Miss Abigail Fine, certified dance educator and “Director Of The Year” in 2005 is “Raising The Barre” at her state-of-the-art studio located in Needham, MA. Miss Abigail is dedicated to offering each style of dancer a well-rounded education and lives to inspire dancers to have confidence in who they are. She encourages them to reach for the stars and always raise their own personal barre. Abigail has been studying dance since the age of three. Her classical and contemporary education is in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Acrobatics, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Modern, Latin Ballroom, Baton Twirling and Musical Theater. As a young dancer she performed in theatrical productions and dance competitions. Abigail received numerous awards for her achievements in performance. Growing up as a well rounded dancer, singer and actress Abigail quickly learned the importance of the fundamentals and keeping an open mind. As a teacher she sets out each day to inspire dancers and her teachers to open their minds to new concepts and movement sequences forcing them to improve on a daily basis. As Abigail entered her teenage years, her dance teacher who later became one of her best friends and her mentor for life, began the apprentice program and soon was invited to begin a teaching certification program through Dance Teachers Club of Boston and Dance Masters Of America. Once she completed the years of classes and passed the written and physical exams she received her teaching certification in Dance Instruction & Music Theory. In the summer of 2000, Abigail was selected as part of the first staff for the Britney Spears Camp For The Performing Arts and worked along side celebrity and famous choreographers teaching and inspiring hundreds of inner-city youths from all over the country. Abigail has studied with top master instructors and choreographers from all over the world. To name a few; Mia Michaels, Brian Friedman, Wade Robson, Debbie Dee, Chris Judd, Greg Russel, Dave Scott, Bob Rizzo, Laurie-Ann Gibson, Shane Sparks, Tyce Dioriio and many more. It is Abigail's belief that dancers and athletes must understand their bodies and how to take care of them properly. In college Abigail received her Bachelors degree in Exercise Physiology with a double major Nutrition and Health, and her minor in Dance and Somatic Movement Therapy. It is Abigail’s fundamental belief that the fitness and dance world must be brought together to help dancers respect their minds and bodies. Abigail strives to give each dancer the attention they deserve and understands that each dancer is an individual and learns at a different pace. Abigail’s reputation precedes her and her students have been known to fall in love with her infections laugh and loving demeanor and warmth. Abigail has vowed to herself and her dancers to impart her love for dance, movement and self expression on them every day. In return she asks each of her dancers to try their very best, working each day at achieving more confidence, body control, strength, flexibility and understanding of choreography. It is her lifelong dream and mission to inspire all of you!
	Miss Karie Lanza began dancing at the age of three in Central Massachusetts. She quickly developed a passion for all forms of dance. At the age of 10 she was recommended to the studio's assistant teacher program. She motivated other dancers to work hard and pushed herself to always achieve more. She started competing at the age of six both regionally and nationally, earning herself the National Powerpak Award. Miss Karie travelled throughout the country studying with famous choreographers including; Dan Karaty, Wade Robson, Desiree Robbins, Mia Michaels, Brian Freidman and more. Miss Karie graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelors degree in Psychology with a concentration in Child Development from Bridgewater State College. Karie choreographed and performed professionally throughout college. She continues to hone her skills by attending conferences and conventions throughout the year. Miss Karie believes that all children are unique and is dedicated to each dancers individual growth.
	Miss Brandie began dancing at the age of 7. As a resident of Connecticut, she grew up in Dayville where she studied dance at Dottis School of Dance in Danielson, CT and Diane Power Dance Dimensions in Woodstock, CT. She has a well-rounded dance background consisting of tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical / contemporary and hip-hop. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Lasell College with a BA in marketing. She has taught throughout the Boston area and has experience teaching all levels and styles of students. Numerous of Brandie's competition dances have received regional and national recognition, top scores and special awards for choreography, performance, and costume/concept design. Judges say Brandies choreography is unique, creative, outside the box, fun and has refreshing fantastic twists on the fundamentals. Brandie has been actively involved in musical theater, college and high school NCAA dance teams, and choreographed beauty show and talent searches. One highlight of her dance career was beating out hundreds of dancers and making it to the final rounds of the first ever Boston Celtics Dance Team. Brandies passion has always been dance and she loves teaching others who share the same passion. She is grateful for the opportunity to teach others and she loves being able to positively impact the minds of dancers and make a difference in each of their lives.
	Joanie Block has been teaching, choreographing and performing professionally for 25 years. She is excited to join the AFDS faculty and motivate dancers of all ages to enjoy movement again. Her dance education includes extensive study in Manhattan with Muriel Mannings of The New Dance Group Studio, Merce Cunningham at The Cunningham Studio and Nat Horne of The Alvin Ailey Dance Center; and in Boston with Ann Tolbert at Brandeis University, Clair Malardi at Harvard University, Susan Rose at Danceworks, and Dorothy Hershkowitz at The New Art Center and Boston Ballet. She has performed with Lis Fain, Nikki Hu, Benita Bike and for 10 years with Dorothy Hershkowitz. Joanie has taught classes and Master Classes at Brandeis University, The Wellesley Public Schools, Boston Ballet, and many other local studios. Joanie is holding an exciting Modern Dance Class for Adults, of all levels, on Monday & Wednesdays from 9-10:30am. This class is a drop in class but please call ahead to let us know you are planning on coming. This wonderful class combines Graham, Cunningham and Limon techniques with an emphasis on lyricism, musicality, phrasing and breath. There is a thorough warm up, across the floor and long movement combinations in a warm, non-competitive environment. This class is a wonderful place to start if you are returning to dancing.
	Senior Apprentice Emily Paley began dancing at the age of 3, and continues to study with her mentor and teacher, Abigail Fine. She is a student at Newton North High School where she is active in Theatre Ink, the school theater program. Emily has appeared in many community theater productions in the Greater Boston area and toured with The Friends of Broadway for 2 seasons, dancing and singing in many venues, including at Disney World! Last fall, she was selected to perform in the finale of the Macy's Day Parade with her summer theater program, Stagedoor Manor, located in New York. Most recently, she was selected to sing the National Anthem at Fenway Park during the Red Sox Cancer Awareness Day.  She is the producer and director of A Cappella for a Cure, an annual fundraising concert for the American Cancer Society, featuring the best of local high school and college a cappella groups. Emily has competed at many regional dance competitions both in groups and as a soloist, consistently earning high gold and platinum awards. Emily's love of dance and theater is matched by her love of children. She has been a dance teacher's assistant for 3 years and has also been an assistant teacher and junior congregation leader at her synagogue for several years. Emily is excited to pass on her passion for dance and the performing arts to her students at A Fine Dance Studio!
	Senior Apprentice Leora Haber began dancing at 3 years old and quickly was well known for her outgoing personality and stage presence. She began competing very young and took home many high honors and platinum trophies for her tap and jazz routines. Leora studied classical ballet, jazz and tap at Broadway Bound Dance Center, in New Jersey, then moved to Boston in 2006. She has been dancing and performing at a competitive level as a group member in Jazz, Hip Hop & Tap. She performed as a soloist in the contemporary genre for the last 2 years and last spring Leora received a top platinum trophy at the Nexstar dance competition ranking her in the most elite of dancers. Her natural ability and knowledge make her an amazing teacher who motivates dancers to work their hardest each day. She is detailed oriented and makes sure each child understands why and how to execute the steps and movements correctly. Leora loves children and lives to inspire them all to enjoy dance.
	Senior Apprentice Caitlin is an accomplished dancer, singer, actress and cheerleader. She is motivated daily to improve our students technique and self-esteem. Her smile lights up the room and makes all the dancers feel at home and loved. Caitlin's strength and flexibility has earned her top awards around the country for her performance excellence. Dancing and tumbling since she was very young, Caitlin finds being at AFDS her home away from home and feels true release and therapy when she dances. The dancers all look up to Caitlin not only because she is a positive role model but also because she is always pushing herself to be the best she can be, which easily rubs off on our dancers.
	Senior Apprentice Michelle has been dancing locally since she was 5 years old. She has studied jazz, tap, ballet, hip-hop and lyrical, and has competed as a member of several hip-hop and jazz teams. Michelle has also attended master tap classes with locally and nationally-acclaimed tappers. Now a senior at Needham High School, this is Michelle's 4th year as a member of Needham High's State Champion varsity dance team, which performs at home football, soccer and basketball games and competes throughout the year. Michelle brings great enthusiasm to dance classes and enjoys sharing her love of dance and being a role model to the younger dancers at AFDS!