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Faculty

Nicola Boutin – Founder/Artistic Director

Originally from Birkenhead, England, Nicola studied at Merseyside Dance and Drama Center where she gained her ISTD teaching qualifications graduating with honors. Nicola has been a dance educator for over 30 years, adjudicating and choreographing in Europe and America. Nicola performed professionally on stage, film, television and cruise ships in and around England, Greece, Cyprus and the Middle East. In 2014 Nicola received a Vermont Business Magazine Rising Star award for her commitment to business growth, professional excellence and involvement in the community. Nicola is the Founder and Artistic Director of Fusion 802.

Jeanne Neu – Let’s Dance

Jeanne started dancing at the age of 5 and has been teaching dance in Vermont for over 25 years. She loves working with the youngest dancers. Jeanne earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Vermont. Recently Jeanne returned to school and earned her Master’s of Education from UMass Boston. She works as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired with the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Jeanne is passionate about teaching. She enjoys seeing her students gain confidence and grow.

Maggie Danis

Maggie has studied a variety  of dance genres including ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, musical theatre, hip-hop, tap, and ballroom. Maggie began her teaching career at Fusion 802 over five years ago, also choreographing at multiple summer intensives and other small theater companies. Maggie has been an early childhood educator and a personal care attendant for children and teens, providing her with a wealth of tools, knowledge and experience that makes her a valuable faculty member at Fusion 802.

Outside of dance and early education, Maggie enjoys cooking, baking, drawing, painting, and yoga.

Kim Cribari

Kim Cribari has been a dedicated member of the Fusion 802 family since its inception, training as a student, then as a teaching assistant and now as a faculty member. Kim graduated from Hofstra University in December 2020, with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a Minor in Educational Studies. In addition to working at Fusion, Kim is the Humanities Program Paraeducator at CVU high school. Aside from dance and teaching, Kim loves creating visual arts and spending lots of time outside.

Kim

Jackie Patrizio

Originally born and raised outside of Philadelphia, PA, Jackie has lived in Burlington, Vermont for almost twenty years! Jackie began her teaching career at Fusion 802 over five years ago and has assisted in a variety of roles at the studio supporting children of all ages. Jackie also went into teaching as a career change from business and technology and teaches second grade in Burlington. Outside of dance and education, Jackie enjoys music of all types, especially live music shows, cooking, walking, hiking, reading, and generally making others smile and laugh. It takes a big heart to help shape little minds and Jackie’s love for teaching shines through in all she does. Her energy is inspiring to see!

Savanna Bechard

Savanna Bechard is a Behavioral Interventionist at Winooski School District by day but fills all of her free time with anything involving dance and children. Savanna grew up training in dance at the Electric Youth Dance Studio starting at the age of 3. Once she reached High School she began teaching classes there herself for several years after graduation. Along with studio dance, Savanna also competed with BFA’s High School Dance Team for 4 years. Now she serves as one of the coaches for the South Burlington High School Dance Team, as well as a Choreographer for Rice High School’s Stunt Nite. Savanna is very excited to be part of the Fusion 802 community.

Ali (Farber) Gingras, M.Ed.

Born and raised on Long Island, Ali began dancing at the age of three at the Jan Martin Dance Studio in Huntington, NY and has not stopped moving since! Ali started taking combination tap and ballet classes and then tap and jazz classes up until high school. In high school, she joined her school’s kickline team. Ali completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Vermont, where she was a member of the Catamount Dance Crew (predominantly dancing hip hop) and also minored in dance, ultimately touring New England and Nebraska. Ali started teaching dance at Studio 3 in 2010 to 2019 and began coaching the South Burlington Dance Team in 2015. Additionally, in 2018, she became a licensed ZUMBA instructor. Ali is very energetic and excited to be back in the studio sharing and teaching her love of dance.