Artistic Director, Robin Magee
Robin Magee has studied the performing arts since 1965. She began teaching in 1971, and has owned and managed WCDA since 1978. Robin Magee’s certifications to teach dance are through the Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston and with the Dance Masters of America, of which she is an active member. Ms. Magee is a former President of the Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston and is currently serving on the Board of Directors.
She received her training at the Donna Miceli Dance Center, the Gus Giordano Dance Center in Chicago, and the Boston Ballet. She has also had Master Classes with Mia Michaels, Brian Friedman, Dan Karaty, Mike Minery as well as other schools and organizations throughout the United States. She has won scholarships for “Overall Excellence in Ballet, Tap and Jazz,” along with several awards.
Ms. Magee was hired to be choreographer for the halftime festivities at the “John Hancock Sun Bowl” in El Paso, Texas. This event was nationally televised on CBS. Ms. Magee continues her education in New York and Boston and adjudicates dance competitions.
The WCDA Company Dancers were invited to perform at Little Night Dancing and the Choreographers Pre-Professional Gala at the Sorenson Center for the Arts. Ms. Magee and the WCDA are extremely proud of their students’ outstanding accomplishments, including earning numerous scholarships, degrees in dance and dance physical therapy, operating their own studios, performing and teaching professionally across the country including Broadway and Walt Disney World® in Orlando, Florida.
Faculty
Cheryl Benjamin, Teacher
Mrs. Benjamin has been part of the WCDA family for over 25 years and has been on our faculty for 17 years. In 1985, she became one of the first members of the WCDA Senior Dance Company. Mrs. Benjamin has also studied dance at the Boston Conservatory of Music. Mrs. Benjamin takes great pleasure in watching her own daughters as well as her students discover a love for dance.
Ashley Castrichini, Teacher
The WCDA is enthusiastic to welcome back alumna Ashley Castrichini to staff! Ms. Castrichini has studied dance since she was three years old. She danced at WCDA for 15 years and studied Modern and Classical Ballet at Dean College. She then moved to Rhode Island to pursue her love for teaching children and graduated from Salve Regina University with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education/Special Education and a minor in Dance. She is extremely eager to once again join WCDA staff, students and fill the studio with enthusiasm and excitement!
Shayna Garlisi, Assistant Director, Teacher
Ms. Garlisi is returning to the WCDA for her 21st season. She is a graduate of Elmira College, where she received her degree in Education, and a minor in dance. While in college, she studied all forms of dance and was a dancer and choreographer for the college's major dance clubs. She also choreographed for a local dance studio, receiving recognition for her competition choreography as well as a hip hop scholarship. Ms. Garlisi is an active member of The Dance Teachers' Club of Boston. Shayna has been a choreographer and director for several local musical theatre groups. Ms. Garlisi has served as an Elementary Special Education instructor for the Weston Public Schools for eight years and is currently working towards a Master's Degree in Education.
Jennifer Glaze, Company Ballet Director
The WCDA welcomes back Jennifer Glaze and her extraordinary talents and expertise to our ballet program. Ms. Jennifer Glaze began her dance training with the Ruth Mitchell Dance Company in her hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. She continued her studies with Houston Ballet Academy and the American Ballet Theater. In 1987, she joined Louisville Ballet. Ms. Glaze joined Boston Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in 1994 and was promoted to soloist in 1995. She has performed numerous leading roles with Boston Ballet and has been critically noted for her work in Balanchine ballets. Ms. Glaze has also had the opportunity to work with many contemporary choreographers, most notably, Mark Morris, Twyla Tharp, Elisa Monte, and Daniel Pelzig. In 1998, Ms. Glaze performed Lark Ascending as part of the opening ceremonies for the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, MS. Retiring from the stage in 2001, Ms. Glaze became the Artistic Coordinator for the Boston Ballet Company. In 2003, Artistic Director, Mikko Nissinen invited her to become Ballet Mistress. Ms. Glaze was a noted teacher in the Boston Ballet School and was the Assistant Principal of the Boston Ballet Summer Dance Program from 2002 to 2006.
Moriah Kelly-Hildreth, Teacher
Mrs. Kelly-Hildreth has been teaching for the past 15 years and is thrilled to be joining the faculty at WCDA. She began her teaching career in her childhood dance studio and upon relocating to Boston, went on to head the Dance Department at Riverside Theatre Works in Hyde Park, MA. Along with teaching ballet, tap and jazz, Mrs. Kelly-Hildreth has choreographed for vocal groups and children’s musicals at the theater, and she has taught the summer musical theater classes at The Boston Ballet School. She graduated from Dance Teachers Club of Boston’s Teachers Training school in 1998 and has also completed four years of Dance Masters of America’s Teachers Training School. Mrs. Kelly-Hildreth owned and operated Dance Evolution in Watertown, MA for the past six years and is looking forward to spending more time with her son and working at WCDA, closer to her home in Ayer.
Tami MacDonald, Teacher
Ms. MacDonald has been teaching dance for over 20 years. She owned and operated Tami's Dance Connection in Leominster, MA., for 17 years with much success and involvement in the community. Ms. MacDonald graduated the Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston's Teacher Training School with high honors. She served as President of Dance Masters of America's New England Chapter #5, served of the National Board of directors for the organization and has been a member for the past 23 years. Ms. MacDonald continues to work as an adjudicator for several major organizations throughout the country. She is on the faculty of many prominent dance studio's throughout the Northeast and is known for her unique and creative ideas and choreography. She enjoys passing on her love of dance to each of her students and is excited to be a positive influence in their dance education.
Lindsay Magee, Assistant Director, Teacher
Ms. Magee is a graduate of Northeastern University. After teaching high school in Atlanta, Georgia for two years with Teach for America and acting as the Director of Corps Communication at the Atlanta Institute, Ms. Magee is excited to return to the WCDA where she has taught dance for more than ten years in ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop. Ms. Magee also has choreographed various shows and musicals for schools and local organizations. Ms. Magee graduated from the Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston’s Dance Education Training Course in 1999, and is a current member of the Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston.
Kim Radler, Teacher
Ms. Radler, a 17 year WCDA alum, returns to our faculty for her 4th year. Graduating from Regis College with a Bachelors degree in Communications and a minor in Dance. At Regis, Ms. Radler was Co-director/
Choreographer of the Regis College Dance Company. Ms. Radler’s training has been a combination of formal instruction at West Concord Dance Academy along with courses at Boston College. Ms. Radler has three years experience at WCDA teaching and assisting and she is very excited to be returning to the WCDA staff.
Jill Scully, Office Manager
Mrs. Scully returns to WCDA and brings with her ten years of professional experience in the field of Human Resources Management as well as a degree in Elementary Education. She has worked for companies of all sizes including Bose Corporation prior to beginning her most important job as a mom. She has also volunteered for the Boston Public Schools and the United Way. This mixed background of both business and education will provide WCDA with an excellence in customer service.
Amy Wheeler-Sousa, Teacher
Ms. Wheeler has been a dancer and teacher with WCDA for 31 years. Her training includes Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Lyrical, and Hip-Hop. She received awards for her Hip-Hop choreography in major dance competitions in the New England area. Ms. Wheeler holds a Bachelor's Degree in Entertainment Media from Fitchburg State College. Ms. Wheeler’s enthusiasm, devotion and her love for dance is admired by all of the WCDA students.
Jimmy Tran, Teacher
Mr. Tran trained on the professional level in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Ballroom, and Modern Dance. He’s performed at various events and camps, with workshop sessions throughout the Greater Boston area. As a former member of Boston University's "VIBES" Hip-hop & Reggae dance group and the BU Ballroom dance team, Mr. Tran's wide variety of dance is displayed in his own stylistic expression which encompasses his well-rounded training. We are excited to have him return to our Faculty.
Tracy Walker, Teacher
Ms. Walker has studied dance for 16 years, during which she has taught dance for 10 years, and was a student at WCDA for 10. She received an Associates of Arts Degree in Dance from Dean College and is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Education from Lesley College. Ms. Walker attended both the Ailey School Summer Intensive Program in New York City and the Boston Conservatory Summer Intensive Program. She has choreographed for Westford Academy, Stony Brook Productions, and Summer School of Performing Arts in Westford.
