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 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.

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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.