Agnes Strecker - Owner/Director

 

Agnes Strecker is a member of the Dance Master of America, Inc., the Dance Educators of America, Inc., the Dance Teachers' Club of Boston, Inc. and under the instruction of various New York Teachers.

 

She constantly strives to remain innovative by continuing her education in dance instruction and choregraphy through frequenting conventions and seminars given by some of the top dance personalities in New York.

 

 

Kelly Clark

 

Kelly Clark has been dancing consecutively since the age of four. She studied under Paulette Harwood at Paulette's Ballet Studio in Newton; where she is also a faculty member. Kelly is trained in many different dance styles. Kelly was chosen as an apprentice teacher at the age of eleven and became the youngest member of the faculty when she was a junior in high school.

 

Dance has been a focal point of Kelly's life. She completed the three year Dance Teacher's Club of Boston Teacher Training Program. She taught Ballet in an afterschool proram for the Needham Park and Recreation. She graduated from Emmanuel College, where she danced in musicals and was a member of the competitive dance team and continued to teach classes. Kelly still continues to perfrom. She was recently a dancer in "It's Christmas Time, of the Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston, Inc.

 

Kelly received her Master's Degree from Boston College in 2007 with a degree in Severe Special Education. She is currently a Special Education Teacher for Students with Autism in the Boston Public School.

 

Kelly is thrilled to be teaching Ballet and joining the ASDS faculty! She is so excited to meet everyone and join our dancing family.

 

Patrice Cowhig

 

Patrice Cowhig is the ASDS yoga teacher. She has been practicing yoga for a number of years. In addition to teaching yoga at the Agnes Strecker Dance Studio, Patrice participates in weekly classes and yearly conventions. Patrice believes that yoga is the fusion of movement and breathe, stretching and strengthening, and energy and relaxation. Yoga is a wonderful way to stay fit, flexible, and relaxed. It helps both the body and mind by introducing breathing techniques, concentration and carefully guided poses to achieve relaxation. Patrice works with each individual's flexibility level because yoga teaches you not to push yourself. Patrice graduated from North Shore Community College with a Physical Therapy Assistant degree. Patrice now works at Laura Lanes Skin Care in Salem, MA as a licensed massage therapist.

 

 

Twyla Everett

 

Twyla Everett, has studied dance, and performed with some of the most Elite Dance Companies in New England for over 22 years. At the young age of just 3 is when her career began. As a child, Twyla performed all over New England with "Daragee Drumm and Acon con" Professional West Aftrican Ballet, teaching culture and expression through the art of dance, became a Hip-hop, African and Dance Performance instructor at Jam'nastics Inc. who fostered her dance and gymnastics passion in her earlier years, and choreographed award winning pieces at major shows at the Strand Theatre, the Apollo, and the Patriots Super bowl games. Her choreography also contributed greatly to the success of JAM'NASTICS in multiple competitions for many years, including working with Michael Bivens, B2K's J-Boog, and many others.

 

Twyla molded her love into a professional skill and received a Master Certification of Techniques at the Blad Dance Acadamy and the Hip-Hop Dance Conservatory of New York, is completing her degree in Personal Training and Nutrition Counseling and is also CPR/AED certified. She is a choreographer and Dancer for the Elite EnMotion Inc., and a Dancer/Filter Tester for Dance Central, America's Best Dance Video Game! Twyla's goals are to help people find a way to reach their fitness goal in a way is not only fun, but is meaningful to them, in hopes that it will transpire into a lifetime of happiness doing what they love!

 

Phyllis Nieves Drennan

 

Phyllis comes to Agnes Strecker Dance Studio from NYC where she has trained with notable tap and jazz instructors such as Lynda Gache, Phil Black, Michael Owends, Gus Giordiano, Frank Hatchett and Celia Marta. She studied Ballet with Anastasia Brusnitsyna, Nadia Zhivotenko and Robert Christopher.

 

She has taught work shops at St. Paul School as well as a boces Cultural Art Center and has worked with serveral dance organizations. Her stage work consists of Hello-Broadway and 42nd Street. She as choreographed the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as well as a portion of the 1996 Super Bowl.

 

Phyllis has had students go on to perform professionally in Stomp, Swing, Tap Dance Kid, Tap Dogs, The Gene Kelly Story, Disney World Japan, Radio City Music Hall Rocketts and the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. We look forward to having Phyllis share her knowledge and enthusiasm for Tap, Jazz and Hip Hop with our students. Phyllis currently has a student dancing in High School Musical @ Walt Disney in Floridia and in the Broadway Tour (Revolutions) Tap Show. Phyllis’ students have appeared in the Broadway Show Legally Blonde and the Broadway Show Jersey Boys. She has also choreographed dancers who performed at the Selena Gomez concert at the Meadow Brook in Gilford, NH.

 

Chad Flahive

 

Chad has a master's degree in creative arts education, and currently serves as president of The Winthrop Playmakers. He has choreographed productions of "Nunsense", "Footloose", "Company," and "A Chorus Line". His work on "A Chorus Line" won him the DASH Award for Best Choreographer in Eastern Massachusetts local community theater.

 

He choreographed a cast of forty-seven in "Seussical the Musical" for an October 2005 production. In addition to his work as a choreographer, Chad has also performed in many local and regional productions including "Godspell", "Cabaret", "Chicago", "Annie", "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown", and "Rocky Horror-Live!"

 

Chad brings his varied experiences in theater to the Agnes Strecker Dance Studio teaching theater-style jazz classes to teens and adults.

 

Angela Lavoi

 

Angela Lavoie has been a member of the Agnes Strecker dance family for over 20 years. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst witha B.S. in physchology and is a licensed to teach Middle School Math. While studying, she was a member of the Umass Dance Team. She later became a cheerleader for 3 years for the NFL. Angela has performed throughtout New England, as well as China, the Dominican republic, and several Military bases overseas.

 

 

Minjung Bong

 

Minjung has been teaching music for over 4 years and has experience teaching musicians from ages 4 to adults. Minjung attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, and has placed in the top 3 in the Washington State Piano Competition for the last 5 consecutive years.

 

 

Shona O'Brien

 

Shona O'Brien is a registered teacher (TCRG) of the Irish Dancing Commission in Dublin, Ireland. Shona grew up immersed in Irish culture. Coming from a family that enigrated from Irelan, starting Irish dance classes at an early ages was no surprise. Shona is thrilled to pass along her year of experience and love of Irish dance to a new generation of students.

 

 

 

Megan O'Connell

 

Megan began dancing at the age of three, studying various dance studios including Agnes Strecker Dance Studio. She is trained in many different dance styles including Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Hip Hop. At the age of 12, Megan was chosen as the captain of her Middle School Dance Team. Megan received her Bachelors Degree from Westfield State University in May witha degree in Elementary Education. While studying, she was on the WSU Competitive Hip Hop Dance Team and was appointed captain her junior year. She was involved in many performances as well as competitions including the UDA National Dance Competton in Orlando, Florida where her team ranked in the top ten in the nation.Megan has always had a love for dance and is so excited to be back with the Agnes Strecker Dance Studio.

 

Heather O'Toole

 

From 1990 to 1996 Heather taught for the Darla Kash School of Dance, and in 2000 went on to open her own dance studio after attending Point Park college for Dance and Musical Theater. Heather was a member of the Mon Valley Ballet Theater and has performed in the nutcracker as well as Cinderella under the California University of Pennsylvania. Heather has also studied at UNLV and with tap master Henry Le Tang and many Tap sensations of our time. She was also the Choreographer for Monessen High school Group of the Performing arts. Heather and her daughter Josie just relocated from Hershey PA, to Exter NH. Heather is a former flight attendant for US Airways Express and now works for Core Physcians Group as a medical office coordinator. She is thrilled to be working with everyone at ASDS and sharing her love of dance with all of you!

 

Vanessa Raftery

 

Vanessa has been involved in the dance community for over twenty years. . Many of those years have been with the Agnes Strecker Dance Studio. She as been teaching dance at ASDS for six years. She is thrilled that her daughter, Selena, is now part of our dance family. Vanessa is licensed as a Kindermusik Educator. Kindermusik focuses on introducing the art of music, movement and dance to the early stages of a child's development. She has also earned her certification in Zumba. Vanessa is trained in all of the forms of dance that are offered at the studio. She continues to further her dance knowledge by attending classes and participating in conventions. Vanessa attended Marian Court College, where she studied Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Management. She not only danced aboard the Norwegian Majesty, but also organized the travelling arrangements for the entire staff and guests.

 

 

Debbie Strong

 

Debbie Strong grew up in Revere and has been an Agnes Strecker Dancer for 26 years. She was certified by the Dance Teacher's Club of Boston as a teenager and in 2003 received a BA in journalism from the University of New Hampshire, where she was captain of the UNH Dance Team. Debbie taught at Agnes Strecker Dance Studio for several years before moving to New York City in 2006 to pursue an editing and writing career. While in NYC, Debbie taught dance and yoga at All the Buzz Studio Queens, N.Y. and received her group exercise intructor certification from the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. She also took hundreds of master-taught dance classes at Crunch, Broadway Dance Center, and Steps on Broadway.

 

Debbie is currently a Senior Editor at Everyday Health, Inc. in NYC, where she wtites about health, fitness, diet, and nutrition for various online publications. She is also a regular contributor to Shape magazine, Shape.com, Dance Teachers magazine, and iVillage.com. Debbie si happy to return to her family in Revere and her family at ASDS this year so that she can help a new generation of kids love dance at ASDS just as much as she did.