Faculty
"I’m grateful every day to share my love of dance in the same building where it began so many years ago.”

Amanda Narciso
Owner/artistic director
Tap/jazz

Amanda has been the owner of Spotlight Dance Studio—the school where she trained for 13 years—since 2016. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a minor in dance from Salve Regina University, where she was a member and choreographer for Extensions Dance Company and senior captain of SRU Dance, Salve’s largest student-run organization. 

A lifelong lover of pageantry, Amanda won the title of Miss Taunton 2008 plus four other local titles before being named Miss Massachusetts 2013 and competing at the national Miss American Scholarship Pageant in Atlantic City. She remains active with the Miss America Organization, serving as volunteer producer and choreographer for the Miss Massachusetts’ Outstanding Team pageant. 

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"I developed my love of teaching young children early on." 
 
Laurie Sweeney
Early childhood director
Ballet/tap/jazz/hip-hop/acro/yoga

A teacher since 1983 and active member of the Dance Teacher’s Club of Boston, Laurie holds multiple certifications in subjects including child development (Project Connect, Attleboro), group fitness (Attleboro YMCA), Vbarre (NRG Labs, Mansfield), and yoga (Open Doors Weymouth/Cardio Kids).

She received her early training at dance at Cindy’s School of Dance, the DeLutis School of Dance, and the American Academy, and has attended numerous teacher training courses such as Rosemarie Boyden’s Pre-Primary Age Program. Laurie, an honor graduate of Northeastern University’s associate program in business administration, has been a dance educator at Spotlight since 1993—the studio’s second year of business.



"Musical theater makes my heart sing." 
Karen White
Musical theater

Karen, who directs musical theater productions such as Frozen, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and A Christmas Carol and teaches acting for On Stage Academy of Performing Arts in Fall River, specializes in musical theater dance instruction after appearing in more than 20 college, local, and regional productions and choreographing musicals for schools and community groups. Her work with the competition companies at Spotlight and Dance Express, Easton, has been recognized with numerous judges’ choice and choreography awards. 

An English/journalism graduate of the University of Massachusetts/Amherst, Karen was editor in chief of Dance Studio Life magazine where she interviewed theater and dance luminaries such as Ben Vereen, Mia Michaels, Chet Walker, and Leslie Browne. She is now senior editor for the national dance studio business organization "More Than Just Great Dancing," its print magazine INSight, and its subsidiary Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (YPAD).

 "Each class is a chance to discover something new: warm up; keep your mind and heart open."
Brian Roberts
Ballet/pointe

Brian danced professionally and choreographed for companies such as Boston Repertory Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Metropolitan Opera, and Washington Opera for more than 20 years. As a dance educator, he has worked with the Georgetown School of Ballet, American University, Towson State University, the Florida Dance Festival, New World School of the Arts, Walnut Hill School of the Arts, Broadway Bound, and Metrowest Ballet, and served as director of education outreach and on the dance faculty for the Miami City Ballet School. 

He trained under scholarship at the School of American Ballet in New York City and George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and graduated with a Master of Arts degree in dance from American University in D.C. in 1997. At present, Brian shares his knowledge of classical ballet with students at Spotlight Dance Studio and the Dance Academy of Stoneham. 



"I love to teach and pass on my knowledge and passion for dance to my students." 
Ashley Deschamps
Ballet

Ashley, a graduate of the Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston’s teacher training program, began dancing at the age of 3 at Krylo Dance Studios in Woonsocket, R.I. Later with Festival Ballet Providence, she danced with the junior company and performed in The Nutcracker, annual culminations, and in a Degas-themed concert at Rhode Island School of Design; and competed in the New York City finals of the Youth America Grand Prix (the world’s largest international ballet competition and scholarship program). She performed with the Dean College dance company in cabarets and showcases before graduating in 2011 with a bachelor of the arts in dance with a minor in business. 

She has taught and judged for the Dance Masters of America’s New England chapter scholarship event; she’s also judged for Take Centerstage Dance Challenge. A member of the Greater Brockton Dance Teacher Association since 2018, Ashley is certified in Pure Barre and teaches in Foxborough.
“You are an ARTIST! Let’s take the audience to another world where they can experience all emotions and gain a refreshed perspective on humanity.” 
Ric Plamenco
Hip-hop

A dance teacher since 2001, Ricky has choreographed and instructed dancers of all ages in classic hip hop styles of locking, popping, and B-boying (break dancing). A professional actor and accomplished singer and musician, Ric performed alongside Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds in the move "Free Guy" and can also be seen in commericals for Wayfair and the Connecticut Lottery. 

After receiving his degree in architecture and a minor in music from Roger Williams University, he followed his passion and performed on film, TV, social media, and stage, including in a “Gimme 5 Lottery” commercial series and on the national “Shake Your Udi’s” disco van tour promoting gluten-free products via social media. He also performed in LTM Musical Revues as characters such as Benny from In the Heights, David from Newsies, Robert Martin from The Drowsy Chaperone, and as a Chicago dancer. 
 
 "I always encourage my students to enter the space authentically; your 100 percent is different every day!" 
Morgan Dubay
Hip-hop

Morgan is an undergraduate student at Salve Regina University studying psychology and dance. A lover of learning, she shares her knowledge and passion through dance pedagogy; her fellow dancers and teachers fuel her to learn new techniques. 

Morgan promises to provide a positive approach to student engagement that holds her students' identities, artistic expression, individuality, and passions at the forefront of her teaching. Her favorite styles of dance range from hip-hop to tap, but she feels drawn to the “get-down” of jazz and often utilizes that mindset within her outside training. 

Morgan is a member of Extensions Dance Company, a pre-professional program under the direction of Lindsay Guarino. .
 “I believe that each dancer that I work with has something unique and beautiful to bring to the world of dance, and I love finding this and working with them to develop it!” 
Kiley McKenna Baker
Ballet, contemporary, jazz

Kiley holds a master’s degree in dance science and education from The University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and has danced professionally in multiple international arts festivals and for singer Flo Rida. 

She received her early dance training in the Greater Danbury/New York area, including at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway in New York City. At age 17 she was awarded the Joan Phelps Palladino Alumni Dance Scholarship to study dance at Dean College, where she graduated with honors in 2017. She currently teaches dance across New England, conducts exercise science research at the University of Connecticut, and teaches at conventions along the East Coast. 


“Think of your movement as an exploration not a product.” 
Haley Andrews
Contemporary

Middleboro native Haley Andrews is a passionate arts advocate who works through her art to instill social and equitable change in both her community and the world. After graduating from Salve Regina University with a BA in English communications and dance, she moved to Colorado where she performed and toured with both T2 Dance and Claire Kendall Creative Projects. Since moving back to New England, Haley has taught contemporary dance as an adjunct professor at Salve Regina and adult contemporary classes in Rhode Island and in the Boston area.

Through her own project-based contemporary dance company, Andrews Movement, Haley’s work has been presented at BANDchicago 2019, MashUp Dance’s International Women's Day Festival in L.A. (2022), Rhode Island Women’s Choreography Project (2022), and elsewhere.

“ I hope to help others pursue what they love most and light a flame in their hearts for the whole world to admire.”

Madison "Maddy" Lewis 
Irish step

Maddy's love for Irish music and dance were ignited years ago when she’d watch broadcasts of the theatrical show “Riverdance” and the all-female Irish musical ensemble Celtic Woman with her grandmother. At age 6 she began training at Greenway Academy of Irish Dance in Bridgewater; by age 8 she was competing in Irish dance feiseanna (competitions), eventually competing at Oireachtas (annual regional championships) in the open championship level. During her 14 years of competition Maddy often mentored younger dancers. 

Today, as a wife and also mother to her son Bryce, she enjoys creative pursuits in both the performing and visual arts and works as a residential and commerical cleaner.

 “Technique, pointing your feet and stretching your legs, is only half the art of dance; the other half is sharing your heart.” 
Gelsey White
Guest choreographer

Gelsey, a member and dance captain with the Boston-based contemporary company Project31, trained at Spotlight and at The Gold School in Brockton. As a member of the Vassar [College] Repertory Dance Company she studied under former American Ballet Theatre principal dancer and Vassar dance department dean John Meehan, and performed debut works by former Alvin Ailey and Martha Graham company dancer Stephen Rooks. She is a faculty member at Heidi Miller's School of Dance in Walpole.

Gelsey, who worked as senior photographer with Prestige Portrais and has her own company, Gelsey White Photo, trained in dance photography with Rose Eichenbaum at The School at Jacob’s Pillow and is the in-house photographer for Project31 dance studio and professional company.
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