ABOUT
The current Harrison Block Building was built in 1923. The Ballroom and it’s adjoining rooms were used by the Rebekahs and Odd Fellows as their meeting rooms. It also served for town meetings and festive social gatherings. In 1994 Nan Brett became owner of The Ballroom. Its purpose, now, is to provide an arena to nurture a spectrum of movement, expressive, and performing arts techniques. The Ballroom’s 2,000 square foot main floor, mirrored wall, great acoustics, and 16-foot-high ceilings with molded plaster decorative work, provides a great venue for movement classes, performances, meetings and social gatherings. In addition to the original Ballroom, in 2001 Nan purchased the neighboring function room which had been converted to residential and office use in the 1970s. Extensive renovation has restored this room to its original beauty. The addition of this large room with kitchen facilities has allowed for further expansion of classes and functions at The Ballroom.
The Ballroom, located in the Harrison Block Building,
was built in 1923.
FACILITY RENTAL
The Ballroom’s spacious studios are available to rent for classes, workshops, functions and performances. Sound systems are available in both studios, tables and chairs are available to rent and there is a piano in one studio—perfect for a class, music lessons or recitals.
Call Nan Brett at 207-583-6964.
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NAN BRETT, DIRECTOR
Nan earned her BA from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York majoring in Psychology with a minor in dance. She has done post-graduate work in Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology at the University of Southern Maine. Nan is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine, IDEA and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education and Dance. Building upon her foundations as a teacher of Modern Dance and Children’s Creative Movement, Nan became an ACE Certified Fitness Instructor in 1986 and has maintained her accreditation since. Always a strong believer in the health enhancing qualities of movement, Nan has been teaching movement classes since 1980. Nan is a December 2018 graduate of the New Hampshire Institute for Therapeutic Arts - earning her certification and licensure through the State of Maine as a Licensed Massage Therapist.
FACULTY
NAN BRETT
Nan Brett discovered her passion for dance as a young student in Boston, MA. She continued with her dance studies as an undergraduate at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY majoring in Psychology & Dance. It was during this time that she studied with many respected members of the dance community who helped to shape her foundational beliefs about the importance of excellence in dance education.
JULIETTE LAUZIER BRIDGES
Juliette Lauzier Bridges joined The Ballroom dance faculty in 1998 bringing her talents for teaching Ballet, Jazz, Modern & Tap. Juliette has had extensive training and teaching experience through the Maine State Ballet school where she is a faculty member and, in addition, is a soloist with the Maine State Ballet Company (having danced with MSB since it's inception).
IMARI
Imari has been Bellydancing professionally for over 25 years and as a teacher has shared her passion with thousands of women throughout New England. Imari is the director of New England’s premier Bellydancing troupe-Imari & the Sahara Desert Dancers. This beautiful, powerfully feminine Bellydance troupe is made up of women of all ages, sizes and walks of life.
NETTIE GENTEMPO
Nettie is a homeschooling mother, professional hula hoop artist & co-founder and artistic director of the Nevaeh Dance Circus based out of Western Maine. For almost 2 decades Nettie has dedicated her life to the performing arts as a choreographer, instructor, and professional performer.
KIMBERLY HAMLIN
Kimberly Hamlin is a fiber artist, knitting designer and dancer native to Western Maine. She received her B.A. in Liberal Arts from Bennington College, where she studied visual arts, dance, and dance improvisation. Kim has trained/performed with Melinda Ring/Special Projects, Bates Dance Festival, LStreet Dance Theatre, Art Moves Dance Studio, Ram Island Dance, and Expansion Arts. Most days, you can find Kim in her shop Fiber & Vine, located on Main Street in Norway, Maine.
AMELIA AGLOW
Joining our dance faculty for the 2023-2024 season is Amelia Aglow. Amelia is a yogi, massage therapist, circus artist, and homeschool mom. Amelia began practicing yoga in 2006, She picked up hoop dancing while attending college in 2007, and did teacher training in both hooping and yoga (Kripalu tradition) in 2010. She has been collecting style points ever since. Her classes fuse tradition and play and are trauma-informed.
ALLISON TABER
Allison has a degree in Early Childhood Education and has worked with young children for 20 years, incorporating music, dancing & creative movement into her curriculum. She's trained at The Ballroom in yoga, tap, fitness, and Zumba for 10 years and is a Certified Zumba instructor for adults as well as a Certified Zumba Kids instructor.
KEITA A WHITTEN FOSTER
Keita is the founder of Redefining Therapy, Ready, Set THrive!, Community Dialogues on Racism as a Public Health Crisis amid COVID-19, The Harriet Tubman Movement Coalition, and somatic liberation dance waves /circles. She is an alumnas of University of Southern Maine receiving honors as a Parents as Scholar Recipient, while solo parenting her two sons. Today Keita is a wife, an awesome grandmother, an astistá, writer, and continues to learn how to cultivate food, and facilitates a repertoire of embodied liberation practices for BIPOC communities to heal internalized racial adversities/oppression and trauma. Keita is the Space Holder and creator of music for Somatic Liberation Dance at The Ballroom.
ANGELA LUEM
As a lifelong mover, Pilates was a natural fit for Angela. Having danced since childhood and after a professional dance career, she was naturally drawn to the form. Her training was with Jen Golden (Pilates Chicago), Barb Katz (Power Pilates), Madeline Black Movement Method (Series 1 and 2) and Cara Reeser (Movement Science Made Simple). Angela is a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher and is certified to work with pre and postnatal clients. She has experience working with the following populations: Beginners, Scoliosis, Older clients, Athletes among others.
Angela is the owner and instructor at ALFA Pilates in Hiram, ME and joined The Ballroom faculty in June 2023.
SONYA CHARETTE-BODO
Sonya specializes in Acrodance and is a certified Acrobatic Arts teacher in both modules 1 & 2, she is also a certified Acro Dance Adjudicator and founding member through the ADTA Acro Dance Teachers Association, certified Rhythm Works Integrative dance teacher, Certified in Concussion Awareness and Prevention Through the North American Learning Institute, Certified in CPR, AED, First Aid through the National CPR Foundation. Sonya who is a lifelong learner continues to attend seminars, webinars, and conventions, and take courses, including Arts Volta teacher training in Ontario, Canada, Introduction to Dancing with Parkinson’s Canada, and earned a certificate at Toronto Dance Teacher Expo, is a current member of the My Vault by: Acro Dance Teachers Association ADTA.
COOKIE HARRIST
Cookie Harrist is a choreographer and teacher newly returned to Denmark, Maine, from the Bay Area in California. She worked for many years as a professional dancer for Joe Goode Performance Group, LEVY Dance and Sara Shelton Mann and taught students of all ages at studios across the Bay. She specializes in modern/contemporary dance styles and is excited to build connections with dancers in Maine and New Hampshire. Cookie is joining The Ballroom's Dance faculty for Dance 2024-2025, teaching our Ballet/Modern class (& hopefully more!).