Faculty
Miss Katie
Artistic Director/Owner/Teacher
Katie has been dancing since the age of 4. Katie grew up in Tolland, CT training at Dance Express in ballet, tap, lyrical, jazz, hip-hop and pointe. At the age of 12, she began competing on company team and assistant teaching. Katie was a 1st company dance member for 7 years competing regionally in large groups, duets and solo performances. Katie’s choreography has won several awards in regional and national competitions throughout New England. Her choreography consists of hip hop, jazz, and lyrical for local dance studios, competition and college dance teams throughout Connecticut.
She graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2004 with a degree in Marketing where she also performed on the UConn Dance Team. In February 2008, she accepted an intern position into a pre-professional dance program at the Broadway Dance Center (BDC) in New York City for six months. During her studies at BDC, she trained with many talented choreographers such as Sheila Barker, Tracie Stanfield, Ray Hesselink, Judy Rice, Dorrit Koppel, Chio Yamada, Rhapsody, Derek Mitchell, Jason Marquette, Michelle Barber, Michele Assaf and Shea Sullivan.
Katie has performed locally as a member of the Connecticut Sun Solar Power Dance Team in 2004 and 2005, performing at Mohegan Sun. Katie resided in Tampa, FL from 2009-2010 where she performed at Busch Gardens amusement park as a dancer in several performances and shows to include Katonga, Dance to the Music, Christmas Celebration and Summer Nights. During her time in Tampa, she also performed with dance companies, Moving Current Collective and Hybrid Dance Company.
Katie has been involved in the dance industry for over 25 years. She has taught students ages 2 to adult in all styles of dance for over 20 years. She performed professionally for 5 years throughout CT and FL. Her dance style is very dynamic, funky, and fresh, with the latest trends. When she is not dancing she is enjoying her time with her husband, and their two dogs. She is so honored and grateful for her Dancers Ink Family and loves sharing her knowledge and passion of dance with all our students.
Miss Melissa: Teacher
Combo, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Ballet, Musical Theatre Jazz, Lyrical, Competition Team
Miss Melissa is from Long Island, New York. She began dancing at the age of 6, at Backstage Studio of Dance in Port Jefferson Station NY, where she continued to study through high school. She trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip-hop, Lyrical, Modern and Pointe. At 13, she was accepted as a member of the company dance team for Backstage, and danced in competitions throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. She also had the opportunity to perform with her dance company in Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, Florida.
Melissa graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications in 2011, from The University at Albany. During her time at SUNY Albany she was a member of the University Dance Council, a student group that performed in recitals at the end of each semester. She choreographed for the club in styles of Hip-hop, Lyrical and Jazz. In 2009, Melissa was selected to be an Executive Board member as the club’s Treasurer during her senior year. As an E-Board member, she was in charge of the group’s fiscal success and in addition was one of four responsible for running and maintaining the club consisting of over 200 dancers.
Melissa has had 30 years of dance experience and has choreographed for students ranging from ages 5-22. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to share her knowledge and love of dance with the students at Dancers Ink.
Miss Amy: Teacher
Combo, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Ballet, Contemporary, Musical Theatre Jazz & Competition Team
Amy began her dance training at age 5 under the direction of Paula McCormick at SeaSide Dance and Gymnastics Centre in Westerly, RI. At age 8, Amy started dancing competitively and attending conventions. Amy then went on to graduate cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Dance Performance at Rhode Island College in Providence, RI. While at RIC, Amy had the pleasure of working with Gus Solomons Jr., Jennifer Nugent and Paul Matteson, Katie McNamara, Heidi Henderson, Michael Bolger, Eva Marie Pacheco and Art Bridgman and Myrna Packer and Kellie Ann Lynch. She was the co-director of the RIC dance company as well as the assistant choreographer of the musical HAIR her senior year.
After college Amy danced with the Providence Ballet Theatre in Providence, RI for two seasons and for Mystic Moves Dance Theatre for two seasons as well as teaching back at her old studio. Amy has taught at studios in Westerly, Charlestown and Myrtle Beach, SC where she taught both recreational and competitive levels. Her contemporary choreography was featured in the All Star performance at World Ballet in 2018 and is also Module 1 Certified in Acrobatic Arts.
Amy is very excited to be back in New England and continue sharing her love of dance and movement with the students of Dancers Ink!
Miss Meredith: Teacher
Combo, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Ballet, Competition Team
Meredith began dancing at the age of 2 under the direction of Jim Caisse at Dance Arts Centre in MA. She started competing at the age of 10 and won numerous awards both at a group level and as a soloist, and was crowned Boston Miss Teen DEA in 1996. Also, while under the direction of Jim Caisse, she worked as an assistant teacher and performed while aboard the Royal Majesty cruise ship as well as for the government of Bermuda.
Meredith went to college to study Nursing, while still continuing to dance and she began teaching in 1998 in MA with her sister Heather Fortier. After graduating college and while working as a nurse she continued to teach dance, this time moving to Westerly RI alongside her sister. She has taught all ages ranging from age 2 through Adult and in all dance styles.
Meredith currently lives in Westerly with her husband Joel and their 4 children who are all students at Dancers Ink. She loves being a part of the Dancers Ink family and sharing her love of dance with her students.
Miss Aurora: Teacher
Hip Hop, Jazz
Aurora has been dancing since the age of 3 where she enrolled in a ballet/tap/tumbling class. After moving to Connecticut, she studied ballet, tap, and jazz under the instruction of Miss Joy Fidrych for 3 years. Aurora joined Dancers Ink at age 7 for its inaugural year. Aurora accepted a position on the very first Petite Jazz competitive team in 2013. She competed with team and company until her senior year in 2023 performing jazz, musical theater, and hip-hop in small groups, large groups, production, and duet/trio numbers. During her time at DI, she studied ballet, tap, lyrical, jazz, hip-hop, and musical theatre as well assisted many younger aged classes of all styles. Aurora was awarded many honors and top-place trophies throughout her competitive seasons and received her 15-year dance trophy at her senior recital. Since then, Aurora often dropped into the studio to observe and encourage her DI dance family. She attended many 2023/24 competitions supporting the current competitive dancers and volunteered her time to help with the 2023/24 recital. Aurora is honored to continue her journey with Dancers Ink as a dance instructor this year teaching beginner jazz and hip hop.
Aurora is currently finishing up her liberal arts courses at CT State at Three Rivers. She plans to pursue a degree in Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management at Southern Connecticut State University.
Miss Mackenzie: Teacher
Hip Hop, Jazz
Mackenzie began dancing at the age of 3, at Broadway Kids and Company, until joining The Dancer’s Edge in East Lyme. There she trained in various styles including ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary, modern and pointe. At the age of 12, she joined the studio’s competition team, performing in groups, duos/trios, and solos. She continued training and competing at the studio through an ownership and name change to Studio 22 Dance Center until graduating from high school. Mackenzie recently graduated from the University of New Haven with a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice where she was a part of the school’s dance team for three years. During this time she was a choreography captain for two years, where she choreographed many dances for the team in various styles such as hip-hop and jazz. These dances were performed at multiple football games, basketball games, and the yearly showcases. Mackenzie has a passion for dance and performance and is excited to join Dancers Ink to share this with her students.
Miss Manda: Teacher
Combo, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Jazz, Musical Theatre Jazz
Miss Manda is a passionate and dedicated dance educator with years of experience in performing, choreographing, and teaching. She started dancing in the first grade and has continued developing as a dancer and exploring movement since then.
She trained and taught mostly in Montana where she was also a member of a Premiere Dance Company for two years, primarily studying ballet, jazz, modern, and tap. She regularly attended semi-annual workshops hosted by Montana Dance Arts Association, where she had the opportunity to learn from dance educators from all over the world and earn scholarships for summer training. She continues to take classes to maintain her practice and learn from other educators.
She has had the privilege to be a dance educator to students of various ages and backgrounds. In 2023, she choreographed a production of the musical Cabaret for Verge Theater in Bozeman, MT. Her work was recognized with an Outstanding Choreography award from Sheer Elite International in 2019. She finds fulfillment in sharing dance with her students and celebrating their successes with them.
Currently, Miss Manda is a student at UConn Avery Point, pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Science. Outside of dance and school, she enjoys theater, film, and crocheting.
Miss Sarah: Teacher
Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Jazz, Musical Theatre Jazz
Sarah began dancing at just two years old, she began her training at the Hackworth School of Performing Arts, a studio led by the family of Teddy Forance. Sarah quickly fell in love with dancing and performing, and joined the world of competitive dance. Competitive dance opened doors for her to able to work with many new teachers and choreographers, she was able to be performing pieces choreographed by some of the most respected names in the dance industry. At 13, Sarah decided to shift her focus solely to ballet, a decision that shaped the next chapter of her journey. She began training full-time at Eastern Connecticut Ballet (ECB), under New York City Ballet alumni Gloria Govrin. Gloria trained directly under George Balanchine himself, and she was able to share his knowledge and choreography with all of her students.
At ECB, Sarah was also fortunate to train with other esteemed artists such as Suki Schorer, a senior faculty member at the School of American Ballet and NYCB alumni, Mary Ann Lamb, a Broadway dancer and teacher known for her expressive choreography and performances, and many others. The influence of these artists gave Sarah a well-rounded form of training.
Each December, Sarah performed in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker — a tradition that ECB proudly carried out in collaboration with the New York City Ballet. These productions were more than recitals — they were full-scale, professional-level performances that allowed students like Sarah to dance alongside company members of the NYCB. Over the years, she took on multiple lead roles in many different shows, including performing the Arabian solo — a role originally choreographed for her own teacher, Gloria Govrin.
In June 2024, Sarah graduated from Eastern Connecticut Ballet, completing not just her high school education but also earning her cosmetology license, another creative passion that she pursued with the same commitment she brought to her love of dance. Sarah is now sharing her knowledge teaching and also working full time in the salon.
Miss Maddie: Teacher
Jazz, hip hop
Maddie began dancing at the age of 2 at Miss Lydia’s School of Dance, taking jazz, tap and ballet. At the age of 6, she came to Dancers Ink for its first year to continue her passion for dance after her studio closed. She enrolled in ballet and tap, and discovered jazz and hip hop in following years. When competition teams became an option, she took the opportunity to join. She made it onto the first teen hip hop team in 2013. In following years, she joined jazz and the first musical theater, production and tap teams. While not on the lyrical team, she took lyrical classes and eventually made it onto the lyrical senior team for its 3rd year, and also enrolled in contemporary. In 2021/2022, Maddie performed her first solo and went on to perform a solo for each of her following years. Each year she was recognized by judges with awards for her personality and stage presence. At her final competition in 2024, she won Title for her Beyoncé solo to top off her senior year. Maddie choreographed her 2024/2025 solo, receiving awards, placements and scholarships. She was an assistant teacher jazz dancers ages 8-11 for the 2024/2025 season. She is now pursuing teaching and is very excited for this opportunity to share her passion of dance with the dancers at Dancers Ink.
Maddie is a 2024 graduate from Grasso Technical High School. She studied Mechanical Design and Engineering and is employed by General Dynamics Electric Boat. Outside of drafting, she loves going to car shows, painting, and designing clothing and accessories.
Miss Sadie: Summer Guest Teacher
Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary
Sadie trained at Dancer Ink for 7 years in Ballet, Jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, musical theater, and tap. She joined Dancers Inks’ competition team and competed with them for 5 years. Sadie currently studies Elementary Education at Endicott College and is a member of their Dance program. She is a part of their Repertory Dance Ensemble which performs pieces created by guest and faculty choreographers. Through the Repertory Dance Ensemble and Endicott’s Dance Program, Sadie has had the opportunity to train with many professionals including Scott Fowler, a Broadway dancer and choreographer for LA Dance Magic, Tara Brown, the director and founder of Boston Dance Studios, Heather Myers, a member and choreographer for We The Females – a dance company located in Boston, Joseph Jefferies, dancer and educator at the Boston Ballet School and Endicott College, Zachary Betty, artistic Director of N Squared, a contemporary dance company located in New Hampshire, and multiple former and current Boston Celtics Dance Team Dancers. She is also a part of EDGE, Endicott’s Student Run Audition based Dance Club. Sadie is ecstatic to return to Dancers Ink this summer!
