ARTISTIC DIRECTOR / CO-OWNER

Deirdre began her training under the direction of Marylou Cunningham where she studied Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, and Hip Hop. She earned her BA in Theatre and Dance with a focus in Performance and Choreography, from Keene State College. In 2012, Deirdre joined IMPACT Dance company as a performer, choreographer and intern. Since joining the company, Deirdre has performed all over New England, presenting pieces from the IMPACT repertoire and her own choreography.

Deirdre teaches many genres of dance including Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, and Ballet. Deirdre completed Module One of the Acrobatic Arts Certification Program and is thrilled to be implementing Acro into her teaching schedule.

Deirdre's work with local competition teams has received numerous awards for her choreography and creativity, including Industry Dance Awards nominations. Under her direction, dancers have been honored with many awards at Regional and National Competitions, and have been accepted to prestigious College Dance Programs.

As Artistic Director at SSDE, Deirdre will continue to showcase creative concepts and innovative choreography through all of our Annual performances and weekly classes.

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS / CO-OWNER

Elaina has been immersed in the world of dance since the age of three. She grew up training at Children’s Ballet Workshop and Dance Concepts, where she developed a strong foundation in ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, tap, and hip-hop. She also expanded her training by taking classes at the Boston Ballet School. Throughout her early years, Elaina performed various roles in Children’s Ballet Workshop’s production of The Nutcracker, under the direction of Nan Keating.

During high school, she was a dedicated member and captain of the Braintree High School Dance Team, competing at a high level while continuing her dance training. Her passion for dance remained strong through college and adulthood, as she continued taking and teaching classes, performing, and teaching Zumba as a licensed instructor.

Elaina earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Communications from Regis College. She has since built a successful career in marketing and communications, honing her skills in business operations, strategic planning, social media, and community engagement. In 2022, she joined the Hanover High School Dance Team as an assistant coach, further fueling her love for mentoring young dancers. 

As the Director of Operations at South Shore Dance Ensemble, Elaina is thrilled to merge her extensive dance background with her business expertise, helping to cultivate a dynamic and inspiring environment for dancers of all levels.

BALLET INSTRUCTOR

Michele received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance from the University of New Hampshire. While at UNH, Michele performed with the UNH Dance Company and the Seacoast Ballet, under the direction of Larry Robertson.

As a young dancer, Michele attended Dance Workshop of Hanover, training under the direction of Marylou Cunningham. She was a member of DWH’s Children’s Dance Ensemble company, studying ballet, tap and jazz methods. She later continued training with the Boston Ballet School and Ballet Theatre of Boston.

Michele's professional performing career includes roles in such ballets as The Nutcracker and Alice in Wonderland, as well as many originally choreographed works with José Mateo's Ballet Theatre.

Also EEC and PBT certified, Michele has been teaching dance to students of all ages for over 30 years.

HIP HOP INSTRUCTOR

Sophia holds a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Sciences with a Focus on Dance, a Bachelor of Arts in Dance, and a minor in Physics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She grew up training and performing with the Dance Workshop of Hanover and later continued in the Five College area. There, she trained in Hip Hop, Contemporary, Ballet, Jazz, and Modern. She served as Co-Captain of UMass Altitude’s 5:Dirty performance team where she led practices and set choreographic works on her peers. She has also worked with her peers to create two thesis-length dance works that focus on analyzing individual experiences and current events.

From Fall 2021 through Summer 2023, Sophia worked as a research assistant in Dr. Aston K. McCullough’s Laboratory for the Scientific Study of Dance, LAB:SYNC. She has continued to deepen her understanding of dance and science through disciplines such as Public Health, Feminist Science Studies, Neuroscience, and Medical Anthropology.

Now, she is a dance educator at the South Shore Dance Ensemble and the South Shore Conservatory, working with adults and young learners from ages 5-18. Sophia is a member of Boston-based dance crews Modu and Vivify. Going forward, she aims to broaden her multidisciplinary view of dance through academic study, teaching, and embodied practice.