Paula Meola (Owner and Artistic Director)
Paula is an honors graduate of Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Dance. She was a member of the resident and touring companies of Butler Ballet, and performed throughout the country under the direction of the nationally recognized ballet master Mr. George Verdak. Paula’s earlier training was received locally, and at the Walnut Hill School and Boston Ballet Company, under the direction of the great E. Virginia Williams.  She is a member of Dance Masters of New England Chapter #5, and completed her certification from the Dance Teacher’s Club of Boston.  Once again, Paula directed and choreographed the annual production of the Nutcracker Ballet, with an all time cast of over 120 PMD dancers!

Dance Faculty

Javin Ashlaw (Children’s Dance, Jazz, Team PMD Choreographer, PMD Performance Group Choreographer)
Javin studied at Oklahoma City University’s School for American Dance and Arts Management.  While in Oklahoma, she was a member of the American Spirit Dance Company and a member of the OCU Pep Dancers Squad.  Her professional credits include Six Flags “Illusion Quest” (dancer/swing), the WNBA Connecticut Sun Solar Power Dance Team (member/captain), NBA-TV’s “Dreaming Green” (dance contestant)–a reality television feature, and Norwegian Cruise Lines “Runnin’ Wild” and “Sea Legs Cirque” (singer/dancer/aerial) aboard the Pride of Aloha in Hawaii.  In 2007, Javin accompanied her students to Shanghai, China to perform in the Shanghai International Arts Festival.  For two consecutive years, she has been a team coach for the United States Showdance Team—which competes at the World Championships in Riesa, Germany.  Both years, her routines advanced through all preliminary rounds in various divisions, and one routine brought home the International Bronze Medal in the adult division.

Nicole Cavalloro (Jazz/Lyric and Team PMD Choreographer)
Nicole comes from Rhode Island, where she was the owner and artistic director of “Nikki’s Dance Connection.” She now spends her time teaching, choreographing, and judging for various studios and competitions throughout the United States and Canada. Nicole’s artistry, talent, and exhaustive teaching record are best reflected by her register of successful students who have been awarded both regional and national titles, won choreography awards, and have performed at Hershey Park, Busch Gardens, Disney, and on international cruise lines. Nicole travels with the national tour for VIP Conventions and Fire & Ice. Nicole continues to be recognized for her competition choreography.

David Drummond (Ballet, Men’s Class, Variations, Nutcracker Choreographer)
Mr. Drummond danced with the Boston Ballet and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens performing in the U.S., Canada and Europe working with such dance luminaries as Ana Sokolow, Agnes De Mille, Brian MacDonald, John Butler, Louis Falco, Fredbjorn Bjorenson.  Critics said of his dancing that it was strong, lithe, and secure. Mr. Drummond danced in a wide range of roles from the classics to Balanchine and contemporary works. During the course of his professional career, he studied with Murial Stuart, Lilian Moore, E. Virginia Williams, Violet Verdy, and Ana Roje who was protégé for the famous Nicolai Legat. Mr. Drummond is a master teacher of Classical Ballet having taught at the Boston Conservatory of Music, Boston Ballet, Wisconsin Ballet, and Ballet New England. He has served as Artistic Director for the Ana Roje School of Ballet and the Copley Square Ballet and Ballet New England. He has taught internationally in Bermuda, the former Yugoslavia, and Greece and is a well-known choreographer locally and abroad.

Celeste Gordon (Children’s Dance)
Celeste has been teaching dance at PMD for the past five years and looks forward to many more to come. She is a graduate of Skidmore College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dance Education. She has over 20 years of teaching experience and operated her own studio for many years. In addition to teaching dance, Celeste works in a Primary Care office and has two children. She is wonderful with children, experienced, and a true professional.

Mark Harootian (Ballet, Team PMD Choreographer)
A native of Worcester, Massachusetts, Mr. Harootian received his early training at the Performing Arts School of Worcester and the Burncoat Senior High Dance Department. He attended the University of Utah on scholarship and became a member of Utah Ballet; he graduated with a BFA with an emphasis on performing and teaching.  He also performed in and choreographed many of the department’s seasonal shows while dancing leading roles with Utah Ballet. Mr Harootian also performed at Disney’s Epcot Center, the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics Medal Plaza and the Festival of White Nights in Pushkin Russia. Memorable roles include The Captain in Carmen, The Sailor in Con Amore, Doug Spivey in The Widow’s Broom, The Leaves Are Fading and the Chief of Thieves in Eldar Aliev’s A Thousand and One Nights. He also captivates Up Close On Hope audiences choreographing many world premieres. Awarded a choreography grant from the Rhode Island State Council of the Arts in 2007, Mr. Harootian will continue creating new ballets. In addition, he is also the Director of Educational Outreach for FBP. This is Mr. Harootian’s seventh season with FBP

Lisa Hughes (Children’s Dance, Tap, Spotlight Theatre, PMD Performance Group Choreographer)
Lisa graduated Summa Cum Laude from Fitchburg State College with a B.S.E. in Elementary Education and a B.S. in English/Theatre.  Lisa is a member of Dance Masters of America, Chapter #5 and has taught dance and theatre throughout Central MA for over 25 years. She also teaches 6th grade at Mountview Middle School. Lisa also enjoys performing, directing, and choreographing for local theatre groups, and has most recently been keeping busy with some film and commercial projects. She has also performed in an international theatre festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, and hopes to return within the next few years. Once again she will be directing PMD’s Summer Spotlight Theatre camps.

Matthew Kooyomjian (Modern, Team PMD Coordinator/Choreographer)
Training under the mentorship of Nicole DiCicco-Cavalloro, Paula Meola, Joan Phelps Palladino, and Nailah Randall-Bellinger, Matt holds a Bachelor of Arts from Dean College’s Joan Phelps Palladino School of Dance. While at Dean, his choreography in L’Esprit D’Escalier, was highly acclaimed and he was also a member of Dean College’s Dance Company where he worked with several choreographers including Jay T Jenkins.  For several years, Matt has assisted Nicole DiCicco-Cavalloro, Stacey McIntyre, and Meeshi Edgar for both choreography and master classes. This year he choreographed “Time Flies” for Team PMD which won numerous awards. His creative classes and choreography extend from the philosophy that dance is truly art in motion; therefore he focuses to train not only strong technicians but also to build artists and performers.

Alison Laverdiere (Tap, Hip Hop, Team PMD Choreographer)
Alison is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a B.A. in Theatre and a minor in Communications. She has 21 years of dance training and a wealth of experience in all areas of dance education. She has choreographed for a variety of productions at Theatre at the Mount and has experience teaching toddlers thru adults. Alison brings endless energy and creativity to all her classes and PMD is very excited to have her as part of our family. This year Alison choreographed “Urban Beats” for Team PMD which won numerous awards.

Sasha Lunev (Ballet, Private Ballet Coaching)
Mr. Lunev is a graduate of the world renowned Vaganova Academic School in Lennigrad.  He was a principal dancer with the Kirov Theatre and the Boston Ballet and has toured throughout the world.  His professional performances include roles in Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Giselle, Le Corsaire, Don Quioxte, La Bayadere, La Sylphide, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He is also a strength and conditioning coach and works with International competitors of figure skating, hockey, soccer, crew and track & field. Mr. Lunev also offers private ballet coaching and PMD is lucky to have him join their ballet faculty this year.

Theo Martinez (Hip Hop)
Theo Martinez has been dancing for over 25 years. Originally from Nashua NH, he is a self taught Hip Hop dancer who turned his passion of dance into a full time career as an instructor, choreographer and performer of multiple dance forms.  Theo Martinez is a certified dance professional, and a registered member of the National Dance Council of America. He teaches students in Latin, Rhythm, Ballroom, Hip Hop and is an accomplished choreographer.  He has also choreographed routines for students who have won top awards in DanceSport and Hip Hop competitions.  Theo has also worked extensively in the community, teaching dance at elementary, middle and high schools.  Theo continues his dance training in all styles and loves to share his passion of dance.  Theo is also a member of B-Side, a Hip Hop company also based out of Boston.  His past performances include Urbanity: First Night at the Hynes Convention Center -Big Red Door and Versus shows, B-Side: Audacity, 2010 MLK Breakfast, opening performance for Donnie Klang, Actorsingers production of Ragtime and 42nd St., St. Jude Hospital, Miss NH pageant, and Triple Threat Dance Co.

Susie Michaud (Tap, Team PMD Choreographer, PMD Performance Group Choreographer)
Susie Michaud received her B.S. in Education from Fitchburg State College.  Her advanced dance studies were in New York City with the June Taylor School, Paul Draper, Al Gilbert, Brenda Bufalino, and Honi Coles.  Ms. Michaud’s teaching experience includes the Boston Conservatory, Northern Ballet Theatre Dance Centre, Groton School, Harvard/Radcliffe dance program, Mount Wachusett Community College, Jeannette Neill Dance Studio and Boston Youth Moves.  She has choreographed and performed for Community Theater, Dinner Theater, Northern Ballet Theater, and benefits.  She has directed “Theater-Dance” workshops for children and adults.  Her dance competition choreography has won both regional and national recognition.

Jennie Membrino-Nano (Modern)
Jennie received her B.F.A in dance from The University of The arts, Philadelphia College of Performing Arts in 1999. She is the artistic Director and founder of Jennie &Company, a modern dance company. Jennie has taught Modern and Jazz at various dance studios throughout the area, as well as choreographed several musicals.

Nicole Nell (Hip Hop)
Ccomes to PMD from Springfield, MA. She has been dancing ever since she could walk and her passion for the art has only grown stronger over the years. She is the former National Miss Dance Ovations, has taught National Master Classes in the U.S. and Germany and has danced with Americas Best Dance Crew. She has a unique style of hip hop/break dancing and is very excited to share her talents with PMD dancers. Welcome Nicole!

Anne Marie O’Brien  (Ballet,  Jazz, Tap, PMD Performance Group Coordinator/ Choreographer)
With a passion for all types of dance, Anne Marie is an experienced and enthusiastic teacher at PMD, teaching tap, ballet, and jazz at the beginner and intermediate levels. She is also the coordinator and a choreographer for our new PMD Performance Group. Anne Marie is an active member of, and is certified to teach dance by the Dance Teachers Club of Boston.  Training and teaching at E. Virginia Williams School of Dance in Malden, MA, Anne Marie has also taught at The Dance Centre of Malden before joining PMD.  She has been involved in many community and college theatre productions as both a performer and a choreographer. Anne Marie enjoys passing on her love of dance and the incredible value of the discipline of dance to all her students.

Joselyne Ortega (Break Dancing, Hip Hop)
Joselyne aka Bgirl Jans began her training at an early age throughout local community and greater Boston dance programs. Leading her under the direction of Yhinny Matos, creative director of “United Roots Troupe”, original floorlords crew, further mastering her craft.  Her training includes, Phunk Phyenomenon Dance Company, Broadway Dancer Center, Full Circle Company lead by world known Bboy/Bgirl Kwikstep & Rokafella and Beehive Dance Studio. She has worked for KRS One, Busta Rymes, Arcangel, Toby Love, Alexi Y Fioo, and companies such as Converse, Puma and Reebok.  She has been teaching and choreographing for five years. She believes that with proper teachings of detail, patience and time allows the inner-self to express itself.

Dede Recko (Ballet)
Dede received a BFA in Dance from the Boston Conservatory and has been certified with the Royal Academy of Dancing. She owned and operated her own ballet school in Shirley for many years.  Dede has choreographed and performed for the Sawtelle Singers at the Bull Run in Shirley, and many local community theatre groups. She recently choreographed “The Producers” (with husband, Tim, directing) at Theatre at the Mount in Gardner.  Dede has conceived, written, narrated and choreographed many original youth ballets, including “The Rose in My Garden”, “Sugar and Spice” and “Fairy Isle”.

Jaclyn Thompson (Modern, Progressions)
Jaclyn holds a MFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Ohio State University and a BA in Mathematics and Movement Studies from Saint Mary's College. She has lived and danced in New York City, the Midwest and Ireland, performing with several dance companies and continuing her training professionally with master teachers from all over the world.  She is currently a member of the Anna Sokolow Archival Dance Company, “Sokolow Now”.  Jaclyn joined the PMD Faculty in 2009 and is excited to be part of her second PMD Spring Spectacular!

Kimi Wada (Children’s Dance, Substitute)
Kimi trained at Performing Arts Theatre under the direction of Lisa Hughes. During that time she was a member of their award winning competition team and also participated in the annual production of the Nutcracker, choreographed by Paula Meola. Kimi was a member and choreographer of Jennie and Co. for 10 years. In addition to teaching at PMD she has also directed the dance program at the Groton School. Kimi is currently a nursing student at Atlantic Union College. Her talents and dedication to her students are a great asset to PMD.

Music Faculty

Chris Astley (Piano, Voice)
Christine is a graduate of Wellesley College, and has studied at Conservatories in Pittsburgh, Boston, and Paris, where she was a student of Nadia Boulanger.  She performed as both a singer and pianist in concert, opera, and churches.  Christine has been a music director for numerous school and college productions of Gilbert and Sullivan and Broadway shows. She has been teaching for many years both privately and in community music schools in Worcester, Nashua, NH as well as the Longy School in Cambridge. She is the organist at the Armenian Church of the Martyrs in Worcester. She also teaches privately at her home in Worcester.

Erin Conley (Children’s Dance, Voice, Summer Spotlight Theatre)
Erin Conley is a graduate of New England Conservatory where she earned a bachelors degree in voice performance. She has also studied performance in Salzburg, Austria. Miss Conley performs classical operatic and sacred repertoire in the New England area. She is recently starred in Greater Worcester Opera’s production of “Trial By Jury”. She has also performed in “Diamonds and Toads”, touring children’s opera set to music of Mozart.  Miss Conley has been an instructor at PMD since September of 2003. She began teaching music classes and private voice lessons and soon expanded her teaching to include children’s dance and theatre.

Carol Hartigan (Accompanist for Ballet Classes)
Carol is an accomplished pianist who accompanies our upper level ballet classes at PMD.  She also plays for the Boston Ballet Company.  Her music is an inspiration to our dancers!

Theatre Faculty

Joe Andrade (Theatre)
Joe teaches Creative Drama at PMD to children in grades K-12. Joe is a local favorite who can be seen performing for many local theatre companies including Worcester County Light Opera Co., Theatre at the Mount in Gardner, and Sterling’s own community theatre group.  He has acted, sang, and played guitar locally for over 30 years.  Joe has performed lead roles in Putnam County Spelling Bee and The Wedding Singer. Joe continues to entertain our audiences as emcee of our annual year-end performances.

Office Staff

Cathy Reynolds (Office/Costume Manager, Nutcracker Coordinator)
Cathy is PMD’s Office Manager. She is responsible for a multitude of tasks in our very busy office. You will find her behind in the desk almost everyday of the week and quite often on her day off. Her personal interest in each and every student and has earned the title of “Mama Reynolds”, as she is a second Mother to all. She is also known as “Paula’s Right Hand” for her endless enthusiasm and dedication to Paula and every facet of PMD.  As PMD’s Costume Manager she is responsible for all costumes for the Spring Recital, Nutcracker Ballet, Team PMD & PMD Performance Group. She also is our Nutcracker School Coordinator in which she arranges local schools to attend our Nutcracker Performances.