Meet Our Passionate Teachers

Colleen Pattavina

Founder, Director, Teacher Miss Colleen grew up in a dancing family. Her early experiences in dance were at her aunt's studio where she studied all the basic disciplines of dance in a family-friendly studio. After graduating from high school Miss Colleen went to the University of Connecticut and received a bachelor’s degree in physical education. She continued her education and graduated from the University of Idaho with a Masters Degree in Dance Pedagogy. While at the school she was awarded a graduate assistantship which enabled her to teach dance at the college level. Colleen is currently a member of the Dance Teachers Club of CT., and Dance Masters of America, where she is certified by test to teach dance. She is also a member of the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Artist. She regularly attends workshops to keep updated with the latest styles and teaching techniques. Colleen’s love for dance is exceeded only by her love for children. Her goal is to create a positive atmosphere for your child to develop his or her hidden talents.

Hannah Welsh

Teacher Miss Hannah, a native of Saco, Maine started dancing at 8 years old. She first gained experience in a local Broadway dance company where she danced for six years. Before she left for college, Hannah was a member of the Thornton Academy Dance Company under the direction of Kathy Nolan and Collective Motion Dance Company under Jennifer Bourgeault. She continued her training at Keene State College, graduating in 2010 with a BA in Theatre and Dance. Hannah has had the pleasure of working with Pilobolus, Heidi Henderson, Jennifer Archibald, Jill Eng, Lorelei Chang, and Heather Bundinscak.  She is currently a dance company member and teaching artist of dancEnlight based out of Hartford, CT. In the summer of 2016, she was a guest performer for the FreeFall Contemporary Dance Company at the Southern Vermont Dance Festival. Hannah has been a faculty member at Dance Dynamics Studios since 2011. Hannah enjoys watching her dancers thrive onstage!

Alyssa McDaniel

Teacher Miss Alyssa started dancing at the age of 5 and competing at the age of 8 at Backstage Dance Center in Killingworth, CT and The Dancer’s Studio in Northford, CT. She extensively trained in jazz, tap, ballet, and lyrical. During this time, she participated in regional and national competitions all over the country winning numerous awards and scholarships. Alyssa achieved the title of Teen Miss Dance Of New York City 2005, Dance Masters of America Chapter 26. When receiving the title she went on to assistant teaching Master Classes and workshops. She has trained with Frank Hatchett, Germaine Salsberg, Avi Miller, and Judy Rice. Alyssa has been teaching dance to children 3-16 years old and is very excited for the dance season. She is looking forward to sharing her talents with students at Dance Dynamics.

Jessica Allaire

Teacher Miss Jessica grew up in Hebron and has danced her whole life.  She graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2014 with a BS in Early Childhood Education and Sociology.  She also attended Quinnipiac University, graduating with an MS in Teacher Leadership. Her love of dance started with ballet and tap, then she began taking jazz and hip-hop classes. In high school and college, She was a part of dance teams, where she was able to choreograph numbers for large groups. At ECSU, She was the Vice President and, later, the President of the dance troupe on campus.  There she choreographed solos, small group numbers, and large group numbers. She started teaching at Dance Dynamics in the 2014-2015 season and her enthusiasm for dance and working with young children and teens have only grown.  You'll see Miss Jessica in Funky Tumblers, Diva Dancers, Dazzling Dancers, Hip Hop, and Tiny Twirlers. She looks forward to another fabulous season of tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop, and tumbling!

Erica Zapatka

Teacher Miss Erica's love of dancing began when she was a little girl taking lessons at Miss Beth's Dance Studio in Middletown, CT. Dancing all through her childhood and adolescence, Miss Erica discovered that dancing was not only about learning the moves but it provided her with a framework to learn about determination, perseverance, self-expression, compassion, and so much more. Taking those skills she learned in dancing she went on to get her BA in Theology from Providence College and her Occupational Therapy certificate from Quinnipiac University. She began teaching at Dance Dynamics in 2001 and can't imagine a June without a recital. In her "non-dance" life Miss Erica is a pediatric occupational therapist. Miss Erica specializes in teaching our younger students bringing her expertise in developmental progression to the dance studio. In addition to working with our Dazzling Dancers, she also teaches tap, musical theater, and other dance styles.

Jaden McNally

Teacher Miss Jaden is from Norwich, CT.and is currently a student at Eastern Connecticut State University studying business administration with a minor in communications. She started dancing at the age of 5 at All the Right Moves Dance studio. And trained in several different styles including contemporary, pointe, hip-hop, and jazz. Jaden now dances on the ECSU competitive hip-hop team which is ranked 8th in the country for open hip-hop as of this past year. She loves to dance and is super excited to start teaching this year at Dance Dynamics!

Grace MacLachlan

Teacher Miss Grace started her dance career right here at Dance Dynamics when she was five years old. Training in all styles, she spent many hours first at our old studio and later at our new one. She was a member of the original Dance Dynamics competition team, where she competed at regional and national competitions with her team and as a soloist. After graduating, she attended the University of Connecticut, where she was captain of the UConn Tap Team. She now works as a registered nurse at Hartford Hospital, but still considers Dance Dynamics her second home, and attributes it to her appreciation for hard work and discipline, her love for dance and creating choreography, and most importantly lifelong friendships. She is so excited to be back with the Dance Dynamics family this year!