Bedford Dance Center Instructors
Bedford Dance Center's instructors are committed to providing high-quality, professional, dance training. Our director and staff continue to train, perform and participate in professional development activities statewide and nationally.
Karen Pariseau
Director, Pre-Ballet, Intensive Division Ballet, Pointe & Jazz
Founder and Artistic Director of Bedford Dance Center, Karen has extensive training in ballet, jazz, and modern. She received numerous scholarships and has studied 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," as well as a collaboration with Joyce King of NYC on the premiere performance of a "Moment of Silence" a Tribute to 9/11, which received high accolades 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.
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.
She is married to Dan and is the proud mother of 2 boys, Jordan and Riley, and Fenway the weiner dog.
Maria Bradbury
Intensive Division Ballet & Pointe
Maria is a California transplant who has lived in Nashua for 15 years. She trained and danced professionally with San Jose Dance Theatre. She has taught classical ballet and point for over 20 years. By way of her husband's military career, she has had the good fortune of living in various locales — all offering wonderful opportunities for professional growth. She has trained under master teachers David Howard, Finish Jhung, Eleanor D'Antuono and Densil Adams, and is a Dance Masters of America certified instructor. Besides her husband, Michael, Maria has a daughter, Lauren and a son, Colin.
Ashley Carrier
Intensive Division/Fundamental Ballet & Modern
Ashley Carrier graduated with her BA in dance from DeSales University. She studied under exceptionally talented artists/teachers such as Trinette Singleton of Joffrey ballet, David Parsons and his company members, Sean Curran, and Eddie Taketa from the Doug Varone Company. While in college Ashley danced for a start-up modern dance company called Vada Dance Collective. She is currently a dancer in Ballet Misha; a non-profit dance company. Ashley is married to Shawn, has three wonderful step-sons, Kyle, Brandan, and Brian, and a beautiful daughter named Emma.
Amanda Moone
Intensive Division/Fundamental Jazz, Ballet, Pointe & Hip Hop
Amanda is a former student teacher and BDC alumni. As a young dancer, Amanda spent her summers attending Burklyn Ballet Theatre where she studied under master teacher's such as David Howard and Angela Whitehill. She received her BFA from the Hartt School at the University of Hartford. Amanda Moone was a company member with Full Force Dance Theater, as well as Bowan McCauley Dance Theater, a contemporary dance company in Washington, D.C.
Corinne Cantin
Pre-Ballet & Fundamental Ballet
A BDC Alumnus, Class of 1996 (the first graduate from BDC), Corinne teaches in BDC's pre-ballet and fundamental ballet programs. She also choreographs for, and dances with, the Agape Dance Fellowship in Derry.
Kristina Griffin
Advanced Tap
Kristina has been studying tap since childhood. She has had the opportunity to study with such prestigious tappers like Diane Walker, Josh Hilberman, The Klaus Brothers and Drika Overton. She has attended many summer study programs including Portsmouth Percussive Dance Festival and Boston Summer Dance Festival. Kristina's passion is rhythm-based tap. Her teaching experience encompasses dancers of all ages and levels. She is a graduate of UNH. We are delighted to have to have Kristina and excited about having her high-energy style to incorporate into our program.