Marina Berdichevsky

Piano Accompanist

I was born and learned how to play piano in Kiev, Ukraine. In 1994, I brought my daughter, Victoria, to Paulette’s Ballet Studio and fell in love with the warm and creative exciting studio atmosphere. It’s our sixth year with the Studio, and I really enjoy being a part of the magic created by dance, music and talent.

Kelly Clark

Hi! I am Kelly Clark. I have been dancing since the age of three and joined Paulette’s when I was eight years old and have never left! After high school, I went to Emmanuel College, where I was a member of

their competitve dance team of which I now assistant coach. After I graduated from college, I went on to graduate school at Boston College, receiving a Master’s Degree in Severe Special Education with a concentration on Deaf/Blind.

Currently, I am a special education teacher at the PGHS Learning Center in Waltham. I love to dance and Paulette’s has been a very special part of my life. I currently teach the pre-school class as well as various ballet and jazz classes. This is my seventh year on the faculty and I am so proud to be part of such an amazing dancing family!

Taylor Gough

I have been a part of the Paulette’s family since I was 3. I danced as a student of Paulette’s as well as assisting her in many classes. I graduated in the year 2000, but just couldn’t leave! The first year as a faculty member was incredible. I love working with the younger dancers because of their energy and enthusiasm to learn. Paulette taught me how to love dance and I hope to pass that love on to my students. Although I am currently attending Northeastern and don’t get to attend the studio more often than just the classes I teach, I know I’ll always have a home at Paulette’s. The girls I have danced with are like my sisters. We are close in many ways and when trying to explain exactly how, you can’t. So as PJ always says, “school friends are ok, but dance friends are forever!”

Donna Greymont

I am entering my 8th season of teaching with Paulette and her faculty, and it’s still as exciting as ever. I teach the Mom and Me program, jazz, and pre-school ballet. It is such a joy to spend time with all of the amazing young people at Paulette’s. I came back to dancing to do something fun for myself, and it has quickly become a major part of my life again. Dancing here is really special for me because I grew up dancing here, and it is just like home. I’m lucky that I have both the perspective of a teacher and a mother here at the studio. I love being a teacher and seeing the progress that all of the classes make throughout the year, and I love the fact that I can be involved as a backstage mom getting to know all of the great moms who do so much to make the show a success. Paulette’s has so much to offer; I’m really happy to be part of it.

Laura Harrington

I’ve been dancing at Paulette’s since I was four and I have loved every minute of it. The studio has always been like a second home to me, and everyone at the studio was a second family for me. That’s why when I graduated from high school, I couldn’t just leave the studio behind. I am currently a student at UMass Lowell and this is my fourth year on the faculty. It’s been such a rewarding experience, as dance has taught me so much about life and even about myself. I couldn’t imagine not being a part of Paulette’s Ballet Studio.

Naomi Harrington

Newton Studio Manager

My basic job is to help Paulette with whatever she needs! These days I basically work all Saturdays – taking attendance, answering the phone, help the dancers and their parents and try to keep everything going smoothly so that Paulette can worry about the important things – teaching! At various times during the season there are plenty of other things to do – fit and sew costumes, help with mailings and generate various documents to keep track of all the costumes. Perhaps one of my biggest responsibilities comes during concert time. My job is to be backstage at the rehearsals and performances to manage the flow of the dancers. I need to make sure everyone is in the right place at the right time – and take care of any unexpected emergencies with safety pins, tape and a pair of hands!

I cannot explain what I feel about Paulette’s, except to say (as so many others have) that it is my second home. I adore watching the dancers learn and grow. I have learned more about dancing and LIFE than I ever expected when I enrolled Laura 19 years ago. Simply put, I love being a part of Paulette’s world.

Andrea Higgins

Medfield Studio Manager

Andrea Higgins, the new face behind our Medfield desk, comes to us with a dance resume that includes numerous credits, including professional dance experience, work as a director and choreographer for stage and film projects. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts, and MA in Dance. Andrea looks forward to meeting you all.

Sue Horton

I have loved to dance for as long as I can remember. I started dancing with Paulette’s when I was eight years old. I continued dancing at Skidmore College, where I graduated with a degree in Business/Math. I came back and danced in the area, after I graduated, and eventually joined the faculty in 1994. By day I am the Senior Manager of Investment and Fund Accounting. The company name is Partners Health Care System. But on Wednesday and Thursday nights and Saturday afternoons, I am lucky enough to be here teaching at the studio doing something I love, and doing it in the place I love best!

Connie Katsarikas

This studio has not only provided me with a passion for dance, but it has also given me an entire second family. Paulette’s is filled with a loving and talented faculty and a group of wonderful students. I was fortunate enough to be a student at Paulette’s for eleven years. Upon graduation from high school, I decided to attend Emmanuel College and have had the opportunity to continue dancing there. I am a member of the dance team and was recently appointed captain. I have been on the faculty since 2008 and could not be happier about being a part of it. It’s given me the chance to give my students the knowledge and love for dance and life like it was given to me throughout my years of dancing with Paulette.

Amanda Liljedahl

After graduating from Paulette’s (where she had studied for over 13 years) in 1997, Amanda was able to continue her love for dancing at Holy Cross College in Worcester, MA. After auditioning for the Holy Cross Dance Ensemble she was accepted into classes for ballet, jazz, lyrical and into a group which performed at basketball games and other sporting events. Her sophomore year she was honored to receive the position of ballet teacher and choreographer for the Ensemble.

She continued teaching at Holy Cross and for the local Worcester School of Performing Arts through her four years at Holy Cross. She was then elected President of the Dance Ensemble and served in this role for all of senior year. After graduating from Holy Cross, Amanda was married and now has a two-year-old son. She is excited and honored to back dancing with Paulette.

David Pichadze

Music Director, Piano Accompanist

It is my pleasure to be playing the piano for Paulette and the students at Paulette’s Ballet Studio. I love what I do, and am happy to be in an environment where I can express that. When not at Paulette’s I enjoy performing, teaching and composing.

I met Paulette Sr. shortly after arriving in this country from Israel in 1985, where I was to attend the Berklee School of Music. Without prior experience she gave me the opportunity to learn the art of accompaniment for ballet. I have been playing for her ever since. The highlight of our collaboration was in 1991 when Paulette and I traveled to the former Soviet Georgia. She was to teach at the famous Ballachine Ballet School and I was to conduct at the Georgian National Symphony Orchestra..

Bridget Rouhan

I am so excited to be back for my 4th season on the faculty. After leaving Paulette’s in 2001, I went on to graduate from Marymount Manhattan College with a BFA in Dance Performance, a concentration in Ballet and a minor in Art History. I was an inaugural member of the Boston Celtics Dance Team for the 2006-2007 season and spent the past year doing various promotional work and performing at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas. I am thrilled to be back at Paulette’s and am looking forward to a great year!

Alicia Reilly Santamaria

Alicia “grew up” at Paulette’s Ballet Studio. She danced professionally while still in high school at the “Chateau de Ville.” After graduating she went on to choreograph and perform in musical productions at the College of the Holy Cross, and subsequently performed with several small Boston dance troupes. She returned to PBS to direct the adult dance program around 1990, and later joined her sister Penny to take over the jazz and tap program at the Medfield studio.

Katie Tunney

At the age of nine I started dancing with Paulette. Dance for me was more than just coming to class to learn new steps, it was a time for me to grow as a person and spend time with my friends; friends that I still see today as an adult.

I attended the University of Maine where I majored in education and was a member and choreographer in the dance department. For the past 15 years I have been a member of Paulette’s faculty. It has been a pleasure to pass on the dance knowledge that Paulette gave me to many of the students as well as my own daughters Michaela and Alison.