Susan Montrond Larson
Owner, Artistic Director

Susan began her dance training her in Taunton with Carole Miller, later moving on to continue her studies with The Boston Ballet. She became an apprentice with the company for two years before an injury stopped her career as a professional Ballet dancer. After a year of rest she resumed her dance training at Jeanette Neill's Dance Studio in Boston. Susan then traveled to Europe and the Near East where she worked as a dance captain and lead dancer for "Follies". She later returned to Italy and worked as a choreographer for shows, performed for stage and television and taught Master Classes in Rome. Upon returning home Susan began teaching in dance schools throughout Southeastern Massachusetts. Pooling all her resources and experience together she open SPOTLIGHT DANCE STUDIO in September of 1992.

Susan is an active participant in the Miss America Program. She held the title of Miss Plymouth County 1987 and was third runner up to Miss Massachusetts, that same year. She has worked as Choreographer, Associate Producer and Judge on both the State and Local levels.

Susan is a member in good standing with the Dance Teacher's Club of Boston/A.S, Dance Masters of America and Greater Brockton Dance Teacher's Association, as well as their secretary, for the past 4 terms.

Jennifer Freeman
Assistant Director/Instructor

Jennifer A. Freeman is a cum laude graduate of the Boston Conservatory with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. Her resume includes a company member of Impulse Dance Company and Peter DiMuro/Performing Associates, commercials for WCVB TV Channel 5, Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, Meet-The-Artist for Boston Symphony Youth Concerts, features in Dance Magazine and Dance Teacher Now magazine. Locally has appeared in or choreographed various Star Players of Bristol County productions. Is a member of in good standing with the Dance Teacher's Club of Boston and The American Society. Jen held the title of Miss Freetown 1993 and serves on the Board of Directors of the Miss Massachusetts Scholarship Pageant, an official preliminary to the Miss America Organization, in the capacity of State Field Director. She has been the choreographer for Taunton High School's performing arts department for the past 12 years. Jen is currently the Assistant Director of Spotlight Dance Studio in Taunton and on faculty at Onstage Academy of Performing Arts in Fall River. She resides in Taunton with her husband, Justin, and their chocolate Labs, Chelsea and Ginger.

Laurie Sweeney
Early Childhood Director
Instructor -- Early Childhood Program, Hip Hop,Acrobatics

Laurie is an honors graduate from Northeastern University's Associate Program where she majored in Business Administration. She has been an active member of the Dance Teacher's Club of Boston since 2003 in addition to obtaining her Aerobics Certification through the Attleboro YMCA in 2005. She first began her dance training at age 11 at Cindy's School of Dance in Mansfield and later at DeLutis School of Dance and American Academy. Her teaching career began in 1983 and she has taught throughout Southeastern Massachusetts. In addition to continuing her dance training, she is also certified in Child Development through Project Connect of Attleboro as well as various teaching courses offered throughout New England including Rosemarie Boyden's Pre-Primary Age Program. She developed a love for teaching young children early on and specializes in pre-Primary age students at Spotlight where she has been an Instructor since 1993.

Karen White
Instructor
Early Childhood Program, Musical Theater

Karen began her dance training at the age of three at the Kiley School of Dance in Taunton. After receiving a bachelor's degree in English/Journalism from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and attending several summer intensive dance programs at the Boston Conservatory of Music, she returned to Kiley's to teach jazz, ballet and tap for 10 years. Karen joined Spotlight Dance Studio in 2000. In her writing career, Karen worked for several daily newspapers and is now a freelance magazine writer, contributing regularly to Dance Spirit, Pointe, Stage Directions and other publications. A member of the Dance Teachers Club of Boston, she has extensive experience on the community theater scene, appearing as "Val" in "A Chorus Line", and "Lily St.Regis" in Annie and in many featured and dance chorus roles, has choreographed several musicals, and is the founding board member of the Bristol County Theatre Festival.

.Jenny Oliver
Instructor/Jazz, Tap, Modern

Jenny Oliver is a graduate of Dean College with a High Honors BA in dance.  She is the dance captain and co-choreographer for the Boston Tap Company directed by Sean Fielder.  She is also an alumni member of Roots Uprising, a modern performing company directed by Nailah  Bellinger.  Jenny is a experienced and multi-talented performer &      choreographer. Her choreography has been showcased throughout the country competitively & non-competitively receiving top and high score recognitions.  Jenny has studied with many dance luminaries, including Maurice Hines, Josh Hilberman, Bob E. Thomas, Denise Jefferson,    Mr. Wiggles, Bboy Ynot, Brian Freedman, AC Ciulla and Wyatt Jackson.  Jenny brings considerable enthusiasm, knowledge, skill, and creative teaching philosophies to help today’s youth have productive lives through the  medium of dance.

 Krissy Maniates, Instructor/Hip Hop

Krissy Maniates graduated from Bridgewater State College (BSC) in 2009 and received a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Education. In college, she created a new hip hop dance team called "Kinetic Edge" under which she was a Co-President and choreographer. She has choreographed and performed for several dance productions at BSC and taught hip hop at the Milford Performing Arts Center for the 2008-2009 season. She currently teaches dance here at Spotlight and two other studios in the Massachusetts area. She has been dancing since she was three years old and hopes to spread her passion for dance through her teaching.

Katie Parise
Instructor/Acrobatics, Jazz, Lyrical

Katie began dancing at the age of two at the Carole Miller Dance Center in Taunton. Later she continued her training at Spotlight Dance Studio. While at Spotlight she joined their dance Company, "In the Spotlight". While with the company she performed in many dance competitions and Walt Disney World in Florida. She also represented the dance company when they traveled to Reisa, Germany and performed at the World Showdance Championships in 2004. Katie graduated from Roger Williams University in 2007 with a bachelor of science in business management and with a minor in dance.

Theresa Michelle Denson
Instructor/Irish Step

Theresa has had Irish Step Fever for the past ten years. She began her Irish Step studies at a Mansfield school in 1998. As one of their advanced dancers she began demonstrating and assisting with the younger classes. She has studied solos, sets, and the art of Ceili, or figure dancing, and the history of Irish dance. Theresa currently competes at the Championship level. She has attended many workshops with the former female lead of "Riverdance", Tara Barry, and also received intense solo instruction from Ms. Barry. Theresa uses the step-by-step approach in her teaching, meaning the students are always building on what they have previously learned. Along with encouraging hard work, she encourages FUN! Theresa bonds well with children and enjoys the satisfaction that teaching brings. And she still got quite a fever!