design and Cosmetology and we are so thrilled she is joining us to teach on Saturday mornings! She is a sweetheart and will be a great dance teacher and role model for her little ballerinas! Jess dreams of working with kids fulltime and also starting a business where she does hair and makeup for dance studios at performances and competitions! |  |
| Michelle Pinto joins our staff this year with over 25 years of dance teaching experience! She was actually one of Miss Jen’s VERY FAVORITE teachers when she was in high school. Michelle has danced professionally and has taught ballet, jazz, hip hop, children's tap, modern and lyrical as well as directed 2 of the pre-professional companies at Donna Miceli Dance Center in Lowell, MA . Her love of dance and respect for proper technique has helped to turn out dancers who are strong, passionate and very talented. Many of her students have won top honors at competitions, received numerous scholarships from conventions and professional schools and have gone on to perform for Disney, The Rockettes, are on Broadway, T.V., film, cruise ships and to open their own studios (like Miss Jen!). Michelle enjoys sharing her love of dance with ANY student. Whether it's a beginner or an advanced student, a 3 year-old or a 60 year-old, she loves to help those students find their passion inside and helps them to learn to let it show through the joyful movement of dance. Last summer, Michelle was a guest choreographer for Allegro and her pieces were certainly crowd favorites at competitions and at our recital! We are so excited to welcome Miss Michelle to our staff! |  |
| Sandi Duncan has been a dance educator in the New England area for over 30 years working with students of all ages teaching Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Improvisation and Pre-school classes. She owned and directed Dance Productions in Woburn, Ma for 9 years. She has studied with and taught, and adjudicated for numerous dance organizations throughout the US & Canada. She has written for Dance Studio Life Magazine as well as being a speaker for the DanceLife Teacher Conference in Scottsdale Arizona and the Generation IV Dance Convention in MA. She is a choreography clinician for the NEXTSTAGE Music Workshop (Show Choir Camp) in Durham, NC. Recently Sandi completed choreography for christian recording artist Britt Nicole for her US "Revolve" tour as well as becoming Life Coach certified, and hitting the road as a motivational speaker for Teens and Women. Her passion is connecting with the students she works with on a deep, emotional level challenging them to achieve personal success through goal setting, commitment, positive self-talk, and visualization. Sandi holds a degree in Interpreter Training/Deaf Communications from Northern Essex CC. Sandi enjoys being "MoM" to her 16 year old daughter and is excited to be able to SHARE her love of DANCE and love of LIFE with the students here at Allegro! |
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| Kelly O'Day has lived in the Nashua Area for 8 years. She is the mom of two beautiful children, and a devoted wife. She has been a hairstylist in the Lowell area for 15 years. In recent years, she followed her long-time dream of becoming a fitness instructor. Kelly brings high energy and fun to all of her classes. She has a true passion for Zumba!! She loves to dance, and hopes that others will enjoy dance through her Zumba class!!! |  |
| Dana Gugliotti is a recent graduate of Dean College, where she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the School of Dance in May 2011. Over the last several years Dana has performed in and choreographed numerous pieces as a member of the Dean College Dance Program, and was featured in leading roles in Dean College’s Dance Company productions her sophomore, junior, and senior years. While at Dean, Dana was recognized with multiple awards and scholarships including the Drusilla Carson Phelps Award, and the Franklin School of Performing Arts Award. In addition, to her performances at Dean College, Dana has also performed for the Boston Community Dance Project in their production of “Power Struggle”, and was a featured dancer in the music video for up and coming singer Ellie Ann’s “When he lied”. She has received scholarships at multiple conventions including The Pulse, Dance Olympus, and Tremaine. She currently teaches and choreographs at several studios in the New England area including Academy of Performing Arts, N.E., Dance Carousel, the Nikki Taylor Dance Centre, and Allegro Dance Academy. We are thrilled to welcome her to our staff! |  |
GUEST CHOREOGRAPHERS: |
