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| Designated Moms: Erica, Claudia, Jen, Denise, Michelle, Collette, Jenny, Karlyn, Melissa, Tammy, Neali and Kelly!! Missing from photo: Shannon, Kathy, Kristan, Kerry and Kim! |
Miss Danielle Atcheson: Specialty in Ballet
Miss Andrea Bugbee: Specialty in Ballet
Miss Jessica Chapman: Head Junior Instructor
Miss Clarann Flynn: Specialty in Highland
Miss Colleen DuPlissie: Specialty in Theatrical
Miss Andrea Bugbee: Specialty in Ballet
Miss Jessica Chapman: Head Junior Instructor
Miss Clarann Flynn: Specialty in Highland
Miss Colleen DuPlissie: Specialty in Theatrical
Colleen DuPlissie is the owner and lead choreographer of The Maine Dance Academy. Founded in 1994, Colleen's vision was to
spark a new appreciation for dance in the County. Starting with 35 dancers in her first year, the academy has grown to over
300 with a growing Classical Pointe school as well. Colleen first received her love of dance from her mother and then competed
very successfully in her high school years with her brother, Jim. Colleen earned her major (bachelor's degree) from the
University of Maine in Chemistry/Medical Technology while taking every dance class she could to fulfill her minor. Colleen has
choreographed many musicals including Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, Annie Get your Gun, Grease ,Footlooose, Cinderella
and Calamity Jane. She has earned several Outstanding Choreography awards for Maine State Show Choirs as well. She has
served as the State Chair for the Maine's Junior Miss Scholarship program where she and her staff have been nominated
numerous times for Outstanding State Program. She has also instructed students through the gifted and talented program
throughout Aroostook County. She and her colleague, Clarann Flynn choreographed the opening ceremonies for the 2006 World
Cup Biathlon and were honored by the President of the IBU where he stated, " These opening ceremonies were by far the best
I have seen in over 20 years". Colleen is the proud mom of three children, Jordyn (a graduate of TMDA, summer dance camp
instructor and a Junior at the University of Maine), Jarryd ( a Physician Assistant Freshman at University of New England) and
Kjetil, a freshman at Caribou High School.
spark a new appreciation for dance in the County. Starting with 35 dancers in her first year, the academy has grown to over
300 with a growing Classical Pointe school as well. Colleen first received her love of dance from her mother and then competed
very successfully in her high school years with her brother, Jim. Colleen earned her major (bachelor's degree) from the
University of Maine in Chemistry/Medical Technology while taking every dance class she could to fulfill her minor. Colleen has
choreographed many musicals including Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, Annie Get your Gun, Grease ,Footlooose, Cinderella
and Calamity Jane. She has earned several Outstanding Choreography awards for Maine State Show Choirs as well. She has
served as the State Chair for the Maine's Junior Miss Scholarship program where she and her staff have been nominated
numerous times for Outstanding State Program. She has also instructed students through the gifted and talented program
throughout Aroostook County. She and her colleague, Clarann Flynn choreographed the opening ceremonies for the 2006 World
Cup Biathlon and were honored by the President of the IBU where he stated, " These opening ceremonies were by far the best
I have seen in over 20 years". Colleen is the proud mom of three children, Jordyn (a graduate of TMDA, summer dance camp
instructor and a Junior at the University of Maine), Jarryd ( a Physician Assistant Freshman at University of New England) and
Kjetil, a freshman at Caribou High School.
Clarann Flynn has been teaching at The Maine Dance Academy for 6 years. She grew up in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, where she
graduated from St.F.X. University, with a Bachelor of Science. Clarann started dancing at the age of 5, competing for the next
17 years. Being chosen for the dance troupe, The Scotia Highland Dancers, she was able to tour Scotland and competed in the
World Highland Dancing Championships, where she placed sixth in the Sword Dance for her age group. On two separate occasions,
Clarann was also chosen to represent Nova Scotia in the Canadian Championships. As a junior in high school, Clarann got her
teachers certification. Clarann is the Celtic expert at TMDA, where all dancers are exposed to Celtic dance. There is a
separate portion of every annual recital that is reserved for Celtic dance and has grown to become the audience's favorite
performances. All dancers are exposed to the Celtic/Highland aspects of dance through Clarann's teachings. Clarann has also
teamed with Colleen to instruct students through the gifted and talented programs, and assisted Colleen in the direction of
Maine's junior miss program. She is mother to 3 wonderful children: Duncan, Adam and Jillian who is a member of Tiny Troupe.
graduated from St.F.X. University, with a Bachelor of Science. Clarann started dancing at the age of 5, competing for the next
17 years. Being chosen for the dance troupe, The Scotia Highland Dancers, she was able to tour Scotland and competed in the
World Highland Dancing Championships, where she placed sixth in the Sword Dance for her age group. On two separate occasions,
Clarann was also chosen to represent Nova Scotia in the Canadian Championships. As a junior in high school, Clarann got her
teachers certification. Clarann is the Celtic expert at TMDA, where all dancers are exposed to Celtic dance. There is a
separate portion of every annual recital that is reserved for Celtic dance and has grown to become the audience's favorite
performances. All dancers are exposed to the Celtic/Highland aspects of dance through Clarann's teachings. Clarann has also
teamed with Colleen to instruct students through the gifted and talented programs, and assisted Colleen in the direction of
Maine's junior miss program. She is mother to 3 wonderful children: Duncan, Adam and Jillian who is a member of Tiny Troupe.
Andrea Cole-Bugbee has been involved in dance for over twenty years. She enjoys all genres of dance, ranging from classical
pointe to modern jazz, tap, theatrical, Celtic and lyrical. Andrea has studied dance in North Dakota, Colorado, Spain, and now in
Maine. Her Senior year, Andrea was selected to represent her hometown for a year as Miss Caribou 1999, where she also won
talent. She attended the University of Maine at Orono, on a dance scholarship, to study Elementary Education with a minor in
Dance. While at UMO, Andrea was an active member of the UMaine Dance Team. She then moved to Caribou and attended the
University of Maine at Presque Isle to finish her Elementary Education degree. While at UMPI, Andrea was selected by her
professors to receive the Outstanding Elementary Education Major award for the 2004-2005 school year. Andrea has been with
The Maine Dance Academy for ten years, and has been teaching at TMDA for almost 10 years. Andrea teaches the
Pre-pointe and pointe classes on Thursday. Andrea is the mother of two beautiful children, Jorja who is a member of the Rogers
class, and Josiah who is a member of the Allen class.
pointe to modern jazz, tap, theatrical, Celtic and lyrical. Andrea has studied dance in North Dakota, Colorado, Spain, and now in
Maine. Her Senior year, Andrea was selected to represent her hometown for a year as Miss Caribou 1999, where she also won
talent. She attended the University of Maine at Orono, on a dance scholarship, to study Elementary Education with a minor in
Dance. While at UMO, Andrea was an active member of the UMaine Dance Team. She then moved to Caribou and attended the
University of Maine at Presque Isle to finish her Elementary Education degree. While at UMPI, Andrea was selected by her
professors to receive the Outstanding Elementary Education Major award for the 2004-2005 school year. Andrea has been with
The Maine Dance Academy for ten years, and has been teaching at TMDA for almost 10 years. Andrea teaches the
Pre-pointe and pointe classes on Thursday. Andrea is the mother of two beautiful children, Jorja who is a member of the Rogers
class, and Josiah who is a member of the Allen class.
| Our accomplished dancers also assist with the younger dance groups. The 2008-2009 Instructors and Junior Instructors are: Back Row: Victoria Dorman, Victoria Wong, Erin Buck, Hannah Nelson, 2nd Row: Jessica Chapman, Andrea Cole, Clarann Flynn, Colleen DuPlissie, Brianna Gorrence, Amber Wasson Bottom Row: Danielle Peterson, Kaitlyn Kinsey, Hannah Hebert. Missing from photo, Meredith Sleeper |
Want to be a Junior Instructor? You must have all of the
following in order to apply:
1- Practice ethic must be perfect
2- You must be in a Troupe class or be asked by an instructor
to junior instruct.
3- You must be able to learn choreography quickly.
4- Your dance ability must be of the highest caliber, great flex-
ibility, able to handle a class on your own.
following in order to apply:
1- Practice ethic must be perfect
2- You must be in a Troupe class or be asked by an instructor
to junior instruct.
3- You must be able to learn choreography quickly.
4- Your dance ability must be of the highest caliber, great flex-
ibility, able to handle a class on your own.
| Meet the Instructors |
| The Ladies of The Maine Dance Academy |
| 2008-The Instructors and Junior Instructors of The Maine Dance Academy-2009 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Danielle Atcheson has been involved in dance for 14 years. Her passion began in 1994 when the Maine Dance Academy was
founded. She has studied jazz, tap, Celtic, Ballet, theatrical and Pointe Ballet. She began junior instructing at TMDA at the
age of 11, one of their very first junior instructors. Danielle studied gymnastics for 11 years and was a member of the
Aroostook Gymnastics Performance team. She was a member of the award winning Union 122 Show Choir from 1998-2001 and
has won numerous awards in gymnastics and dance. She was Little Miss Caribou, Little Miss Potato Blossom and Junior Miss
Caribou. Danielle graduated from Caribou High School in 2005 and from TMDA that same year. She is a member of TMDA's
Wall of Fame. She was part of the elite Troupe dancers and established herself as one of the most talented dancers that
TMDA has ever had the pleasure of producing. She is continuing her education at Northern Maine Community College where she
is studying Business Administration. Danielle began teaching Pointe Ballet classes at The Maine Dance Academy in 2007. She is
engaged to be married in November of 2008! Welcome to our team Danielle!!
founded. She has studied jazz, tap, Celtic, Ballet, theatrical and Pointe Ballet. She began junior instructing at TMDA at the
age of 11, one of their very first junior instructors. Danielle studied gymnastics for 11 years and was a member of the
Aroostook Gymnastics Performance team. She was a member of the award winning Union 122 Show Choir from 1998-2001 and
has won numerous awards in gymnastics and dance. She was Little Miss Caribou, Little Miss Potato Blossom and Junior Miss
Caribou. Danielle graduated from Caribou High School in 2005 and from TMDA that same year. She is a member of TMDA's
Wall of Fame. She was part of the elite Troupe dancers and established herself as one of the most talented dancers that
TMDA has ever had the pleasure of producing. She is continuing her education at Northern Maine Community College where she
is studying Business Administration. Danielle began teaching Pointe Ballet classes at The Maine Dance Academy in 2007. She is
engaged to be married in November of 2008! Welcome to our team Danielle!!
gifted dancer and became a valuable member of our elite Troupe dancers. She specializes in hip-hop, tap and theatrical dance.
She is in charge of all junior instructors at TMDA and replaces all instructors when needed. Jessica provides private lessons at
TMDA to students who need extra help or need choreography for pageants/talent shows. Jessica can be hired for private
lessons by contacting TMDA to set up an appointment. Jessica's younger sister, Jennifer is a member of Tiny Troupe so talent
definitely runs in the Chapman family. TMDA is very proud to have Jessica on our TMDA staff!
She is in charge of all junior instructors at TMDA and replaces all instructors when needed. Jessica provides private lessons at
TMDA to students who need extra help or need choreography for pageants/talent shows. Jessica can be hired for private
lessons by contacting TMDA to set up an appointment. Jessica's younger sister, Jennifer is a member of Tiny Troupe so talent
definitely runs in the Chapman family. TMDA is very proud to have Jessica on our TMDA staff!
| The Maine Dance Academy Secretaries!! Deana Williams, Michelle Albert, Michelle Hanson, Vicki Keaton, Tammy Susi. |
