Beverly Richards Dance Center
*Celebrating 41 Years!*
Meet Our Faculty
Miss Melissa Carter
"Melissa is excited to bring her love of competing, performing, and teaching to the students of the BRDC."
Melissa Carter began dancing at the Beverly Richards Dance Center under Mrs. Beverly Buckley at the age of five. Melissa was a dedicated member of the BRDC competition team, training in many areas of dance: Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Pointe, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern, Musical Theater, Hip Hop, and Acro.
Melissa is a 2023 graduate of the University of Massachusetts Boston with degrees in both Criminal Justice and Dance. Over the years, Melissa has danced in many recitals and has competed in numerous competitions on both the national and regional levels. As a competitive dancer, she has won many high score and special awards in both groups and solo performances. Melissa has competed at highly prestigious dance competitions in the area, including the American Dance Awards (ADA) and Dance Masters of America competitions.
Melissa is excited to bring her love of competing, performing, and teaching to the students of the BRDC.
Miss Caroline Ball
"Caroline loves to learn new things and expressing herself through dance is just one of her passions."
Caroline Ball, a native of Lynn, is a 21 year-old, senior, honors student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is currently double majoring in Sociology and Dance and hopes to pursue a career in dance research. Caroline is a graduate of St. Mary's
High School, where she was Dance Team Captain. She began her dance career at Leanne Leslie’s School of Theatrical Dance. She continued her training under Denise Cecere at the Northeast School of Ballet and attended Charlotte Ballet's 5-week summer intensive. Caroline is well-trained in many styles including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary and lyrical, pointe, and ballroom.
In 2023, Caroline presented her first solo work at the University of Massachusetts Amherst called "Curiosity Leads to Trouble". Throughout her career, Caroline has choreographed many different pieces including solos and group dances for a variety of ages in ballet, jazz, tap, and hip-hop. Caroline loves to learn new things, and expressing herself through dance is just one of her passions.
She has been teaching at Beverly Richards since 2018, and can't wait to continue to teach the next generation of dancers!
Miss Holly McLaughlin
"Dancing is one step, one dream a wonder within itself so set your body free”
Miss Holly McLaughlin is one of the Beverly Richards Dance Centers original students.
She has trained with Mrs Beverly Richards since her love and passion for dance began at the age of 5. Dancing at both the East Boston and Rowley studios, Holly has diverse training in, Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Acro, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern, Ballroom, Musical Theater & Baton. As a member of the competition team Miss Holly holds numerous Dance & Pageant Titles since age of 6 starting with Tiny Miss East Boston Sophisticate, She continues to hold Titles to this day in the Adult Competitive Category as a Dance to Inspire National Adult Competitive Tap Ultimate Platinum winner
With the recommendation of Beverly Richards Buckley she attended Triton Regional High School, located in Byfield MA where she joined the school’s dance program. There she studied and trained with Pierre Barreau, both a Juilliard Instructor and Dancer, while still continuing to dance at Miss Beverly’s Rowley Studio. Holly was selected and attended Tanglewood Days in the Arts Program (DARTS) and spent a few months in the summer immersed in everything arts as well as dance classes at Jacobs Pillow.
Holly passion and love far exceeds the physical, it is in her DNA. In 1992 and 1993 Miss Holly won numerous awards for her writings of dance. At age 12 Miss Holly entered a magazine contest where you had to write “Dancing is… She won and was featured in the magazine. She went on to write 3 essays that all got picked for the 1992 Boston Dance Off “ The Power of Knowledge” hosted by WZOU (now Jam’n 94.5) All groups placed.
After taking a step back for some time Miss Holly came back to the one place she always called “ home” and started taking Adult Classes. She is extremely excited to join the faculty at Beverly Richards Dance Center
Miss Kristen Chianca
"Kristen's love for dancing came flooding back as if she had never stopped."
Miss Kristen Chianca has had a love for dancing since she can remember. Kristen was trained at a dance school in East Boston from the young age of 3 into her highschool years. During her dance years, Kristen received numerous Regional and National awards at a competitive level. After a long hiatus from dancing, Kristen decided to start taking adult classes at BRDC during the Summer of 2022. Kristen's love for dancing came flooding back as if she had never stopped. Her favorite style of dance is tap. However, she also has a love for jazz and ballet. Kristen decided to return to the competition setting starting in May 2023. Kristen received both Regional and National awards in the adult competitive category, scoring a Supreme Platinum and an Ultimate Platinum.
Kristen has been a nurse for 5 years, but for the last 3.5 years, she has focused on pediatric nursing. She is also currently attending Salem State University to obtain her Bachelor's of Science in Nursing. Kristen will graduate in May 2024. Due to her background in the medical field, Kristen has an interest in the body and how it works, which helps her have an understanding of how the body operates during dance.
Kristen is excited to join the BRDC dance family as an instructor and help your child grow a love for dancing.
Mr. Cole Ellsworth
Cole Ellsworth is an improvisational dance artist. Having recently graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a BA in Dance, Cole provides a positive learning environment with a focus on creativity and well developed technique.
While much of his free time is dedicated to informing his own movement language, Cole is well versed in Ballet, Hip-Hop, Modern, Jazz, and contemporary styles. Outside of the studio, Cole provides professional work as a freelance sound and lighting technician, and makes music with his friends.
Mrs. Amanda Roman
Mrs. Amanda Roman has been dancing from the time she learned to walk. Amanda studied dance at The Academy of Performing Arts, a former dance studio in East Boston from ages 4-16 where she studied, tap, jazz, ballet, acro, and musical theater. She won many awards throughout her many years of competing and national competitions. She also studied for 2 years from the ages 8-10 at the Boston Ballet.
Amanda also has many years of cheerleading experience. Starting at the age of 11 Amanda cheered for East Boston pop warner under the instruction of Rose Salazar, a very well-known cheerleading coach out of East Boston. At the age of 15, Amanda’s coach Rose opened up an All Star Squad called The East Boston Flames in which Amanda cheered for 7 years. She attended UCA cheer camps with the Flames several times and also got the opportunity to perform at Nationals in Disney World. Amanda has also coached the cheerleaders of East Boston pop warner for 2 years and also ran a cheerleading clinic for 2 years during the off season to keep the cheerleaders working.
Amanda has always had a passion for dance and wants to share her knowledge and love for dance with the youth and is very thrilled to join The Beverly Richards dance family.
"Amanda has always had a passion for dance and wants to share her knowledge and love for dance with the youth ."