Spirit in Motion family truly believes in our dancers and through compassionate instruction we achieve their goals! Our teachers love and nurture every dancer empowering them through the love of dance!
It all begins with passion not perfection.
Kate Amdur
Kate has over 25 years of dance training, which she received throughout studios in North Central Massachusetts. She has extensive training in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Contemporary and Duncan Dance. Kate was accepted to Fitchburg State, where she studied Theatre and in Special Education. During this time Kate started creating an adaptive dance classes as an independent study to support dancers with disabilities. Kate had the opportunity to study abroad in Australia, during this time she began to explore the concept of dance as a means of non-verbal communication and kinesthetic expression. Soon after, Kate was introduced to Dance Movement Therapy.
She continued to pursue this avenue and was accepted into Lesley University’s Dance Movement Therapy graduate program. Kate used this time to explore movement as an expressive and healing tool and further develop her curriculum that would combine her two passions, Special Education and dance. After developing her curriculum, Kate was given the opportunity to implement her dance curriculum at Belmont S.P.O.R.T. Successfully, she continued with Belmont S.P.O.R.T. for 5 years, where she spent time further developing and fine tuning her curriculum to support the individual needs of each student.
Kate became a Certified Movement Analyst through the Laban Movement Analysis Program at LIMS. Kate believes that everyone should be provided the tools to dance and express themselves. Her goal is to break the stigma that only certain individuals are capable of this talent and allow all individuals to be heard and seen.
Recently Kate received her certification in Acrobatic Arts as well as a certification from the University of Nevada Las Vegas’s Dance Teacher University.
Amanda Gulavita
Amanda began dancing at the age of 5. She started with Tap and Jazz classes, but quickly took up Ballet and Lyrical. Amanda became the youngest member invited to join an elite Dance Company at the age of 8. By the time she graduated high school, she had expanded her dance training also training in Hip Hop, Modern, Pointe, Street Tap, and Contemporary.
Amanda studied as a Dance major at Hofstra University, and graduated at UMass Amherst with a degree in Theater and Early Education. She continued with her dance training while at UMass through classes and performances.
Amanda now lives in Central MA, with her husband and has continued her dance education through classes and performances. Amanda loves to dance because it helps people find ways to express themselves, show themselves some love, and build a community that understands and supports one another!
Amanda loves teaching young children because she loves to witness them making new discoveries and achieving new things! The world is new to them, and watching children fall in love with dance and music brings her so much joy. As they grow older, growing into tweens, teens, and young adults, she loves to watch how their personalities, sense of humor and confidence grow as they uncover their sense of self. Amanda feels a lot of pride when she can watch a young dancer blossom into their potential!
Alex Heim
Alex has been dancing for twenty-nine years. She grew up studying ballet, character/street tap, contemporary, jazz and hip hop. During these times, she was on the Milford Performance Team being an award-winning team member. Alex then taught contemporary, hip hop, and co-directed the Competition Team at her childhood studio for many years afterward.
At Roger Williams University, Alex studied Elementary Education with a Minor in Modern Dance. Alex was on the Dance Team whilst at RWU. She continued her studies at Bay Path University and graduated in 2018 with her bachelor’s degree. Alex became IBBFA (International Ballet Barre Fitness Association) certified and taught Barre Fitness at local studios and subbed at fitness centers.
Outside of dance, Alex works as a registered behavioral technician, residential counselor and a teacher’s assistant in Special Education and Social Emotional classrooms/residential facilities. She is also a Special Olympics Coach and Volunteer in her hometown. To merge her two passions, she studied at the Boston Ballet, MA to achieve her certification for Adaptive Dance: specifying in teaching Autism and Down Syndrome.
Alex loves to dance because it’s such a therapeutic experience, has brought so much joy and a home away from home for her. She believes that it has a positive impact on interpersonal skills such as trust, confidence and communication. She is so excited to continue working with the adults and now working with the teenagers, seeing their progress and passion of the art through different perspectives and personalities.
Andrew Howarth
Andrew began his desire for dance at age 6 IrishStep Dance, where he studied for 5 years. He then chose to pursue training in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, and Musical Theater and competed Regionally and Nationally and achieved the National Title of “Teen Mr. Dancers Inc 2010” at the Dancers Inc NationalCompetition in Hershey, PA. Andrew then received training in Vaganova Russian Ballet from Russian Ballet Master Zhanat Baidaralin and also competed Regionally and Nationally. He was casted the role of the Nutcracker and Prince in the Production of “The Nutcracker”. He was a dancer and choreographer for the Non Profit Dance Organization “Stylized Movement”, principal dancer, choreographer and promotional model for the Dance Company “Shadows - Dance Art Experience” where he was also honored to have been Assistant Producer for the dance company’s first showcase. He performed with the Project Movement Dance Company in the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra“Holiday Pops” Concert.
Andrew is a certified active member of Dance Masters of America, Inc - New
England Regional Chapter 5. He is Alixa Flexibility Module One and Module Two certified
where the focus is working with all levels of abilities and ages, building a solid flexibility
foundation with the concentration on injury prevention and safety. Andrew became certified in
the Nan Giordano Certification Program®️ to teach the Basic Level of the Giordano Jazz
Technique.
Andrew has been teaching and choreographing at various dance studios and colleges throughout New England. Andrew and his students have achieved numerous choreography, overall, and high-score awards at Regional and National competition levels. Andrew loves to exhibit his artistry through movement and choreography. He continues to further his education by attending teacher rejuvenation’s, retreats and workshops including Dance Masters of America and Radix conventions to bring the latest dance education and training to his students.
Andrew’s choreography has been showcased in benefit performances
and dance festivals throughout New England such as “Dancers at Heart for Kids at Heart” to
support Boston Children’s Hospital and “Move for the Movement” to support the American
Cancer Society. Andrew’s dance instruction helps his students prepare them for a career in the performing arts. He is continually working hard to develop technically trained dancers and artists. Andrew enjoys passing on his love for dance and is a positive influence in the dance education of his students.
Kelly Maccioli
Kelly grew up dancing right here in Marlborough where she spent 14 years studying Jazz, Tap, and Lyrical. She spent her college career as an art student while continuing Ballet classes, dancing, and choreographing for the Colby-Sawyer College Dance Club. During her time at Colby-Sawyer she served first as an officer of the Dance Club and then President, producing 2 shows a year, and managing over 100 dancers. She graduated from CSC in 2003 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design.
Since 2003 Kelly has taught at various Dance Studios throughout Massachusetts, including
most recently right here in Marlboro, where she lead the Elementary Dance Program at a studio, teaching, choreographing and designing the curriculum and summer programs for all Tap, Jazz, and Ballet classes for dancers ages 12 and under.
Kelly is certified to teach by Dance Masters of America, and is an active member of Dance
Masters of New England Chapter 5. Kelly is dedicated to continuing to learn and grow as a
teacher and dancer, taking advantage of her membership to DMNE she attends workshops
multiple times a year. This Spring (2023) she was granted a Professional Development
Scholarship through Unity Dance and is looking forward sharing all she has learned! She is also a member of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO).
Kelly has 3 children who will be dancing here at SIMDA alongside her and spends most of her spare time watching them shine both on stage and on all the athletic fields around the city. For fun she runs marathons, and likes to read and draw.
Aura Ortiz
Aura's passion for dance began at the age of 8 where she trained with Boston Ballet. Aura later expanded her knowledge in the performing arts in 2005 attending the Alvin Ailey Camp. Early in 2007, Aura pursued dancing with Hip Hop alongside local group “Golden Kidz Inc”, within the same year her passion expanded with her acceptance to the Boston Arts Academy. She graduated as a dance major from the Boston Arts Academy in 2011 while working with Jo'Me Dance Company, Chance Dance Company and 4 Star Dance Studio Sr and Jr Performing companies. Aura continued her education receiving a degree in dance and arts from University of Massachusetts Boston in 2016.
She is an emotionally driven dancer/ teacher/ choreographer who has always felt compelled to teach students to be themselves to enact success. Aura created S.E.E.D. (Self Empowerment Encountered through Dance) as a student lead club at University of Massachusetts Boston with a focus on using dance as physical fitness focusing on increasing self-esteem, confidence and health; Aura then brought S.E.E.D. to the Boston Community to increase accessibility of experienced young professionals while promoting health and fun. Aura Is excited to get back to teaching dance after becoming a mother, and hopes to grow alongside her students while having fun moving.
J'Quan Oliver
J'Quan started dancing before he could remember. Rhythms, beats, and the art of movement was a big interest growing up. Originally learned off the streets of Boston and trained as a martial artist since he was six. Since then, he's had extensive training in hip hop, contemporary, tap, tricking & parkour. As J'Quan progressed, he looked into different genres of art and dance from different cultures to further expand his knowledge and understanding: to then develop his own unique style.
J'Quan attended Becker College in Worcester, MA for Game Design with a minor in Psychology. During this time, he helped create the Becker College Dance Program as Captain for the team and President for their club. He also joined Dance Company Worcester as a guest choreographer and dancer for 4 years. Currently he is apart of one of the most influential crews for hip hop in Boston known as Phunk Phenomenon.
Living thee "Artist Life" he lives and breathes art. While not busy in school, J'Quan trains in multiple forms of art such as photography, digital paint and traditional drawing. In dance, he combines Musicality and story telling combined with fast, intricate movements of a martial artist and acrobatics in his work. All and all, J'Quan believes in training yourself, your mind everyday. "It's not always about the movement of your body, but the movement of your mind. Don't think outside of the box: Because there is no box. Your mind is unlimited so you must keep it creative and free."
Taegan Ronan
Taegan started dancing at age six but took her training to the next level around age 11. Taegan currently advances her training by attending classes at Spirit in Motion Dance Academy, conventions, master classes, and conferences throughout the year. Taegan regularly trains in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Contemporary and Hip Hop. She has been competing since age 8 where she started with Jodi Palmieri Dance Company. This past season Taegan won multiple regional titles for her solo going on to win a national title. Taegan has received a number of scholarships, performance invitations and judges awards in recognition of her performances.
This summer Taegan continued her training and performed at Worcester Academy Performing Arts Center with a dance collaborative. She attended the Web Teachers Conference in Las Vegas where she successfully completed classes in both dance, anatomy, injury prevention, and graduated with her certification as a dance instructor through the University of Nevada Las Vegas’s Dance Teacher University . Taegan has been a teacher's assistant at Spirit in Motion since 2020 in both classes and competition team. In her free time Taegan enjoys assisting Jodi Palmieri Photography with photo shoots, drawing, basketball, and theatre.
Taegan came to realize how much of a tool dance can be to those who struggle and those who want to express themselves, that’s why she loves it. She is excited to teach our younger dancers and inspire them to find their passion for dance while gaining confidence in themselves.