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KATHY BERUBE MANSON
Owner
Junior Division Manager
 TEACHER-Jazz and Tumbling Classes (Jr. & Sr. Division)

Kathy is an accomplished dancer and tumbler. She has a natural ability to take what she knows and relay that to her students in the most creative ways. The students think they are hanging out upside down and don't realize that they are strengthening their arms and working on flexibility for the "big tricks". They literally put their "life" in her strong hands as she trains them to perform everything from backward rolls to back tucks and more.Kathy has studied dance at a world-renowned studio in Boston for years. Her jazz students benefit from her extended education by learning proper technique, form and mastering complicated routines.Kathy founded Kathy's Tumbleweed 30 years ago. She is now teaching her student's children and a few grandchildren. How rewarding is that? By word of mouth alone, the number of students keeps multiplying. Why is that? Her love of children is apparent in everything she does. She knows each student by name and caters to their individual needs for learning.Kathy is a teacher and a friend who will help you with any situation, dance related or not. If you are lucky enough to take class from Kathy, take advantage of it. You will grow as a dancer, tumbler and as a person……**************************************
ALYCIA COOPER
Senior Division Ballet/Lyrical Teacher
 Alycia has been dancing since the age of 4. She has been teaching since the age of 15. Dance has always been her passion in life. Alycia has a B.F.A. from the Boston Conservatory of Music, Dance, and Theatre. She has dance and taught around the New England area. Alycia would like to thank her teachers for shaping her into the dancer she is and is still achieving to be. Alycia hopes her artistry, strength, passion, and perseverance shines through her performance and choreography.Alycia has taught at our studio now for two years. We are very pleased to have her. Her classes are taught in a relaxed friendly style but with the highest of professionalism. She is very specific when she teaches. She stresses always on learning correct technique. She explains everything in full and makes it easy for any level dancer to learn, and enjoy the art of ballet. Her choreography is fresh and unique. She has a style that makes every dancer shine.            This year Alycia has introduced a lyrical class to the studio. It started off very small but has been growing, as word of mouth, has spread the news, of how much everyone is enjoying the class. We are exited to see this new class perform on stage this year at our end of the year performance.  We thank Alycia for offering this new class and we hope that in the future Alycia can help us expand our Senior Division Ballet curriculum.    ***************************************
HEATHER LAROCQUE
Student Teacher
Heather is a former student and friend of Kathy’s Tumbleweed. Heather was first introduced to the studio in 1987. She was a young child when we first met here. She came to our studio and signed up to take tumbling lessons. She continued at our studio for 8 years until graduating high school. She was a fantastic tumbler and an outstanding student. Her and her classmates were a group of students who by far stood out, due to their hard work, dedication, and friendliness. They were always a joy to teach and they easily became one of Kathy’s Tumbleweed’s favorite groups of students. This young group of individuals touched our hearts a long time ago and to this day has never been forgotten and still holds a special spot in the heart. Shortly after high school Heather had a little girl of her own. Her name is Mindy.  Mindy decided she would like to learn to tumble, so Heather brought her to our studio. Mindy reminds me of Heather very much. She is very sweet, talented, and also a pleasure to teach. Now having Mindy a part of the studio, Heather became back into the picture.  On occasion Heather would come into the studio and help us out by assisting spotting or giving tumbling hints to some of the students in Mindy’s classes. Later,  Heather was asked if she was interested in being a student teacher at the studio. Heather already has a fulltime job which keeps her schedule very busy, but she said yes. Heather has been a tremendous help in class. She is an excellent spotter. Her concept for learning tumbling skills stands behind the studio’s desires and expectations. She knows the importance of pushing the student’s basics to become strong before tiring to challenge the student with more difficult tricks. She understands safety comes first. She is fun and loving. Her students enjoy having her assist in class. She helps bring out the students confidence with in themselves. Heather says she enjoys watching the students succeed and improve with each class. We are pleased to have her on our team.Now in Heather’s 3rd year back as an assistant teacher, Heather is still tumbling.  She is tumbling in the same class as her daughter.  She is amazing. It is so great to watch her tumble again and it is even greater to see her share this time with her daughter. She also is taking Hip Hop and is part of our competition team. We hope Heather and her daughter Mindy are here to stay with us for a long time.  
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KRISTA LAFORTE
Student Teacher
 Krista has been a part of Kathy’s Tumbleweed since 1999. She has 3 lovely daughter’s Senia, Maddy and Catherine, plus a wonderful son CJ.New this past year to her family she has welcomed Cody and Madison.  Most of  her children take classes here at the studio. Their interest in tumbling and dance is what lead Krista to our studio such a long time ago. All of her children are very talented and a pleasure to teach. Krista has always been one of those “Dance Moms” who is always at the studio ready to extend a helping hand. She is friendly to everyone. She has helped the studio many times with her creative touch by designing and sewing costumes. She helps those who need alterations. Her husband Clayton is one of those “dads” you always find back stage doing whatever he can do to assist. We thank them for all their time and efforts they have giving to support our studio.Krista herself started dancing at age 6. She started singing and taking an interest in theatre at age 12. Krista now is the professional vocalist for a popular group called Jump Street. Her voice is mesmerizing. She has sang in our recital showcase twice now and she is out of this world.  Her love and talent for the arts shine within her.          Krista’s love for children does not stop with just her own children. She has taught the children’s choir and youth choir since 2002 at the Immaculate Conception Church. She is a substitute teacher in the Amesbury School System. She is patient and kind to all and she can make all children feel at home in any learning environment. Krista’s very busy schedule leaves her little time but she decided to sign up for her own class here at Kathy’s Tumbleweed about 6 years ago. She started with 1 simple adult Hip Hop class to just stay in shape. Her love for dance shined through as always. She now enjoys taking Hip Hop, as well as Funk Tap and Lyical, and she also is a member of our Sr. Division Adult Competition team. Krista, 2 years ago,  began assisting a young tumbling class here at the studio. We needed an extra hand and as always Krista was willing to be the one. She did a great job assisting and was a pleasure to work with. Now Krista is helping to assist many of the Junior division classes. She represents everything Kathy’s Tumbleweed stands for plus she is talented, inspiring, and a good friend to all. We are lucky to have her be a part of our Tumbleweed family. 

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Kira Duford

Student Teacher

 

 

           Kira started dancing 19 years ago at the age of 3. She has been with Kathy’s Tumbleweed for about 15 years. Kira when she was younger took classes at Kathy’s Tumbleweed in jazz and tumbling. She was a very talented young lady. She learned quickly, she was a natural. She was the child who set an example that fellow classmates could look up to and learn from. Once Kira became older she decided she wanted to become a cheerleader.  Kira joined the school cheerleading squad. Cheerleading was the perfect sport for Kira.  With her strong dance and tumbling skills she helped her team to win many cheerleading competitions. Before long she was the captain of her squad. An honor well deserved.  Kira was a good student in school, she was smart, popular, and well liked by all. She had a very busy schedule but she always tried hard to fit in a dance class wherever possible. She was always a pleasure to have in class.

             After High School Kira moved on to college. We missed her at our studio but we all were happy to see her move on to pursue her dreams. After her fist years of college Kira decided she would rather return home and finish her studies more local. She is now continuing her education as a nursing student at Salem State College. She is working hard to receive her bachelors of science in nursing and to become a registered nurse.

            Since Kira is now back home doing her studies, she has also returned back to our studio and has been continuing her dance. Kira has always loved to dance. She has studied many forms of dance over the years including jazz, tumbling, tap, hip hop and ballroom. 2 years ago she joined our adult competitive hip hop team.  She also started  taking jazz, hip hop, funk tap, and her first ballet/lyrical class. She is again on the hip hop team and excited to compete in the up coming competitions.

            This is Kira’s 3rd year teaching at Kathy’s Tumbleweed. She helps assist in our Junior Division with tumbling classes, tap classes, and the combination jazz & tumbling classes. She is wonderful with the young children. She is professional and friendly. The children all like her very much and she is a role model they can all look up too. We have known Kira since she was a little girl and it is an honor to be having the opportunity to have her as a young adult dancing and working with us.

 

JEANETTE TALBOT

(student helper)

Well hello there,My name is Jeanette Talbot. I've been going to Kathy's Tumbleweed for about 9 years now.

Im 13 going to be 14 in November. I'm in 8th grade. I love dancing. I have been doing jazz for about 5 years. Then I stopped for a year to do hip-hop and now I'm back to Jazz as well as hip-hop. Competing this year with April will be a blast. I wanted to help assistant teach with Kathy because i love little kids and since I've been doing jazz for so long I thought it would be fun to help others learn how to dance. When I dance I feel like theres no one there. For me it is one of the many ways to express my feelings. Its just like a natural thing for me. Even when I was little I would dance and sing in front of my tv wishing someday to be a dancer, when I saw all the stars on tv. My mom says I would get all dressed up in my fancy clothes and put in a concert tape and try to do all the moves that the singer would on the stage. So for as long as I can remember I've been dancing.

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Angel Gauron Eaton

Sr. Division Manager

Tap and Hip Hop Instructor 

Angel has been dancing since the age of 3 and started teaching dance at 19. Angel joined our studio 6 years ago as a student but it was clear her passion is to choreograph and teach. Over the years at our studio she assisted and was the substitute. This year Angel is ready to take on the tap classes and the competitive hip hop teams.  Angel has danced in local dance companies and competitive team. She has unique choreography and cannot wait to put that to great use. Angel went professional in tap at the young age of 17. Tap has always been a passion for her. Whether teaching brand new “tappers to” adults it is always amazing to see her routines come together.

The manner in which Angel interacts with our students at Kathy’s Tumbleweed is why we are so happy to have her aboard and we look forward to the New Year!!

Angel is also going to be our Senior Division Manager. Angel brings management skills along with customer service.

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MEGHAN O”DONNELL

         

This is Meghan’s first year at our studio.  She will be teaching Jazz and Ballet classes for both our Jr.  & Sr. divisions. Meghan began her training as a ballet dancer at Gene Murray’s School of dance in Salem, MA. She continued her pre-professional education with Jose Mateo’s Ballet Theatre of Boston. While there she performed in The Nutcracker for several years at the Emerson Majestic Theater in Boston. She also participated in several years of summer intensives. She continued on to dance throughout high school at Andover Center of the Performing Arts and as she attended St. Anselm’s College. Meghan is on staff with Dancer’s Inc, a national dance competition and convention. She has taken classes from many professional choreographers and dancers, including Mia Michaels, Tyce Diorio, LaurieAnn Gibson, Ron Todorowski, Desmond Richardson, Jeff Shade, as well as assisted legendary dancer and shoe designer, Phil Laduca. She continues to attend teacher conferences around the United States to keep up with the latest styles, techniques and trends in the dance world.

We are so excited to have Meghan join our staff. She positively brings with her professionalism and a friendly personality that Kathy’s Tumbleweed rates as a #1 quality to be a good teacher.

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Kara Brislin Bio

 Kara attended Dean College where she received her Associate of Arts in Dance and Springfield College where she received her Bachelor of Science in Dance.  While at Dean College, Kara choreographed and performed in Coffeehouse Cabaret, Sophomore Performance, and Franklin School of Performing Arts Scholarship Showcase as well as competing in local competitions. While in College, Kara auditioned and was accepted into the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center’s Summer Intensive Session in New York City.  Kara was a member of Springfield College Dancers as well as the Secretary.  She organized master classes while at SC and took part in White Mountain Summer Dance Festival. She taught creative movement at a local day care in Springfield for disadvantaged children. Kara has taught at several studios in the area and has entered her choreography in many competitions.  She has taught movement and choreography to adults with developmental disabilities and they have performed locally.  Kara is a certified Zumba instructor.  She enjoys introducing modern dance to students and challenging them to push themselves to get the most out of dance as an art and an expression.

 Alison McCarthy

Assistant Teacher Jr. Division Hip Hop and jazz

This is Ali’s first year teaching at Kathy’s Tumbleweeds. Ali has been dancing since the age of 3 where she began her dance training at Ms. Cindy Gray‘s School of Dance, Saugus MA. She continued here dancing career though college where she danced at both St. Joseph College and at Fitchburg State College. Ali graduated this past spring with a B.S. in Psychology and is attending the Masters program at Worcester State University in the Fall where she will study School Psychology. While at St. Joseph College she choreographed and performed in the 5x5 competition alongside Hartford Conservatory, as well as the Festival of Lights and the annual spring showcase. At Fitchburg State Ali was the Advanced Jazz instructor and choreographed both the holiday and spring shows. She has knowledge of all types of dance from modern to hip-hop. Ali hopes to transpose her passion and love of all types of dance to all the students she works with while helping out Kathy and all the other teachers here at our studio.

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 Sandy Gordon

Zumba Insructor

Sandy has been a student with Kathy’s Tumbleweed since 1997.  She began to dance with her daughter in the “Mom and Me” classes and, in later years, moved into the adult classes.  These classes include Competitive Hip Hop, Jazz and Tap. Sandy is now well known in our studio and liked by all. Sandy introduced Zumba into our studio late last season. Those who took part in her class enjoyed it very much. Sandy this season is going to continue to offer her Zumba class.

Sandy has been an Aerobics instructor for many years teaching step, kick boxing and boot camp classes.  In February 2010 she decided to combine her love for dance and exercise and certify to teach Zumba. Her companionate personality, unique choreography, music and style combined with her endless energy are what make her class a one of a kind. WE welcome Sandy to our Tumbleweed staff and encourage everyone to give Zumba a try.