Dance Camp Instructors
Instructor Profiles
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Jennifer K. BurpeeJennifer K. Burpee has been involved in dance since 1993, when she was enrolled in the Concord Dance Academy of Concord, NH. At the age of thirteen, after her parents and teachers realized her innate dance talent, she was enrolled at the Walnut Hill School of Performing Arts in Natick, MA. There, she was technically trained under Michel Owen, Elizabeth Rising-Musgrave and Samuel Kurkjian in classical ballet. Jennifer later attended the University of New Hampshire with a Major in Theatre and Dance and a Minor in the French Language. While earning her degree at UNH, Jennifer taught at the Joy of Dance School in Northwood, NH for three years, spending time as a choreographer, attending dance conferences in Boston, MA, but most importantly, starting both the Tap and Point Dance classes. She also started teaching at Carlene Nazarian Dance Center in 2006, and after a year spent in NYC and taking classes she came back to the area and has been teaching their technique and pointe classes for the past two years. Jennifer has taught many master classes in and out of Boston and was hired this year as a ballet coach for Sugar Coated Productions. This will be Jennifer’s fourth year teaching at UNH SDI and she couldn’t be happier to be a part of it |
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Alden CapleAlden Caple graduated in 2010 with a B.F.A in Musical Theatre from The Hartt School at the University of Hartford. While in school, Alden studied ballet, tap and jazz and choreographed both The Rocky Horror Show and The Fantasticks. Alden also created an annual student choreography workshop for students in the Musical Theatre program. Since 2006 Alden has choreographed for Maui On Stage at the Iao Theatre in Wailuku, HI, Seacoast Rep, The Players’ Ring, The Hartt School, as well as Jr.High and High Schools in the Seacoast area. In addition to choreographing musicals, Alden teaches private dance, workshops in African/tribal dance, and dances around his house trying not to bump into furniture. |
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Angie ConteAngie Conte earned a BA in Dance Performance and Visual Art Studies from Roger Williams University in 2009. Two pieces she choreographed for the RWU Dance Theatre were selected to be presented for adjudication at the American College Dance Festival. One of those pieces was then selected for the National Gala in Washington, D.C. at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She has also presented work in the Fledgling Festival in Rhode Island, at the Stone Church in Vermont, and was selected to create new work for the 2009 Emerging Artist Concert at Green Street Studios in Cambridge MA. She has conducted teaching/choreography residencies at Colby Sawyer College, Roger Williams University, and University of New Hampshire. Angie was recently asked to be a part of the NADINE Project, (New Artists Dance In New England). There she is being mentored in creating new work by Janet Mansfield Soares, and Libby Nye. She is also teaching at many local studios and workshops around New England, including the Carlene Nazarian Dance Center, New Hampshire School Of Ballet, Creative Steps Studio of Dance, A Dance Vision By Nicole, Dance Productions, and the UNH Summer Dance Intensive. Her studio work has won many high score and special awards, including Diamond Choreography. |
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Heidi HansonHeidi is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a B.A. in Theater and Dance and a B.S. in Exercise Science. She was a member of the UNH Dance Company under the direction of Gay Nardone, and specialized in jazz, tap and aerial dance. While living in NYC, Heidi performed with the XYandZ Project and En L’Air Aerial Dance Theater in the International Dance Festival, and you can catch her on the kid’s TV series Sheria and Loli’s Dittydoodle Works as Pink-A-Dink. Heidi is in the cast of Clara’s Dream, A Jazz Nutcracker last performed in December 2009. She teaches aerial dance each summer at the UNH Summer Dance Intensive, and is currently in her sixth year teaching at Sole City Dance. |
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Mary Beth MarinoMary Beth Marino received her BA in Theater and Dance from the University of New Hampshire in 1999. She was a member of the UNH Dance Company and received scholarship for dance in each of her four years. Mary Beth has been teaching and choreographing ever since. She is currently an instructor at the NH School of Ballet and the Portsmouth School of Ballet. She is also a Lecturer and Instructor at the University of NH teaching jazz, tap and dance history. In the last few years, Mary Beth has choreographed for the UNH Department of Theater and Dance, Elysium Dance Company, DanceXplosion National Talent Tour, the Portsmouth School of Ballet Dance Company and the NH School of Ballet Dance Company. Mary Beth received the Diamond choreography award in 2007 and 2008 from the American Dance Awards organization. Her choreography has received many overall high scores on the regional and national competitive level throughout the US. |
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Joe MealloJoe Meallo Graduated from UNH in 2006 earning a Bachelors degree in theatre with an emphasis in dance. Since then he has become a full time teacher at Steppin Out Dance Academy in Kingston NH where he teaches Musical Theatre, Jazz, Tap and Lyrical to all ages. He is also the visual director of the University Of New Hampshire Wildcat Marching Band and Color Guard. Just to keep things well rounded Joe also works as the Production Assistant at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre in Portsmouth NH where he can also be seen dancing on stage in this summers production of "Chicago". Joe is so excited to teach for the first time at UNH's summer dance intensive! This will be a FullOutNoMarking blast! |
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Brittany L. MorseBrittany L. Morse grew up in Salem, NH where she began her training at the Carlene Nazarian Dance Center. She continued her studies in dance under the direction of Gay Nardone at the University of New Hampshire and began her trapeze instruction with Elsie and Serenity Smith of Nimble Arts (Cirque du Soleil; Saltimbanco). While earning her degrees at UNH Brittany was also a four-year member of the UNH Dance Company and continued to teach and choreograph for various studios in New England. After graduating Cum Laude with a double BA in Theatre & Dance and Communications in 2003 Brittany moved to NYC where she played the cattle call audition game and was lucky to dance for Disney at the Magic Kingdom, Celebrity Cruise Lines touring the Caribbean Islands; in addition to being a member of The Next Stage Project Directed by Jana Hicks & Marijke Eliasbergperforming internationally (New York City, Hawaii and Amsterdam, Holland). Brittany is the Artistic Director of the UNH Summer Dance Intensive and continues to teach along the East Coast including Savannah, GA & Jacksonville, FL. She is simply gleeful to be back at the UNH SDI and to continuously be a part of the university that changed her life! |
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Megan NallanMegan Nallan is a recent graduate from the University of NH with a Bachelor Degree in Theatre with an emphasis in dance. She has been teaching and choreographing for the past 7 years at the NH School of Ballet in Hooksett NH. She is very excited to teach for her third year at the UNH SDI! |
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Gay NardoneGay Nardone teaches jazz and tap dance and instituted the aerial arts program at UNH for the Department of Theatre and Dance. She received her M.F.A. and B.F.A. from the Boston Conservatory. Gay began her career with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall and danced with the June Taylor Dancers of the Jackie Gleason television show. She has choreographed operas and musicals for the University including this years “Seussical” and is currently working on “Vignettes: Ellis Island” with David Ripley in the Music Department. Gay’s choreography may be seen in CLARA’S DREAM, the Jazz Nutcracker, where she has performed Since 2003 at the Music Hall in Portsmouth and on tours. Currently, Gay is performing with Dean Diggins and Drika Overton as the “Classical Tap Trio.” Last fall Gay’s career and her aerial dance program at UNH were featured on the WMUR television program “Chronicle”. |
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Nicole NickersonNicole Nickerson has been a part of the dance world for over 20 years. In 2002 she began teaching full time at local studios. That same year she began teaching master classes and summer intensives at many studios throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts. In 2007 she opened her dance studio in Kingston NH, A Dance Vision by Nicole. There, she prides herself on sharing her love and knowledge of dance with her students. In 2010 and 2011 Nicole’s male dancer won the regional title at American Dance Awards “Dancers of the Year”. Another of Nicole’s dancers was just hired by Carnival Cruise Lines as a dancer. This will be Nicole’s first year teaching the UNH SDI and can’t wait to share her love of dance with more students! |
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Diana PalumboDiana Palumbo’s early training was at Steppin’ Out Dance Academy from 1991-2002. During that time she also performed in 3 seasons of Ballet New England’s Nutcrackers. While earning two bachelors degrees at UNH in Psychology and Theatre with an emphasis in Dance, Diana fell in love with aerial arts. Professional credits include teaching dance camps at UNH and choreographing for and performing professionally in award winning musicals at Prescott Park and Seacoast Rep in Portsmouth respectively. Diana’s other certifications include Trapeze and Fabric Teacher Training from the New England Center for Circus Arts, Physiology of Movement, and Zumba Basic 1. Di is so happy to be sharing her love of flying and all forms of movement and dance at UNH again this summer! |
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Chelsea StickneyChelsea Stickney is a recent graduate from UNH with a BA in Spanish and a minor in Education. In May of 2013, she will be completing her Master of Education Degree. Chelsea has been dancing for 19 years, starting out at Concord Dance Academy for 16 years and continuing to the UNH Dance Company for 3 years when she graduated. Chelsea taught at CDA all throughout her time there and continues to do so now. She is very excited to be working at the UNH SDI and is looking forward to a great experience! |
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Nicole StroumbosNicole is an interdisciplinary artist, performer & instructor. She has been dancing since the age of three and grew up training primarily at The Carlene Nazarian Dance Center in Salem NH. There, she was exposed to various genres of dance, although she feels most passionately about Lyrical, Jazz & Contemporary movement. She also became well immersed in the competitive dance world, as part of a group, solo performer and eventually a choreographer. She has taught master classes and been a guest choreographer at The Carlene Nazarian Dance Center, The Dance Works, Salem Dance Network, A Dance Vision by Nicole, Thornton Academy, and Portland Youth Dance Company and has worked for The University of New Hampshire's summer dance intensive. Nicole is a recent graduate of Maine College of Art obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting. She is currently a performer/member of Collective Motion Dance Company in Portland ME, while teaching at The Studio of Dance Arts in Methuen MA and The Dance Works in Haverhill MA, and Bedford Youth Performing Company in Bedford, NH. |