About Us
Debbie Lamontagne
STUDIO FOUNDER
Debbie Lamontagne graduated from the Dance Teachers Club of Boston Education course in 1973 and is a 51-year member of that organization. While attending Castle Junior College in Windham, New Hampshire, Debbie became the co-director of Marilyn’s School of Dance in 1973. She then became the director of North Andover School of Dance & Gymnastics in 1986.
Debbie’s early dance training took place in Lawrence, Massachusetts under the direction of Madeline Mahoney and her sister Marilyn Twomey. She studied during the summer months with the late David DiMarie in Buffalo, New York; Gene Murray in Salem, Massachusetts; and with Gus Giordano, Diane Walker, Julia Boynton and David Howard, just to name a few. Debbie has performed in Summer Stock and attended numerous dance festivals across the country.
Debbie has taught all levels of dance, Preschool through Advanced, Special Needs Children and Adults, for 51 years. She has taught in many afterschool and child care programs, choreographed many school musicals, and brought her students to perform on a Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship and at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.
She has won numerous awards and trophies and is most proud of the Village Hero Award from the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC) for her contributions to children and their families of our community. For her generosity, Debbie was awarded the Project Motivation Award For Excellence. The plaque was presented to her on July 30, 2006 and read:
"Thank you for setting the example for all dance educators. Your unselfish desire to help a fellow dance teacher and her students in their time of need has taught us all that appreciating, respecting and assisting each other can be accomplished among the dance profession. You are a SHINING LIGHT in the DANCE TEACHING WORLD."
Debbie and her husband, Leo, have two adult sons, Leo and Matthew and three grandchildren, Maxwell, Rudy and Zoe. She is extremely grateful to have the opportunity to share her joy of dance for 51years!
Amy Brown
INSTRUCTOR
A native of Kansas City, Amy Stockton began her dance training at the age of three. On her first day of dance class, she instantly fell in love with the art. Amy is well-versed in all areas of dance, and has extensive training in classical Classical Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Acrobatics and Cheer/Pom. Additionally, Amy is professionally trained in both the International Latin and International Standard styles of Ballroom Dance, as well as being a certified ZUMBA Fitness Instructor. Amy has been privileged to train with world-class instructors, such as: David Howard (Ballet), Jean Marc Genereux (Ballroom) Julie Boynton (Tap) and Beto (Creator of ZUMBA Fitness), to name a few.
Amy is a graduate of Kansas State University, where she was a Hotchkiss Academic Scholar. While at K-State, she was a four-year member of the Kansas State Classy Cats Dance Team, serving as a team captain her senior year. Amy has performed nationally at numerous college bowl games, as well as appeared on ESPN's College Game Day.
Her first love being teaching, Amy relocated to the East Coast after college, where she worked as a Professional Dance Teacher, Choreographer and College Dance Team Head Coach. Amy has worked as a Master Tap Teacher for major FDC dance competitions, and currently judges for several National Dance Competitions.
As a choreographer, Amy does a wide variety of work, including: competitive dance studios, college dance team nationals, musicals and professional sporting events, most recently with the Boston Celtics and as the current choreographer for the Boston College Dance Team. Her students and teaching techniques have been featured in Dance Spirit, Dance Teacher, and Dance Studio Life Magazines.
Amy will be teaching Grade School, Middle School, High School, Adults and Intensive dancers in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Musical Theatre.
Angela V. Carter
INSTRUCTOR
Angela Carter's professional dance career began at the age 14 when she appeared with the Houston Ballet. She has danced and toured with Ballet Concerto, Ballet Galaxy, Milwaukee Ballet, Atlantic Ballet and Ballet New England. Angela has been a Company Member, Ballet Mistress, Principal Dancer, certified Pilates instructor, Principal Instructor of Classical Ballet, Junior Company Coordinator, Company Instructor, School Director, and the 2006 Director of Nutcracker for Ballet New England.
She has appeared as a guest instructor with ballet companies in MA, ME, NH, FL, VA and VT. In November 2002, Angela appeared as a guest artist with The Siren’s Song. In January 2003, Angela appeared with the Greater Palm Beach Symphony Orchestra with Guest Conductor Maestro Vladimir Ponkin in the role of The Dying Swan.
Angela has been featured in “Classic New Hampshire, Preserving the Granite State in Changing Times”, written by Linda Landry, and “Ballet Resources”. In 2008, she was recognized as an Honored Lifetime Member and VIP Member of the “Cambridge Who’s Who”.
Angela teaches middle school and Intensive dancers in Ballet and Lyrical. She also teaches teaching Ballet & Wedding Classes for Adults.
Hannah Stewart
INSTRUCTOR
Ms. Hannah has been teaching dance for the past 15 years with this being her 6th season at NASD. Hannah loves that her job is about sharing the joy of dance with every one of her students from preschoolers to adults!
Ms. Hannah grew up overseas and spent most of her childhood Irish step dancing. Throughout her high school years, Hannah explored many different dance techniques including belly dancing, hip hop, praise dance, and ballroom. While still in high school, Hannah began teaching Irish step dancing, and soon discovered she had a passion for teaching as well as performing dance. During her senior year of high school she studied ballet, jazz, and tap with Kirsten Wilkinson, MA, and then auditioned for the Distinguished Artists Award at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, which led to a dance scholarship.
Ms. Hannah graduated from Hope College in May 2013 with a BA in Dance Education and a minor in Secondary English Education. At Hope College, Hannah studied dance in all of it aspects, leading to a new interest in and passion for improvisation, modern, jazz, tap and many other facets of dance. During her time in the Hope College dance department, Hannah performed in many different student and faculty choreographed pieces along with creating some of her own works. While at Hope College, Hannah had wonderful opportunities to study with outstanding faculty and guest artists including: Linda Graham, Nicole Flinn, Steven Iannacone, Sharon Wong, Matthew Farmer, and Mark Yonally. As a senior, Hannah was a teaching assistant to Crystal Frazier (Tap), in addition to being a full-time Student-Teacher at Cityside and Creekside Middle Schools in Zeeland, MI fulfilling her education degree requirements.
Ms. Hannah occasionally brings her funny French Bulldog, Si, into work. If you ever hear a snort at NASD, that might mean Si isvisiting!
Leo Lamontagne
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Leo Lamontagne earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication, majoring in Dance with a minor in Not-For-Profit Business, from Northwestern University. While there he founded and directed the university’s first and only tap dance company, TONIK Tap. He is a graduate of The Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston Teacher Training Course and the recipient of The Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston Award and the Mary Jane Brown Award for Excellence in Teaching Tap.
Leo has studied with Dr. Susan Lee, Laura Wade, Glenn Leslie, Bril Barrett, Molly Shanahan, among others. After graduating from NU, Leo danced professionally as a company member of Jump Rhythm Jazz Project in Chicago. While with the company he had the opportunity to perform and teach across the country.
In 2007 he received an Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Achievement for Individual Excellence On Camera/Performer for his work in the multiple Emmy Award winning documentary Jump Rhythm Jazz Project: Getting There, produced by HMS Media for public television.
Leo most recently performed in Clara's Dream: A Jazz Nutcracker at the Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH.
Leo grew up dancing at North Andover School of Dance. He has been on faculty at the Boston Conservatory where he taught jazz and directed the Hoofers, the student taught tap company. He also teaches Master classes throughout the North East. Leo resides in Andover with his wife, Meghan, their son Rudy and their dog Teddy. He loves being home at North Andover School of Dance. Things really have come full circle. There is no place like home!
Sara Heath
INSTRUCTOR
Sara Heath began her dance training at the age of three. An alumna of North Andover School of Dance, Sara has trained in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, pointe, and cheer and pom styles. As a member of the competitive dance team, Sara won several awards both regionally and nationally as a soloist and alongside her teammates.
Sara is a graduate of Assumption College, where she received degrees in history and English writing. While at Assumption, Sara was a member of the Ladyhounds Dance Team, of which she served as captain her junior and senior years. With the dance team, Sara performed at football games and men’s and women’s basketball games, as well as at campus and community events. During her four years with the team, Sara received numerous All American nominations and has joined the team as it has earned national rankings at the National Dance Alliance Collegiate Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Sara currently works as a healthcare beat reporter in Danvers, Massachusetts. In addition to her full-time work and position at NASD, she is a company dancer for DanceWorks Boston, where she performs in jazz, tap, lyrical, and contemporary styles in DanceWorks performances. Sara is excited to return to share her joy of dance!
Amerikis Rivera
INSTRUCTOR
Rachel Michienzi
Rae Michienzi is a Boston-area dancer, choreographer, educator, and competition adjudicator with over two decades of training and performance experience. She is well-versed in tap, ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, ballroom, musical theater, and acrobatics.
A graduate of the Dance Teacher Education Program at the Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston, Rae has built a career dedicated to both performance and dance education. She works professionally as a competitive choreographer and dance instructor, teaching and creating work for multiple studios while also serving as a musical choreographer for collegiate stage productions. She previously spent a decade as a Pre-Professional Company Director and remains an active member of Boston’s professional tap dance community, including performances with Subject:Matter.
Her performance credits include appearances at Times Square, Symphony Space, and the Salvatore Capezio Theater in New York City, as well as performances with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Walt Disney World parks, and numerous live productions and community events. A multi-time scholarship recipient and former National Champion, Rae has earned honors from the American Tap Dance Foundation (Buster Brown Award and Gregory Hines Scholarship) and many other national organizations.
Known for her musicality, strong technical foundation, and supportive teaching style, Rae is passionate about helping dancers build confidence, artistry, and individuality through movement.
Melissa deFriesse
INSTRUCTOR
Melissa deFriesse is a dance educator with 20+ years of teaching experience. She grew up in Reading, Massachusetts and trained at a local studio in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and musical theater before expanding her dance studies to include contemporary and modern in college.
She graduated from Springfield College with a bachelor's degree in dance and a minor in theatre arts in 2007, and earned a master's degree from Boston University in arts administration in 2012.
Melissa dances with OnStage Dance Company and is a frequent choreographer as part of the company's season performances. Her choreography has also been presented at NACHMO Boston and in the Boston Dance Film Festival, where she won the audience choice award for her dance film in 2025.
Outside of dance, Melissa works in marketing and grant writing for a local non-profit. She resides in southern NH with her husband and two sons.
Cara Grady
INSTRUCTOR
Aisling Frugoli
INSTRUCTOR
Aisling Frugoli grew up dancing at Heavey Quinn Academy of Irish Dance, where she participated in local, regional, and national competitions. She performed in many team Ceili dances, team Figure Choreography, as well as solo performances.
She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Endicott College, with a concentration in Moderate Special Education, and is currently continuing her education at Endicott, pursuing a master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis and Intensive Special Education. She works as a special educator in the Lowell Public Schools, working with kids in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade.
At North Andover School of Dance, Aisling teaches traditional Irish Dance.
Marie Suleski
Instructor
Bio coming soon.
Sarah Dobry
Instructor
Sarah Dobry grew up dancing at North Andover School of Dance both recreationally and competitively. While at NASD, she graduated from the Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston’s Dance Education Training Course. She continued on to become a member of the Stonehill College Dance Team for the 2021-2022 season, competing in hip hop at the Dance Team Union National Competition in Orlando, Florida.
Sarah spent two years at Stonehill College before transferring to UMass Amherst, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education with a concentration in Early Childhood. At UMass, she also completed a teacher preparation program to become a licensed Massachusetts PreK-2 teacher.
Sarah is currently a second year kindergarten teacher in Lawrence Public Schools. Additionally, she is working towards her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction at UMass Lowell.
Sarah is now teaching ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical classes at NASD for 2nd-6th grade students. She lives in Methuen with her parents, brother, and sister, who have always been very involved in life at NASD.
Laura Freedman
Office Staff
Laura Freedman and her family have been a part of the North Andover School of Dance for over 20 years. Laura knew back in 1998 that Miss Debbie was something special. All five of her children have passed through the doors, some from birth through high school. Laura and her husband, Marc, participated in Adult Tap and have been part of many recitals. Laura graduated from Boston University with a bachelor's degree in Business Management. Her organizational skills and ability to multitask make her an asset as a member of the NASD team. Laura's warm and friendly personality provides a welcoming environment for parents and students. Her dependability, efficiency and self motivation make her an asset to our administrative staff. When Laura isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with her children and traveling with her husband.
Chrissy LaBrecque
Chrissy LaBrecque has been part of the North Andover School of Dance family since 2007, when her oldest daughter first began dancing at the studio. Over the years, both of her daughters have grown up at NASD, and Chrissy spent many years volunteering behind the scenes at performances, rehearsals and studio events before officially becoming part of the staff in 2021.
A former teacher, Chrissy has worked with children for more than 25 years and currently provides childcare from her home. At NASD, she helps keep things running smoothly in the office and can often be found lending a hand with costumes, headpieces, props and special studio projects.
Chrissy loves being part of the NASD community that has meant so much to her family over the years. She lives in Salem, New Hampshire with her husband, Keith, and their daughters, Sophie and Lucy.