Dawn R. Masse-Gariepy - Artistic Director

Dawn has been dancing since the age of 2 1/2. She completed her dance degree in 2000 at the Dean College School of Dance, graduating Suma Cum Laude. She has also participated in dance classes at the Community College of Rhode Island, Rhod Island College, Providence College, and American College Dance Festival in New Jersey and Connecticut. She is a certified dance teacher and member of the Dance Teachers' Club of Boston with the American Society, Dance Masters of America, and Dance Alliance of Rhode Island. She was the dance instructor at the Arc of Northern Rhode Island for eight years, where she taught several classes and had a dance troupe which traveled locally to entertain in the community.  She was also the dance instructor at Mount Saint Charles Academy in 2001 and the dance instructor for their Fine Arts Camp for eight years.  She has also done choreography for weight lifters and several local theatre groups. She continues her education through conventions and classes held throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Alyson has been dancing at Dance Creations, Inc. for 22 years. She is a certified dance instructor through the Dance Teachers' Club of Boston, and attended Dean College School of Dance, where she was also a member of the Dance Company. She has participated in many regional and national dance competitions. She has also choreographed competition dances for Dance Creations students, and for Halliwell Elementary School and North Smithfield High School performances. In 2002 she was chosen to perform with the Sophisticated Productions National Dance Team at their National Competition in Wildwood, NJ. In 2003 she spent a week in New York City at Break the Floor, a national tap convention culminating in an off-Broadway show. She has taken master classes from Diane Walker, Julia Boynton, Gil Stroming, Mike Minery, and many others. She has also attended classes at the Jeannette Neill Dance Studio in Boston.  She was married in 2005, and is working to complete her degree in Computer Programming. She is currently employed as a Business Systems Analyst.

Kayla has been dancing at Dance Creations, Inc. for 18 years. She studies Tap, Jazz, Ballet and Pointe and is an Instructor. She will be graduating from Rhode Island College with a degree in Elementary Education/Special Education. Kayla has been competing in regional and national dance competitions since age 10, as well as performing at Friendly Nursing Home and Autumnfest. In 2002 she was chosen for and participated with the Sophisticated Productions National Dance Team in Wildwood, NJ. She was also chosen to participate in the Rockette Summer Intensive in New York City. This year, she choreographed a Tap and Jazz routine for the North Smithfield High School Dance Team which was performed at their annual Spring Concert. She volunteers her time at a local elementary school, working with a second grade class.

Lexii is 17 years old and a Senior in high school. She currently studies Tap, Jazz, and Ballet. She has been dancing for 14 years, but came to Dance Creations, Inc. in 2003, making this her ninth year. She has been teaching tap and jazz to younger dancers for three years and has been a part of the Dare to Dream competition team for four years. Lexii has been a part of her school’s dance team since grade seven and has been part of the choir since grade nine.  She also has participated in several theatre productions.  She believes coming to Dance Creations was one of the best choices she could have ever made.

Amanda is 16 years old and has been dancing at Dance Creations, Inc for 12 years. She is a Junior in high school and is also an honor student. She is a captain of her high school dance team. She studies Tap, Jazz, Ballet and Pointe and is a Demonstrator for younger dancers. She has also competed and performed at Autumnfest each year. This season she will be competing with a tap solo. She hopes to continue dancing as long as she can at Dance Creations, Inc.

Ariana is 14 years old and is a Freshman in high school. She currently studies Tap, Jazz, Ballet and Pointe, and teaches Tap and Ballet to 3-6 year old students. She has also competed with two dances. Ariana has been dancing for 10 years, and hopes to continue until at least her Senior year.

Holly is 15 years old and a Sophomore in high school. She has been dancing for 12 years at Dance Creations, Inc. and for 4 years at her school. She currently studies Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Pointe and Lyrical. She has been a member of the Dare to Dream Competition Team for 5 years, and a Demonstrator for 3 years. She is also a captain of her dance team at her high school. She has loved dancing at Dance Creations, Inc. and hopes to continue dancing as she grows.

Kristen is 16 years old and a Junior in high school. She is an honors student currently enrolled in the NHS (National Honors Society) and has been nominated twice in 2009 and 2010 for the USAA (U.S. Achievement Academy) and the All-American Scholar Yearbook.  She has studied ballet and tap dance for 13 years, jazz dance for 11 years, and pointe for 5 years at Dance Creations, Inc. She has also studied modern/contemporary dance for 3 years at various workshops while representing the studio. She has participated in school productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Hello Dolly as Ensemble, Dancer, and Assistant Choreographer. She has also participated in dance competitions for 8 years at competitions such as Legacy Dance Championships, Sophisticated Productions Dance Competition, Fire and Ice International Talent Competition and Convention, Starbound National Talent Competition, Step Up2 Dance Tour, U.S. National Championships and more. She has won a number of awards in the above dance competitions, tours, and challenges such as silver, high silver, gold, and high gold medals and trophies, “5th Place Overall High Score” in the Intermediate Division 2011 Regional at the Legacy Dance Championships, “2nd Place” in Regional 2010 at That’s Entertainment Dance Competition, and the “Fabulous Feet” Special Judge Award at the 2011 Regional Elite Dance Challenge. She was invited to participate in Sophisticated and Legacy Competition Dance Teams at Nationals in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, and 2011. She participates yearly in the Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston Workshops and is currently enrolled in the Dance Teachers' Club of Boston 3 year summer classes for her dance teacher certification. She plans to study dance in college as well.