Philosophy

FUSIONWORKS DANCE ACADEMY
East Greenwich & Lincoln, Rhode Island

STAFF

Deb Meunier, Artistic Director (Ballet, Modern, Creative Movement) Deb serves as artistic director and primary choreographer for Fusionworks Dance Company and Fusionworks Dance Academy. She is a member of the Artists in Residence Educational Roster as well as the New England Foundation for the Arts Roster. In both 1992 and 1993 Deb received the Cirino Fellowship for her work in arts education in Rhode Island. She received a MALS and the Rulewater Prize from Wesleyan University for her work on an interdisciplinary choreographic residency with the Rhode Island School for the Deaf. Deb received the 2003 Individual Achievement Award from the Arts and Business Council of RI for her significant contributions to the arts in Rhode Island.

Stephanie Stanford, Assistant Director (Ballet, Modern, Jazz) Stephanie has been with Fusionworks Dance Company since 1992 and now serves as assistant to the director for the dance company and director and primary choreographer for Fusionworks II. Stephanie currently teaches at the Fusionworks Dance Academy and in public and private schools and studios throughout the area. Her formal study began with prima ballerina, Anamarie Sarazin at the Sarazin School of Dance, she then went on to perform as a principal dancer with Cumberland Company and receive her BFA in dance from the Boston Conservatory.

Nikki Carrara (Tap) Nikki has a BA Dance and has studied tap and jazz dance for over 20 years. Through Elaine Colaneri, she has learned the stylings and techniques of Dr. Henry Letang (tap), Luigi, and Matt Mattox (jazz). Nikki is a member of the National Dance Educators Organization, and is trained to evaluate the Dance Proficiency Portfolios of graduating high school seniors in RI. Nikki continues to study many forms of dance, including Modern and Classical Ballet. She performs regularly with Daniel McCusker Dance Projects (Cambridge) and also presents her own choreography throughout the region.

Christina DiBiasio (Jazz, Hip Hop) Christina received her BA in Dance from Rhode Island College where she studied with Dante Delguidice and Melody Ruffein-Ward. While there she had the opportunity to work with some of the great choreographers of our time including: Sean Curran, Clay Taliaferro and Danny Buraczeski. Christina was a founding member of the hip hop dance troupes Dance Planet and Phaze II. Christina is currently the President of Dance for the Rhode Island Alliance of Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance, which is the RI chapter of the National Organization, AAHPERD.

Anisha Gibbs (Hip Hop) has been dancing since she was 4 starting with Tap, Jazz, Ballet. Knowing dance was her passion, she stated with the Change to Dance program throughout elementary and middle school. Anisha joined the Hope High School Dance Magnet program, she helped choreograph and teach her high school dance classes and also learning hip hop, in her second year, she joined Case Closed. As a senior, Anisha was elected student of the month and appeared on NBC news for her academics as well as her dancing abilities. Anisha also has a 10 year background in martial arts, in which she has achieved a 2nd degree black belt in kempo, a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and an intermediate level in Capoeira. Now Anisha attends RI College, where she juggles a Social Work degree and working teaching hip hop to all ages.

Erin Pelletier (Creative Movement, Jazz) has been dancing dancing for 20 years. She started her training at New England Dance Academy with Stephanie Kemp and studied jazz, ballet, lyrical, tap, and pointe. From there, she attended the SUNY University at Buffalo. Erin was a member of the Zodiaque Dance Company for two years and had the opportunity to work with choreographers such as Bill Evans and Tom Ralabate. After receiving her BFA in Dance, she returned to Massachusetts and now is a dance teacher and works with the Kathy Hassinger Dance Company.

Brooke Young (Hip Hop, Jazz) has been dancing for 22 years. She began her dance training under the instruction of Jean DeLuca at Jean DeLuca Performing Arts Studio, where she studied tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, hip-hop, and gymnastics. From there Brooke moved on to the Rhode Island College Dance Company where she studied modern dance under the instruction of Dante DelGuidice, Deb Meunier, and Melody Ruffin Ward. While dancing for the company for 5 years, Brooke became a part of the hip-hop troupe Dance Planet, which later transformed into Phaze II. Today, Brooke continues to share her love of dance with the students that she teaches at Fusionworks Dance Academy. She has been teaching at Fusionworks for the past four years. She is also a Special Education teacher for the Cumberland School Department and is working towards her Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling through Providence College.

Fusionworks PO Box 402, Lincoln, RI 02865-0402

fusionwk@cox.net 401.946.0607