Miss Maria and Alumni perform in our 30th show!
Teaching Philosophy
Our goal is to help each student reach their potential by leading them through a carefully designed curriculum. This curriculum trains the students' bodies in dance technique and engages their minds in a life-long appreciation of the art of dance. We provide students with a caring and nurturing environment as they pursue a progressive program of study in their dance education. Through this study, our students health benefits and build self-esteem and respect for others. Dance Step strives to encourage growth and instill enthusiasm and dedication in each student through the art of dance. Private lessons and classes are available and span levels from beginner to advanced.
Miss Maria
OUR STAFF
Maria Pagliaruli DeConti
Artistic Director and Owner, ACUSA
Maria is a graduate of the Hartford Conservatory of Music and Dance. She is currently National President of the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Artists (NADAA) having previously served as Vice President and President of NADAA Greater New England Chapter. Maria is a Qualified Member with Cecchetti USA (CUSA) and is on the National Committee. She has been rehearsal mistress at CUSA's International Summer School and continues her studies toward licentiate.
Maria has taught master classes throughout New England and was previously on the faculty of University of Hartford. She has studied with unique and talented dancers such as Jacqueline Anderson, Betty Seibert, Richard Gladstone, Claire O'Donnell, Savion Glover, Debbie Dee, Diane Walker, Frank Hatchett, and Bob Rizzo.
Artistic Director and Owner, ACUSA
Maria is a graduate of the Hartford Conservatory of Music and Dance. She is currently National President of the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Artists (NADAA) having previously served as Vice President and President of NADAA Greater New England Chapter. Maria is a Qualified Member with Cecchetti USA (CUSA) and is on the National Committee. She has been rehearsal mistress at CUSA's International Summer School and continues her studies toward licentiate.
Maria has taught master classes throughout New England and was previously on the faculty of University of Hartford. She has studied with unique and talented dancers such as Jacqueline Anderson, Betty Seibert, Richard Gladstone, Claire O'Donnell, Savion Glover, Debbie Dee, Diane Walker, Frank Hatchett, and Bob Rizzo.
Angelina Tordonato
Associate Director
Angie Tordonato is a graduate of Dean College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She is currently Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Artists (NADAA) and Vice President of the NADAA Greater New England Chapter. Angie began her dance career at the age of 12 and continues to share her passion and love for dance where it all began - here at Dance Step. She has been on faculty since 2000. Angie studied and passed numerous Cecchetti exams.
Angie coordinates and organizes community performances for Dance Step to engage the students in sharing their passion for dance.
Angie has studied with extraordinary dancers such as Debbie Dee, Ted Levy, Diane Walker, Corey Hutchinson, Bob Rizzo, Keith Leonhardt, Frank Hatchett, Kelly Bolick, Caitlin Grey, and Savion Glover.
Associate Director
Angie Tordonato is a graduate of Dean College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She is currently Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Artists (NADAA) and Vice President of the NADAA Greater New England Chapter. Angie began her dance career at the age of 12 and continues to share her passion and love for dance where it all began - here at Dance Step. She has been on faculty since 2000. Angie studied and passed numerous Cecchetti exams.
Angie coordinates and organizes community performances for Dance Step to engage the students in sharing their passion for dance.
Angie has studied with extraordinary dancers such as Debbie Dee, Ted Levy, Diane Walker, Corey Hutchinson, Bob Rizzo, Keith Leonhardt, Frank Hatchett, Kelly Bolick, Caitlin Grey, and Savion Glover.
OUR Faculty
Alexia Rae Bobrowski
Alexia, originally from Connecticut, moved to New York City to become a Trainee at Joffrey Ballet School. She holds a BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance with a Creative Entrepreneurship Minor from Boston Conservatory at Berklee. You can find her performing with the IMMIX Dance project as well as teaching diverse dance classes at Studio 22 and Dance Step 2022-2023 season.
Alexia, originally from Connecticut, moved to New York City to become a Trainee at Joffrey Ballet School. She holds a BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance with a Creative Entrepreneurship Minor from Boston Conservatory at Berklee. You can find her performing with the IMMIX Dance project as well as teaching diverse dance classes at Studio 22 and Dance Step 2022-2023 season.
David Michael Bovat - (Guest Faculty)
Born and raised in West Springfield, Massachusetts, David Bovat has built a profession out of his natural ability to dance and to teach others. His journey began at the young age of seven under the direction and influence of Anita Oski Barrette. Throughout his career as a dancer David has had the pleasure to study with Frank Hatchett and Anthony DeVecchi of the Northeast American Ballet, to name a few. David continues to take classes at Broadway Dance Center in New York City to broaden his passion and knowledge of dance with the purpose of sharing it with his many students and colleagues.
As an accomplished dance instructor, David continues building his career, developing choreography and teaching for several dance studios and Master classes in the Western Massachusetts area. One of the many positions he holds is Dance Director at Bay Path University. David continues to put his ability and knowledge of dance to good use as a Head Judge and instructor of Master classes for the Step Up to Dance tour. He is Choreographer, Artistic Director and Lead Dancer for many events such as the Tap Dancing Santa’s at Symphony Hall and the Dancing with the local Stars events for the Kiwanis Club of West Springfield and Agawam.
David has respectfully taught for the National Association of Dance Affiliated Artists as well as the Dance Teachers Club of Boston. Above all else, he prides himself as a choreographer/dance instructor. David has choreographed for many beauty pageants, talent competitions and musical productions such as Rocky Horror Picture Show, Gypsy, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Love and Beyond, The Cher Extravaganza and most recently Mr. Mambo. David M. Bovat continues to entertain, educate and inspire dancers of every age and physicality. His love for the art of dance is present in everything he puts forth.
Born and raised in West Springfield, Massachusetts, David Bovat has built a profession out of his natural ability to dance and to teach others. His journey began at the young age of seven under the direction and influence of Anita Oski Barrette. Throughout his career as a dancer David has had the pleasure to study with Frank Hatchett and Anthony DeVecchi of the Northeast American Ballet, to name a few. David continues to take classes at Broadway Dance Center in New York City to broaden his passion and knowledge of dance with the purpose of sharing it with his many students and colleagues.
As an accomplished dance instructor, David continues building his career, developing choreography and teaching for several dance studios and Master classes in the Western Massachusetts area. One of the many positions he holds is Dance Director at Bay Path University. David continues to put his ability and knowledge of dance to good use as a Head Judge and instructor of Master classes for the Step Up to Dance tour. He is Choreographer, Artistic Director and Lead Dancer for many events such as the Tap Dancing Santa’s at Symphony Hall and the Dancing with the local Stars events for the Kiwanis Club of West Springfield and Agawam.
David has respectfully taught for the National Association of Dance Affiliated Artists as well as the Dance Teachers Club of Boston. Above all else, he prides himself as a choreographer/dance instructor. David has choreographed for many beauty pageants, talent competitions and musical productions such as Rocky Horror Picture Show, Gypsy, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Love and Beyond, The Cher Extravaganza and most recently Mr. Mambo. David M. Bovat continues to entertain, educate and inspire dancers of every age and physicality. His love for the art of dance is present in everything he puts forth.
Catherine Joseph-Pratt
Catherine has been teaching dance across New England for over a decade and is excited to return to the Dance Step faculty. She earned her B.A. in Performing Arts from Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, NH where she had the privilege of attending an immersive arts intensive program in Vienna, Austria.
Upon graduation she moved to Brooklyn, New York where she studied with master teachers at Ballet Academy East, PeriDance, Steps, BDC, and the Ailey Extension. A performer herself, she has graced stages all over New England in roles as Tracy Turnblad (Hairspray), Fastrada (Pippin') , Ado Annie (Oklahoma!), and more.
Catherine has studied the Cecchetti Method of ballet under the tutelage of examiners Jacqueline Anderson and Betty Ann Seibert, Cecchetti USA Examiners, and most recently passed her Grade 9 exam. She continues her studies having recently received her Module One Teaching Certificate with Acrobatic Arts.
Catherine looks forward to encouraging students of all ages to strive for their best and open their minds to a world of possibilities within the world of dance.
Catherine has been teaching dance across New England for over a decade and is excited to return to the Dance Step faculty. She earned her B.A. in Performing Arts from Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, NH where she had the privilege of attending an immersive arts intensive program in Vienna, Austria.
Upon graduation she moved to Brooklyn, New York where she studied with master teachers at Ballet Academy East, PeriDance, Steps, BDC, and the Ailey Extension. A performer herself, she has graced stages all over New England in roles as Tracy Turnblad (Hairspray), Fastrada (Pippin') , Ado Annie (Oklahoma!), and more.
Catherine has studied the Cecchetti Method of ballet under the tutelage of examiners Jacqueline Anderson and Betty Ann Seibert, Cecchetti USA Examiners, and most recently passed her Grade 9 exam. She continues her studies having recently received her Module One Teaching Certificate with Acrobatic Arts.
Catherine looks forward to encouraging students of all ages to strive for their best and open their minds to a world of possibilities within the world of dance.
Mytisha Leach
Mytisha began dancing at the age of five and throughout her dance career has studied jazz, tap, modern, contemporary, ballet, African and hip hop. She attended Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts in high school and graduated in 2013 with a major in dance. She attended the prestigious Earl Mosley Institute of Arts summer intensive for three summers performing professional pieces from Kevin Wynn, Nathan Trice, Sidra Bell, Meredith Rainey, Earl Mosley and Ronald K Brown.
Mytisha graduated from University of Hartford and while in college, participated, performed, and choregraphed for a hip-hop dance team called Fenomena. By day, Mytisha is an Occupational Therapist and by night she is an energy filled dance instructor. She continues to participate in master classes to continue her dance education.
Mytisha began dancing at the age of five and throughout her dance career has studied jazz, tap, modern, contemporary, ballet, African and hip hop. She attended Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts in high school and graduated in 2013 with a major in dance. She attended the prestigious Earl Mosley Institute of Arts summer intensive for three summers performing professional pieces from Kevin Wynn, Nathan Trice, Sidra Bell, Meredith Rainey, Earl Mosley and Ronald K Brown.
Mytisha graduated from University of Hartford and while in college, participated, performed, and choregraphed for a hip-hop dance team called Fenomena. By day, Mytisha is an Occupational Therapist and by night she is an energy filled dance instructor. She continues to participate in master classes to continue her dance education.
Karen Donahue Rossignol
Karen is a vice president of the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Arts, Greater New England Chapter. Her dance career include dance educator for New Britain High School, associate teacher at Dance Step and a past member of Kiva Dance Collective.
Karen is co-founder and director of Moving in the Spirit, a liturgical dance company that choreographs, presents workshops and performs movement as prayer.
Elissa Woods
Elissa is a nutritionist and yoga instructor. She graduated from University of Saint Joseph with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Wellness. She received her yoga teacher training through the Vital Life Center and certified 200-RYT with Yoga Alliance.
Elissa's love of movement grew as a child while dancing at Dance Step. She has had a steady yoga practice for 9 years. Her 3 year yoga apprenticeship and work with all body types and ages supports Elissa's intuitive encouragement of mindful movements and breathwork. Elissa works with children of all ages as well as adults.
Elissa is a nutritionist and yoga instructor. She graduated from University of Saint Joseph with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Wellness. She received her yoga teacher training through the Vital Life Center and certified 200-RYT with Yoga Alliance.
Elissa's love of movement grew as a child while dancing at Dance Step. She has had a steady yoga practice for 9 years. Her 3 year yoga apprenticeship and work with all body types and ages supports Elissa's intuitive encouragement of mindful movements and breathwork. Elissa works with children of all ages as well as adults.
Location1107 Farmington Ave.
Berlin, CT 06037 Phone: 860.829.0703 |
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