GMPA Board & Administration
Marica Porter
Executive Director
Board President
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Marica received formal training from Liz Dimmel and Tobin James at the Dramatic Truth School of Ballet in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. She also studied on scholarship at the State Ballet School of Missouri (now the School of Kansas City Ballet), Ballet Magnificat! in Jackson, Mississippi, and the Stephens College Summer Dance Program. Many notable instructors, including Kirt Hathaway, Penny Askew, Mary Rotella, Janice Dulak, Chatch Pregger, and Avi Waring, shape her dancing.
Marica performed with Collin County Ballet Theatre, Western Oklahoma Ballet Theatre, Western Arkansas Ballet, the Northwest Arkansas Arts Foundation, and Ballet Vermont in performances, including lead and featured roles in Peter & The Wolf, The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and many original works. Choreography credits include excerpts from The Nutcracker, South Pacific, and an original work, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, chosen for performance in the Emerging Choreographer’s Concert of Regional Dance America/Southwest Festival 2013. Ms. Porter spent five years as the Ballet Mistress of Western Arkansas Ballet and has taught dancers in Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, and Vermont. Marica holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, and a Minor in Mathematics from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. She is an American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher in Pre-Primary through Level 7 and Partnering of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Marica is excited to share her passion for dance and rural life. Marica, John, and their two kids, Thomas and Andrew, enjoy life in Jericho. |
Fiona Garufi
Studio Director
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Fiona has been dancing for as long as she can remember! Throughout her childhood she was in as many dance classes as possible- ballet, hip hop, contemporary, modern, tap, jazz, and even some theatre. Fiona grew up dancing at GMPA and spent almost every afternoon at the studio after school. As she’s gotten older she has developed a deep passion for teaching. Fiona began teaching at GMPA as a teenager and continues to love it more everyday with the inspiration she gets from her students.
Fiona took her love of performing through adulthood and was a company member with Ballet Vermont for 7 years, 3 of which she danced as a soloist, where she had the opportunity to perform for audiences all over Vermont. Dancing in the Farm to Ballet Project has had a major impact on her and changed her life in many ways. Fiona loves having the opportunity to watch young dancer’s passion, enthusiasm, confidence, and talent grow through the art of movement! |
Leah Gardiner
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Born and raised in Rhode Island, Leah began Irish dancing at the age of 7. Her love for dance began at the Damhsa Irish Dance Studio, where she spent her youth traveling the state to perform anywhere and everywhere. She discovered her passion for teaching while assisting her own dance teachers during her teenage years.
Leah continued her Irish dance journey with the UVM Celtic Cats, teaching new members, choreographing show pieces, and competing in Intercollegiate Dance Festivals, earning medals individually and with her team. Inspired by the traditional and cultural roots of Irish dancing, as well as the evolution of the art, Leah loves to draw further inspiration from her exploration of other styles like Ballet, Tap, Contemporary, and Highland. She brings her enthusiasm for dance and teaching to GMPA and loves to see the joy and pride of dancing shine through her students. |
Kathy Kort
Board Secretary
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Kathy was a high school special educator, transition specialist, who after a career of 42 years made her own transition from South Burlington High School in 2014 to enjoy Vermont in retirement. She started sewing quilts, artfully matching colors and patterns in symmetrical design. A life long church choir singer, she also has a passion for Celtic music and diverse forms of dance. Kathy has volunteered in her community and served on multiple church committees. Her adult daughter Kelly was a student of Heather’s as a Highland dancer for many years and she continues to perform and compete in the Boston area. While Kelly was actively dancing in Vermont, Kelly’s dad Bob led the St. Andrew’s Highland Dancers and Kathy volunteered in support tasks. Practicing wellness through exercise and yoga is her daily priority while checking in with both daughters and her four young grandchildren in Massachusetts. Green Mountain Performing Arts Board is a good match for Kathy’s love of children, performing arts, organizational skills, and experience.
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Amy Siegel
Board Member, Community Outreach
Robert Siegel
Board Treasurer, Strategic Planning
Adrianna Benson
Board Member, Scholarship Committee Chair
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Adrianna is an administrative professional with experience in non-profit mental health, education and the arts. Adrianna values collaboration, creativity, communication and commitment in building all relationships, both professional and personal.
We have been residents of the Waterbury community since 2001 and our daughter started in the Creative Dance class with GMPA back in 2010 when it was still One Studio on Elm Street in downtown Waterbury. She came out dancing, singing and celebrating and quickly found her home with the students, teachers and staff at GMPA. From Creative Dance, our daughter moved into Ballet, Highland, Hip Hop, Modern, Jazz/Tap and Performance Troupe. From her exploration as a pre-schooler to assistant teaching as a high-schooler, our daughter has grown up with GMPA staff modeling and teaching skills not only in dance, but in how to lead, mentor, communicate, work as a team and build community. The relationships our daughter has developed as a GMPA student and dancer have shaped the human she is today and the skills learned in class will serve her for a lifetime. It is an honor to have the opportunity to support the students, teachers and staff at GMPA as a board member serving our very creative Central Vermont community. |
Scott Benson
Board Member, Events Committee Chair
Amy Chorey
Board Member
GMPA is looking for new board members!
Interested applicants should get in touch! [email protected]
Board members provide leadership, funding support, connections and skills. They represent the interests of their community and exercise accountability. GMPA Board members are passionate and invested in the mission of Green Mountain Performing Arts. This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is passionate about GMPA's mission and who has a track record of board leadership or community involvement. Selected Board Members will have achieved leadership stature in business, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector.
Interested applicants should get in touch! [email protected]
Board members provide leadership, funding support, connections and skills. They represent the interests of their community and exercise accountability. GMPA Board members are passionate and invested in the mission of Green Mountain Performing Arts. This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is passionate about GMPA's mission and who has a track record of board leadership or community involvement. Selected Board Members will have achieved leadership stature in business, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector.
