​The Dance Center of Danvers

The Faculty

Gia Carson, Owner  

Gia began dancing at the Dance Center at the age of 6 under the direction of Pamela Christo, where she continued her studies in Jazz, Tap, Classical Ballet, Lyrical Dance, and Hip Hop through her teen years. She also trained in Classical Ballet at the Gene Murray School of Dance, a well respected and recognized technical dance school in Salem, MA. At the age of 16, Gia was selected to tour the country as one of Art Stone’s Dance Olympus V.I.P Dancers.  A VIP has a once in a lifetime opportunity to study with a highly skilled and competent group of professionals, while traveling throughout the United States.  A VIP becomes a stronger technician, a better performer, and a more mature person after an exciting, educational and exhausting summer with this tour. After high school, Gia continued her studies at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida with concentration in Classical Ballet and Modern Dance. After marrying and beginning her family, Gia returned to the Dance Center of Danvers to pursue her love of teaching and help keep the studio the successful teaching facility that it has always been.

Lauren D'Ambrosio

Lauren graduated from Salem State University with a bachelor's degree in Education and a minor in Dance. She also holds a Master's Degree in Education and Special Education from Cambridge College. Beginning at a young age, Lauren was able to train in all genres with copious dance studios and schools. These studios include Chelsea Dance Studio, Virginia Williams Dance Studio, Dance Center of Malden, Northeast Youth Ballet, The New York City Ballet, The Boston Ballet, and the Ballet Theatre of Boston. She also had the opportunity to perform professionally in productions at The Emerson Theatre and The Boch Theatre.  Lauren's love for performing led her to teaching and she worked as a dance teacher at Salem State for many years. Aside from her extensive dance background, she has great experience working with children through her work as a special education teacher, an ABA therapist, and as the Program Director for Family Networks in Lynn, MA. Lauren is excited to return to The Dance Center for her 4th year! As always she looks forward to bringing her experience and passion for dance into her classes. 

Kristin Flynn

Kristin began dancing at the age of 8 at her local Boys and Girls Club.  It was there she realized her love and passion for dance. She stayed there until her early teens and then joined a serious studio to develop her skills. She immediately joined the competition team. She studied jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical and hip hop. During her summers, she danced at her studio and also studied at the Konservatoriet Dance Studio in Alfred, Maine. There she learned the strict techniques of ballet and contemporary dance. Throughout high school, Kristin danced at her local studio on the top competition team; dancing 12 hours per week perfecting her techniques. Kristin is also a licensed Physical Therapy Assistant and shares her expertise to increase our dancer's flexibility, technique, and strength. Miss Kristin has been teaching at The Dance Center of Danvers for six years and is looking forward to starting her seventh year at DCD. 

Caroline Norris 

Caroline began her dance training at a young age at J & D Dance Academy in Reading, Ma. Here she learned the techniques of classical ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop. Caroline is also trained in dramatic arts and musical theatre performance. After graduation, Caroline continued her dance career as a member of the UNH Dance Team. Ranking 7th in the nation, her team was intensely trained in Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Pom styles. During college, Caroline was also a Lowell Spinners Dance for two years and performed in venues such as Fenway Park. Caroline graduated from UNH with a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development, Family Studies, and Child Advocacy. She also received a Graduate Degree in Early Childhood Education from Salem State University. In addition to her work at The Dance Center, Caroline is also a Kindergarten Teacher. Miss Caroline is excited to return for her sixth year and looks forward to sharing her passion and love of dance with her students! 

Sarah Tubbs

Sarah graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of New Hampshire where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and Management with a minor in Dance. Sarah was a student at Kerry's Dance Center in NH and has trained in tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, acro-jazz, modern, hip-hop, and lyrical for fourteen years. During her years as a student, she was an avid student-choreographer, assistant teacher, and part of her studio's competition team. Her choreography has been performed in front of thousands of people at UNH’s Cowell Stadium, in local promotional performances, state competitions, Boston Celtic’s Games, and even on the Miss New Hampshire Stage where she took home the title of Miss New Hampshire from 2019-2020. While training with her team at UNH, she studied tap, jazz, ballet, aerial arts, dance composition, and choreography.  Sarah served as the head coach of the Timberlane High Dance Team, trains on Aerial Silks and Trapeze, and teaches various master classes in NH. Sarah is thrilled to return to The Dance Center for her fifth year and continue her passion for teaching.

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Talia Maihos 

Talia has been dancing for twenty-six years with over a decade of teaching experience behind her. She is trained in various styles and has taught ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, modern, and hip hop to all ages and skill levels. She began her career at the age of 17 volunteering to teach hip hop to adolescents with disabilities. Talia then went on to train at her home studio teaching ballet and tap. At the same time, Talia enrolled at Salem State University focusing her studies in Dance. She was a choreographer for both Salem State Dance Ensemble and Repertory Dance Theatre and held the position of President for the 2012-2013 academic year. Talia performed with the Hip Hop Company, Pictures in Concrete, out of Boston and has spent the last decade dedicating her dance career to teaching on the North Shore. Talia is grateful to be a part of the Dance Center of Danvers faculty, and wholeheartedly enjoys sharing her passion for dance with all of her students.

Mary Budrose

Mary began her dance training at The E. Virginia Williams School of Dance in Malden, Ma. E. Virginia Williams was the founder of The Boston Ballet. From age 12-18yrs. Mary received a full scholarship to The Boston Ballet School and their Summer Dance Programs. She had the incredible opportunity to study with E. Virginia Williams, Sydney Leonard, James Capp, Violette Verdy, Shauna Bereska, Bruce Wells, and Bruce Marks. Upon graduation from high school, Mary was accepted into the trainee program at the Joffrey School of Ballet in New York City where she studied with Robert Joffrey, Trinette Singleton, Francesca Corkle, and Jonathan Watts. She then went on to dance with the Indianapolis Ballet Theatre. Upon moving back to Massachusetts, Mary was the artistic director of The Andover School of Ballet, taught at The Dance Center of Lynn and Danvers, and Sandra Marie's School of Ballet in Melrose. During these years she also received her Bachelor's degree in Education from Salem State University and her Master's degree in Education from Lesley University. She currently teachers grade 6 English Language Arts in Topsfield, Ma. and is very excited to be joining the talented teaching staff at The Dance Center of Danvers.