FACULTY
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Gracie Butler
Celtic Company Instructor Gracie grew up in Huntington, VT and began her dance journey at the age of six. Her passion for dance has led her to train extensively in both Irish dance and Scottish Highland dance. Gracie's deep connection to GMPA as a former student makes her especially thrilled to return as an instructor. Gracie attended the University of Vermont, where she earned a BA in English in 2022 and a Masters in Secondary Education in 2023. During her time at UVM, she was a dedicated member of the University’s Irish dance team, The Celtic Cats, for five years, serving as both treasurer and president. Gracie cherished the opportunities to perform and compete locally and regionally with the team, experiences that have shaped her approach to dance instruction. Today, Gracie remains an active and passionate Highland dancer, competing across the United States and Canada under the guidance of her instructors, Erika Bopp and Heather Morris. She believes that one of the most rewarding aspects of Celtic Dance is the sense of community it fosters—a value she brings to her work with Celtic Company. Gracie is committed to creating an environment where dancers not only excel in performance, but also build lasting friendships. Collaborative choreography and fun are at the heart of her teaching philosophy. In addition to her role at GMPA, Gracie is an Educator currently working as a 504 coordinator at Essex High School. She is also honored to represent her community as Miss Western Vermont this year, where she eagerly looks forward to sharing her love for dance on the Miss Vermont stage. Gracie is deeply grateful for the opportunity to teach at GMPA and to continue nurturing the next generation of dancers. |
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JENNA COMPANION
Hip Hop/Modern/Troupe Jenna has been dancing since she was 4 years old. She started off in ballet and tap shoes for a few years, but realized although she loved dancing and performing these weren’t her passion. At the age of 7 she took her first hip hop class at One Studio where she instantly fell in love with the style and turned in her ballet and tap shoes for her hip hop sneakers. Jenna has studied Hip Hop for many years and attended many hip hop dance conventions like Monsters of Hip Hop. She was apart of a local Hip Hop competition team for 3 years and participated in local and out of state competitions during that time. Jenna loves sharing her passion to dance with others and is excited to watch the next generations find their passion for dance here at GMPA like she did! |
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LEAH GARDINER
Irish/Hardshoe/ PAC/ After Care 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. |
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FIONA GARUFI
Ballet/Modern/Tap/ Jazz/ Troupe/After Care Fiona has been dancing since she was a toddler. Throughout her childhood she was in as many dance classes as possible: ballet, hip hop, contemporary, modern, tap, jazz, and some theatre. Fiona grew up dancing at GMPA and spent almost every afternoon after school at the studio. 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. Fiona hopes to pass along her love of dance and performing to a whole new generation of dancers! Fiona took her love of ballet through adulthood and was a company member with Ballet Vermont for 7 years, 3 of which she danced as a soloist. Dancing in the Farm to Ballet Project is a major highlight in her life. Dancing in that show gave Fiona the opportunity to perform for audiences all over Vermont. Fiona also runs the after care program at GMPA which gives her the opportunity to work with more kids, come up with fun and creative activities, and see many smiling faces getting off the school bus! Fiona is excited to be entering her second year as the Assistant Director of GMPA! |
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Katherine Levasseur
Highland Katherine has over two decades of experience in Scottish Highland Dance and has competed and performed across the US, Canada, and Scotland. She had a successful competitive career in her teens and continues to compete and perform as an adult dancer. Notable achievements include qualifying for the North American Sadie Simpson Highland Scholarships in 2006 and placing in the top 6 in the U.S. East Region Championships in 2007, 2008, and 2023. Katherine was Miss Vermont 2011 and was the first state titleholder to bring Scottish Highland Dance to the Miss America stage in the talent competition. She earned her Associate teaching credentials from the British Association of Teachers of Dancing (BATD) in 2007 and her BATD Member credentials in 2022. Her dance school, Highland Dance Vermont, offers Highland classes at GMPA as well as performance and competition opportunities for dancers. |
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TAITE PLAGGE
Irish/Hardshoe Taite was born and raised in Waterbury and now attends college at the University of Vermont. She started dancing at GMPA at the age of 4, taking Ballet and Tap but she transitioned into the Irish step program taught by Heather Moris at age 6 after watching her older sister dancing jigs at home. She began competing in Irish dance competitions at age 9 and with the help of her teachers, Heather and Dylan Broderick, throughout middle and high school she moved up the levels eventually becoming an open championship dancer. She was a part of Celtic Company and enjoyed dancing in countless shows throughout Vermont and the Northeast. Her hope is to share her passion for Irish dance with her students and help them become the best dancer they can be. |
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MARICA PORTER
Ballet Marica Porter 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. |
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STEPHANIE STEVENS
Tap/ Jazz/ Hip Hop Raised in California, Stephanie danced her way to Philadelphia and received her BFA in Jazz Performance at the University of the Arts. Stephanie is a movement enthusiast, dance performer and teaching artist who especially loves Modern, Jazz, Creative Movement, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Theater, Yoga and Ballroom. Some of her performance highlights include performing in the Off-Broadway production 8 Million Protagonists, An Alice Preview with Moda Movement Company, Cristal Palace at the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts, Sprout! A Full Length Not a Ballet at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival and Caged at the oldest theater in the world in Athens, Greece. Additionally, Stephanie has over fourteen years of experience in dance education, teaching a wide range of age groups, from toddlers to seniors. Most recently she was lead teaching artist for Dance Exchange, Ballet X’s in-school outreach program. Through Dance Exchange she utilized the world-renowned methodology from the National Dance Institute to teach third and fourth graders in Philadelphia. Stephanie is also a certified yoga instructor specializing in Vinyasa and Yin Yoga. Previously, she taught at a ballroom dance studio and loves teaching many styles of smooth and latin dance. She has also choreographed many wedding dances including first dances, father-daughter dances and even flash mobs. Stephanie is overjoyed to share her love of movement at GMPA! |
