OUR PHILOSOPHY:
As the fastest growing dance center in Southern Maine, our friendly and welcoming, small classroom environment is open to any student of any age who wishes to study dance for fun, exercise, and to build a solid dance foundation. Our students range from age two through seventies, and across three generations in some of our families that dance with us. Our curriculum is written for recreational dancers as well as students aspiring to become professional dancers. Our skilled, professional and high energy instructors constantly continue their own studies of dance and dance education. We are proud to be affiliated with the prestigious Dance Masters of America organization. As one of the few schools in the state of Maine that is affiliated and studies with Dance Masters of America, our instructors are certified by test to teach their respective disciplines.
Our instructors have danced professionally and have strong national dance creditentials. Most importantly, we are educators.
All policies are communicated to our families and all information is distributed to students and parents far in advance so that important dates and events can be planned for. Class schedules are consistent, policies are clear. Should you have any questions about our dance center, events, performances and policies, please do not hesitate to ask. We understand how busy daily life is and strive to exceed your expectations in your dance experience with us.
Danielle Drouin
Owner & Director
(Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Musical Theater Dance, Lyrical):
Danielle began dancing at age five, at The Virginia Dorr School of Dance. She studied locally at The Dance Studio of Maine, under the direction of Carole Jordan, and Maine State School for the Performing Arts. After graduating from the University of Southern Maine, Danielle continued her dance education in New York City, studying at Broadway Dance Center with such dance masters as Frank Hatchett, Finis Jhung, and Barbara Duffy. Danielle has taken Master Classes with Bob Rizzo, Stepp Stewart, Judine Richard, and Joe Tremaine. She continues to study at Dance Masters of America Teacher’s Training School in Buffalo, New York and attends workshops with the Maine Dance Teachers Club. Danielle has earned platinum and gold medals from national and regional dance competitions and placed in the Top Ten at the 1998 Showstopper National Championships. Danielle has performed professionally in 42nd Street and for Paramount Productions. Local performances include various musicals at Portland Players, The Best of Broadway, and with Dance USM!, University of Maine, Dirigo Dance Troupe, Gorham Community Ballet Company, and The Dance Studio of Maine Competition Team. She has been an instructor and choreographed for UnumProvident Corporation, The Best of Broadway, The Dance Studio of Maine, Elite All-Stars of Maine, Edward Little High School, Westbrook High School and Portland Lyric Theater. Danielle’s students have won many awards, including regional and national honors. Danielle is a member of Dance Masters of America and a graduate of Dance Masters of America Teacher Training School and hold certification in Ballet, Tap and Jazz.
Morrigan Burns
(Irish Step Dance):
Morrigan began studying Irish Step Dancing at the age of five under the direction of Shelia Stevens in West Hartford, CT. Morrigan danced on a local, regional and national level for 12 years . Morrigan teaches Irish Step Dancing (solo) and traditional Irish Ceili group dancing. She has taught at the Performing Arts Connection in Hampton, VA, The Academy of Dance in Biddeford, ME, teaches for many community organizations and coaches for the Special Olympics. Morrigan earned her B.A. in Special Education from Goucher College and her M.S. Ed. in Severe Disabilities with a Graduate Certificate in Autism from The Johns Hopkins University. Morrigan teaches Special Education in the elementary level at Cape Elizabeth schools.
Brittany Gereben
(Lyrical, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Creative Movement, Junior Dance Company):
Brittany Gereben began dancing at the age of five. She danced with Victoria Studios and later, The Main Street Dancers, an international dance troupe from Edmunston, New Brunswick, Canada. The Main Street Dancers are a highly recognized and respected dance troupe throughout the Atlantic Provinces. With The Main Street Dancers, Brittany competed in Montreal, St. John, New Brunswick and Maine, receiving numerous top honors. Brittany was named Dancer of the Year 2002, before moving to the Portland area to attend college. She has taught dance throughout her high school years to groups of young, energetic students. Brittany’s specialties are lyrical, jazz, and hip-hop.
Erin Hamblen
(Ballet, Jazz):
Erin Hamblen began dancing at the age of three. She has studied locally at The Dance Studio of Maine under the direction of Carole Jordan, and has taken Master Classes with dance greats Stepp Stewart, Kyme Sallid, Judine Richard, and Alan Arnet. Erin was a member of The Dance Studio of Maine Competition Team, and competed nationally and throughout New England, earning gold and silver medals at Showstopper, Starpower, Starbound, and The American Dance Awards. She competed at the 1995 and 1998 Showstopper National Championships, earning three gold medals. In addition to competing, Erin has performed locally in many charity benefits including those for the Ronald McDonald House, Children’s Miracle Network and Muscular Distrophy Association. She is currently studying with Dance Masters of America Teacher Training School in Buffalo, New York. Erin is a graduate of Florida State University.
Anne Hicks
(Creative Movement, Ballet, Tap, Jazz):
Anne began dance class at the age of four, fell in love with it and continued studying. As a young adult Anne began teaching to help supplement her own class tuition. She holds a BFA in Dance Choreography and Performance from the Towson campus of the University of Maryland and performed with the University Dance Company. During college she spent her summers dancing and singing in theme park musicals and following college Anne relocated to New York City to pursue her musical theater performance career. There, she continued her studies with Frank Hatchett, David Howard, Lynn Simonson, and Finis Jhung. She appeared professionally in such shows as Cabaret, Singing in the Rain, Chicago and in the national tour of Sugar Babies with Carol Channing. In addition, she has choreographed many regional and dinner theater productions. Anne relocated to Maine two years ago and is very excited to be joining Drouin Dance Center as a teacher.
Danielle Maurice
(Tap, Jazz, Acro, Mini Dance Company):
Danielle began dancing at the age of 4, studying at Dancer’s Image in Westfield, MA under the direction of Tina Girard. She was a member of the Dancer’s Image Company and has earned gold and silver awards at local and regional competitions. Danielle is a graduate of Elms College with a BA in Psychology and Education. While studying at Elms, she took dance classes with Shelley Ziebel of New England Dance Conservatory. Danielle has earned her MA in Psychology from Brandeis University and is currently pursuing her PhD in Social and Developmental Psychology at Brandeis. She has also performed with Brandeis University’s Adagio dance group. Danielle has been a member of the Drouin Dance Center Company, has coached varsity and JV cheering for Southwick-Tolland Regional High School, and has taught dance classes at Berwick Academy.
Rachael O'Donnell
(Hip-Hop):
Rachael’s earliest dance training began at the Dance Studio of Maine, under the direction of Carole Jordan. She continued at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona where she studied Modern and African dance and Ballet with Linda Yourth, formerly of the NYC Ballet .While in Flagstaff, she performed with Canyon Movement Company as well as numerous other local choreographers and also taught dance at the Arizona Dance Conservatory. Rachael served as Co-Artistic Director of Dakini Movement Company, a multimedia performing arts group that utilized members of the community to address issues of social justice through art. While there, she led workshops focusing on movement as a tool for emotional expression and exploration. Rachael has taught Jazz, and Hip Hop classes for more than eight years. Rachael has her Master's Degree in Social Work. She currently supervises the Men's Intensive Outpatient substance abuse treatment program at Maine Correctional Center.
Sasha Randall
(Contemporary, African):
Sasha graduated magna cum laude from Long Island University's Honors program earning her B.F.A. in Dance Studies with a concentration in Psychology. Her early training began with Rhonda Davis-Cook in Gorham, ME and Kathy Nolan through the Southern Maine Regional Fine Arts Program. While in college she was introduced to a diversity of dance styles from cultures all over the world. She studied Asian dance with Uttara Asha-Coorlawala, African dance with Kemoko Sano (founder of Les Merveilles de Africains), Modern with Cheryl Halliburton-Beatty and Beth Trimm, Ballet with Dr. Cara Gargano, and Jazz and Musical Theater with Donna Scheer. She continued her post-graduate studies at Mills College in Oakland, CA where she trained extensively in modern dance composition and performance with Mary Cochran, Anne Westwick, Mary Anne Kinkead, and Kathleen McClintock. Upon her return to New York, she worked as a freelance dancer and with Circle of Dance Repertory Company, performing in notable venues such as the Duke Theater, P.S. 122, and Clark Theater in Lincoln Center. She has worked as a performer, teacher, choreographer, and researcher of dance throughout the northeast and California. She continues to train and choreograph locally and in the New York metro area. Sasha is also the Director of the Dance Program at Berwick Academy.
Maryann Saulle
(Ballet, Tap, Jazz):
Maryann Saulle has been dancing since the age of seven. She has studied locally at Dorothy Ruel School of Dance, the Maine Summer Arts Program, The Virginia Dorr School of Dance and The Dance Studio of Maine. Maryann has taken Master Classes with such dance greats as Bob Rizzo, Stepp Stewart and Laura Hausmann. She has been a member and performed with Dirigo Dance Troupe, The Front Page Dancers and Gorham Community Ballet Company. Maryann has also performed at the Maine Summer Arts Festival, with Portland Players in 42nd Street, and for charity benefits including those for the Ronald McDonald House and Children’s Miracle Network. She began teaching dance at the age of sixteen was an instructor for many years at The Dance Studio of Maine as well as at the Schoolhouse Center for the Arts. Maryann is a graduate of the prestigious Dance Masters of America’s Teacher’s Training School in Buffalo, New York and holds certification in Ballet, Tap and Jazz. Maryann also works at UnumProvident Corporation.
Heidi Tranchemontagne
(Ballet/Tap Combo, Ballet/Jazz Combo, Jazz):
Heidi has been dancing since the age of nine. She studied under Terri Glidden, who directed a small and very disciplined dancing school in Fairfield, Maine. Heidi started competing with Dance America at the age of eleven. Through Dance America, she competed in dozens of regional competitions and three national competitions. Heidi has studied through Dance Olympus workshops with many well known dancers/instructors such as Bob Rizzo, Debbie Dee, Frank Hatchett, Bill Dericco, Sarah Jo Fazio, Patricia Dickenson and Densil Adams, to name a few. She also has participated in Maine Dance Teachers Club. Heidi's strengths are in jazz and lyrical, but she has had plenty of instruction in all forms of dance. She had taught for her home studio and for the Dance Studio of Maine. Heidi and her husband James also own the Frog and Turtle Restaurant in Westbrook.
