Chris Guerin
Co-Director
A Plainfield native, Chris has been active in theater and dance most of her life. She studied drama at Tisch School of Arts at NYU, and danced with Lee Theodore's American Dance Machine on scholarship. She has also studied with such greats as Frank Hatchett, Eddie Wright, Phil Black, Luigi, Al Gilbert and Tommy Tune. Chris has received numerous awards in such competitions as Show Stoppers and Dance Masters of America. Chris is active in both performance and production aspects of community theater. She has choreographed many musicals at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, including "Oliver", "Fiddler on the Roof",'92 and '10, "Little Shop of Horrors", "Guys & Dolls", "Oklahoma", and most recently "Scrooge" the musical. She has worked as producer, stage manager, set crew and also appeared in several productions before opening Danceworks. Chris recently became involved with the drama department at Plainfield High School choreographing their production of "Grease", and "Footloose".
Hillary Wagher
Co-Director
A Norwich native, Hillary attended Manhattanville College on a performing arts merit scholarship and graduated Summa Cum Laude with the Capezio Award. While at Manhattanville she was a principle dancer with the Manhattanville Dance Ensemble, the first U.S. College Dance Ensemble to perform in Leningrad prior to the breakup of the Soviet Union. Hillary has studied with such greats as Ann Carlson, Luigi, Phil Black, Irene Feigenheimer, Gus Solomons Jr., David Storey, Gemze de Lappe and privately with Annabelle Gamson. Hillary has performed in the professional production of "Homage to Hanya", and is also active in community theater where she choreographed "Godspell" for the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam.
Jessica Garvie - Instructor
Jessica began her dance training the year Danceworks opened at the age of 8 and has been a major part of the studio ever since. While a member of the Repertory Co. Jessica became known as a strong performer and a creative choreographer and has won many awards at competitions with the Danceworks Repertory Company. Jessica was a teacher assistant through her high school years and joined the staff in 2003. Jessica is a recent graduate of Eastern Conn. St. University with a degree in early childhood education and a minor in dance. Jessica recently choreographed "Big River" and assisted with "Oklahoma " for the Bradley Playhouse.
Tracee
Jackson
- Instructor
Tracee brings with her a distinguished career as a performer, teacher and choreographer. Tracee has devoted her life to dance. She began training at the age of five with a local school and continued on to the professional level with the Teachers Training Program of the Albano Ballet and Performing Arts Academy. Additional training includes study with David Howard, Phil Black, Joe Tremaine, Luigi, Frank Hatchet, and Ze'eva Cohen at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York City. Tracee is a Norwich native and graduated from Norwich Free Academy. The former director of Murphy's Hi-Tech Dance Center, some of Tracee's local contributions include choreography for many community theater productions, the Rose Arts Queen Pagent, and the Cotillion Debutante Ball for the National Council of Negro Women of New London County. Tracee has been honored by the N.A.A.C.P. for her many accomplishments.
Luke LaBonte
- Instructor
We welcome Luke to our staff this year as our Break dance instructor. Luke has an extensive background in all forms of breakdancing and began performing professionally at the age of 14. He has won many national and international titles both personally and with his crew Ground FX. As a dancer he performed with such artists as Busta Rhymes and the Sugar Hill Gang. Luke Has also judged and organized many competitions and battles throughout the east coast, such as Spin Factor. He looks forward to not only teaching the art of break dance, but it's history as well.
Alissa Hodges
- Instructor
Alissa recently moved to the area from Michigan, where she began dancing competitively at age 11. She joined the Swartz Creek Dance team as a freshman in high school, helping her team achieve a top 4 national rating 3 years in a row. Following high school she was asked to audition for the Universal Dance Association, where she taught dance camps, critiqued routines and choreographed for local dance teams and competitions. After 2 years with the UDA, Alissa successfully coached the Swartz Creek Dance Team to several titles and awards from 2005- 2008. Alissa has an extensive background in jazz, pom, and hip hop, and looks forward to teaching hip hop and sharing her passion with others.
Sara
Kessler - Instructor
Sara is originally from Colchester CT, and is a 2010 graduate of Dean College. While attending Dean as a dance major, she was president and member of many organizations on campus, including the hip hop dance team "Break tha Silence". She choreographed and performed in and for numerous shows including Cabaret, Choreographers showcase, Dean at Patriots Place, Dance Team Show, and the BTS Fashion Show. She attended the Albano Ballet Summer intensive on 1/2 scholarship, and will be appearing in their production of The Nutcracker this year at the Mohegan Sun. Sara has taught for dance teams as well as after school programs and has taught in other studios for the past 2 years.