Quality technique & discipline taught with kindness & respect
About Us
About Our Business
Established in 1986, Doreen's Dance Center is located in the Westchester area of Colchester, at the intersections of Routes 149 and 16, providing easy access from Colchester, East Haddam, East Hampton, Hebron, Marlborough, Moodus, and Salem. Our modern facilities include three full-size classrooms equipped with mirrors, barres, professional sound systems, and air-conditioning, providing students with a safe and comfortable state-of-the-art environment for the pursuit of their dance training. The quality of our classrooms is complimented by business facilities that include: a private office for parental meetings; a reception room with restroom and a store for dance attire and footwear.
Classes and private lessons are offered in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Modern, Pre-Ballet, Acrobatics, Zumba Exercise classes and Bellydance. Classes are available for males and females ages 3 through adult, for the true beginner through advanced levels.
Teaching Philosophy
Each student enrolled at Doreen's Dance Center is assured of proper and efficient dance training by our professional teaching staff. Students are provided with quality techinique and discipline through a teaching philosophy that values kindness and respect. Each class is regularly monitored by the managing director and taught by experienced, adult teachers. Parents may observe classes on designated observation days. (Consult studio clendar.)
Located next door to Papa Z's Restaurant & only minutes from the Center of Colchester, East Hampton, East Haddam, Moodus, Hebron, Marlborough, & Salem. We offer 3 spacious studios, 2 waiting rooms, & plenty of parking in the rear of the building. Feel free to come & see it for yourself! Call to make an appointment for a personal tour!
Doreen Freeman (Director/Owner)
Miss Doreen has owned and directed Doreen's Dance Center since its inception in 1986. She is proud to see it grow to a leading studio in the community and to be entering her 26th year in business.
Miss Doreen is a former member of the teaching staff at the Judyth Parks Academy of Dance Arts of Wallingford, where she had her dance training, and was also previously on staff at the Glastonbury Dance Center.
She continues to study the art of dance through master classes, dance seminars, and workshops in New York and Boston. She has successfully completed programs by Dance Olympus, Professional Dance Teacher's Association, Joe Tremaine Tours, Rhee Gold's Project Motivate & Dance Teacher Magazine's Summer Conferences '05 & '06. Her passion and area of expertise is tap dancing, and she has studied extensively with Anthony LoCascio, the original lead of the nationally renowned Tap Dogs. She is a Vice President of the Conn. Chapter of N.A.D.A.A. (National Association of Dance and Affiliated Arts)
Miss Doreen has served as a choreographer for several local high school musicals and has done volunteer choreography and dance training for the Bacon Academy and Nathan Hale Ray High School Drama Clubs. She was resident choreographer for the East Haddam Community Theater and was on the judging panel of the Shoreline Arts Alliance Dance Scholarship Program.
Alison Durham, ACUSA
(Assistant Director)
Miss Ali has been the Assistant Director of Doreen's Dance Center since 2003. She began her studies with Doreen as a child and continued her education, taking dance classes in college. Miss Ali runs the Cecchetti Ballet Program at Doreen's Dance Center. She has successfully passed her Associate Exam in the Cecchetti Ballet Method. She is the Membership Chair Person, and is a Certified Member with Cecchetti USA. Miss Ali is also the Administrative Assistant for CUSA's International Summer School. Miss Ali continues studying ballet intensly with a CUSA Examiner on a weekly basis. Her students have been successful in passing their Cecchetti Ballet Examinations from the beginner levels, all the way through the professional levels.
Miss Ali also teaches Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap, and Lyrical. She has taken classes from Tabetha D'umo and Mia Micheals (So You Think You Can Dance), Dave Scott (choreographer of Step Up), Kevin Maher, Marty Kudelka (Janet Jackson's tour, Justin Timberlake's "My Love" & "Sexy Back" videos), Anthony LoCascio (Tap Dogs), Bethany Hooks, Bob Rizzo, Greg Russell, and many others. She continues her studies in NYC at Dance New Amsterdam, STEPS on Broadway, & Broadway Dance Center. Miss Ali also attends multiple dance conventions throughout the year to keep her training current and active. Her choreography has won numerous awards at competition. She has also been a certified ZUMBA instructor since 2008 and was a professional dancer at Six Flags New England.
Miss Ali has been an active member of the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Arts (N.A.D.A.A.) for the past 7 years, and is currently one of the Vice Presidents. Miss Ali has an Associates Degree in Accounting from ECSU.
Nicole Coombe (Artistic Director)
Miss Nicole is a native of Connecticut, living in the Colchester area for the last 13 years. She has studied dance since the age of five at three local dance studios, performing in competitions from age seven until her freshman year in college. She graduated in May 2008 from Eastern Connecticut State University with a degree in Performing Arts and a minor in Fine arts, with concentrations in both dance and music. During her time there she participated in the highly regarded American Collegiate Dance Festival, both as a performer and a choreographer of over 9 modern pieces that were presented at Boston College, Williams College and Connecticut College.
Miss Nicole has choreographed for, and performed in St. Joseph College's 5x5 performance 3 years in a row and through these conferences she has taken classes and workshops from prestigious teachers such as David Dorfman, Adel Myers, Thomas DeFrantz, JoAnna Mendl Shaw, and Bebe Miller. During her time at Eastern she also was a member of the ECSU Dance Team. While on the team she competed in Daytona, Florida at the National Dance Alliance Championship where the ECSU Dance team came in 9th place in their division. She also served as Secretary of the ECSU's Repertory Dance Troupe where she choreographed and performed in their end of the year show in 2005 & 2006. She was an award-winning choreographer at the National Association of Dance and Affilited Arts' National Dance Competition in 2007.
In 2011, Miss Nicole won the "Excellence in Choreography" Award at the Dance Explosion Competition for her "Paint it Black" dance routine, and the "Excalibur" Award for "The Nose."
Miss Nicole teaches jazz, hip hop, tap, contemporaray and modern. She likes to keep her dance education current by taking classes at local workshops such as Dance Masters Weekend at Weslyan, and in NYC at such locations as Steps on Broadway, Dance New Amsterdam, and Broadway Dance Center.
Esther Erickson (Acro Co. Director)
Miss Essie is a graduate of Naugatuck Valley Community College with an Associate's Degree in Fine Arts and Certificate of Dance. She was a lifelong resident of Bristol, CT, until moving to Middletown, CT in 2007. Miss Essie has been dancing since the age of five, and competing in dance since the age of nine, As an adult, Miss Essie was chosen to perform with Earl Mosley's Diversity in Dance Professional Modern Company. She participated in the USA World Showcase televised talent competition and was awarded First Place in the Adult Dance Category. Miss Essie taught dance for competitive companies and, most notably, received the Choreographer of the Year Award representing the state of Connecticut for the American Dance Awards Competition. She was also crowned Olympic Miss Dance of CT in 2003. In addition to teaching professionally for the past 9 years, she has also provided dance instruction and choreography for numerous studios, pageants, showcases and performances. She has been recognized by the Miss America Association for her opening number choreography.
In 2010, Miss Essie won the Best Overall Choreography for a Broadway style Jazz routine at one of the regional competitions.
In 2007, Essie joined the esteemed faculty of Doreen's Dance Center as a member of their core faculty. Miss Essie teaches tap, jazz, lyrical, technique jazz and acrobatics. She also choreographs for Doreen's Dance Company students. She looks forward to the opportunity to share her love for dance with you!
Anna Paradis
(Belly Dance Teacher)
Anna started dancing at the age of three. She was well trained in tap, ballet, traditional jazz, and modern. She was dancing on pointe at the age of 12, and studied under Margarite at the Springfield Ballet, along with her classes at local studios in the Manchester area.
She has been studying Belly Dance for 10 years. She has studied under Gia Khalsa who specializes in a Sufi Lifestyle and style of dance. She has also studied extensively in the Turkish style of Belly Dance. Anna has completed classes under the tutelage of Blanca of NYC, learning the art of the "Sensual Dance". Anna had participated in workshops held by the amazing late Rose Champagne who was a beautiful teacher and loved the dance.
Anna began teaching Belly Dance in 2005 and has a strong passion and love for this style of dance. She feels that women of all ages, shapes and backgrounds can Belly Dance! Her classes are full of fun and encouragement!
I attended the dance recital this weekend and I felt that I had to send some type of acknowledgement of how much I loved the show... the caliber of dance (even among the young ones) was just fantastic!! Hats off to a great teaching staff!!! I wish I lived closer to Colchester so that my daughter could attend your dance school!!! :)
Not only was the dancing fantastic, but the entire production, from lighting, to the music, the props, etc. were great!!! Congratulations on a job well done!!
Sincerely,
D. Johnson
May, 2011
"...how wonderful I think (Doreen's) Dance Center is. Many of my students have taken lessons from Miss Doreen & her staff & I really feel that the discipline they learn at their dance lessons and the positive attitude that's enforced carries over in the the classroom."
~Andrea Pascal, East Haddam Middle School, Social Studies Teacher
It's difficult to believe that this is our 14th year at Doreen's Dance Center! During each performance, I marvel at how professionally trained they have become as I remember that first recital when they watched the teachers on the side of the stage, look at their feet, or stare at the audience. My children have not only learned to dance while at the studio, they've learned to respect themselves and others, they've learned what it is to be part of a team, they've developed self-confidence, and above all, they've had fun! ~Donna Barney, June 2010
I would highly recommend Doreen's Dance Center for anyone interested. The studio offers classes for all ages: boys as well as girls. The teachers are creative, and have a way of intergrating fun with serious training. My daughter is, now, part of Doreen's Dance Company. The Dance Company is teaching her how to be a good team member & player. As well, she has made a few new friends and gained confidence in herself and her dance abilities. She is not afraid to try something new and realizes the importance of being a good listener and showing respect to all teammeates & instructors. It's nice when you can incorporate strong moral values with a fun activity! ~Sandy Clark, June 2010
