MICHELLE Merrill, OWNER
Growing up, where did you take dance classes?
Maine Attraction
What is your favorite dance memory?
Winning the "Congeniality (Spirit) Award" with my team at Nationals when I was young! Although we won tons of awards through the years, it was only this one and this moment I remember clear as day. I actually wrote my college essay on this moment and my team.
Proudest achievement?
Opening up the studio 💙
Favorite workshop classes?
Monsters, anything Martha Nichols (I could just listen to that woman speak for days!) and my girl Rumer!
Professional Dance Experience?
Dancer and captain of the Lady Red Claws for their inaugural season. Head coach for the Maine Mammoths Dance team, the Tuskhers.
What is your favorite "dance move"?
Either The Carlton or the moonwalk... depends on the moment
What is your favorite color?
Yellow
Would you rather go 30 days without your phone or your entire life without dessert?
30 days without my phone no question!
Do you have any superstitions?
I think the easier question to answer is what superstitions do I NOT have!
If you got stuck in an elevator and were forced to listen to only one song, what would it be?
Mariah Carey, All I Want For Christmas Is You. That song will never. get. old.
Your karaoke song of choice?
I Wanna Dance With Somebody, Whitney Houston
DIMITRA BRYANT
What “Dance Moves” are you currently teaching?
Musical Theater & Contemporary
Beyond high school, did you further your dance training?
I was a part of the University of New Hampshire Dance & Aerial Company and received my Bachelors degree at UNH in Musical Theatre & Dance
What is your favorite dance memory?
Anytime we went to nationals for dance competitions - Vegas, Orlando, Myrtle Beach, NYC.... It was a whole week long of convention classes, competition, and sight seeing! The week always ended with a fancy banquet dinner at the competition and everyone would get dressed up and we had so much fun!
Proudest achievement?
My little family... Adam, Adri & Diam. <3
What is your favorite color?
Purple (or glitter/sparkles!!)
What's the most unusual or useless talent you have?
I can cross one eye at a time!
What is your spirit animal?
A sparkly unicorn!
Would you rather go 30 days without your phone or your entire life without dessert?
30 days no phone. I always need dessert after meals!
If you could talk to one species of animal which would it be?
Ooooo dinosaurs!
Your karaoke song of choice?
Alone- by Heart (which I’ve actually sang at karaoke MANY times because I LOVE karaoke!)
MADISON MITCHELL
Proudest dance achievement?
Being offered a job at the same studio I was taught at!
Favorite workshop/convention?
Revel Recharge at DMME w/ Rumer, Trevor & Brea!
What is your spirit animal?
Peacock
What is your favorite color?
Purple
Would you rather go 30 days without your phone or your entire life without dessert?
30 days without my phone
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Sushi!
Do you have any superstitions?
Right eye twitches it means good news/good luck & left eye means bad luck/disappointing news.
If you got stuck in an elevator and were forced to listen to only one song, what would it be?
Live version of Californication by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
If you could talk to one species of animal which would it be?
Orca whale
Your karaoke song of choice?
Supersonic by J.J Fad
ALEXIS SPURGIN
Growing up, where did you take dance classes?
The Dance Factory in Nebraska
What is your favorite dance memory?
Performing in my last dance concert at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Proudest achievement?
Following my dreams to make dance my career!
Favorite masterclass?
So hard to pick just one! Maybe the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Masterclass
What is your favorite color?
Purple... and Black!
What is your spirit animal?
Cat; independent, curious and I love naps!
Would you rather go 30 days without your phone or your entire life without dessert?
30 days without my phone. Dessert is life!
Do you have any superstitions?
Always take a quick sniff of ylang ylang essential oil before going on stage
If you could talk to one species of animal which would it be?
Whales!
Your karaoke song of choice?
Don't Stop Believing by Journey
ABBY O'BRIEN
Growing up, where did you take dance classes?
Dance Moves Maine!!
What is your favorite dance memory?
There are too many, but being Gaston is definitely up there.
Proudest achievement?
Getting back up after I fell on my face in front of hundreds of people while competing my first ever solo. It was not pretty, but I was proud of myself that I finished it!
Favorite masterclass?
Martha Nichols jazz class at Nuvo!!
Favorite "dance move"?
The death drop of course!
Would you rather go 30 days without your phone or your entire life without dessert?
30 days without my phone, this woman needs dessert in her life!!!!
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Strawberries!
Do you have any superstitions?
ALWAYS knock on wood.
If you could talk to one species of animal which would it be?
Dogs!
Your karaoke song of choice?
Anything from High School Musical, preferably "Fabulous" by Sharpay Evans.
CASEY HOOPER
Growing up, where did you take gymnastics?
Maine Academy of Gymnastics
What is your favorite color?
Green
Would you rather go thirty days without your phone or 30 days without dessert?
No dessert, I don't like sweets.
If you could eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Rack of lamb
If you could take to any species of animal, which would it be?
Dog
Your karaoke song of choice?
Ciara, One Two Step
EMILY MURRAY
What is your favorite dance memory?
In college I spent every Sunday in the studio from 9am-10pm working on showcase pieces with my best friends! I made my best dance memories with my friends in these rehearsals.
Proudest achievement?
Being awarded the Outstanding Student in Dance Award by my faculty in my last college performance.
Beyond high school, did you further your dance training?
I was on the UMaine Dance Team and I also minored in Dance at the University of Maine
Favorite "dance move"?
The sprinkler :)
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
PASTA! You can make it so many different ways!
If you got stuck in an elevator and were forced to listen to only one song, what would it be?
Good Graces- Sabrina Carpenter
Your karaoke song of choice?
...Baby One More Time- Britney Spears
EMILY GAGNE
What is your favorite dance memory?
Some of my favorite memories actually come from teaching! My senior lyrical team (from my previous studio in PA) qualified for Worlds in Disney World! It was so incredible watching them perform and meeting choreographers and dancers from so many other countries.
Proudest Achievement?
My acapella tap choreography was featured in the American College Dance Association conference in 2019.
Favorite class/workshop or convention?
Shane Kesneck
Did you dance in college?
I was a dance minor and student choreographer at the University of Maine. (Fun fact: I have my BS in Biology and my MS in Ecology - when I'm not dancing, I'm a scientist!)
IF you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Tacos :)
Do you have any superstitions?
I always listen to pump-up music before big life moments
If you got stuck in an elevator and were forced t o listen to only one song, what would it be?
Anything by Noah Kahan
Courtney Joy
Growing up, where did you take dance classes?
Dance Moves Maine! 💙
What is your favorite dance memory?
All the laughs I had with my teammates when traveling for competition weekends
What is your proudest achievement?
Proudest dance achievement would be coaching a national title winning college dance team. Proudest non-dance achievement is graduating with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing with high honors.
Were you part of a college dance team?
University of New England Dance Team💙
Favorite "dance move"?
Leaps! Firebirds, tilt leaps, calypsos, grand jetés
What is your spirit animal?
A cat. I’m pretty independent and observe from a distance. I also tend to have lazy/quiet moments with sudden bursts of energy!
If you got stuck in an elevator and were forced to listen to only one song, what would it be?
Really any song by Hozier