About DGRI

Nicole Bibby

Director | Choreographer | Instructor

Nicole is a well known dancer and choreographer residing in Warwick, Rhode Island. Nicole has extensive knowledge in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, and lyrical dance. Her training includes Kelly Cannone, Gerianne Genga, Dante Sciarra, Myles Marsden, and Michael Taylor. Throughout her career, she has performed across the country in various shows and competitions. Some dance titles won include Starquest, American Dance Awards, Dance Alliance, and Tremaine dancer of the year. Over the years she has performed for the Helping Hands Foundation, Dancers Responding to Aids, Miss Rhode Island Pageant, and United We Dance in association with the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre. She was a choreographer/teacher for All Star Dance Academy (Portsmouth, RI), Extensions School of Dance (Bristol, RI), Jean Deluca Dance Studio (Johnston, RI), Paula Coffee Dance Center (MA), Falmouth Dance Academy (Falmouth, MA), and Greta Lemming Dance Studio (Ottowa, CA) More recently, she has graduated from Salve Regina University receiving her bachelors degree in marketing in May 2007. While at Salve she earned the position as senior captain of the dance team.

Jamie Giusti

Instructor | Office Manager

Jamie has been dancing for over 25 years and has been teaching for 10 years. She grew up studying various styles of dance including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical and Acro. She spent many years competing at various regional and national competitions. After graduating Cranston High School West she continued dancing for the UFL team, Hartford Colonials. In 2016 Jamie graduated from Johnson & Wales University receiving her Bachelors degree in Business Management. She enjoys sharing her passion and love for dance while creating a positive and fun environment for her students. Outside of dance, Jamie is the proud mom to Jaxon (3) and Vaeda (1).

Karen Pare

Acrobatics

Karen has been rooted in ballet and gymnastics since childhood. She trained under esteemed gymnastics coaches Ron Meyers, Tim Lyons, and Jay Villegas, earning the title of All-Around Class 2 State Champion Gymnast in 1981. Her dance and coaching education includes training with renowned instructors such as Gerrianne Genga, Kelly Cannone, Joe Tremaine, Rita Beaulieu, Marylou Genga (tap), and Tony Cappola. Karen began her teaching journey at just 15 years old, working at a summer camp where she discovered her passion for instructing young dancers. She is committed to teaching through positive reinforcement and focuses on building a strong technical foundation that allows her students to grow with confidence and resilience.

Grace Bressner

Choreographer | Instructor

Grace Bressner is a Rhode Island raised dance instructor with a specialty in Strength/Conditioning, Acrobatics, and Jazz. A former competitive dancer, Grace has trained extensively in classical styles and has explored a wide variety of dance genres throughout her career. During the pandemic, she took her passion online, building a TikTok following of over 1.1 million by creating original choreography and reimagining trending dances for a global audience. Today, Grace brings that same creativity and energy to the classroom, focusing on jump techniques and acrobatic training for her students at DGRI.

Lauren Difede

Ballet

Lauren was born in St. Croix of the U.S. Virgin Islands, but has primarily grown up in Houston, TX. She began dancing at 8 years old at North Harris Performing Arts in Spring, TX and is grateful for her versatile training in ballet, contemporary, jazz, and tap. Lauren graduated from the dance department at the High School for Performing and Visual Arts in Houston and then received her Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Psychology, with a minor in Philosophy, from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. Lauren has danced for Revolve Dance Company (Houston, TX), Dominic Walsh Dance Theater (Houston, TX), Infinite Movement Ever Evolving (Houston, TX), Spindle City Ballet (Fall River, MA), Untitled Collective (NYC), and is currently a dancer with the Island Moving Company in Newport, RI. Lauren has also had the privilege to work and train with notable choreographers from all over the world including Paul Lightfoot, Sol Leon, Marco Goecke, Natalia Horenca, Maurice Causey, Priscilla Nathan Murphy, and Fred Strobel. Lauren has been teaching for 14yrs and currently provides instruction in Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, and Tap in ages 3-adult.

Kelly Cannone

Jazz | Tap

Kelly Cannone has been an arts educator for more than 25 years. Throughout the last two decades she served on The Arts Advocate of RI, Dance Teachers Club of Connecticut, Dance Masters of America, The Arts Advocate of Rhode Island, and was a Board Member of the Warwick Consortium of the Arts & Humanities. In 1981 she founded Dance Artistry, Inc. in Warwick, RI and became owner of the studio Dancer Magazine called “One of the four most successful studios in America.” She started her own dance company the Dance Artistry Dancers, a non-profit organization, for ages seven to twenty, who perform all across the United States. They have also performed internationally in a cultural exchange program visiting Copenhagen, Denmark, and Minsk and Moscow, Russia. In order to expand her teaching opportunities to the martial arts, she earned her black belt in American Kenpo Karate. She used her martial arts experience to organize self-defense workshops for high school students. Outside the realm of teaching, Kelly has numerous career highlights, these include choreographing numerous corporate events, commercials, and music videos including the Miss R.I pageant, Koch Eye Associates Promotional Video, Market America’s Regional Convention and many more. Kelly has appeared in several televisions commercials and theater productions. She has been on staff with Dance Olympus and Candance conventions. Kelly was a special awards judge and guest faculty member at various performing arts competitions. She presents special awards recognizing unique talents in young performers and motivating them to continue achieving their goals. She was the jazz adjudicator for prestigious World Tap and Jazz Dance Championships to select a team to represent the US. Additionally, she established early education arts curriculums in more than fifteen preschools in Rhode Island. Kelly instructed elementary students at local public schools and also established programs for private institutions. She gained special needs experience when she coordinated “Dancing Feat” in conjunction with the Warwick Chamber of Commerce at the Trudeau Center, to teach disabled individuals physical mobility and endurance. She has volunteered her time and expertise to many events in the Warwick Public School system such as “Peace Day,” and “National Dance Week.” She has supported local private schools at “Women in Sports Day,” and “Cultural Awareness Day.” To give back to her community she founded “Shades of Grey”, an educational program, where her students performed a dance piece for the Warwick School department warning students about the danger of drug and alcohol abuse. Other charitable contributions include providing choreography and fundraising for Dancers Responding to AIDS, and participating in the Avon Breast Cancer Walk. Kelly and her students fundraised for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, RI Station Fire Fund, March of Dimes, Unicef, RI Paralyzed Veterans Association, Smithfield Lyons Club, and D.A.R.E. Now on the board of directors for “ The Weber Foundation of Helping Hands” Kelly presents a charity dance show “Better than Broadway” each year where New England studios share there talent to raise money for families and children in dire need. Kelly’s latest venture is writing motivational articles for children. Her work has been published in Dancer Magazine,The Gold Rush and Cheerleading Dance and Drill Magazine. Kelly has been traveling around the country teaching dancers and dance teachers how to set goals in her Aspiring Dreamz Workshop. This past year Kelly has published a Book on Amazon titled “Choreograph your Dreamz, Goal Setting For Dancers” Coming soon “Choreograph Your Dreamz” the Pocketbook series.

Flavia Gusmao

Contemporary

Flavia moved to Rhode Island with her family in 2021. She grew up in Florida training in a studio which focused on classical ballet, Jazz and contemporary in preparation for professional programs. She started competing at age 9 and spent her summers attending the Orlando Ballet Summer Intensive from ages 10-17. Flavia joined the Orlando Ballet as a trainee for 1 year but ultimately had to exit the program due to injury. Flavia received her PhD in Speech Language Pathology from NOVA Southeastern University and a Bachelors in Dance from the University of Central Florida. During her studies at UCF she taught classes at surrounding studios in the Orlando and South Florida area. S he continues to guest choreograph for studios and past students in Florida and student in RI. Flavia enjoys working with the DG dancers and sharing her love of the arts, teamwork, and building confidence.

Julissa Guzman

Hip Hop

Julissa is a dancer from Providence, Rhode Island, with a strong passion for Hip Hop and Contemporary movement. She has trained extensively in street and contemporary styles, developing a dynamic and expressive approach to performance. Julissa currently trains primarily under liv3lihood leadership, where she continues to grow as both an artist and performer. She is excited to bring her energy, creativity, and dedication to the classroom.

Hannah Teixeira

Acrobatics | Jazz

Hannah grew up dancing at Defying Gravity. She competed for over nine years where she won many high scores and special awards. Hannah attends the Community College of Rhode Island where she studies business marketing.

Travis Atwood

Contemporary | Jazz

Travis is originally from Jamestown, Rhode Island, is an accomplished dancer, teacher, and choreographer who began dancing at a young age. Throughout his career, Travis has earned numerous prestigious honors, including NYCDA National Male Dancer and The Dance Awards Best Male National Dancer. At just eleven years old, Travis signed with Clear Talent Group, launching his professional career and providing opportunities to perform on television and internationally. He later continued his training in New York City at Pace University, where he studied Commercial Dance. Travis also appeared on the second season of Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition alongside his twin brother, Tyler, ultimately placing 6th overall in the competition. Today, Travis shares his passion and expertise with the next generation of dancers, teaching dance and acro throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts. His extensive professional experience, strong technical foundation, and passion for mentorship make him an inspiring teacher and choreographer.

Karen Swiatocha

Contemporary | Jazz

Karen is an accomplished performer, educator, and choreographer, she brings decades of high-level concert and commercial dance experience to her work. She graduated magna cum laude from Connecticut College with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance, where her artistry earned her a selection as a soloist representing the college at the Bates Intercollegiate Dance Showcase. Her early training was further enriched by a full scholarship to the prestigious José Limón Summer Dance Intensive and opportunities to study under many of the industry's most influential teachers and choreographers. Her performance career spans prominent roles in both the New York City and New England dance communities. From 2005 to 2013, she served as a core member, soloist, and guest choreographer with Rhode Island’s Fusionworks Dance Company. In NYC, she performed as a soloist and Assistant Director for the Rebudal Dance Group, and danced with Tracey Stanfield’s Synthesis Dance Project, frequently step-in teaching for Stanfield at Broadway Dance Center (BDC). Equally dedicated to pedagogy and leadership, she was awarded the Richard Ellner Scholarship for free tuition at BDC, where she went on to serve on the Children’s Program Faculty. Her creative and mentorship roles also include serving as the resident choreographer for NYC’s Theatre Kidz summer program and evaluating top talent nationwide as a regional and national competition judge for Stage One

Miki Ohlsen

Ballet

Miki Ohlsen founded Newport Academy of Ballet in 1979. As a young girl she studied ballet at the State Ballet of Rhode Island and after attending URI moved to Amsterdam, the Netherlands and graduated from the Nel Roos Fine Arts Academy with a degree in teaching and performance. After performing with DANSGROEP KRISTINA de CHATEL for several seasons, Miki returned to RI and founded the Newport Academy of Ballet, home of the Island Moving Company. She served as the Artistic Director and founding member of the Island Moving Company for forty years until her retirement in 2022. Miki provided the highest quality dance education to children and adults for forty years. With the Academy’s strong emphasis on classical ballet and the study of the art form, the school provided countless hours of joy to those dancing for the sheer love of it and trained many dancers who went on to professional careers. Miki also led the creative team that designed the Creative Movement residency programs in the Newport, Middletown and Portsmouth schools. Her choreography has received critical acclaim and has been entered into choreographic competitions in Boston and New York

Katie Moorhead

Ballet

Katie is a distinguished contemporary ballet dancer with over two decades of experience, acclaimed for her performances on prestigious stages across the USA, Central Asia, and Europe, as well as international engagements at the United Nations in New York City and Washington, D.C. Her work has also been featured in short films showcased at the Blue Mountains Cultural Center in New South Wales and the Jamestown Art Center in Rhode Island. A graduate with honors from the renowned Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C., Katie received the Honorable Merit Diploma from the Tersiphora Foundation in St. Petersburg. As a dedicated coach, she mentors students with a focus on integrity, timing, and alignment, drawing on her extensive experience working with numerous dance companies and collaborating with esteemed choreographers. Katie’s artistic contributions extend to a prestigious array of organizations, including the Long Island Opera, Jamestown Art Center, Newport Art Museum, PVDfest, As220, and the Four Corners Arts Center in Tiverton. She also freelances in art galleries and creative spaces, serves as an adjunct professor at Roger Williams University, and is the Dance Director for Puddingstone, an arts organization presenting live classical music, dance, and visual arts in intimate settings.

Brooke Spina

Tap

Brooke has been dancing since the age of two and has truly grown up in the dance world. As the daughter of Michelle Spina, owner of Extensions School of Dance, she trained extensively, attended seminars, performed, and competed. Her lifelong passion for dance eventually grew into a career dedicated to sharing that passion with the next generation of dancers. She brings more than a decade of teaching experience to the studio. Outside of dance, she works as a Physical Therapy Assistant with Highbar, giving her a unique understanding of movement, strength, technique, and injury prevention. Brooke specializes in teaching beginner through advanced tap to dancers of all ages and is also a certified Acrobatic Arts instructor. Known for her ability to make dancers feel supported while also pushing them to reach their full potential, Brooke creates a classroom environment that is both challenging and encouraging. Her passion for tap and commitment to her students have helped her choreography earn numerous top awards in competitions.

Nathan Crewe-Kluge

Ballet

Nathan brings an impressive combination of professional performance, choreography, and teaching experience to the dance studio. His career is rooted in a strong classical foundation, complemented by extensive training and professional experience in contemporary and modern dance. Nathan is currently a Company Dancer with Newport Contemporary Ballet under the direction of Danielle Genest. He previously danced and choreographed with Mareck Dance (formerly Missouri Contemporary Ballet) under the direction of Karen Mareck Grundy. His professional performance credits also include performing apprenticeships with Chicago Repertory Ballet under Wade Schaff and Winifred Haun & Dancers under Winifred Haun. A graduate of SUNY Purchase College’s Conservatory of Dance, Nathan earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance with a concentration in Composition, along with a minor in Arts Management. His extensive training includes classical ballet, contemporary, Graham, Cunningham, Limón, improvisation, contact improvisation, composition, and ballet and modern partnering. He also studied abroad at the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts and participated in the Lou Conte Dance Studio Scholarship Program in Chicago. Nathan has extensive experience teaching dancers from ages 6 through 18, as well as adult students. He has taught ballet, pointe, contemporary, modern, jazz, pre-pointe, mobility, strength and conditioning, and improvisation at studios throughout the country. He currently teaches ballet and contemporary at Express Yourself Dance Academy and The Ballet Center, and ballet and pointe at Taylor Dance Studios. In addition to teaching, Nathan is an accomplished choreographer and competition coach. He has created award-winning solos and group choreography for competitive dancers and has coached dancers competing at Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP). His teaching style combines technical precision with artistry, musicality, individuality, and a strong understanding of the physical demands of dance. Nathan is passionate about helping dancers become not only stronger and more technically accomplished, but also expressive, confident, and versatile performers. His experience as a professional dancer, choreographer, and educator allows him to inspire students while challenging them to reach their highest potential.