Ms. Melissa Luoma- Director

Melissa is the owner and director of D.A.C aka Dance Art Centre. She has performed on the Norwegian Majesty and Enchanted Isle Cruise Lines, in New Mexico, at the Goombay Festival Extravaganza in Bermuda, for Epcot Center in Florida, at New York City's Grand Hyatt Hotel, the NYC Power Authority Annual Celebration, and many others. She judges for dance competition organizations such as Sophisticated Productions, D.O.D.A, and DEA. Her work has received many Overall High Score awards, Regional and National Title awards, Ultimate Choreography awards, and Dancer of the Year awards. The studio has also been credited with the President's Cup and many students have received Workshop and College scholarships. Melissa has had the opportunity to study with many outstanding choreographers including Franck Hatchett, Louis Kavouras and Dolly Kelepecz of UNLV, Jeff Shade, Mia Michaels, Juan Sanchez, and Paul Franklin, to name a few. Melissa received her teaching certification at UNLV through DEA's Teacher Certification Program. She continues to attend numerous workshops and conventions to provide her students with the utmost in dance and performance opportunities, as well as working to provide the latest, most innovative and exciting choreography.

Ms. Kayla Luoma- Teacher

Kayla Luoma has been dancing & performing since the age of 2 and competing since the age of 6. She dances under the director of her mother, Melissa Luoma. Kayla has also studied with Juan Sanchez, Joe Melchiona, Paul Franklin, Joey Dowling, Sarah Jo Fazio, Raymond Lukens of ABT, Rhapsody, Geo and many others. Most recently Kayla attended the SYTYCD Season 8 auditions making it to the top final 100 contestants. She also completed her Freshman year at Dean College as a Dance Major. Kayla keeps busy by taking classes at Broadway Dance Center in New York and attending annual workshops with Mia Michaels, Brian Friedman, Dave Scott, LaurieAnn Gibson, Wade Robson and she is studying with dancer/choreographer Cris Judd. Kayla has had a very prosperous dance career to date winning many high score and overall first place awards, teachers and judges’ choice awards, choreography awards, and many regional and national titles. Kayla has also earned many workshop scholarships, PULSE summer intensive scholarships and ballet seminar scholarships. She has done guest performances for DEA and Dance Olympus as well as performances abroad such as N.Y.C., Bermuda , Mexico , and Las Vegas . Currently, Kayla is performing with the BCDP based in Boston. Kayla has undying passion and desire for dance, which she endlessly enjoys passing on in her classes.

Ms. Tanisha Davila- Teacher

Tanisha Davila has been dancing at the Dance Arts Centre since the age of three and competing since she was ten. She is currently a junior at Fitchburg State University, majoring in Middle School Education and minoring in English. Tanisha has trained in many different styles of dance including tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, hip-hop, contemporary, and many more. Throughout her years of competing she won many high scoring awards and a number of special awards for her stage presence, also winning a “Miss Teen DEA” regional title. She has attended many workshops with choreographers such as Dave Scott, Mia Michaels, Brian Friedman, Chris Judd, Tyce Diorio, Shane Sparks, and Laurieann Gibson. Tanisha enjoys teaching and spreading along her passion for dance.

Ms. Katie Caisse- Teacher

With over ten years of dance experience, Katie’s years as a dancer began at the age of three training in Tap, Jazz, and Ballet; by the age of seven she was invited to join the Competition/Showcase Team, which she was part of through the age of fourteen. During her time with dance team, Katie traveled to Bermuda and New York while attending workshops and also competing regionally and nationally. As a 2010 Graduate of Leominster High School, Katie has attended one year at the University of Hartford where she studied Criminal Justice. Moving back to her local roots, Katie currently attends Fitchburg State University as a Human Services Major and enjoys teaching and inspiring the art of dance to all of her students.

Ms. Amanda Fyfe - Teacher

Amanda has had a passion for dance since the age of 3 when she began taking classes at Dance Arts Center. She has studied many forms of dance including tap, jazz, lyrical, ballet, and hip hop. She is a former member of the dance competition and has performed many places around the world that include Disney World, Bermuda, Mexico, Las Vegas, and on the Norwegian Majesty Cruise Line. She has completed Level I and Level II of dance teacher training through Dance Educators of America and holds a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education, currently teaching for the City of Fitchburg. She is married to her husband Doug, and has three beautiful daughters.

Ms. Emily Keating- Guest Teacher

BIO COMING SOON

Ms. Jennifer Carter- Guest Teacher

Jennifer Carter has studied dance for over 19 years under such instructors as Peter DeHart, Donna Miceli (Donna Miceli Dance Center), Jose Mateo (Ballet Theater of Boston), Adrienne Hawkins (Impulse Dance Company) and James Reardon (Boston Dance Company). Jennifer has been a soloist with the Boston Dance Company and has also taught at various schools including Boston Dance Co. and The Strand Theater. Jennifer has been on staff at Dance Arts Centre since 2003 where she continues to teach and educate her love for dance.