207-671-5161
ATLANTIC DANCE ARTS LLC
Where friendships are formed and talents are nurtured.
Studio Director, Company Director and Choreographer, Instructor
As a true Gorham girl, Mariel grew up dancing at the Centre of Movement School of Performing Arts. Even at the age of 2, she knew she loved to dance! She began assistant teaching in middle school, and eventually taught her own classes at 14. Mariel graduated Magna Cum Laude from Dean College in 2011. While there, she was able to study under renowned teachers, participate in student choreography showcases, and perform with their dance company. After college, she returned to teach and choreograph at the Centre.
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Since the age of 14, Mariel has been choreographing competitive dance routines. Her choreography has earned numerous high score and choreography awards, both regionally and nationally. Many of her students have received scholarships to prestigious dance intensives, as well.
In addition to teaching dance, Mariel also loves to choreograph musicals! Since 2012, she has been choreographing the musicals at Biddeford City Theater, The University of New England, and in 2018, Gorham High School!
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Throughout her career, Mariel has had the opportunity to study under and work with some wonderful teachers. Continuing her own dance education is something very important to her, as it is the only way she can grow as both a teacher and choreographer. She hopes to bring the same opportunities to her students!
Breanna Neal
Instructor, Competition Choreographer
Bre started dancing at the age of 5 with ballet, then adding tap, jazz, lyrical, and eventually Competition team . Moved to a studio in Gorham where she also added hip-hop and contemporary to the above styles. Ballet is her number one passion! Has been to many regional and national competitions winning multiple special awards as well as being awarded scholarships to ballet seminars with master teachers such as Ryan Caroll and Adam Holms. Began assistant teaching dance class at the age of 12, and after the first few weeks fell in love with it. From then on through the years added a tap and tumble combo, then ballet, gymnastics, jazz, and recently lyrical. What she loves most about teaching is seeing how students progress, and knowing that because of you, they can continue to learn and grow given the proper technique and right training!
Pam Collins-Stahle
Acro and Jazz Instructor, Competition Choreographer
Pamela Collins-Stahle has been a dance educator and performer for over 20 years. Her career as a professional dancer has carried her overseas to such exotic places as Singapore and Taiwan while employed with "DisneyFest" and "Sesame Street Live". She has graced the Disney World stages performing in "Mickey's International Songbook" at Epcot Center and in the 25th Anniversary "Spectro Magic Parade". One of her most memorable moments as a professional dancer was performing on the Today Show with NBC.
Pam is a certified Acrobatic Arts instructor and member of USA Gymnastics. She has been a competitive dance choreographer for HipHop, Jazz, Acro, Contemporary and Musical Theater. Her dance numbers have won numerous awards including Specialty Awards, and Top Scores at Turn It Up Dance Challenge, Dancer’s Inc., Headliners, Showstoppers, Spirit of Dance Awards, and Jump. Her competitive Musical Theater pieces have earned the Industry Dance Awards for Best Musical Theater, Entertainments Awards, and National Champions.
Another favorite past time of Miss Pam's is choreographing Musicals. She has undertaken this persona for fifteen years and has pieced together over 13 shows between Lake Region Community Theater, Lake Region High School and Lewiston Middle School. Some of her most notable work includes "High School Musical", "Oliver!", "Cinderella", and "Seussical the Musical". She states "one of my passions in life is mentoring young dancers, gymnasts and cheerleaders. As a child I really needed a caring and loving female to look up too, but there wasn't one for the longest time. I hope to go above and beyond educating in the classroom, I want to inspire".
Allison Ansinn
Instructor
Allison began her training at Ballet Arts of Bucks County in Pennsylvania before moving on to train with the Rock School for Dance Education. In 2015, she relocated to North Carolina to join the Professional Training Program at Cary Ballet Conservatory under the direction of Mariaelena Ruiz. During this time, she attended summers at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Carolina Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet School. Allison went on to attend the University of Oklahoma where she had the honor of receiving the Juli Busken Memorial Scholarship at the OU School of Dance. While at the University of Oklahoma, she was able to take classes furthering her education in ballet pedagogy and choreography. In May of 2022, she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet Performance and moved to Maine to join Portland Ballet for the 22/23 season. Allison has had the opportunity to work as a teacher’s assistant, and guest teach ballet classes since her senior year of high school. She is a PhysicalMind Institute® certified Pilates instructor and is passionate about tailoring Pilates classes that can effectively support and strengthen dancers in their training.
Instructor
Haley Crosby
Haley has been dancing since she was 4, and joined the competition team at the age of 11. Her favorite style of dance is either Jazz, Contemporary, or Hip Hop. Haley's favorite dance memory would be traveling to New York City and getting to perform on a Broadway stage. During her Senior Year of competing, Haley won Senior Miss Elite Dance Challenge and Senior Regional Champion for Dancer's Inc. At Sheer Elite Nationals, her solo won the Judges Choice competition, and was invited to perform in the closing Gala. Aside from competing, Haley really enjoyed assistant teaching the Junior Performance Team during her Senior Year, as it gave her great insight on what teaching is actually like. Outside of dance Haley is currently attending the University of New England and is a member of the UNE Dance Team.
Amanda Bell
Instructor
Amanda started dancing when she was 4 years old at the Centre of Movement, where she met Mariel. She joined the competition team at age 9, began assistant teaching in middle school, and started teaching her own classes at 14. Amanda went to college at Tufts University for computer science, where she was president of the Tufts Tap Ensemble and received the Merit in Dance award from the Tufts Dance Department. She also received her PhD in Teaching, Learning, and Diversity from Vanderbilt University and was a dancer in Vandy Tap That - Vanderbilt's student-run tap dance performance group. Her favorite styles of dance are tap and ballet. She is passionate about helping students pursue their interests and finding pathways to meet their goals. Outside of dance, Amanda previously worked as an academic advisor for students at Hunter College and now works as a project manager at the Computer Science Teachers Association. She's very excited to be teaching dance again at Atlantic Dance Arts!
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Courtney McHenry
Instructor
Courtney fell in love with dance at a young age, first doing tap and jazz and eventually adding ballet, contemporary, and hip hop. She started teaching at her studio in middle school and continued as a student and teacher through college, where she was also a member and captain of the UMaine Dance Team. She continues to incorporate dancing into her life every day whether that's working with her own daughter on her dance routines, having dance parties at home with all of her 3 children, or creating a cardio dance fitness class that she can share with others as a way to provide a fun, joyful form of movement. Courtney is also a Registered Dietitian and provides nutrition counseling through New Roots Nutrition Counseling, LLC where she works with adults, children, and families to help them learn to tune in, trust, respect, and care for their bodies through nutrition and movement. Her goal is to provide a safe, supportive environment in both counseling and her fitness classes where kids and adults feel empowered, confident, and comfortable in their bodies and themselves. Courtney is so excited to join the Atlantic Dance Arts faculty this year, and she can't wait to see you on the dance floor!