Faculty & Staff

Miss Abigail, certified dance educator and Director Of The Year, continues to strive to “bridging the gap between art and athletics” at her state-of-the-art studio located in Needham, MA. AFDS has been voted and named “Best Of The Best”, “Readers Choice” & “Hometown Best” 14 years running and is now a proud member of the International Dance Assoication and Star Dance Alliance Circle of Excellence. The studio has been awarded the ADCC studio of the year 4 times. She is honored and humbled by the love and support surrounding her studio and philosophy of living a healthy, well rounded and full passionate life. Miss Abigail is YPAD & CPR/First Aid certified and promises to provide and maintain an environment that is happy, healthy and safe for all dancers and teachers. 

She 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 loved performing. Abigail received numerous awards for her achievements in performance, including scholarships at conventions and high school and college. 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 demonstration exams she received her teaching certification in Dance Instruction & Music Theory.  Abigail was selected as part of the 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. 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 infectious 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 Robin (YPAD & CPR/First AID certified) is our studio “Grandma”. The “stamp lady” to the little ones, brings organization and over 40 years of professional experience to maintaining and improving the efficiency of the front desk process and procedures. She strives to have all the answers to your questions, and if she doesn’t, she gets back to you in a timely manner. Miss Robin is the point of contact when joining our dance family and the friendly face you see when you enter the building. Her patience and warm smile will make you and your family feel welcomed immediately.

Miss Robin looks forward to all her hugs and smiles as the kids enter and exit the studio. She feels tremendous pride in watching them grow and thrive within our studio community and family. 

Miss Morgan (YPAD & CPR/First Aid certified) has been training since she was a child in multiple styles such as Acrobatics, Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical and Tap. Throughout her competitive history, she has been recognized for her strong and powerful Acrobatic technique and skills from multiple competitions such as Turn It Up, Showstoppers, Imagine &  Nexstar. Morgan is attending Emerson College, where she will be studying Business Of Creative Enterprises, with a minor in dance. She will be finishing her certification in Dance Kinesiology through the International Fitness Professional Association, and is also currently working on a certification through Acrobatic Arts. Morgan is ozzing with energy and enthusiasm and makes our dancers feel welcomed and loved.

Jenn Fink holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre and Dance from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, where she studied under Julliard’s Joan Karlen and James Moore, assistant to the legendary Jerome Robbins. Post college, Miss Jenn trained at Chicago’s premier studios: Lou Conte Dance Studio (Hubbard Street Dance), Gus Giordano’s, Joel Hall, and Visceral, as well as national master classes taught by top dance industry educators and choreographers. It was through her incredible training that her passion for dance education blossomed. She made dance education and choreography her primary focus in 2003. In 2009, she received her first Pilates certification and continually strives for higher education in the field of dancer anatomy, strength, alignment, injury prevention, and kinesiology having studied with some of the leading educators in the field such as, but not limited to, renown author and instructor Karen Clippinger.

In the competitive circuit, Miss Jenn has served as an adjudicator for Turn It Up Dance Challenge (present), VIP Dance, and Rainbow Connection Dance Competition. Her work and students have been recognized regionally and nationally, receiving Choreography, Technique, Critique’s Choice, People’s Choice, Best of Show, Best In Studio, and High Point awards at countless competitions and conventions across the country. Many of her students enjoy thriving careers, collegiately (PACE, Chapmen College, Marymount Manhattan, Tisch at NYU, Point Park, UCLA, CLI Conservatory) and professionally, signed with some of the country’s top talent agencies (Clear Talent Group NY and LA, MTA Agency) and cruise lines. 

Miss Jenn resides in New Hampshire with her husband and two spunky sons. She is currently on faculty at Studio for the Living Arts Dance Complex in Maine, A Fine Dance Studio in Massachusetts, and is a guest instructor/choreographer throughout the United States. She is best known for her innovative choreography and uniquely inspiring and effective teaching style. Her “Magic Movers” can be seen on stages throughout the country and abroad. 

Miss Cailin graduated from Oklahoma City University with a Bachelors Degree in Performing Arts, where she was a part of the American Spirit Dance Company for four years under the direction of Jo Rowan. After graduation, Cailin moved to New York City where she worked professionally and continued her training with well-known choreographers. From there she was offered a contract as a Chorus Dancer with the Jubilee Show in Las Vegas, NV. Cailin was a part of the Jubilee cast during their 25th Year Anniversary and was one of the few chosen to promote this long-running Las Vegas show on both TV and in magazines such as Caesar’s and Las Vegas Magazine. During her contract in Las Vegas, Cailin also expanded her modeling resume by appearing in numerous runway shows. After moving back to the Boston area, she continued her performance career where she was a part of the Ensemble in shows such as 42nd Street and The Producers. She is loving living back in the Boston area with her husband and three kids and is enjoying teaching and judging on a competitive level throughout the US with Turn It Up Dance Challenge National Dance Competition where she also works as Show Director for their Convention and Competition Events.

Cailin is always eager to continue learning and expanding her knowledge in the Dance and Fitness World and has enjoyed incorporating what she has learned from receiving her Barre Certification into the Technique and Strength and Conditioning taught in her classes. This is Cailin’s 12th year at AFDS and loves the talent and amazing students she continues to work with!

Miss Jenna’s been with A Fine Dance Studio since 2009 and all 3 of her daughters have danced at all different levels within this program. Miss Jenna brings her athletic training and injury prevention expertise to our dancers education. It is her belief and passion that our dancers see themselves as the athletes they are and learn to love movement. She is certified in a dozen different fitness relhms and most recently became PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique) certified. She loves inpsiring our dancers to understand how to control their muscles and train in a safe way. Miss Jenna also assists our combo classes and steps in for teachers who are absent. She makes all classes she’s in fun and motivating. She loves her AFDS family and students and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

Brandie comes to us all the way from CT where she owned Powerhouse Dance for 10 years. Brandie is a celebrated teacher throughout the industry and kids love her structured yet fun approach to dance. She engages with each child and remains focused on their individual needs while moving the class forward in a productive and exciting way. Brandie has received many special awards throughout her years as a choreographer but what she values most is her students in class each week. She cares deeply about the process and does not stress about the product. She believes with hard work and dedication the product will speak for itself. 

Miss Natalia comes to AFDS this season from northern New Jersey, where she began her dance training at the age of 4 in her first hip hop class. From there she went on to train in multiple styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, lyrical and cheer/pom at studios throughout North Jersey. During that time, Natalia also advanced as a competitive dancer and performed throughout the tri-state area.

Natalia proudly attended Elon University where she majored in Arts Administration and double minored in Business Management and Dance. While at Elon she was a member of “Elon’s Finest”, the University’s Hip Hop Team. The team would perform at various events and fundraisers around campus.

Following her graduation in 2019, Natalia followed her passion for teaching dance. Natalia is beyond excited to share her passion, love and gratitude for dance with the AFDS families, like her dance teachers did for her. 

Miss Michelle most recently was the  owner and principal instructor of Michelle’s Dance Carousel as well as choreographer for the MDC Ensemble competition team. She opened the original Dance Carousel in 1992, was owner/director and principal instructor from 1992-2018. Prior to opening the studio she trained at the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts (now “University of the Arts”). She is member of Dance Masters of America and was recently elected to the DMNE Board of Directors; Past President, Past Vice-President and Past Secretary of the Greater Brockton Dance Teachers’ Association; and  served on the Board of Directors of the Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston — where, for twelve years, as co-Chairwoman of the Dance Education Training Course, she played a pivotal role in training hundreds of future dance educators throughout New England. Michelle has earned innumerable awards and accolades regionally and nationally for her highly imaginative and supremely entertaining choreography — including seven Outstanding Choreography citations at the 2008 StarQuest World Finals in Long Beach, California, and several American Dance Awards’ “Diamond Choreography” Awards. She also choreographs for a variety of theatrical and gymnastics organizations, including Gates Intermediate School, Notre Dame Academy, Boston Arts Academy and Scituate High School Drama and South Shore Stageworks where she was co-owner. She had been Scituate High School’s Varsity Cheerleading Coach for football and basketball since 2010 and Notre Dame Academy’s Dance Team Coach. She recently became an adjunct faculty member of Boston Arts Academy ( Boston’s Performing Arts High School).

Michelle has adjudicated for On Stage America, That’s Entertainment, Step Up to Dance and Crowns for a Cure and has served on the guest faculty for Turn It Up Dance competition/convention and coordinating consultant/ on site management as well as adjudicator for Sheer Elite International. She has received the Carol Miller Award for “Upholding the Highest Standards of Choreography and Teaching”, and the Destination Broadway Award, presented by acclaimed Broadway musical director Michael Rafter, for “Outstanding Efforts to Develop Young Talent”. Michelle was the Federation Of Dance Competions ( FDC) selection as VIP Gala Honoree at the Industry Award Conference in Cancun, Mexico. She was the proud recipient of StarQuest’s “ Studio of Excellence Award” for 2019 and “ Classic Apogee “ award for 2019.

Michelle’s greatest accomplishment by far is her five children who continue to surprise and amaze her with their talents constantly.

Juliet is from Norwell, MA and started her training at the Boston Ballet School located in Norwell. After 5 years with Boston Ballet she began training with South Shore Ballet Theatre and upon graduating received a contract with Columbia Classical Ballet in SC where she danced for two seasons. In 2020 she danced with the Paris Opera Ballet as an understudy for Concerto Barocco. Her repertoire includes Sugar Plum and Snow Queen from The Nutcracker, Shades Pas De Trois from La Bayadere, Cinderella in Cinderella, and Four Little Swans from Swan Lake. Miss Juliet is eager and enthusiastic about inspiring our dancers to love and truly understand ballet.