Founder and Artistic Director of Bedford Dance Center, Karen has extensive training in ballet, jazz, and modern. She received numerous scholarship studying under some of the country's most prestigious teachers such as Judith Jameson; Milton Myers, Lynn Simonson and Charles Wright at Jacob's Pillow; with E. Virginia Williams and Sydney Leonard of Boston School of Ballet; Suzanne Taylor, former artistic director of New Hampshire School of Ballet; Gus Giordano of Chicago-based Giordano Dance Company; and Joyce King, presently on faculty at Steps on Broadway, NYC.

Karen was a principal dancer with the NH Ballet Ensemble and has performed in various shows throughout the country including the touring of NFL Industrial, guest dancer at the St. Paul's Nutcracker, First Night in Concord, Dance Fest NH, and Jacob's Pillow where she was selected to perform works from "Revelations" as well as selections from the Hubbard Street Repertory.

Her choreographic credits include "Fiddler on the Roof" for Derryfield School; "Birdland" for St. Paul's Ballet Company; Miss NH Pageants; Dean Kamen's NH First; local productions of "Bye Bye Birdie", "Oklahoma", and "Wizard of Oz". Karen most recently collaborated with Joyce King of NYC on the premiere performance of a "Moment of Silence" a Tribute to 9/11 with an overwhelming response from the audience.

She has taught Master classes throughout New England including St. Paul's in Concord, NH and Donna Maselli's Dance Center in Massachusetts. She is the founder and artistic director of the Bedford Dance Ensemble, the official student company of the Bedford Dance Center. The BDE performs an annual production of "The Nutcracker Suite", have captured silver and gold medals at various competitions, and continue to premiere works at the Spring Choreographic Concert.

Karen provides her students the opportunity to work and study with various choreographers and guest teachers throughout the year as well as at the "Summer Dance" Intensive Workshop. She strives to instill her love of dance by inspiring her students to explore their own creative expression and artistic development. The School's curriculum provides an encouraging environment for both the aspiring and recreational dancer.

BDC Alumni class of 2004 returns to teach in our children's program. Stephanie has continued her training with the UNH dance department under the direction of Larry Robertson. Stephanie was a member of the UNH dance company and is currently a senior at UNH where she is majoring in education.

Phyllis comes to BDC from NYC where she has trained with notable tap and jazz instructors such as Lynda Gache, Phil Black, Michael owens, Gus Giordano, Frank Hatchett, and Celia Marta. She studied ballet with Anastasia Brusnitsyna, Nadia Zhivotenko, and Robert Christopher. She has taught workshops at St. Pauls School as well as Boces Cultural Art Center and has worked with several dance organizations such as Dance Masters of America. Her stage work consists of Hello Broadway and 42nd Street. She has choregraphed for the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade as well as the 1996 Super Bowl (Sachem Arrowettes). Phyllis has had students go on to perform professionally in Stomp, Swing, Tap Dance Kid, Tap Dogs, The Gene Kelly Story, Disney World/Japan, Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, and the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. We look forward to having Phyllis share her knowledge and enthusiasm for Tap and Hip Hop with our students at Bedford Dance Center.

BDC Alumni class of 1996 (the first graduate from BDC) is returning for her fifth year of teaching. She has taken dance classes for ten years at local studios and currently choreographs for the Agape Dance Fellowship in Derry NH. Corinne is a senior at NHTI Concord where she is seeking a degree in Dental Hygiene.