Dynamic Dance Academy

Owner/Director/Instructor:

Tara Calise - Miss Tara is well known in the town of North Kingstown, having taught dance in this community for many years.  She has also taught dance in Coventry, Chariho, Cranston, Exeter and for the URI Dance Company.  Dance has been her passion all of her life and she loves owning her own dance and fitness studio alongside her husband, Anthony.  Miss Tara has a B.S. in Exercise Science from the University of Rhode Island and has been a qualified member of Dance Educators of America since 2006.  She has over 25 years of teaching experience in the dance styles of ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, pointe and group exercise and has taught everyone from toddlers to older adults.  Her most exciting experiences as a dancer have been performing in Walt Disney World twice and once on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Explorer of the Seas.  As a studio owner, it was a dream come true when she took 32 dancers and their families to Walt Disney World in July of 2016 for a wonderful performance opportunity!  Miss Tara is extremely grateful for her students, staff and studio families.  Her goal is to make Dynamic Dance Academy a warm and inviting studio for anyone who has a passion and love for dance like she does!  

Instructors:

Lynn Miller - Miss Lynn began her dance training with Bette Ann Monti Rossi at Atwood Performing Arts Center for 13 years. She also trained under the instruction of Herci Marsden at State Ballet of Rhode Island for five summers. She has competed nationally as well as internationally. In 2002 she placed fourth overall senior soloist at the International Dance Organization's show dance competition in Riesa Germany. She then went on to train at Point Park University's Conservatory for the Arts in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. She spent two seasons as a dancer with the Pittsburgh Steelers for their fundraising events. She then went to Boston to earn her doctorate of optometry from the New England College of Optometry and practices optometry in Providence.   In addition to teaching weekly classes, Miss Lynn has also taught and choreographed for our Competitive Team.  She will begin teaching her 10th season at DDA this fall!

Elizabeth Fusco - Miss Liz has a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and English from URI and a Master's in Publishing from George Washington University.  She started dancing with Miss Tara when she was ten years old, studying Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Ballet and Pointe. During her time as a student at DDA she also competed on our Competitive Team and performed in Walt Disney World with our studio in 2016.  Miss Liz reflects fondly on memories of her time here, especially those from her assistant teaching and teaching experiences from ages 15-18.  She is a kind and patient instructor and very well liked by all of her students.  In the fall she will begin her 6th year returning as a teacher at DDA! 

Ellie Lupo - Ms Ellie has had a life long love of dance, starting with ballet classes at 7 years old.  Her professional career in dance performance, teaching and choreography has always been her passion.  She studied ballet, modern and theatre dance at American Ballet Theatre NYC, Joffrey Studio NYC, Lynn Simonson NYC and Alvin Ailey. Professional work includes Joffrey, Summer Stock on Cape Cod, Impulse in Boston and companies on Long Island.  Ms Ellie has an abundace of experience in teaching and choreography, including Joy of Movement, Walnut High School, New England Conservatory in Boston; Steps and Circle of Dance in New York; Festival Ballet Providence, Ocean State Ballet, RI Ballet Arts Academy and North Kingstown Community Chorus.  We are so honored to have Ms Ellie return for her 3rd year at DDA this fall!

Heather Dessaint - Miss Heather started her dance training in RI at the age of 3.  Her passion for dance grew as she got older and continued to learn, compete, perform, audition, work and have fun in the dance field! While in high school she performed and trained with a pre-professional ballet and modern company and she completed a 3 year program in Boston to get dance teacher certified.  New York was a place that truly inspired her to go for her dreams and she wants to encourage her students to do the same.  After training in RI, Boston, CT and NY, Miss Heather's career took her from Atlanta to California between 2011-2019.  Some of her favorite credits in her career so far have been the Jr. Dance Team for WNBA CT Suns, Final 18 Boston Celtics Dancers TV Show, Atlanta Hawks Dance Team 2016-2017, touring and opening for artists as a member of a girl dance group, auditioning for So You Think You Can Dance, and teaching in many places throughout the states.   During her first 2 seasons at DDA, she choreographed amazing Hip-Hop routines for our competitive team, as well as fun and energetic jazz and hip-hop routines for our weekly classes.  We are beyond excited that Miss Heather will continue teaching this fall for her 3rd season at DDA!  

Lexy Rayhill - Miss Lexy is a passionate dance and gymnastics instructor with a background in Acro, Contemporary, Ballet and Hip-Hop.  With over a decade of personal training and a few years of coaching experience, she is committed to creating a positive, encouraging space where students feel supported, confident, and inspired to grow and learn. Her teaching style blends strong technique with creativity and fun, making every class an uplifting experience.  Outside the studio, Miss Lexy is also a pageant title holder, mental health advocate, and entrepreneur - but her favorite role will always be cheering on her students as they shine.  Last season, she taught our Tumbling classes and we are so happy to welcome Miss Lexy back for her 2nd season of teaching Tumbling at DDA this fall!

Olivia Twarog - Miss Olivia has been a dancer at DDA for 15 years and is a senior at North Kingstown High School.  She has studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip-Hop and Pointe, and has been a member of our Competitive Team for many seasons.  In addition to dancing at DDA 3 days a week, she also rounds out her dance training with additional Pointe classes, Nutcracker performances with the Newport Contemporary Ballet, Team Atlantic Competition Team rehearsals, and numerous appearances at summer Nationals with Revel, Accelerate Dance Experience and Take Centerstage Dance Challenge. Miss Olivia has competed group routines in Jazz, Lyrical, Tap and Hip-Hop, Jazz duets and Solos in Jazz and Lyrical. She spent several years volunteering as a teacher assistant for our young dancers and last season had her first class as a solo instructor.  Miss Olivia will be returning as a dancer and will begin her 2nd year of teaching in September!

Emma MacCartney - Miss Emma is a student at Mount Saint Charles Academy and has been a dancer at DDA for 14 years.  She has studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary and Hip-Hop and was a member of our competitive Tap team for a year.  In addition to her dance classes at DDA, she is also an accomplished competitive figure skater.  She is a 5-time national medalist in Theatre on Ice (having competed in Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Texas) and has competed internationally with Theatre on Ice 3 times:  2019 in Epinal, France, 2022 in Boston, MA, and 2023 in Bordeaux, France.  Miss Emma has also competed with her school's DECA program, where they finished as RI State Champions in 2025.  At DDA, she volunteered as a teacher assistant for 2 years and last year had her own class of our young dancers ages 3-5.  We are pleased to welcome Miss Emma back as a 2nd year teacher in the fall!

Gia Gaccione - Miss Gia has been a student at DDA for 14 years and is a senior at North Kingstown High School.  She has taken classes in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary and Hip-Hop and has been a member of our Competitive Team for several years. She is a very accomplished Hip-Hop dancer and has won several awards for her Hip-Hop solos the past few years.  We are so proud of her talent and work ethic.  In addition to her amazing dance ability, Miss Gia is also a talented artist and has designed our Recital t-shirt and program cover for the past 2 years.  We are so happy to welcome Miss Gia as a first-time teacher to DDA this fall!