Executive Director
Lissa has been dancing professionally for fifteen years and has trained across New England including programs at Boston Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Burklyn Ballet Theatre. She holds a comprehensive certification in classical Pilates from Peak Pilates. In 2013 she graduated with a double major B.S. in Kinesiology: Exercise Science and B.A. in Theatre and Dance from the University of New Hampshire. Under direction of Larry Robertson, former Boston Ballet soloist, Lissa took the leading roles in Paquita, Scenes dan un Salon, and Echoes of the Highlands with the University of NH’s Ballet Company.
She was a principal ballerina with Northeastern Ballet Theatre since 2005 taking on leading roles such as Lucy in Dracula, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Laurencia in The Pirate and the Gypsy, the Evil Queen in Snow White, and main/title roles in Sleeping Beauty, The Snow Queen, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and The Nutcracker. She is also an accomplished choreographer and has choreographed more than ten full length musicals for Portsmouth Christian Academy.
Through the Miss NH organization Lissa became a spokesperson for her platforms (breast cancer awareness and distracted driving), volunteer, fundraiser, and advocate for many non-profit organizations across NH which won her community service awards, recognition and support from the Governor of NH on multiple occasions; a copy of her work is in the Congressional Record. Currently, Lissa is a sought after advocate, performer, and key note speaker against sexual violence after going public with her story. Be BRAVE is not only her personal mantra, but has become a movement encouraging other survivors to speak out.
Instructor
Miranda Bailey joined Columbia City Ballet of Columbia, SC in 2001, and in her 13 seasons with the company she performed such principal roles as Ariel in The Little Mermaid, Victoria in Dracula, Pride in Beauty & the Beast, and the title role in Pocahontas. She is best known as Chinese Tea in The Nutcracker which she danced every season since joining the company.
Amy O. Maxwell of the Free Times wrote of Miranda as Victoria, "Bailey not only established herself as a beautiful dancer with gorgeous legs and arms, but she also exhibited a beaming stage presence and portrayed her character with utmost believability." Susan Levi Wallach of the Free Times wrote of her performance as Pride in Beauty & the Beast, "Miranda Bailey, in the role of Beauty's sister Pride, was a standout. Bailey performed with a self-assurance and fluidity, underpinned by precise technique, a clean, classical line and rock-solid balance. When she danced, it was hard to look at anyone else." In 2009 Miranda was featured in William Starrett's premier of The Hootie & the Blowfish Ballet & Amy O. Maxwell of the Free Times praised her "steadfast energy".
After retiring from performing with the company in 2013, Miranda returned as the Ballet Mistress in 2016. In her 5 seasons in the position she has also acted as a Company Instructor, Sound Engneer, Production Supervisor, & Choreographer contributing original works to productions such as Body & Movement Explored, Beatles Ballet, & Motown Ballet & creating her own original ballet of The Grinch.
When not in SC, she can be seen dancing in New England with Dance Prism of Boston where her professional experience started in 1996. She is currently one of their featured company members & resident choreographers. There she has staged such classic ballets as Coppelia, Swan Lake, & Giselle, Don Quixote, La Sylphide, & Romeo & Juliet, created the original ballets of The Frog Prince, Aladdin, Peter Pan, & The Little Mermaid, & portrayed such roles as Swanilda in Coppelia, the title role in Giselle, Juliet in Romeo & Juliet, the Sylph in La Sylphide, Kitri in Don Quixote, & Odette/Odile in Swan Lake.
Instructor
Angela V. Carter studied with Marie Hale, Joan Miller, Ruth Petrinovic and Sonia Diaz, Eduardo Recalt, Clara Cravey, Claudia Cravey, Glen Tuggle, Dennis Wayne. She attended North Carolina School of the Arts, where she studied with Duncan Noble, Mimi Paul, Salvadore Aiello, Robert Lindgren. Attended Rosella Hightower International School of Dance, and Milwaukee Ballet with Ted Kivitt, Basil Thompson, Paul Sutherland, Brunilda Ruiz, and Katherine Kersten, Jeanette Markaroff, Sallie Wilson, Ruth Page. Ballet New England (Portsmouth, NH) with Mihailo (Misha) Djuric, James Franklin, William Pizzuto and David Drummond. Ms. Carter has appeared with the Houston Ballet, toured with Ballet Concerto, Ballet Galaxy, Milwaukee Ballet, and Atlantic Ballet and Ballet New England; Company Member, Ballet Mistress, Principal Dancer, Certified Pilates Instructor, Principal Instructor of Classical Ballet, Junior Company Coordinator, Company Instructor, School Director, and 2006 Artistic Director of Nutcracker, for Ballet New England. Principal Ballet Instructor at Fusion Dance Academy, North Andover School of Dance, Dance Carousel, Sally Gould Dance, Diane Kelley Dance, Centerstage Dance Academy, LA Beatz, Danceworks Design Movement. Master classes presented at Old Dominion University, TR Dance, Norfolk, VA and Virginia Ballet Theatre and the 2009 National High School Regional Dance Festival held in Norfolk, VA. She has appeared as a guest instructor with ballet companies in MA, ME, NH, FL, VA and VT. Ms. Carter has been featured in “Classic New Hampshire, Preserving the Granite State in Changing Times”, written by Linda Landry, and “Ballet Resources”. Honored Lifetime Member and VIP Member of the “Cambridge Who’s Who”. Member of the Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston, Advisor for Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston Education Training, listed in the International Global Directory Who’s Who in Dance, Member of the National Dance Council of America, Professional Member CE, of Dance Masters of America, Chapter 5, Member of the International Dance Council CID, Board Member of Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston and Co- Chair for Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston Education Training Course, Co-Chair of Programing, Dance Life Retreat Center for Continued Education. Adjunct Professor at Dean College.
Instructor
Robyn received her BFA from the Boston Conservatory. She was assistant to the director of dance at Franklin School for the performing arts in Franklin MA, and owned and directed Spectrum Dance Theatre in Townsend MA for nine years. Robyn has danced professionally with MJT Dance Company of Boston, Granite State Ballet, North Shore Civic Ballet, Judah Dancers, Atlantis Contemporary Dance Company and Boston Liturgical Dance Ensemble. She has taught Ballet and Modern in area studios throughout MA and NH. Robyn’s choreography has received critical acclaim throughout the New England area.
She has been a guest choreographer for Granite State Ballet, Southern NH Youth Ballet, Peterboro Dance Theater, Nashoba Valley Dance Academy, Northern Ballet, Magnum Opus Ballet, Bluebird Uncaged and the Milford NH Spartans Marching Band. Robyn is the Founder of The New England Inspirational Dance Festival, a performance which is held annually at the Amato Center for performing Arts in Milford, NH. Robyn is a faculty member at So NH Dance Theater teaching Ballet and Modern. She recently attended a two week intensive for the Limon Technique and Teacher Training at Kent State University. Robyn also teaches Ballet and Modern at Allegro Dance Academy in Nashua, NH, Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH and is the Artistic Director of Saving Grace Dance Ensemble.
www.robyngoulette.com
Instructor/Company Member
Jane Hannon grew up in Salem, NH and began dancing at the age of 3. She trained throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire for 16 years at New England Civic Ballet, Northeastern Ballet Theatre and Northeast School of Ballet. She has had countless summer intensives throughout New England, American Academy of Ballet at SUNY Purchase, Charlotte Ballet and The Washington Ballet. After graduating high school, she was invited to train in the Pre-Professional Program for the 2018-2019 school year at Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C. For the 2019/2020 Season, she accepted a Trainee Contract with Ballet Hartford. Since 2019, Jane has loved performing with Safe Haven Ballet in numerous ballets such as The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, and Cinderella. In addition to performing, she has also been professionally teaching ballet for ages one to adult for the last three years throughout New England. Jane is overjoyed to return as a Company Member and on Faculty with Safe Haven Ballet for the 2022/2023 Season!
Instructor/Company Member
In 2010, Mr. LaChance was awarded a Dowd Merit Scholarship to Ballet Chicago under directors Dan Duell and Patricia Blair. Upon graduating Indiana University, he moved to Chicago to attend Ballet Chicago’s full-year program to continue his education. Mr. LaChance began dancing professionally in 2013 and since then has performed across the country for several professional ballet companies as well as ballroom studios. Joseph’s performance highlights include: Von Rothsbart in Balanchine’s Swan Lake, the Third Regiment in Balanchine’s Stars & Stripes, Le Corsaire pas de deux, Dracula in W. Earle Smith’s Dracula and Sugar Plum Cavalier in various productions of The Nutcracker. He is currently a principal dancer with Safe Haven Ballet having starred in full length productions of Don Quixote, Cinderella, Beauty and The Beast, and How The Grinch Stole Christmas. He is one of the rehearsal directors and on staff for Safe Haven Ballet’s pre- professional school.
Instructor/Company Member
Mykenzi has grown up dancing around the NH Lakes Region and Seacoast since the age of 3. She began her serious ballet training with Northeastern Ballet Theatre at the age of 11, performing in The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella among many other productions. In addition to her dance background, Mykenzi has experience in musical theater, performing in shows such as Peter Pan, Annie, Beauty and the Beast, and The Wizard of Oz. Mykenzi received her Bachelor of Arts in History from Elon University in North Carolina, where she combined her passion for dance with her love of history. During her time at Elon, Mykenzi had the honor of being an Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellow, where she learned the foundation of leadership education. This created a new interest in mentorship within the performing arts, which Mykenzi sees exemplified well in Safe Haven Ballet. Now located in Cambridge, MA, Mykenzi is focusing on continuing her dance education and looking to pursue her masters in Museum education beginning Spring 2021. She is so happy to be back doing what she loves in her home state of New Hampshire!
Instructor
Amanda Walker received her early dance training in Tallahassee, FL at the Southern Academy of Ballet Arts and Pas de Vie Ballet, Inc. under Natalia Botha, Charles Hagan, and Gwynne Ashton. She holds a B.A. in Dance- Performance from Mercyhurst University, under the direction of Tauna Hunter. She has also danced and trained with such organizations as Lake Erie Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Boston Ballet SDP, the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts, and the International Flamenco Festival. Ms. Walker was a Principal Dancer and Senior Instructor with the Chattanooga Ballet for 9 seasons. While there, she was awarded the Fellowship for Artistic Excellence in Dance Performance by the Tennessee Arts Commission. She has also been a Guest Artist for several companies in the Southeast, performed in the Urban Nutcracker in Boston, MA, and taught Master Classes at various schools and summer intensives. In 2016 Ms. Walker received her M.A. in Mental Health Counseling; Dance/Movement Therapy from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, and is a Board Certified-Dance/Movement Therapist. She has worked as a Case Manager for an arts-based day program for adults with developmental and physical disabilities. Ms. Walker is currently teaching ballet and Adaptive Dance classes in the Boston area, including at Tony Williams Dance Center and Boston Ballet School. She continues to explore new ways of combining her ballet and mental health training. She is incredibly excited to be part of Safe Haven Ballet and its wonderful mission.