19 North Washington Street, North Attleboro, Massachusetts 02760, United States
Our Staff
Melissa Medeiros - DTR, LMHC, MA, BFA, owner and creative director
Melissa Medeiros - DTR, LMHC, MA, BFA, owner and creative director
Melissa Medeiros - DTR, LMHC, MA, BFA, owner and creative director
Melissa is the director and founder of Unique Steps. With the vision of creating a studio where there is room for both proper dance education and a therapeutic program for children with special needs is blazing a trail here in suburban North Attleboro. Her background includes performing with Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Albany-Berkshire Ballet, Providence Ballet, Chicago Ballet, and Boston Dance Company. She received her BFA from Dean College where she was a member of the dance company during her attendance. Melissa has guest judged at several dance competitions and has earned the reputation of mastering the art of teaching proper technique and alignment. Because of this, Melissa has taught master classes at Dance Dreamworks, Dance to Save, Duxbury School of Dance, and also worked as a lead choreographer for Stonehill College’s dance team. Melissa holds a Masters degree in Expressive Therapies with a focus in dance movement therapy from Lesley University. Melissa is also a published author thanks to the release of her book, “Sometimes I Just Want to Dance.”
Olivia hewitt- assistant director
Melissa Medeiros - DTR, LMHC, MA, BFA, owner and creative director
Melissa Medeiros - DTR, LMHC, MA, BFA, owner and creative director
Olivia has been dancing at Unique Steps for 12 years and has found an incredible love for several styles of dance. Olivia found a passion for teaching dance right when she started, and quickly grew into a leadership role at Unique Steps. Combining her love for performing and teaching, she brings her knowledge and training to each class. Behind the scenes, Olivia helps out around the studio and has recently started choreographing some pieces in some of our intermediate and advanced classes. Olivia is studying Psychology at Bridgewater State and continues to teach at the studio while she studies.
laurie gleason- ba, bs, ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR, BOARD MEMBEr
Melissa Medeiros - DTR, LMHC, MA, BFA, owner and creative director
laurie gleason- ba, bs, ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR, BOARD MEMBEr
Miss Laurie joins Unique Steps with 17 years of dance experience. She holds a BA in Sociology and a minor in psychology. This is Miss Laurie’s 8th year at our studio. She volunteers as an assistant teacher in our toddler and preschool programs, and is loved by all children and staff. She keeps up her technique and dance education by taking adult classes here at the studio. She infuses every class she teaches with flare and excitement and can make anyone she meets laugh.. Laurie also holds a spot as a board member of our 501c3 studio.
Ashlee Rapoza- ba, assistant instructor
Ashlee Rapoza- ba, assistant instructor
laurie gleason- ba, bs, ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR, BOARD MEMBEr
Ashlee recently graduated from Dean College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance with a Concentration in Performance and Choreography. She has danced with the Boston Community Dance Project under the direction of Boston based Performer and Choreographer Sarah K. Ashlee is staff with New England Summer Dance Camp in Massachusetts and has traveled all across New England to teach at several dance studios. She has also had the opportunity of performing in the Boston Contemporary Dance Festival and Choreographing for over 15 Dean College dance shows. Also at Dean College, Ashlee directed a performing arts show called “Project Green”, which raised awareness for Mental Health and addiction, as well as advocated for Suicide Prevention. Recently, Ashlee spent two months in Los Angeles, California to train with The Gypsy Project LA, under the direction of Erica Sobol and members of the Netherlands Dans Theatre. She has received her Masters of Arts in Dance Education in the Teaching in Professions Track from NYU and she will be starting as the lead dance educator for K-5 at the Alma Del Mar Charter School.
Carlos Gutierrez- ma, BOARD MEMBER
Ashlee Rapoza- ba, assistant instructor
Carlos Gutierrez- ma, BOARD MEMBER
Carlos has been a performing in theatrical productions for over 15 years and has been part of the dance community for over 10. Carlos studied theatre and dance at Texas Tech University, University of Texas El Paso, and with Ballet Hawaii. Carlos had the privilege to perform professionally with Viva! ElPaso in seasons 2007 and 2008. He also competed at ACDFA under the TTU’s Dance Program in 2009, and attended Paul Taylor’s Modern workshop in 2010. Recently Carlos has performed with Metamorphosis Dance Company and Ten31 Productions in Pawtucket, RI. Carlos also has a M.A. in Elementary Education and taught in an inclusive setting where he found his passion for ABA principles. Carlos is a board member for the studio.
Carl Miranda, Board Member
Ashlee Rapoza- ba, assistant instructor
Carlos Gutierrez- ma, BOARD MEMBER
Carl Miranda is the Director of Roca, Boston. As a Salvadoran immigrant who spent his formative years in South Central Los Angeles in the 1980’s, and as a professional who has worked for many years in urban environments in front-line and management capacities, he understands the kind of struggles that young adults face in urban environments with poverty, trauma, and challenging relationships with law enforcements.
Carl brings 10 years of nonprofit experience working with state agencies such as DYS, DMH, and DCF in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Before joining Roca, Carl was the Center for Human Development’s Western Regional Program Director & Contract Manager for Adolescent Re-entry Services where he oversaw the administration of community and clinical services for 200+ youth re-entering western Massachusetts from lock-up facilities.
Carl holds a BA from UC Berkley in Ethnic Studies and Rhetoric, a Masters in American Studies from NYU, Masters in African American Studies from Yale, and is ABD at Yale University. His graduate research focuses on Juvenile Justice Reform and the school to prison pipeline.
Adrienne Hawkins, Guest Instructor
Adrienne Hawkins, Guest Instructor
Adrienne Hawkins, Guest Instructor
Adrienne Hawkins holds a BA in Education from Arizona State University and a MFA in Dance from Connecticut College. Ms. Hawkins has been Artistic Director of Impulse Dance Company of Boston for over thirty years. She is also co-artistic director of Bass Line-Motion, a music theater, poetry and dance group exploring spirituality, identity & social issues Ms. Hawkins has won numerous choreography grants; she has set choreography on the National Ballet of Iceland Repertory, Ballet Plus (Denmark), Dance Express (Denmark) Northwest Florida Ballet, Portland Ballet, Rainbow Tribe and over 70 works on Impulse Dance Company. She has choreographed rock musicals, music videos, commercials and industrials. Ms. Hawkins has taught Jazz throughout Europe, Japan, Australia, and the Caribbean.Ms. Hawkins has taught at The Harvard summer Dance Program and The American Dance Festival in Connecticut, North Carolina and Japan. She has been a guest artist at numerous colleges in the US including Harvard, Mt. Holyoke, UMass Amherst, The Boston Conservatory, Boston University, Connecticut College, Stonehill College, The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and Dean College. She presently teaches at Boston Ballet, Codman Academy Charter High School, Dancing Arts Center (a performing arts school), The Dance Inn, and Stonehill College.Ms. Hawkins also performs, does community service on various boards of directors, such as the Boston Dance Alliance, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts and The Strand Theater, and guest teaches throughout the United States .