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Meet the Instructors

Lissa Curtis

Executive Director

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Lissa Curtis

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.

Ryan Martin

Artistic Associate Director

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Ryan Martin

Artistic Associate Director

Katharine Marianacci

Company Member/Instructor

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Katharine Marianacci

Company Member/Instructor

Before joining Safe Haven, Katharine was a professional dancer with the renowned companies South Carolina Ballet and US International Ballet. In addition to her dance performance career, Katharine has significant experience teaching ballet and ballet-inspired fitness classes across the country. Katharine also holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and she works as a psychotherapist in private practice while continuing to pursue professional ballet. Katharine is excited to begin a new chapter with Safe Haven!

Martin Skocelas-Hunter

Company Member/Instructor

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Martin Skocelas-Hunter

Company Member/Instructor

Martin began his training in Canton, Michigan primarily focusing on the Cecchetti Ballet syllabus. He went on to study Musical Theatre Performance at Western Michigan University, and most recently Dance Performance at Grand Valley State University. Martin has had the opportunity to work with and perform works created by Lizzie MacKenzie Pontarelli, Eddy Ocampo, Brian McSween, Calin Radulescu, Erica Fischback, Autumn Eckman, Becca Lemme, and Amy O'Neil. He has performed with the Grand Rapids Opera Company, Ballet Fleming, Brandywine Ballet, and Dance Del Bello, Arch Contemporary Ballet, Columbia City Ballet and Alabama Ballet. Martin is currently dancing with Palmetto City Ballet.

Morgan Morse

Company Member/Instructor

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Morgan Morse

Company Member/Instructor

Morgan started her ballet training at Ballet New England under Elisa Gerasin and Angela Carter. In 2007 she joined Northeastern Ballet Theater where she continued her training under Director Edra Toth. While at Northeastern Ballet Theater, she was given many opportunities to perform in various ballets such as The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Stars and Stripes, Midsummer's Night Dream, and Snow White. Morgan is excited to continue her ballet journey as a Company Member at Safe Haven Ballet!

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raised for assault survivors since 2016!