Nicole Nolan
Nicole Nolin began dancing at the age of seven! and proved a dedicated dancer and acrobat as well as a member of the ALDS Competition & Performance Team. She began her teaching career at age 16 with an all boys hip-hop class. And in 2007 went on to establish a successful competitive program at a local studio. Nicole is a graduate of Dance Masters of America's Teaching Training School in Buffalo NY passing national exams in ballet, tap and jazz. She is also certified in Safety & Risk Management with USA Gymnastics. Nicole has been a past board member and President of the Maine Dance Teachers Club and is currently a DMA member. In addition to dancing, Nicole is a licensed cosmetologist currently working at a salon in Lewiston. She loves spending time with her husband, step-son & 15-year-old Yorkie/Cocker Spaniel, Sophie.
Sarah Pedersen-Faria
Sarah began dancing at five years old, at Gilbert’s Dance Studio in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. She then joined Touch of Class Dance Studio, learning under Joan McVey, growing up as a studio kid, becoming a member of the competition team and gaining her first experience as a teacher’s assistant. While completing coursework in Psychology at Bridgewater State College, Sarah continued demonstrating her commitment to dance by completing the Dance Education Training program at the Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston. To continue building her dance expertise, Sarah completed several intensive courses in both Tap and Jazz at the Rhee Gold Dance Life Retreat Center in Norton, Massachusetts. Most recently, she has completed Karida Griffith’s tap teacher professional development training program. Sarah has pursued her lifelong path of continuous learning and sharing her passion for dance through teaching, first at Touch of Class Dance Studio and then, after moving to her new home, in Maine. Beginning in 2010, Sarah taught at Rising Sun Dance Studio in Winthrop for eight years, before joining The Dance Center in Auburn, where for the past five years she taught tap. Sarah is an experienced, approachable and committed dance teacher. She loves to share her passion for dance, while helping others develop and grow as dancers and humans.
Baylie Weber
Baylie began her dance training at the age of four under the guidance of Jennifer Bement. During her senior year of high school, she performed with Stage Presence in Fairfield, Maine. She continued to develop her skills while attending the University of Southern Maine, where she took as many dance classes as she could including Ballet, Modern Dance, and Musical Theatre. Her training also included classes at the Portland Ballet. Some of her favorite roles include Arabian Coffee and Marzipan, performed under the mentorship of Jennifer Bement. Currently, she teaches ballet and contemporary dance classes at Grace Center for Movement.
Baylie has a profound appreciation for dance due to the passion and structure it provides, and now finds joy sharing her enthusiasm for dance with her students.
In addition to her dance instruction, Baylie runs her own cleaning business and cares for her cat. She enjoys reading and participating in yoga classes.
Janice Dumais
Janice began dancing at the age of three. During her years as a dancer, she trained in many dance styles including tap, jazz, ballet and pointe, attended workshops through the Maine Dance Teachers Club, and was an assistant teacher. While attending Saint Joseph’s college Janice participated in their dance team. Janice has taught at Camire School of Dance since 2009 and has taught jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop and acro. She has a master’s degree in social work and loves sharing her passion for dance with her students while helping them grow.
Gina Hesse
Gina graduated with a BFA in dance studies in 2001 and then went on to start her own dance company called Immersion Dance Company in Long Island, NY. Immersion performed in various venues throughout New York and at the Edinburgh Fringe festival in Scotland in 2005. Gina has performed with other NYC based dance companies at venues including the Joyce SOHO, Dance Space and Merce Cunningham in NYC. She moved to Maine in 2007 and taught dance at Berwick academy for 10 years. Most recently, she choreographed musicals such as Annie, Fun Home, Heathers and Beauty and the Beast.
Heather Baxter
Heather Baxter grew up in Maine and received her early training at Portland School of Ballet. She attended Point Park University where received her Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Ballet and a minor in Entrepreneurship, where her teachers included Peter Merz, Girard Holt, Jay Kirk, and Ruben Graciani. After graduating, Heather was a company member with Roanoke Ballet Theater in Virginia for two years, where she began teaching creative movement and ballet. She returned to Portland Ballet as a company member in 2019. While at Portland Ballet her roles have included Olivia in A Victorian Nutcracker, Young Girl in Jen Jones’ Surprised by Joy, Peasant Pas de Trois in Giselle, Huntress in Sylvia, and Olivetta in A Harlequinade. During her summers as a student, she has had the opportunity to train at many nationally renowned summer intensives including The Washington Ballet, Oklahoma City Ballet, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and Bates Dance Festival. In 2016 she had the chance to spend three weeks training in Italy with Dance Italia where she studied Gaga technique, Flying Low, and Counter Technique. She currently teaches ballet, jazz, creative movement, modern, and musical theater dance at studios around Maine to students of all ages.
