Instructors

Studio Manager

Adults, Hip Hop, Hip Hop Troupe, Jazz & Rhythm Tap

 Elissa has been studying dance for over 20 years. She is a seacoast NH native and started her training at Steppin’ Out Dance Academy. Elissa continued her education at Franklin Pierce University, receiving a degree in Arts Management and Dance. While at Franklin Pierce she was given the opportunity to study abroad in Lyon, France to experience “La Biennale de la Danse”. She was also able to choreograph multiple performances while teaching and studying the NHDI curriculum.

Elissa has continued to share her passion and joy for dance by teaching with local studios as well as serving as an administrative and production manager for several years. She was also the grant coordinator and performer for Forty Steps Dance, a modern company based in Nahant, MA.

Elissa joined the Joy of Dance family in 2015 and taught for five years. She continues to be a part of our family in an administrative role as she pursues other passions, you will see her around the studio from time to time!

Hip Hop, Shooting Stars

Bio coming soon!

Savannah has been a part of the Joy of Dance Family since 2013.

Adults, Dance Adventures, Hip Hop, Hip Hop Troupe, Jazz, Lyrical, Performance Team, Rhythm Tap, Shooting Stars & Tiny Stars

Jamie has been dancing for 19 years and began their dance education at Brixham Danceworks in South Berwick, Maine. During high school, Jamie was a part of Marshwood Marching Hawks for 5 years, with their final 2 as Drum Major. Jamie was the coach of the Marshwood Middle School Winterguard, choreographing their 2016 program- The Little Robot (based on Wall-E). After graduation they joined the Dance Team at Lesley University, choreographing 3 group pieces and 4 solos. Jamie has taken at least one class in almost every style, including Tap, Hip Hop, Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, and Jazz.

Jamie joined the Joy of Dance family in 2020.

Director of First Impressions

Donna has been in the medical field for over 30 years. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family especially her grandchildren. A few of Donna’s favorite hobbies include making crafts, going to her grandson’s football games, and cheering him on during his ski races. Her favorite holiday is Christmas! Donna loves performing arts and is excited to be a part of Joy of Dance!

Donna joined the Joy of Dance Family in 2021.

Dance With Me, Tiny Stars

Anya has moved around a lot growing up. She has danced in Tennessee, Nevada, and New Hampshire. She has been dancing since she was 2, competing since age 9, and wants to continue sharing her knowledge and love of dance through teaching. Anya has had the opportunity of performing in DisneyLand, as well as competing all around the East and West Coast. Her favorite styles include Contemporary and Hip Hop, and she has also trained in Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Acro, Tap, Lyrical, and Musical Theatre. Anya is currently attending the University of New Hampshire as a psychology major. Dance has changed her life for the better, and she dreams to have the opportunity to show young dancers how incredible dance is for everyone!

Anya joined the Joy of Dance Family in 2023.

Nina began dancing at age 12, when a new studio opened up locally. As a teen she became a Teacher Assistant and found that she loved teaching dance! She started teaching her own classes when she was 17, and has taught all ages from 3 to adult! She strives to inspire her students to be the best they can be and most importantly, to have fun in class while learning! Her favorite styles are tap, jazz, and hip hop. When she’s not dancing you can find her spending time with her husband and daughters, and doing crafts with her Cricut or crocheting. She is so excited to be a part of the Joy of Dance family!

Nina joined the Joy of Dance Family in 2023.

Hip Hop

Gianna grew up dancing in Warwick, Rhode Island at Warwick Dance and Gymnastics Academy starting at the age of 3. She continued to finish her senior year of high school dancing for Thrive The Dance Studio. She learned from well-known choreographers at Thrive The Dance Studio and now also helps with competition choreography.

She is a student at the University of New Hampshire studying for her B.A in Communication and Theatre Dance. She is also a member of the UNH Dance Team where she participates at UNH sporting events, UDA nationals, and UDA camp. Her favorite styles of dance are contemporary and hip hop and she is excited to share her passion for dance with the dance community!

Gianna joined the Joy of Dance Family in 2022.

Ballet, Dance with Me, Musical Theatre, Performance Team, Pointe & Tiny Stars

Marissa has over fifteen years of dance experience, training in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Broadway, Lyrical, Modern, and Contemporary. Along with training in her technique classes, she also performed in The Nutcracker, Dance Rochester/Dance Northeast, and across the seacoast with Sole City Dance’s Ensemble.

After high school, Marissa continued her studies at Franklin Pierce University for one year before transferring to the University of New Hampshire, where she received her B.A. in English Literature with a Minor in Dance. While at University, she had the fortune to train with Assaf Benchetrit, Gay Nardone, and Susan Endrizzi, receive the Robert Alvin Performing Arts Scholarship from FPU, and perform as a member of the UNH Ballet Company for three years. Some of her favorite performance roles include Snow, Lead Arabian, Toy Flute, Flower, and Clara, all in the Nutcracker, Will O’ the Wisp (Hamlet: 7 Rooms, FPU), House Slave (Les Enslave, UNH), and Princess (Cinderella, UNH).

Not only has Marissa had the privilege of teaching young children’s dance around the seacoast, but she also taught her fellow classmates at FPU and UNH in Choreography and Pedagogy classes. Marissa joined the Joy of Dance family in 2017.

Dance with Me, Shooting Stars, Tiny Stars

Taylor is a Seacoast NH native and has been dancing since the age of 4. Whether in the studio or in her living room, she dances every single day! She graduated from UNH in 2007 with a degree in Communications. Taylor was a part of the Dover High School Winter Guard and coached while she was in college.

Taylor is a mom of 3 and a childcare provider. She has been caring for young children for over 10 years and thrives in an environment where her inner child can come out to play! Dancing and spending time with kids are her biggest sources of joy, and she is beyond excited to merge the two and begin her teaching journey with Joy of Dance!

Taylor joined the Joy of Dance Family in 2021.

Adult, Ballet, Dance with Me, Extension Jazz & Pointe

Mykenzi has grown up dancing around the NH Lakes Region and Seacoast since the age of 3. She began her serious ballet training with Northeastern Ballet Theatre at the age of 11, performing in numerous productions including The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Coppelia. In addition to her dance background, Mykenzi has experience in musical theater, performing in shows such as Peter Pan, Annie, Beauty and the Beast, and The Wizard of Oz. Mykenzi received her Bachelor of Arts in History from Elon University in North Carolina, where she first began teaching with Elon’s student-led company, Danceworks. Since moving back to NH, Mykenzi teaches and dances as a company member with Safe Haven Ballet in Portsmouth, performing in The Nutcracker as Francine and Russian divertissement, and Cinderella as Lady Tremaine.

Mykenzi joined the Joy of Dance Family in 2022.

Musical Theatre Production Class

Jennifer Solomon is a graduate of UNH, with a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre. She has worked in the education field for over 18 years and taught musical theatre classes for 15 years at the Leddy Center for the Performing Arts in Epping. She is currently teaching musical theatre to 6-12 year olds at RPAC (the Rochester Performance and Arts Center).

In her classes and camps, Jen focuses on acting games and performance opportunities designed to build the confidence of each student, as well as teach them valuable theatre skills. Jen has performed in numerous musicals throughout NH for the last 30 years, taking a slight break to focus on raising her two girls. Some of her favorite roles performed have been Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde, Cinderella in Into the Woods, Eve in Children of Eden, and Belle in Beauty and the Beast.

Jennifer joined the Joy of Dance Family in 2023.