KADS Faculty
SCROLL TO MEET OUR 2022-2023 TEACHERS
KARA ANDERSON
Kara is from Southbridge and started her dance training at Debbie Sichol’s Dance Center at the age of 3. She was a competition dancer for many years and travelled to the Soviet Union to perform with the Debbie Sichol’s Dance Company. She is a graduate from Dean College with an Associates Degree in Dance. At Dean, she was a member of the Dean Dance Company, Phi Theta Kappa and the recipient of the Joan Phelps Palladino Dance Scholarship. Kara has been teaching dance for 31 years and has taught all levels and styles of dance at several studios in New England. He students have won many scholarships, high score and title awards throughout New England. Kara has won several choreography awards at regional and national dance competitions for her creative choreography. She also volunteers her time to choreograph routines for cheerleading teams in the area. Kara travels all over the country to judge regional and National dance competitions for several different dance competition companies. Kara is a certified PBT instructor ( Progressing Ballet Technique) She loves to share her professional knowledge of dance with aspiring dancers. Miss Kara is also a proud mom of 2 adult sons, Antonio and Brandon.
Miranda Desplaines
Miranda is from North Brookfield, Ma, who now resides in Sturbridge, Ma. She started dancing at a young age and then began assisting at the age of 12, which then turned her into a choreographer at Kara Anderson's Dance Studio in North Brookfield, ma and Southbridge, Ma. Miranda has won several titles and overall high scores throughout her dancing career. She was the 2006 Ronnie Belanger memorial scholarship recipient. She's performed in the Nutcracker and many other community performances. She's studied with many well-known choreographers such as Joe Tremaine, Marty Dew, Laurie Johnson, Step Stewart and Jeff Amsden. She was the winner of the Tremaine Dance Scholarship in NYC multiple times. She is a competitive team choreographer and has won awards for her choreography. She has choreographed for cheer teams, has adjudicated at dance competitions and national competitions for the past 7 years on the east coast as well as teaching convention classes. Along with teaching, Miss Miranda is a proud mom of 2 daughters, Aubriella and Layla.
Samantha Ricard
Samantha is a native of Sturbridge, MA and has been dancing since the age of 3. She began her training in North Brookfield at KADS. Samantha was a member of the KADS competition team throughout her high school years, and won many awards for her performances. She was also a member of the Tantasqua Regional High School Dance Team. After high school, she attended Bay State College in Boston where she received an Associate Degree in Entertainment Management. While at Bay State, Samantha was a talent recruiter for “Operation Paradise” which was a benefit concert for the veterans at the Palace in Boston. She has also travelled all over the USA judging regional and national dance competitions. Samantha has been judging dance competitions across the country for 10 years. Along with two other students , Samantha started the Nichols College Dance team as well as coaching them for two years . Samantha’s well rounded background in all genres of dance gives her the pleasure of providing dancers with the knowledge they need to further their dance education. Miss Sam is a proud mom of 3 little ones, Grayson, Ava and Isabella.
Hannah Marcucci
We are excited to have Miss Hannah be a part of the studio again this year. Miss Hannah recently has been managing our social media and website. She has a background in Graphic Communications along with some photography. Her creativity is a great addition to the studio. Miss Hannah began dancing at the age of 5 at KADS and was instantly invited to join the KADS competition team. Hannah has won several Title awards for her solo performances throughout her dance years. She has also won many high score and overall awards with her team. She was the recipient of the Ronnie Belanger scholarship at KADS in 2006. Hannah was a class assistant in high school and joined the KADS staff after graduating in 2010. Hannah’s choreography has won many high score and special awards throughout the years at dance competitions throughout New England. She has received a choreography award for her group choreography at a National Competition. Hannah has been with KADS since 1998 and is extremely passionate for the art of dance! She loves to share her talent and knowledge of dance through teaching. Along with teaching at KADS, Miss Hannah works at a local bank and keeps herself busy with her 2 year old daughter, Lyla.
Ashley Paine
We are excited to have KADS Alumni, Miss Ashley, continuing to be with our KADS faculty this year. Ashley is a certified Acrobatics Arts PreSchool AcroDance instructor, Progressing Contemporary Technique (PCT) and Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) instructor. Ashley is a graduate of David Prouty High School. She has been dancing since the age of two, out of her sixteen years of dance she spent eleven of them at KADS. Ashley joined the competition team in 2009 and competed for ten years. Throughout her competition years Ashley earned multiple regional titles and national/regional overalls. Ashley was an assistant teacher at the studio for eight years, and works amazingly well with the dancers. We are excited for Ashley to share her knowledge and talent of dance with the KADS dancers. Ashley is also currently attending Worcester State University, to study business administration.
Candilize Santa
We are excited to have Candilize Santa back again this year!
Miss Candi is from Southbridge and is a recent graduate from Shepherd Hill High School. Candi has been dancing since she was very young, she joined KADS in junior high school and instantly found her passion for dance. Candi has competed for the last 5 years, and has won many awards for her performances. She also performed in Disney World with the KADS competition team. Candi is also a student at Worcester State University. Candi's competitive dances last year won many high score awards at various competition in New England. Candi is excited to continue as a KADS faculty member this year, and hopes to pass on her passion for dance to her students.