HAYLEY SAMPERI, Studio Codirector, has been dancing since she was three years old.  She danced at Acton-Boxborough Dance Center, under the direction of her mother Melinda C. Samperi, from its founding year in 1994 through her senior year of high school in 2006.  During those years she was not only an enthusiastic tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical and hip hop student, but was also a student assistant for five years.  Hayley graduated from Indiana University in 2010 with a B.A. in History and Psychology and a minor in Gender Studies.  Throughout her four years at Indiana University she continued studying dance, as well as branched into writing, directing, performing, and choreographing in Indiana University Student Foundations “IU Sing”, IU’s longest standing tradition.  In “IU Sing’s” 77^th annual production, Hayley’s debut piece won all around first place and in addition she won the award for Outstanding Choreography.  Hayley is very excited to be back and involved in her mother’s Acton-Boxborough Dance Center dream. 

DANA FITCHETT, Assisting Instructor, is an artist in residence at Concord Academy, teaching hip hop and modern dance.   She has her degree in Urban Studies from Vassar College, and works with INTENCITY Entertainment out of Cambridge, MA.   She joined ABDC in 2008 to teach advanced hip hop and modern.

DANIELLE HAGEN, Assisting Instructor, has been dancing in Western MA since the age of three and has competed in all major competitions on the east coast.  She majored in Dance at Greenfield Community College.  She has extensive training in jazz, ballet, tap, lyrical, modern, and acro.   Danielle joined our studio in 2008.

BRITTANY KLASH, Assisting Instructor, is a 2008 graduate from Dean College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance and a minor in Business. While attending college, she was a member of the Dean College Dance Company for three years and also performed in several student choreographed productions. Brittany began training in ballet at the age of three and later went on to study tap, modern, jazz, pointe and hip hop under the direction of Jim Caisse and Melissa Luoma. She has performed and competed in Las Vegas, New York City, Bermuda, Mexico and aboard the Enchanted Isle and Norwegian Majesty Cruise Ships. She has had over 17 years of performance and competitive dance experience and has received extensive training in choreography and pedagogy. In 2009 she was a member of Perceptions Contemporary Dance Company performing around the Boston area. Brittany currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts, is a member of the Boston Dance Alliance and is a new member of The Boston Tap Company.

MELANIE NAJARIAN, Assisting Instructor, is entering her 7th year of teaching at ABDC. She holds an AA in Dance from Dean College and a BA in Music from Clark University . At Clark , Melanie danced with and co-directed the Variant Dance Troupe. Melanie has also danced with the SRO Dance Troupe and participated in Boston Ballet's Adult Summer Dance Program. In addition, Melanie has been an assistant teacher and assistant camp director at the Lexington Montessori School as well as an infant teacher at Another Place to Grow. Prior to college, Melanie studied at the former Belmont School of Ballet. Melanie currently studies at Boston Ballet and Jeannette Neill Dance Studio.

EDEN ROESSEL, Assisting Instructor, holds a degree in dance from Skidmore College and is an ABDC Alum!   She has studied with the Martha Graham Dance Company, and interned with the  National Dance Education Organization.  Eden joined our studio staff in 2008 teaching all ages and all styles.

JESSICA LUDLUM WRIGHT, Assisting Instructor, received her dance degree from Mount Holyoke College, and has also studied at Boston Conservatory's Summer Session and Ballet Arts by Delia Foley.  She has also taught at Broadway Bound Dance Center in Natick.  Jessica is entering her third year of teaching at ABDC.