Meet Our Instructors
At Melrose Dance Academy, we value the experience and expertise of our teachers. We think this provides the cornerstone of not only a good dance education, but an enriching life experience for students. At our studio, we are a close-knit family of teachers who have been together for many years both as instructors and students, who all have diverse backgrounds of dance and are passionate about coaching and inspiring your children.
Melrose Dance Academy is happy to announce that we are CLI Studios Certified for our commitment to continuing our dance education! Part of our partnership with CLI, includes certification for continuing education. The requirements are taking a number of classes in technique, teaching and business per quarter over a year period with some of the top teachers and choreographers in the business. We are looking forward to continuing our partnership with CLI Studios and offering even more opportunities to our students!
Amanda Bruno Thompson (Artistic Director)
Ms. Amanda Bruno is the studio owner and Creative Director at Melrose Dance Academy and has more than 10 years of experience in teaching dance to children, teenagers and adults of all skill levels. Since in 2013, she has guided Melrose Dance Academy to the premier dance studio in the Melrose area, most recently being awarded Gold in the Region from the Wicked Local Reader’s Choice Awards and #1 Dance Studio in Melrose, MA.
When she first stepped foot into a studio in her hometown of Melrose at the age of two, she instantly fell in love with the art of dance. A dance student throughout her early life, she took the leap and graduated from the renowned Dance Teacher's Club of Boston’s DETC training course in 2005. Amanda also has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Salem State University, where she studied dance, photography and other art forms.
Trained in all styles of dance, Amanda pursues her passion by continuing her own dance education. She has recently partnered with CLI Studios of Los Angeles, CA where some of the top choreographers in the United States provide training and education to the Melrose Dance Academy staff. Her own choreography has won several awards at both regional and national competitions.
Ms. Amanda has found tremendous fulfillment from the studio and teaching dance, where she passes on her love for the art to her students, just as her teachers did. She loves to see her students thrive and build confidence, which carries over to other areas of their lives, like school, sports and work.
Amanda is certified in CPR and First Aid .
Amanda is certified by CLI Studios for her commitment for continuing her dance education.
Amanda is a certified dance teacher by the Dance Teacher’s Club of Boston
Amanda is an ADTA Certified Acro Dance Teacher
Photo credit: Prudente Photo
Miss Courtney
Courtney started dancing at age 3 and trained in tap, jazz, ballet and hip hop. Courtney holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts and Dance from Franklin Pierce University. She also studied both dance and theater in Europe during her time at Franklin Pierce. Melrose Dance Academy is a special place where she can bring her passion for performing arts together into one amazing class, Musical Theater! Courtney also has a passion for teaching tap and is one amazing tap instructor!
Miss Olivia
Olivia started dancing at the age of 2 and trained with Miss Amanda for 9 years in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical and Contemporary. She was a member of the MDA Performance Team where she danced in several competitions, Disney World, and pre-game for the Boston Celtics. She continued her love of dance in college, where she was a member of the dance team. She graduated from Merrimack College with her Master’s Degree in Special Education, and works as a teacher when she is not at the studio.
Olivia is certified in CPR and First Aid .
Olivia is certified by CLI Studios for her commitment for continuing her dance education.
Miss Amanda B.
Amanda grew up dancing at Melrose Dance Academy and was a member on the Performance Team until she went to college in 2014 where she continued her love of dance. While on our Performance Team, she performed several times in Disney World as part of the Youth Magic Music Days program, competed in regional and national competitions , and volunteered as a teaching assistant all throughout high school. When she graduated from Rollins College in Florida, she returned to Melrose Dance Academy, to teach classes for ages 4 and up. Amanda really enjoys teaching our Hip Hop classes and when she is not at the studio, she is busy running her own business, Southie Paws!
Miss Sarina
At the age of 2, Sarina started dancing at Melrose Dance Academy and hasn’t stopped since! Sarina is a teacher at the studio and works as an assistant studio manager. Sarina has performed in Disney World, New York, at Celtics games, and Red Sox games. You will often see her running our front desk or jumping into our dance classes to assist the teachers. She is certified to teach through CLI Studios and hopes to keep learning and growing both as a dancer and teacher.
Sarina is certified in CPR and First Aid.
Sarina is certified by CLI Studios for her commitment for continuing her dance education.
Miss Kristina
Kristina began her dance training at the age of 2. For over 8 years, she trained with Miss Amanda on the MDA Performance Teams in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Lyrical, as well as training to with Miss Amanda to teach our youngest dancers. She has danced pre-game shows at the Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox and Providence Bruins games. She has also danced in several competitions, Disney World, and in New York with the Rockettes. Kristina enjoys working with our tiny dancers at the studio, as well as with our Acro dancers. Kristina is currently working on advancing her teacher training and is excited to start an all new dance season!
Kristina is certified in CPR and First Aid .
Kristina is certified by CLI Studios for her commitment for continuing her dance education.
Miss Samantha
Samantha has been dancing for as long as she can remember. She began her training at Lisa Liston School of Dance and received her degree in Dance from Salem State University in May of 2018. While studying at Salem State, Samantha studied with Meghan McLyman, Betsy Miller, James Morrow, as well as performed in pieces choreographed by William (Bill) Evans and Nateli Ruiz. Samantha was a choreographer for Salem State University’s Repertory Dance Theatre as well as Salem Dance Ensemble. She created numerous tap, contemporary and jazz pieces. She was a two-time Presidential Arts Scholarship winner as well as the recipient of the Meaghan Noel Scholarship for Dance. Over the years, she has danced in many recitals, competed in numerous competitions, and performed in full length shows such as The Nutcracker. As a competitive dancer, she has won many high score and special awards.
Samantha has taught lyrical, ballet, tap, jazz, Acro, and hip hop classes to students of all ages at many different levels. She graduated from the Dance Teacher’s Club of Boston and the American Society’s Dance Education Training Course as the valedictorian of the class, receiving the Lila Frances Viles Award. Her passion for dance really shows whether she is on stage performing or teaching in a classroom. She wants to be able to share her passion with others and can’t wait to show her love of dance to the world.
Miss Magen
Magen began her dance training at the age of two at MDA and has been training with Miss Amanda for the past 8 years. Magen was a member of the MDA Performance Team and is trained in all styles of dance. She has performed pre-game at the Boston Celtics and Red Sox games, halftime at the Harlem Globetrotters game, danced with the Rockettes in New York, and at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World. She has taken master classes with some of the top choreographers in our industry, including Witney Carson from Dancing With the Stars. In 2018, she graduated from the Dance Teacher's Club of Boston teacher training program. Magen has spent the last few years teacher training with studio director Amanda, and is excited to begin her career and teach her own classes. Magen is currently attending Salem State University as a dance major. Magen's biggest passion in life is dance and she can't wait to share it with all her tiny dancers!
Magen is certified in CPR and First Aid .
Magen is a certified dance teacher by the Dance Teacher’s Club of Boston
Miss Katie
Katie is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer from Western Massachusetts. Katie's passion for dance started when she was four years old, and has only grown since. She specializes in contemporary dance but has trained in a wide variety of styles. Katie began exploring her own choreographic style while in the Greenfield Community College dance program. She was able to participate in various pieces and choreographed her first piece, a contemporary duet. Katie earned her associate's degree in Liberal Arts Dance from Greenfield Community College and received scholarships to help further her dance studies. Upon graduation, Katie attended Salem State University as a double major in Dance and Early Childhood Education. At Salem State, she has been presented not only with optimal opportunities to dance and perform with various choreographers but also to choreograph for Salem State's Repertory Dance Theatre and Salem Dance Ensemble. Katie graduated with her BA in Early Childhood Education and BA in Dance while also receiving a Certificate in Dance Education from Salem State. Katie will be completing her M.Ed at Salem State in the spring of 2024.
Miss Courtney H
Courtney is a hip hop dancer and teacher from Revere, MA. In college, she founded Suffolk University's first hip hop dance crew, W!cked. She was a member of Phunk Phenomenon, seen on Season 6 of MTV's America's Best Dance Crew, from 2009-2018. She traveled with Phunk Phenomenon to Hip Hop International in 2010 and 2013 placing second and third in the USA respectively. She has performed at numerous charity, college and corporate events. Some other notable performances include Boston Celtics, Hot 96.9, House of Blues and Dancing for Hope, a charity event hosted by NKOTB's Jordan Knight. Courtney has taught at various dance studios on the north shore and is excited to join the MDA team!
Miss Jen
Jennifer is a dance educator, choreographer, producer and performer based in Malden, Massachusetts.
Jen is the founder and director of OnStage Dance Company, a performance group for adult dancers and emerging choreographers. Her evening-length productions [What Is Love?; Selichot; Heartbeat: A Modern Dance Rock Concert] debuted in various venues in the Boston area, and her short form work has been featured in the Providence Movement Festival, Southern Vermont Dance Festival, NACHMO Boston & NYC Showcases, Dance For World Community, and more. Jen's dance films [Satellite; Walk (It Off)] featured in the International Fine Arts Film Festival, From This Earth Film Festival, and Film Fest by Rogue Dancer. Jen is passionate about providing outlets for creativity and collaboration - producing performances, dance festivals and showcases, such as OnStage 360°, in her local community.
She is also a member of the Malden Cultural Council and a consultant for Disrupt Dance and Leap N' Learn.
A dance educator with over 15 years of teaching experience, Jen has taught on faculties, and as a guest instructor, in dozens of studios throughout the New England area.
Miss Aiden
Aiden began dancing at the age of two, and has been in love with it ever since! She danced with Dance it Up! as a child, participating in their annual Nutcracker performances and training in all styles of dance. She also spent many hours as a Teacher’s Assistant at this studio, working with students from ages 2-14. She currently attends Salem State University with a double major in Elementary Education and Dance, and is enrolled in the Elementary Education 4+1 Accelerated Masters Program. At Salem State, she has participated in many guest artist works, choreographed for the Salem Dance Ensemble, and had the opportunity to attend the American College Dance Association’s regional conference multiple times. Aiden cannot wait to share her love of dance with the upcoming generations of dancers!
CLI Dance Studios
Want to dance with Kathryn McCormick, Teddy Forance and Nick Lazzarini? We are excited to announce that we are partnering with CLI Studios this year to give our students access to the dance industry's top choreographers. Register with our studio this season and you'll be able to take online master classes from world-renowned choreographers!
Melrose Dance Academy is a certified with CLI Studios for our commitment to continuing our dance education