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. |  |
Mariclare Pollicelli began dancing at the age of two with Frances Osborne in Quincy, MA and continued to dance throughout her school years in Burlington, Woburn and Stoneham MA. She performed with many charitable benefits and competed at the National Level. She studied with many respected choreographers at master classes and conventions and continued her training in many wonderful studios. She began to take acting more seriously while residing in Arizona during her college years. Although she continued her training in Tap and Jazz; Musical Theatre became her passion. She trained with the Cochise Actors where she trained under John Wayne’s actor and stunt/double, and participated in stage training courses. When she returned home to Massachusetts she taught ballet, jazz, tap and musical theatre for many studios in the New England area and received teacher training with Jennifer Coughlin in Dracut, MA. She has choreographed for various dance companies and is proud to have achieved national level and special awards with her students. Miss Mariclare is Allegro’s Dance Company Coordinator and the Director of the Petite and Mini Companies. She is excited for another fun-filled year at Allegro! |
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| 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. |  |
| Nikki Taylor has taught students ranging in age from 3 years old to adults where she has choreographed routines for beginners to competitive programs. Excelling in all disciplines, she is recognized as an exceptional tap instructor/choreographer both regionally and nationally. Over the last several years, Nikki has choreographed a number of competitive team pieces which have appeared at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Daytona Beach, Florida, Virginia Beach and Boston. As a dancer, Nikki has performed throughout the United States and Europe. Some countries included are Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands. In addition to touring abroad, she has also traveled extensively throughout the United States, appearing in such states as Colorado, Minnesota, Michigan, Nebraska and Georgia. While in Atlanta, Georgia, Nikki had the privilege to dance in an Opening Ceremony of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. Nikki is a graduate of Fitchburg State College, where she received her degree in Sociology in 1995. While at Fitchburg State she was a dance instructor/choreographer as well as Vice President for the FSC Dance Club. She is also a graduate of the Dance Teacher's Club of Boston - Teacher's Training Course. The world of dance and entertainment has provided such a positive impact on Nikki's life. Due to that fact, it is her career ambition to educate other individuals who share the same passion. Having worked with a number of choreographers and dance instructors, she understands how crucial it is to have a positive influence at every level of dance education. For that reason, Nikki is committed to helping students - no matter their age or ability - work towards achieving their dance goals. |  |
| 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! | |
GUEST CHOREOGRAPHERS: |
