Miss Melissa
Owner/Director
Melissa received her basic dance education from a very young age in the Worcester area. After graduating from Holy Name High School, Melissa majored in Dance at Dean College where she earned an Associate's degree in the Arts. Throughout her time at Dean, she worked as a dance instructor for several area studios. In 1994, Melissa started Greendale Dance Academy in the basement of Greendale People's Church with just 45 students. Two years later the studio moved to it's current location. During the early years of the studio, Melissa continued her education at Worcester State College, earning Bachelor degrees in both Early Childhood Education and Psychology, as well as her Massachusetts teaching license. She is also the proud mother of 2 children and is married to "Mr. Pete".
Miss Jamie G.
Assistant Director/Teacher
Jamie Graves was one of the first students when Greendale Dance Academy opened. While dancing she was among the first to compete for the studio receiving many gold, silver and judges awards. After graduating high school, Jamie successfully auditioned for a role in the national and international traveling show Sesame Street Live. She played a Yup Yup, Zoe, Blanche and was Prairie Dawn (short understudy). As an understudy she performed "short" character roles, like Elmo! Jamie is a active member of the Screen Actors Guild and has also worked as an extra in hit movies like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, College Road Trip and Pink Panther Deux. Jamie teaches both recreational and competitive classes. She prides herself in helping every dancer be successful making each class enjoyable. Jamie has worked her way up from a shy dancer 17 years ago to working along side Miss Melissa as Assistant Director.
Mr. Pete
Owner and Business Manager
Peter is Melissa's husband and a man who wears many hats. He brings many years of theatrical and professional live sound experience to the studio. He also helps clean dances for competition and recital by helping dancers understand the relationship of their movement to the beat, rhythm, genre, lyrics, mood and style of the music. Peter holds a bachelors degree in Music Education from Plymouth State University and a Masters Degree from the University of Southern Oregon. He has been teaching music in the public schools since 1997 and his ensembles have performed in Disney World.
Miss Amy
Teacher
Miss Amy has been teaching at GDA since 2000. She has been involved in dance in some capacity since she was very young. Her dance training was at the Charlotte Klein Dance Centers here in Worcester. Amy participated and scored highly in many regional and national dance competitions, most notably the Dance Masters of America National Dance Competition.
Miss Chandler
Teacher
Miss Chandler danced for 12 years and competed for 10 of those years. she has taken many different classes furthered her love for dance by attending conventions. She learned a lot of great life lessons through dance that she carries with me everyday. She is finishing her degree from Southern New Hampshire University in Sports Management. She is very happy to continue to be an active part of GDA and share with her students all the great things her teachers shared with her.
Miss Mazie
Teacher
Miss. Mazie started dancing at GDA at the age of 2. GDA is where she found her love for dance. She decided to further her dance education at Dean College where she graduated with her BA in Arts in 2017. Mazie is a fourth year member and first year captain of the Boston Celtics Dancers. She has represented the Celtics Dancers in Las Vegas at a dance convention called Pro Action Dance for three summers. Mazie loves to share her passion with other dancers and is so excited to be back teaching at GDA.
Miss Meghan
Teacher
Miss Meghan is a 2020 graduate of Worcester State University majoring in Accounting with the intent of becoming a CPA. She has been dancing since the age of three and studied dance at Diane Kelley Dance Studio, studying Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Pointe and Musical Theater. She has competed locally and nationally and has received many awards including Miss Petite Dance of New England in 2006 and Junior Miss Providence RI in 2009. Her passion for dance led her to be a four-year member and President of the Worcester State University Dance Team from 2014-2018, where she focused mainly on Jazz, Hip Hop and Pom dance styles. Meghan is very excited to be teaching at GDA and is amazed by the talent and passion she has seen from the dancers. She is looking forward to seeing the dancers grow and perform on stage!
Miss Bridgette
Teacher
Bridgette started her dance career at Sally McDermott Dance Centers, where she spent fifteen years studying various styles such as tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, contemporary and acro dance. She was the Captain of her Dance Company, competing in groups and as a soloist: regionally and nationally. Bridgette has performed in the opening act of the Radio City Rockettes, at Disney’s Epcot Center, in the Wheaton College Dance Company, and at other local/national venues. Bridgette has also attended various conventions and workshops. Over the past several years, Bridgette has taught dance and gymnastics, both at the competitive and recreational level. Bridgette has a degree in Business from Quinsigamond Community College and is currently working to get her teacher’s license in Special Education from Fitchburg State University. In her free time, Bridgette continues to train attending various dance classes throughout New England. Recently, Bridgette has been studying under professional dancers from L.A., learning more about the L.A. commercial based dance styles. Bridgette is very excited to be joining the GDA staff and bringing her love and passion for dance to her students!
Miss Danielle
Teacher
I am so excited to be back in MA teaching and taking on the new role of Dance Competition Coordinator! I grew up dancing at GDA for 15 years!! I then went to Endicott College where I majored in Hospitality and minored in Dance and was captain of their nationally ranked dance team. After school I got my dream job of dancing for Walt Disney World. While in Florida I also performed in the brand new Sesame Street Parade at Sea World. I also continued my teaching career at local studios. I can wait to see all of you grow so much as dancers, performers and artists.
Miss Helen
Office
Miss Helen has been a part of GDA since the very early years. She started working in the office in 2012 and we are happy to have her many years of experience to our office.
Miss Maddie
Teacher
Miss Maddie started dancing at age 3 and started competing at age 11. She has been teaching since graduating high school and has learned so much as a dancer and a teacher. She performed in the Nutcracker Ballet at the Hanover Theater for several years. Ballet and Pointe are her favorite! She also works full time as a medical assistant and loves helping people.
Miss Caitlyn
Teacher
Miss Caitlyn danced competitively at GDA for 11 years. She is a well-rounded dancer that excels in any style, but has a special talent and love for Tap. When she isn't teaching dance, she is busy as a college student working towards a nursing degree.
Miss Katie
Teacher
Miss Katie began dancing at Joan Sheary Dance Centre when she was four years old. Studying tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, and musical theater, Katie competed locally and nationally as a young dancer. She also participated in The Nutcracker as a student at Paula Meola Dance and Performing Arts. Katie graduated from Fairfield University receiving a degree in Chemistry. While at Fairfield, she was a member and choreographer for the Dance Ensemble, of which she served as vice-president her senior year. Also an active member of the Fairfield Glee Club and select Chamber Singers, she has performed in Vienna, Prague, Spain, and at Carnegie Hall in NYC. Currently, Katie is a Speech-Language Pathologist working in the Northborough Public Schools. Katie’s choreography has received top honors and her dancers and routines have been awarded with many choreographer, high score, and judge’s awards. She thrilled to be a part of GDA!
Miss Regan
Teacher
Miss Regan is currently studying at Anna Maria College to become a nurse with the intent to become a CRNA. Prior to attending college, she was a competitive dancer in a multitude of styles for over 15 years at Greendale Dance Academy. She began assisting in dance classes at a young age. Her favorite style of dance to both teach and participate in is ballet. She love to share her passion for dance with others and help grow dancers to their full potential.