Adria Berthiaume: is a graduate of MHDC. She has been awarded many national and regional titles, including her most current as Miss DMA New England in 2008. She currently teaches a wide variety of classes in the Dancin’ Tots to Teens program while attending University of Massachusetts Lowell for Exercise Physiology. With her degree she plans to open a health and wellness studio for women, while balancing her love for teaching dance. Although the youngest of the faculty, she has been an assistant teacher since she was 13.  

Sara-Jean Caira: has been with the MHDC for five years and been a dance instructor for ten years.  Her primary focus is Hip Hop, working with both recreational and company students of all ages.  As a choreographer, Sara-Jean has won numerous awards such as American Dance Award's Regional Diamond Award for outstanding choreography in 2007 and 2009, and the United States Dance Team's 2003 Silver Medal in the Solo Division at the World Dance Championships held in Reisa, Germany.  When she is not in the studio, Sara-Jean is a Guidance Counselor at Pelham High School in Pelham, NH.  Along with her counseling responsibilities, she started a Dance Team and is also the Cheerleading Coach.

Heidi Conard: has possessed a passion for dance since the age of 3.  For nine years Heidi, along with her sister owned and operated a successful, award winning studio in Western Mass.   Although trained and certified in all forms of dance, she has specialized in acrobatics.  After marrying in 1998 and relocating to New Hampshire she found her new dance family at MHDC.  Heidi is a member of Dance Masters of America and has served on the board of directors of the Connecticut Chapter.  She enjoys teaching master classes and adjudicating throughout the country. Heidi teaches Tumble, Jazz, Tap and Lyric.  

Deana Corlis: a former student at MHDC, began student teaching for Melissa at the age of 16.  After graduating high school, Deana stayed teaching at the studio and became a member of Dance Masters of America. Seventeen years later, Deana’s unique and engaging teaching style has become a vital part of the MHDC family. She teaches tap, ballet and jazz for both school age and teen students, in addition to her work with the pre-school levels. With her two daughters now on the competition team, Deana balances being a mom as well as a Diamond Choreography Winner. Her choreography for the competition teams has been recognized both regionally and nationally.

Sandi Duncan: owned and directed Dance Productions in Woburn, Ma for 9 years before coming onboard as a full-time MHDC faculty member. She is a member of Dance Masters of America and has served as a vice president, adjudicator and choreographer for the organization. She also has adjudicated for many organizations throughout the US and Canada and is a choreography clinician for the NEXT STAGE music workshop each summer in Durham, NC.  Sandi has a degree in Deaf Communications/Sign Language and in her early college years performed numerous times at the State House in Boston for deaf rights awareness programs. Upon graduation, Sandi traveled to study in Chicago at the Gus Giordano Dance Center as well as many NYC training centers to further her dance education.  She currently teaches Modern, Jazz, Ballet, Musical Theatre and preschool classes as well as being the director and creator of SUBTLE INTUITION, the resident dance ensemble at MHDC.

Mindy Fabiano: began dance at the age of four and was one of Melissa’s first students. She later became a member of their competitive team and pre-professional company, winning many awards, titles, and scholarships. After graduating 2nd in her high school class she began her professional career with Royal Caribbean, touring the world as a featured soloist and aerial artist. With her feet back on dry land, she enjoys picking up where she left off teaching all subjects, choreographing competitive routines, and taking class in both Boston and NYC. She is currently working towards her certification in Bickram Yoga.

Rachel White: began her training at the New Haven Ballet in Connecticut. She graduated high school from the prestigious University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem as a ballet major. Rachel also trained and performed with the School of American Ballet, the Pacific Northwest Ballet, the Hartford Ballet and Boston Ballet’s BBII. Rachel served on the faculty of both the School of Dance Connecticut (formally the School of the Hartford Ballet) and the city of Hartford’s Dance Program for City Youth. She is a certified member of Dance Masters of America Chapter #5 and serves on the Chapter’s Board of Directors. She is also a certified Ballet Examiner for the chapter and has taught for several other chapters throughout the country. Rachel was accepted into the New York City Ballet Workout Instructor Certification program and is currently in the process of attaining her certification this summer. Currently, Rachel teaches for several competitive dance schools throughout New England and teaches Master classes and conventions across the United States. In addition to teaching, Rachel is an established adjudicator with several dance competitions and has served on the panels for competitions both regionally and nationally.