Deanne Petriccione

Owner/Director

Deanne opened The Brookfield School of Performing Arts in September 2004. With more than 37 years of dance experience, Deanne trained in NYC as one of only 75 students accepted to the original LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts Dance Department where she majored in Ballet and minored in Modern. While at P.A., Deanne studied at many well known Manhattan studios including Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, and Christine Neubert. Through the years Deanne has continued her studies in Westchester and CT Dance Studios including Dance Cavise and Ms. Dorothy’s Creative Dance Center. Deanne attends annual Teacher Workshops in NYC through Dance Educators of America for which she has been a longstanding member since 1984, when receiving her certification to teach by test from former president, Vikki Sheer. With more than 26 years teaching experience, Deanne has worked with students of all ages and abilities in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Lyric and has been a contributing choreographer for many productions including; “Stand by Me” at Brookfield High School for the Wounded Warriors Foundation and “Broadway Bound” at the Portuguese Cultural Center in Danbury. In 2006 Deanne co-founded “Theater Connection”, a performance company for students of the greater Danbury area to sing, dance, and perform in a kid-friendly, non-competitive environment. Theater Connection debuted its first production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream…the fairies” in March of 2006. In December 2007, Theater Connection presented “Tis the Season”, a holiday variety show which has become a yearly tradition ever since. In 2007, 2008, and 2009, TC had the privilege of donating the proceeds from its benefit performances to Ann’s Place in Danbury and has added the New Milford food bank to its list of benefactors by donating non-perishable items for families in need. Deanne is co-coach of the Brookfield High School Dance Team which has retained the 1st Place Title at the Connecticut State Dance Team Championships 3 years in a row and SWC Competitions two years in a row in the Hip Hop and Jazz category. Deanne is a Connecticut state certified coach and furthers her education by attending weekly classes with Mimi Wallace and Todd Hall.

Danielle BonTempo

Danielle is a 3rd grade teacher at the Western Ct. Academy for International Studies Magnet School and has a B.S. in Elementary Education, a B.A. in Psychology, and an M.S. in Remedial Reading and Language Arts from Southern Ct. State University. With more than 32 years of dance experience, Danielle trained at Monroe Dance Academy, Ona May School of Dance, Dance Theater Productions, and Broadway Steps in Tap, Jazz, Modern, Theater Dance, and Ballet. Recent instructors include Sharon Heller, former “Tap Dogs” dancer Chris Erk, and “Mr. Broadway” Scott Wise for whom Danielle is also a substitute teacher. Danielle’s performance credits include S.O.P.A.’s Tap Company, “Tessa” in North Star Entertainment Productions’ “The Reppies”, Six Flags, and “The River” Benefit for which she was also a choreographic assistant. Danielle taught for 11 years at Broadway Steps in Brookfield. This is Danielle’s 6th year teaching at BSPA.

Lauren D'Aquila

Lauren has been dancing for 17 years with extensive training in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Modern, Lyric, and Hip Hop. As a member of Dance Masters of America, Lauren has attended numerous local and national dance conventions and competitions where she has won numerous special awards. Lauren is a graduate of Brookfield High School where she was a member of the BHS Dance Team all four years. In 2007, Lauren attended Manhattanville College for a year as a dance major. In January of 2009, Lauren received her certification to teach by test from Dance Educators of America in Ballet and Jazz. Lauren performed in many productions including; “Stand by Me”, a benefit show at Brookfield High School for the Wounded Warriors Foundation, “Broadway Bound” at the Portuguese Cultural Center, “Footloose” at the Sherman Playhouse, and the roles of Toy Soldier, Snow, Flower Courts, Lead Chinese, Marzipan and Spanish for the Danbury “Nutcracker”. Most recently Lauren performed the roles of Clara, Snow Queen, Spanish, and the Sugar Plum Fairy for Theater Connections “Tis the Season” holiday show where she was also an assistant. This is Lauren’s 3rd year teaching at BSPA.

Linda Davies

Linda has been teaching dance for 40 years and was the original owner of Dance Etc. in Newtown for which she still teachers their preschool and Musical Theater program. Linda has been working in the Brookfield School district for over 20 years as choreographer for the Summer Theater program, Cheerleading coach, and is the founder and coach of the three time Connecticut State Dance Team Champions, The Brookfield High School Dance Team which won the title in 2008, 2009, and 2010. She is also the founder of the SWC competition which recently celebrated its 6th year. The BHS Dance Team was the winner of the SWC competition in 2005, 2008, and 2009. Linda is a CT State Certified Coach and serves on the Connecticut States High School Dance Team Committee. Linda was musical director/choreographer for “Curtains” the BHS Theater Program which presented “Grease”, “Bye Bye Birdie”, “Pippin”, “Footloose”, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat”, and “Stand By Me”, a benefit show that earned over $11,000.00 in 2005 for the Wounded Warriors Foundation. In 2006, Linda and Deanne started “Theater Connection”, a performance company which presented its first production of “A Mid-Summer Nights’ Dream…the fairies” in March 2006, and “Tis the Season” Holiday show in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Last year “Tis the Season” raised over $3,000.00 for Ann’s Place Cancer Care Center in Danbury and was able to donate $350.00 and non-perishables to the New Milford Food Bank from the proceeds of its benefit performance. This is Linda’s 5th year teaching Musical Theater at BSPA.

Alison DiPinto

Alison discovered modern dance in college where she was the founding president of The Contemporary Dance Ensemble at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. Upon graduation Alison danced with the Annex Dance Company at the Hartford Camerata Conservatory while she earned her Master's Degree in Counseling. After leaving the company she took her passion for dance, choreography, and children and began to teach. She was commissioned to become an "Artist in the Schools" where she taught dance to inner city youth. She was the dance teacher, show producer, and director in a school for special needs children where she also was an assistant teacher. Alison has continued her contemporary dance training for the past 20 years at numerous schools throughout Connecticut. This is Alison’s first year teaching at BSPA. Currently Alison is a practicing psychotherapist in Danbury, a Spinning instructor, a certified Healthy Steps instructor and a reiki master. Her favorite job is mother of her two daughters who also dance at BSPA.

Todd Hall

Todd has studied at some of the most prestigious ballet schools in the country, including; The Boston Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet and The School of American Ballet. Todd danced professionally with the Washington Ballet, and the Boston Ballet Company. While in Boston, Todd earned a degree at Emerson College. Due to some serious eye problems, he had to curtail his performing career, and as a result developed a love of teaching dance. He has taught ballet and Pas de Deux classes across the country from as far away as Alaska and up and down the east coast. Todd’s classes are energetic and challenge students to reach beyond their potential. This is Todd’s first year teaching at BSPA.

Sandra Hernandez

Sandra was born in Girona Spain and raised in Andalucia. Sandra started her Flamenco studies at the age of 9 under the tutelage of “LaChabela” at the private “Centro Cultural Andaluz” in Girona. Sandra performed at Flamenco Festivals and cultural events in Barcelona and Girona for many years and is one “Val Ramos” Flamenco Assemble” Dancers. Sandra has also performed in several private events for the Mayor Hartford and “The US Air Force” as well as volunteer work in schools and Fund Raising Events. Today Sandra continues to teach and perform in Connecticut and New York. This is Sandra’s 5th year teaching at BSPA.

Caitlyn Hydeck (Hip Hop)

Caitlyn has been dancing for 19 years. She grew up in Newtown and attended Monroe Dance Academy, Connecticut Dance, Performing Arts Center of CT. and Dance Etc of Newtown. Caitlyn is a graduate from UNC GREENSBORO with a BFA in dance for which she was a member of the UNCG DANCE TEAM, performing at all men's and women's basketball games and was made captain her junior year. While in North Carolina, Caitlyn taught at Dancer's Edge Studio, working with their hip hop competition team and performing with them herself. She joined the contemporary and hop hop group PARADIGM at UNCG in her senior year. Caitlyn's class will help students to improve and expand their hip hop skills. This is Caitlyn's first year teaching at BSPA.

Kate Martin

Kate Martin has been dancing for 16 years, studying ballet, jazz, lyric, hip hop and tap. She has been teaching at the Brookfield School of Performing Arts since 2005, and has taught students from as young as three to adult in a variety of styles of dance. She is a member of the Dance Educators of America, certified in ballet and jazz. Since 2002 she has choreographed the all-school musical for Canterbury High School, including such shows as Thoroughly Modern Millie and Guys and Dolls. For years she participated in musicals at the Sherman Playhouse, acting as both Director's Assistant, Dance Captain, and Stage Manager under Lanny Mitchell. While doing so, she danced, sang, and even acted in ten shows, including West Side Story, A Chorus Line and Footloose.

Kate has her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education, with a minor in Psychology from DeSales University. In 2008 she graduated from Seton Hill University with a Masters in Writing Popular Fiction. In June of 2009 her first published story, Poisonous Redemption, was released in the anthology Rage of the Behemoth from Rogue Blades Entertainment.

Missy MacIntyre

Missy is a Danbury native and is the mother of 3 beautiful children. She has been moving her feet for the last 36 years and has been teaching students ages 3 through adult for 24 years, specializing in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyric, Tumbling and Hip Hop. Missy studied with Ona-May Hancock at the Ona-May School of Dance and has attended numerous workshops and conventions though the years including Dance Educators of America in New York City. In 1993 Missy opened her own studio in Falls City, Nebraska before moving back to Connecticut in 1996. As a dancer Missy has competed at many competitions in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Jersey. Though out Missy’s dancing career she has choreographed for countless competitions in multiple states with many high achievements. She has also directed multiple dance companies for the local extended care facilities and dance teams. Missy has dedicated much of her life to the dancing field and her students. This is Missy’s first year teaching at BSPA.

Brittany Nisco

Brittany has been dancing for 20 years with training in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Modern, and Pointe. She has trained at many studios in Connecticut and New York. She was involved in a Performance Troupe, dancing in such places as Six Flags Great Adventure, Walt Disney World, South Street Seaport, and Paramount Park. She was in The Nutcracker on Broadway (Flower). Her theatre involvement includes A Chorus Line (Lois) and Footloose (Sarah Jess), as well as being stage manager and tap choreographer for Bugsy Malone, all under the direction of Lanny Mitchell at the Sherman Playhouse. She was also in A Midsummer Night’s Dream: The Fairies, as a lead dancer and choreographer, and ‘Tis The Season as a lead dancer for Theater Connection. She was a member and captain of New Milford High School’s Dance Team, as well as a member of the Keene State College Dance Team. Brittany is certified by Dance Educators of America in Tap and Jazz. She has been teaching for 7 years and loves every minute of it.

Gina Petriccione

Gina has been dancing for 17 years with training in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, and Modern. Gina has studied at Ms. Dorothy’s Creative Dance Center, Scarsdale Ballet, Academy of Dance Arts, The Conservatory, BSPA, Dance Cavise, and Broadway Dance Center. Gina attends annual workshops through Dance Educators of America for which she will test to receive her certification to teach from this coming January. Gina has performed at South Street Seaport, “Nutcracker on Broadway”, “Big” and “Footloose” at The Sherman Playhouse, “Stand by Me” at Brookfield High School, Theater Connections’ “A Mid-summer Nights Dream….the fairies”, and “Tis the Season” Holiday show for which she was also a contributing Choreographer. Gina was a member of the Brookfield High School Dance Team all four years and served as the teams’ captain for two years. Gina has taught students of all ages and abilities at Zero Gravity Gymnastics, The Body Shop, special workshops at Whisconier Middle School, and was the Assistant Coach of the Bethel High School Dance Team. Most recently Gina choreographed for The Bridgewater Congregational Church’s production of “Nunsense”. Gina will graduate from Western Connecticut State University in fall with her BA in history and a minor in communications. This is Gina’s 7th year teaching at BSPA. Gina is a CT Certified Dance Team Coach and will be assistant coach for the Brookfield High School Dance Team for the 2010-2011 season.

Susan Wenz

Susan has a B.F.A. in Studio Art, with minor concentrations in Art History and Education. She was a performer and ballet mistress with Attitudes in Motion Ballet Company, under the direction of Dieter Riesle, who was a principal dancer in the Hamburg Ballet and Frankfurt Ballet. The company performed all over Fairfield and Westchester Counties on a volunteer basis, including festivals such as the SoNo Arts Festival and Splash Festival in South Norwalk, CT. The company also performed in Manhattan, at the Rich Forum and the Palace Theater in Stamford, CT, and danced live on News 12 - Cablevision. Susan has trained primarily under Frank Ohman, formerly of the New York City Ballet, and with Robert Mann who is an Instructor for Dance Educators of America. Susan continues to study under Dieter Riesle, and with Todd Hall, formerly of the Washington Ballet and the Boston Ballet. Susan taught ballet and pointe for 7 years at Academy of Dance Arts in Brookfield and New Milford, CT. This is Susan’s first year teaching at BSPA.