INSTRUCTORS
VALERIE PRINGLES
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Val, a Narragansett native, trained her entire childhood under the direction of Cheryl Cusick, owner and director of the former Narragansett Performing Arts Centre. Valerie was an inaugural member of the ‘Terpsichore’ Dance Company which competed and attained many special recognition awards from dance competitions throughout New England. During her final year of college, Valerie was offered a position with Carnival Cruise Lines, where she accepted a position as one of eleven female dancers. She completed two contracts with Carnival until she decided it was time to move back to a land life. She moved to Arizona where she assisted in a dance studio startup and helped in their curriculum development. She also choreographed for a sister production of “Fashion Fantastico”, a New Zealand inspired Fashion Show, during her time in Arizona. Valerie moved back home to Rhode Island in 2011, where she received a Masters Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Salve Regina University.
Valerie has consistently taught dance since high school and prides herself on utilizing positive reinforcement in all of her classes. She uses her training in Organizational Behavior Management to ensure effective and efficient leadership. Her experience teaching, as well as performing professionally provide her with strong tools in training her dancers to achieve their individual goals. Val dreamed of opening a dance studio since she was very young. Val is currently the Head Coach of the University of Rhode Island Ramettes Dance Team. She lives in Wakefield, RI with her husband, Bryan, and daughters Mackenzie and Zoey.
ALICE LEBLANC
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Alice, a graduate from the University of Rhode Island, has been dancing since the age of three. Her training began at the Narragansett Performing Arts Centre and was eventually expanded through Festival Ballet Providence and High Steppin’ Academy of Johnston, Rhode Island. She began competing at the age of nine and went on to win many regional and national titles. Through training and competing, she found her enthusiasm for teaching. Alice is also the Assistant Coach of the University of Rhode Island’s Ramette Dance Team.
Alice grew up in North Kingstown, Rhode Island and has been with Soles Dance Academy since it’s inception!
REBECCA VIEIRA
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Rebecca grew up in Wakefield, RI and began dancing at Narragansett Performing Arts at the age of three. She later earned a spot on the Terpsichore Dance Company. She performed in many competitions and won many awards with her teammates as well as solo performances.
Rebecca attended Dean College and received an Associate Degree in Performing Arts. She spent four years teaching all ages and choreographing for the dance company at Seaside Dance & Gymnastics in Westerly RI. Rebecca also used movement in her toddler classroom at The Children’s Workshop to help children express themselves. She was also a choreographer and performer for the Chorus of Westerly “A Celebration of 12th Night” for three years.
Rebecca is also a graduate from DeVry University in Hospitality Management. She works full time as the Director of Banquets and Events at Pranzi Catering. She is excited to be teaching at Soles and cannot wait to help her students find the love of dance she did when she was younger!
GABBY SANTOS
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Gabby Santos began dancing at the age of two years old; studying all styles of dance, from ballet and contemporary to hip hop and tap. Throughout the years she also participated in national competitions, conventions, many master classes, and summer dance intensives. She was fortunate enough to be chosen to model for Weissmans and Dancewear Solutions, which she did for five seasons.
She was also chosen to represent the state of Rhode Island, as a featured dancer in the published book, Dance Across the USA, by Jonathan Givens. In addition, her image, “Spirit Rise”, by Elan Studio, was featured in the publication, Kids Photos to Brighten Your Day by Tracy Sweeney. During her years dancing rigorously, she always maintained high honors and took honors and AP classes. Gabby currently attends the University of Rhode Island and dances on the Ramettes Dance Team there. Gabby is from North Kingstown, RI and has been a teacher at Soles since it’s inception!
CAROLINE PANDOLFINI
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Caroline Pandolfini, a South Kingstown native, is also a URI sophomore, double majoring in Elementary Education and Psychology. Caroline began dancing at Soles during it’s first year of inception. During that time she competed and placed in the top sector of her categories. Caroline began assistant teaching at Soles while taking classes in high school. Caroline’s extensive experience with young children, her positive, nurturing demeanor, and her love for dance make her the perfect addition to the SDA team!
MAIGHEN LAFERRIERE
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Maighen Laferriere is from Worcester, MA. She began dancing at the age 3 and began competing by age 7. Maighen has trained in all styles of dance including ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, acro, lyrical and more. She attended a performing arts high school where she continued to grow her dance training not only on the stage, but in the history aspect of dance, as well. Maighen has had the opportunity to perform in Disney World, on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, and at UDA Nationals down in Orlando, Florida! Throughout her years of dance training, she’s found a passion for teaching!
Maighen is currently studying Biological Sciences on the Pre-PA track at the University of Rhode Island and is the head captain of the URI Ramettes Dance Team!
KATRINA GEABER
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Katrina Geaber has always had a love for fitness and dance which led her to become a certified Zumba instructor in 2011. She has taught at several different studios in South Kingstown and East Greenwich over the years. Her classes are high energy and fun, with a good mix of Latin, reggaeton, hip-hop, pop, and other dance music. Her classes are for all levels and new students are always welcome. This class is for anyone looking to exercise and have FUN doing it. You can expect a mixture of simple, repetitious dance and fitness moves combined with energetic music. Come join this awesome workout in disguise!
HOLDEN WEMHOFF
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Holden Wemhoff was born and raised in Norfolk, NE where he first discovered his love for dance. When he graduated high school, he moved to Los Angeles and quickly booked professional dance gigs during his residency there. From performing in the musical “The Producers” to working closely with Disney and some of LA’s top named artists such as Allyson Stoner, Kaycee Rice, and Sean Lew, everything has led him to finding his real love for dance; teaching and choreographing. Over the past few years, his choreography has awarded him some of the competitions top honors. He takes pride in his unique style and believes that there’s potential in every kid, as long as they put the work in.
LAUREN RAGEN
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Lauren Ragen is an incoming junior at the University of Rhode Island, entering her third year on deans list as well as the division one dance team, the Ramettes. Lauren has been dancing for 8 years with 12 years of gymnastics experience starting at the age of 2. Her favorite styles of dance are contemporary and jazz, but she loves teaching all genres to any age. Lauren looks forward to the opportunity this next season will bring and is excited to meet all of her new dancers!
BRITTANY MAIONE
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Brittany grew up in Wakefield and began dancing at the age of 7 at the former Narragansett Performing Arts Center. She studied all styles of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical and contemporary. Brittany competed alongside Miss Val in a variety of competitions and conventions throughout middle and high school and then went on to study Elementary and Middle Level Mathematics at Rhode Island College. For the next 9 years, Brittany went on to teach at Jamestown Middle School as a math and social studies teacher. After having her fourth baby, Brittany made the difficult decision to leave the classroom to stay home with her children Owen, Viviana, Levi and Rosalie. Brittany is thrilled to join the team at Soles Dance Academy and have the opportunity to combine her love for dance and teaching in a new and exciting classroom!
SARA McCORMICK
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Sara McCormick is a recent graduate of Salve Regina University with bachelor degrees in both Dance and Theatre Arts. During her college career she was a member of the Jazz-based Extensions Dance Company performing concert dance on the Casino Theatre stage. She learned under multiple choreographers such as Kat Pantos and Melanie George, and has choreographed multiple pieces for the concert dance stage. She also spent her four years choreographing for the Theatre department at Salve Regina in almost every theatrical production including The Addams Family, Guys and Dolls, and The Drowsy Chaperone.
Sara has been dancing since the age of eleven and participated in competitive dance since the age of twelve. She found a love for teaching through working with dancers of many skill sets and experience levels through dance classes, choreographing for Extensions, and choreographing for musical theatre.