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Loralee Levesque - Owner/Instructor
She has been teaching dance & theatre for the last 22 years. She has worked for Apponequet H.S., New
Bedford H.S., Somerset School District, Freetown Elementary School, New Bedford Youth Rep., Little Theatre of Fall River,
Janalee Productions, Studio Theatre Co., Showbiz Kidz, Miss Janice’s Dance Studio, Bodies in Motion, Ami’s School
of Dance, Embrace the Arts and Raquelle’s Institute of Dance and Fitness. Here she has been the director of Musical
Theatre Classes. A student of Dean College, Boston Ballet, Sherry Gold Dance Studio, On Stage Academy of Performing Arts,
Steppin’ Out Dance Studio, Jeannette Neill, Festival Ballet, and Miss Janice’s Dance Studio. Her repertoire includes
the art of Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern and Musical Theater. She has worked on and off stage of
local community theatre being an actress, dancer, director and stage manager. Some of her favorite on stage roles include
Val in a Chorus Line, Maisie in The Boyfriend, Josie Cohan in George M, 1 of 2 ladies in Cabaret, Bet in Oliver and Velma
in West Side Story. She has danced for The Miss Fall River and Miss New Bedford Pageants and has danced regularly for Fall
River Celebrates America. She was Miss Olympic Miss and her choreography has won her numerous awards both regional and national
dance competitions. Loralee was the director & choreographer for Disney’s High School Musical at Apponequet High
School and Co-Director/Choreographer for Disney’s High School Musical for The Studio Theatre Company and most recently
Choreograpgher for Disney’s Beauty And The Beast for The Little Theatre Of Fall River. She was the Co-Director/Choreographer
for Bugsy Malone Jr. for Marquee Productions Inc. As well as Peter Pan The Musical. Director/Choreographer
for CATS which she was nominated for Director of The Year & Musical Of the Year for Motif Awards. She recently directed
and choreographed Annie Jr. in Aug 2011.
Jennifer Jones - a native of Fall River, Ma, has been dancing since the age of 4. Jennifer
received her B.A. in Dance Performance from Rhode Island College in 2004. Prior to her graduation, Jenn was under the
instruction of Kim Bernier at Smith School of Dance in Westport, MA for 19 years as well as a student teacher, and later an
assistant teacher. While a student there, She received numerous awards for both regional and national dance competitions.
As an undergraduate at RIC, Jennifer studied under the direction of numerous professors, such as, Dante Del Giudice, Melody
Ruffin-Ward, Angelica Vessella, Kathy St. Jean, and many more. She was also fortunate enough to be chosen to participate in
professional choreographic residencies with renowned choreographers such as, Sean Lurran, Art Bridgman and Myrna Packer, Alexander
Beller, Liam Clancy, Daniel McCusker, Angelica Vessella, and Deb Meurnier. Since graduating from RIC, Jennifer has auditioned
for the Walt Disney Cruise Lines, Walt Disney World Theme Park, FL; Busch Gardens Theme Park, FL, where she was cast as an understudy; The Rainbow Tribe, Boston, MA; and began teaching and
choreographing: 3 years at the former Miss Janice’s Dance Studio, 1 year
at A Dance Place, and presently at Loralee’s Dance Studio.
She made her theatrical debut in Oct 2005 in the Little Theatre of Fall River’s production of “42nd
Street”. Her repertoire includes the art of ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, toe tap, hip hop, ballroom,
and musical theater. Alex Cruz - Is a junior at
Rhode Island College studying Dance and Communications. He's thrilled to be performing in his third Loralee's Dance Studio
Recital. Alex has preformed in various theatre throughout Massachusetts and has recently added choreographer to his resume
choreographing such shows as "Grease" and "Aida." He'd like to thank Loralee for giving him this opportunity
and to all his girls for giving it their best.
Kara E. Plant - is a graduate of Wagner College (Staten Island,
NY) with a B.S. in
Arts Administration with a concentration in combined arts (music, theatre and art).
While at
Wagner, Kara was a member of the College Choir and Stretto (a close harmony
jazz ensemble) and also served as the choir’s
Tour Manager. As a member of these
choirs, she performed at the renowned Carnegie Hall, along with many other locations
along the east coast of the United States. As a student of Ms. Dora Ohrenstein,
Kara was a finalist
at the National Association of Teachers of Singing vocal
competition at Columbia University. Prior to college,
Kara graduated from NBHS (New
Bedford, MA), and was a part of various choirs and show choirs, performing and
winning
numerous competitions throughout Massachusetts; including the International
Association for Jazz Educators Competition.
She was also chosen to participate in
the American Choral Directors Association All Eastern Choir in Pennsylvania.
She
also excelled in the school's drama club. She portrayed Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly
which won the Moss Hart Award
(Outstanding Theatrical Production) at the New England
Theatre Conference. In 2008 Kara returned to New Bedford High
School and served as
the Vocal Director for the Drama Club’s production of High School Musical. Kara's
vocal
training began as a 9 year old, where she first became a student of Debra
Perry and would continue her lessons for 12
years. Kara is currently a member of the
Southeastern Massachusetts Festival Chorus. Brittany
Sowersby: Brittany is a graduate from Somerset High School Class of ’09 where she was on the Hip-Hop Team. She currently
attends The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. She began dancing at a young age, but it wasn’t until age 12 that
she entered a talent show and won both first and second place. Brittany has studied many different styles of hip hop such
as popping, locking, breaking, stepping, and tutting. She has studied with choreographers such as Laura Edwards (ABDC, Britney
Spears World Tour, Step Up), Nick Demoura (JoJo Promo Tour, Dance Flick, Step Up 3D, NKOTB), Tucker Barkley (Britney Spears,
Janet Jackson), Christian Owens (Step Up 3D), Phi (Jabbawockeez, ABDC), Status Quo (ABDC), Marcos Aguirre (Wrush Crew), Kevin
Maher, Rhapsody, Keith Frankel, Beau Fournier (ABDC) and many more. Brittany is part of the group Movement Specialists and
performs at Monsters of Hip Hop in New Jersey. Dance is a huge part of her life and she hopes she can take
all the enjoyment she finds in dancing and pass it along to others.
Elizabeth Tobiaz - has studied for 22 years. She started young at Eva Morais Dance Studio with ballet and tap and
by age 13 had added jazz, modern, hip hop, contemporary, pointe, and Irish step to her studies. Her main focus is now
tap, contemporary jazz, and Irish Step. Beth has also been in competitions throughout New England, such as, American
Dance Awards, International Dance Challenge, and Rhea Gold’s Dance Competition. She was involved in the BMC Durfee
High School Theater Company from 1998 to 2001and in the marching band from 1998 to 2002. Beth is currently a student
at Bristol Community College studying English and photography and in involved in the performing arts at the college and has
recently joined the
Nicole Chagnon-A Senior at Somerset High School. Nicole has been dancing since the age
of 3. She studies ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, musical theatre, modern, toe-tap, Irish Step. Nicole is a member of The Dance
Company. In November 2010 Nicole won Senior Contemporary Most Outstanding Dancer for the Turn It Up Dance Challenge and Sr
1st place outstanding Jazz Dancer. Nicole was asked to Join the Turn It Up National Dance Team for the 2011 Season! Nicole
has recently won A one year dance scholarship to Rhode Island College, where she will be studying dance. Maeve Donnelly-
has been dancing for the past 18 years. She has studied the art of ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, pointe, hip-hop, musical theatre
and modern. She first started at Pauline Parker's School of Dance in Dartmouth, MA. At age 12 she then switched to Miss Janice's
Dance Studio, now Loralee's Dance Studio. She also taught lyrical and musical theatre for 2 years at A & M Dance Academy
of New Bedford, MA. Maeve is also very involved with community theatre, including Little Theatre of Fall River, Studio Theatre
Company, and of course Marquee Theatre Productions. Some of her favorite roles include "Kristine" in A Chorus Line
(Studio Theatre Co.), "Frenchy" in Grease (LTFR) and just recently Bombalurina in CATS (Marquee Theatre). Maeve
would like to thank Loralee for the opportunity to work with some of the most amazing dancers and kids around! Rachelle Dubois- Loralee welcomes
Rachelle to the list of Student Instructors. Rachelle has been dancing since the age of nine. She studies ballet, tap, jazz,
pointe, Irish step, modern and toe-tap and is a dancer for The Studio Dance Company. She has been involved in The Little
Theater performing in the first "Show Biz Kidz" in 2006 and Disney's "High School Musical" in February
of 2008. She is very excited to be a student teacher here at Loralee's assisting Beth in Irish step. Kristi
Raposa- Kristi has been dancing with Loralee since the age of 4 starting at Bodies in Motion. She studies ballet,
tap, jazz, lyrical, pointe, modern, african, toe-tap and hip-hop. She has also been involved with community theater since
the age of 7 where she performed in and worked on musicals and plays for The Studio Theatre Company, Janalee, The Friends
of St. Anne's Hospital and Little Theatre of Fall River. She has been in several cabarets and musical reviews as a soloist
and dancer. Loralee is very proud to have one of her original students as a student instructor this year.
OFFICE/BUSINESS STAFF Marlene Brabant - Office Manager Scott Levesque - Business Manager
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