Meet Our Staff
2011 - 2012 Season
Michelle Shirley-----Director, Owner, Teacher
Teaches all ages ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop
Michelle took her first dance class at a very young age in a small hometown studio. Since then she has studied with Boston Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Broadway Dance Center, and Steps on Broadway. She currently studies and performs regulary with Jeannette Neill Dance Studio in Boston and the Boston Ballet Adult Program in Newton.
Michelle attended Dean College School of Dance, where she earned her Associates Degree In Dance. She continued her education by attending credited training programs. She is now a certified teacher through the Dance Teachers Club of Boston and the Dance Educators of America.
Michelle is also a proud and active member of both organizations.
Michelle has taught in the Boston area since 2000. In 2003 she accomplished her life long dream of operating her own dance studio. Her passion for the art of dance and her love of children show in her teaching, directing, and overall philosophy of the dance studio.
Aside from the studio Michelle spends her time with her husband and 2 year old daughter.
Jennifer Walsh ----- Teaches all ages ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop
Has been teaching with Creative Steps since Fall 2007Jennifer began dancing at Marie Little Austin School of Dance in Rockland, MA, There she studied ballet, tap, and jazz and attended various dance competitions in Massachusetts and New York. She graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 2007 where she studied ballet, jazz, modern, and Balinese dance. After graduating, she began Balinese dancing with Cynthia Laksawana in the Boston area and taught Balinese dance at local workshops. In June 2009 she traveled to Bali, Indonesia to perform in the Bali Arts Festival in a dance drama entitles Mimpi directed by Lynn Kremer. She graduated with a Master of Arts degree May 2010 from Emerson College in Theatre Education. She currently teaches dance and drama throughout the Boston area. She is dedicated to performing arts education as it enriches the students' lives and builds valuable artistic and communication skills.
Michele Leary ----- Teaches all ages ballet, tap, and jazz
Has been teaching with Creative Steps since Fall 2010Michele has been a dancer all of her life. She has studied Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz and Lyrical. She has been teaching Ballet, Tap and Jazz in the Boston area for 15 years. Her choreography has won numerous awards throughout regional dance competitions in MA and NH. She has an incredible passion for working with kids - the youngest of all have a special place in her heart. Outside of dance, Michele keeps herself busy spending time with her husband and four children and enjoys great success running a financial management company for small businesses.
Kristen Renneker ----- Office Manager
Has been managing our office since February 2010Kristen is a dedicated part of our studio, a loving mother of 2, and an incredible seamstress. She takes care of running everything from answering parents questions, selling dancewear, managing our billing accounts, running the backstage at our recitals, and a million other things. She has quickly become an indispensible part of our studio!
Among her many talents Kristen also takes care of altering our hundreds of costumes for our annual dance recitals. She has saved the day on more then one occasion when a costume does not fit properly!
Outside of work Kristen enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 daughters as well as photography and yoga.
Lisa D'Agostino ----- Teaches ages 3-9 ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop
Has been teaching with Creative Steps since Fall 2011Lisa began dancing (at age 5) at the Peggy McGlone Dance Studio in Waltham which focused on Broadway styled tap, Bob Fosse jazz, and classical ballet. Along with studio dancing she was dance captain in Waltham's varsity show choirs and it's dance craze Dance Theatre. She performs with the Reagle Music Theatre and her credits include Music Man, A Little Bit of Ireland, and a "rockette" in the annual Christmas Time. She attended Springfield College, where she earned two Bachelor degrees; one in dance and the other in rehabilitation & disability. She found herself a home at a studio in Springfield where she taught all ages in tap, jazz, lyrical, ballet and acro.
She has been an infant teacher for 3 years and is excited to merge her passion for dance and children together.
Danielle D'Ambra ----- Teaches ages 5 and up ballet, jazz and hip hop
Has been teaching with Creative Steps since Fall 2011Danielle started dancing at age 3 at Dance Workshop of Hanover in Hanover, MA. She has been dancing styles such as ballet, pointe, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary ever since. Danielle entered into Dance Workshop's company, the Children's Dance Ensemble, at age 12 and danced roles such as the Snow Queen and Dew Drop Fairy in the Nutcracker productions and Cinderella in the company's performance of Cinderella. Danielle obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Boston College. She was also a member of the Boston College Dance Ensemble for all four years of her undergraduate career and became the Director her senior year. Danielle has taught dance for Dance Workshop and the BC Dance Ensemble, and is excited to start teaching at Creative Steps!
Elaine Cipriano ----- Teaches ages 3-5 and up pre-ballet, jazz and tap
Has been teaching with Creative Steps since Fall 2011Elaine Cipriano has trained under the direction of the Dean Jr. College, Boston Ballet, Sherry Gold, and many others in Boston, New York, and Miami. Elaine has performed in various stage productions at the Shubert Theatre, Strande Theatre, New England Life Hall and Boston University's Tsai Auditorium. Elaine also has volunteered her expertise at various civic and non-profit programs, including R.O.C.A. (Reaching Out To Chelsea Adolescents Program) and the Dance Complex in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Jennifer Lester ----- Teaches all ages 3-5 pre-ballet, tap, jazz
Has been teaching with Creative Steps since Fall 2006Jennifer has a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Lesley College, 1988 and a Master's Degree in Theatre Education from Emerson College, 1994. She began her dance career with the Boston Ballet at age 5 and danced in their production of The Nutcracker Suite.
Jennifer has been teaching dance to preschoolers since 1994 in several nursery schools and dance studios in the Boston area. She also teaches and choreographs for first and second graders at the Watertown Children's Theatre in Watertown.
She also enjoys performing for the Reagle Players in Waltham and takes ballroom dance lessons with her husband, David, at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Belmont.
Najee Stephenson ----- Teaches all ages 9 and up Hip Hop
Has been teaching with Creative Steps since Fall 2010Bio Coming Soon!!!
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