Studio of Creative Movement Instructors

Meet the director!

Katie Paul grew up taking dance lessons at the Studio of Creative Movement and is proud to be its new director. Katie graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a major in Communication and a minor in Dance, and where she was captain and choreographer of the school’s award-winning dance team. She earned a post-baccalaureate degree from Bridgewater State College in Dance Education K-12. Katie also teaches dance at Bedford High School, where she developed and implemented the dance curriculum, and produces several shows each year. Katie is also involved in instruction and choreography at Waltham High School’s “Dance Theatre” and A+ Dance Camp.

Amy McCue Chiasson is entering her 28th year with the Studio, her 11th year as a hip-hop instructor. She is excited to start her third year as the “coach” of the Studio’s award winning dance team. Amy was recently awarded “Best Choreography” at Nationals for “I Missed the Bus." Amy is a choreographer for various dance and cheer teams in the area and, in 2005, won a National Title with her Pop Warner cheerleading team. She is also a sixth grade English and Reading teacher at the McDevitt Middle School in Waltham. In her free time, Amy loves hanging out with her family and playing with her two sons, Tyler and Connor.

Deborah Peros-Finnell received her BA from Northeastern University majoring in Theatre Arts/Performance, minoring in Dance and Education. She is certified and licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Education and has been teaching, directing and choreographing both at the Studio and in the Waltham Public Schools for the past 26 years! Deb has pioneered a Dance/Movement curriculum at WHS that is available to all students during their Academic day. Strongly influenced by her sister Joanne’s love of Theatre and Dance, she followed in Joan’s footsteps performing with Reagle Players, also assuming Artistic Director for Reagle’s Summer Youth Theatre. Her past teaching experience also includes the towns of Reading, Westford, Lincoln Sudbury and Bedford. Deb is most noted for her creation of “WHS Dance Theatre” now entering its 24th season. This production helped nurture most of our staff’s passion for choreography and dance excellence.

Cathy Jones has been teaching at the Studio for 12 years. In addition to teaching tap, jazz, lyrical and ballet to children of all ages, Cathy has worked as a guest choreographer for the Waltham High School Dance Theatre program since 1997. She has also choreographed for local community theatre groups on such shows as Oklahoma!, The King and I, big, the musical and Bye Bye Birdie.

Nicole LaVallee is a graduate of Dean College in Franklin, MA, with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance where she was trained in the disciplines of ballet, modern, jazz and tap. Her studies also included a strong curriculum in creative movement for children, dance history, dance composition, kinesiology and pedagogy. Nicole is a member of the Boston Dance Alliance and she has also been involved in the pageant industry as a judge of several talent competitions. With ten years teaching experience, she is currently teaching hip-hop, jazz, tap and lyrical and performing in the Dance Company at the Studio of Creative Movement where her dance roots started. Nicole also works full-time for her family owned business, LaVallee’s Bakery Distributors.

Stacey Gallagher Tully is a graduate of Boston College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. She combines her experience in business with her expertise in fitness and the performing arts. Formerly she served as an officer with Gulf Resources, an international investment company based in London. Stacey has carried on a family tradition and devoted 25 years to teaching all forms of dance and fitness in the Greater Boston area. She has demonstrated her strong commitment to health and fitness through her studio work with students of all ages – children and seniors alike. Stacey has been an instructor at private and public schools, Meadowbrook, Belmont Day School, Bright Horizons and dance studios. She is an avid runner, having completed the Boston Marathon in 2004 and 2005. Together with her husband Shawn, they are most proud of their children Jenny and Joey.

Jesse Sinerate holds a degree in Theatre Education From Emerson College and is currently teaching drama at the McDevitt and Kennedy middle schools in Waltham. No stranger to Creative Movement, she has been dancing here since she was two years old. For the past six years she has choreographed the Kennedy Middle School spring musical, and currently runs the McDevitt Middle School drama program, directing and choreographing both of their annual shows. For two years, she was the director of performing arts at the Waltham Boys and Girls Club, where she taught jazz, tap and hip hop during the year and directed and choreographed their summer youth theatre shows. She is currently directing and choreographing the Waltham Summer School’s new youth theatre program.

Kevin Durand is entering his third year teaching boys hip hop at Creative Movement. He was also a dancer for the Celtics Phunk Phenomenon dance team, as well as a choreographer and member of the New Era hip hop group.

Shannon Orifice has an Associates Degree in Dance from Dean College and a Bachelors Degree in Dance Arts from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She has trained in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and hip hop since she was 3 years old. Shannon has also taken many master classes with notable dancers and choreographers, including tap extraordinaire Savion Glover. After growing up dancing at the Studio, Shannon is excited to return and share her passion of dance with our many students. Shannon also teaches for A+ Dance Camp and dances with the Creative Movement Dance Company.