Carroll Manor
Dance Staff
(2008-2009)
Melissa S. Heick
(Artistic Director & Instructor) began her studies at
local recreation and park programs at 4 years of age. She
has been teaching and choreographing for 12years. Melissa
has studied dance at the Peabody Institute, The Dance Studio,
Bethesda Dance Studio, The Broadway Dance Center, Towson
University, Steps, and other dance studios around the USA.
Mrs. Heick has also graced the playing fields of the Baltimore
Ravens as an NFL Dance Team member. After performing for
one season she then assisted as a guest choreographer. Mrs.
Heick was fortunate to have been casted in the well-known
musical Fame. She has taught at many schools around the
Baltimore, Washington area and is currently the proud artistic
director of Carroll Manor Dance. Recently, Melissa volunteered
her time for a dance ministry at Community Christian Church
where her faith and passion for dance shined. She has attended
many competitions around the USA. However, she strongly
believes that dance is not a competition, but is an art
form. She feels that students should compete only with themselves
to achieve a perfect balance of creativity, style, strength,
and grace. Mrs. Heick's number one goal is that every student,
regardless of his or her ability, should receive the best
possible training. The faculty at Carroll Manor takes pride
in her philosophy. Last but not least her passion to teach
students of all ages, with high standards of style and technique
shines daily.
Jillian Goldman
(Dance Instructor) Born in NY, I have been dancing since
the age of three. I studied tap, ballet, lyrical, pointe,
and Jazz at the Vic D'amore Studio of Performing arts located
in Deer Park, NY. I have participated in dance competitions
in various cities including, NYC, Las Vegas, and Long Beach,
California. While at these competitions I was privileged
to take workshop classes with some of the best teachers
in the country. I have also performed in Disneyland and
for the children's interactive show Zebby's Zoo. I am now
in my last year at Towson University perusing a degree in
Family Studies and Community Development. I look forward
to graduating and working with children in the field of
social work in the future.
Ashley Kathryn Henschen
(Dance Instructor) began her training at Towson University's
Children's Dance Division where she was a member of both
of their performing companies and had the opportunity to
perform with the Moscow Ballet. She later attended Towson
University on scholarship. She graduated with Honors, with
a B.F.A. in Dance Performance in May 2006. Kathryn spent
summers at Baltimore Ballet and Central Pennsylvania Youth
Ballet. She is currently a trainee with the Baltimore Ballet,
a dancer for the Howard County Ballet and takes class with
the apprentices of the Richmond Ballet. She has danced lead
and soloist roles in 'The Nutcracker,' 'Raymonda,' and various
contemporary works. She has been accepted into summer programs
for Richmond Ballet, Ballet Austin and Nashville Ballet
(with a scholarship) and was a semi-finalist as a Maryland
Distinguished Scholar of the Arts
Kristen Petr (Dance
Instructor) began her dance training at the early age of
3 years old. Since then, Kristen has developed a dance background
that consists of Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Hip
Hop, and Competition Jazz Dance. Kristen has attended various
dance and art conferences, such as Bates Dance Festival,
American College Dance Festival, Arts Advocacy Day 2007,
and the Florida Dance Festival. In 2007, Kristen received
a position and performed professionally with the Baltimore
Lady Blackbirds dance team during the football league's
inaugural season. Currently, Kristen is a recent graduate
from Towson University where she received a B.F.A. degree
in Dance Performance and Education. While at Towson, Kristen
had the opportunity to study with various faculty and guest
artists, to perform in many concerts, and she also choreographed
a dance for the camera piece which won second place in the
2006 Student Media Arts Festival. Lastly, Kristen is very
excited to be going into her third year
of teaching dance at Carroll Manor.
Tiffany Thibault (Dance
Instructor) is a graduate of the Hartford Conservatory and
has received a degree in dance performance and dance pedagogy.
She has continued her dance studies at the Broadway Dance
Center, Steps on Broadway, and Peridance Center located
in New York City. There she studied under Frank Hatchett,
Mia Michaels, Rhapsody, Chio, Amy Mattison, and many more.
Tiffany has performed principal roles in the "Nutcracker",
and "Coppelia", through the Berkshire Foothills
Ballet Company. Recently, Tiffany performed in an independent
musical production "Farrinet Baranka", as a principle
dancer and assistant choreographer in New York City. Tiffany
has been teaching and choreographing in private studios
in Connecticut and New York City with a concentration in
ballet, modern, jazz, tap, and hip-hop. Currently, she has
relocated to Maryland and working with after school dance
programs. Tiffany is very excited to be teaching at Carroll
Manor Dance.
Holly Gilmore,Jeanette
Proakis,and Brittany Ryan (Dance Assistants)
All three girls are in Sr. Company (tap and jazz) and take
our highest level of Pointe (ballet three/ four). Each assistant
helps with chorography, placement, costumes, and much much
more. We are very fortunate to have such wonderful assistants.
Lisa Dever, Joan
Harris, and Moire Riley (Co- Chair) Each
of the ladies mentioned above are VOLUNTEER mothers and
work all year to help our dance program. They help with
everything from registration, costumes, treasury, parent
concerns, recital, etc… without them we would not have
this program! Again we are VERY fortunate to have such wonderful
chair mothers.
______________________________________________________________
The staff at Carroll Manor Dance is very caring and devoted.
Many of the teachers not only have extensive dance backgrounds,
but also have college degrees- many in the field of dance
education. We are very fortunate to have such a wonderful
staff here at Carroll Manor Dance.
