Celebrating the dancer in EVERYONE!
Our Faculty (Family)
Amy DeFeudis
Owner & Director
Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, DDC Director
"Dancers Making Waves Inc." Director & Co-Chair
"Artistry In Motion" Co-Founder
Amy (Ludwig) DeFeudis began her dance training at the age of 6 in Worcester, MA and instantly fell in love with performing and later choreographing and teaching dance; developing a versatile style that she was determined to one day bring to the Cape.
Amy trained competitively throughout her high school career then expanded her dance training with some of the Masters of Dance including Joe Tremaine, Doug Caldwell, Mia Michaels, Sam Fiorello, Joe Lanteri and Suzi Taylor; at the renowned Broadway Dance Center & Steps on Broadway; as well as with the Jeanette Neill Dance Studio in Boston, MA.
Amy's performance highlights include DisneyWorld (dancer); New England Children's Ballet Theater (lead dancer); Various industrials across New England (ensemble); Bob Fosse tribute (ensemble) & featured performer for a New England based entertainment company from 1995 - 2001.
Amy also furthered her education as a Psychology major at Worcester State College before moving to the Cape in 2001 and joining the faculty at both Dance Designs and Studio 878 in Chatham. She became the Owner and Director of Dance Designs in 2012, expanded the program to what it is today and relocated the studio to its current beautiful, warehouse location on Kidd's Hill Rd. (Hyannis, MA).
Amy continues to further her own dance education at seminars and workshops across the country.
"Mama D" alumni can currently be found performing with Carnival & Caribbean cruise lines; signed with top talent agencies; on professional sports dance teams such as the Knicks City Dancers, Boston Celtics dancers & Patriots Cheerleaders; performing on television and for top artists including Katy Perry; performing in major theme parks and international 5 star resorts; studying in National & International collegiate programs; as well as right here on the faculty of Dance Designs! Her greatest accomplishment in life, however, was becoming "Mama D" to her own 3 beautiful children & watching them grow up here on the Cape!
Amy still teaches Master classes throughout New England and has judged for several dance competitions. In the past she even lent her award winning choreography to the Barnstable High School cheerleading squad! Amy is always honored when her work receives special recognition, however she feels even more pride that her dancers are consistently recognized for their character behind the scenes as well.
In 2014, Amy proudly formed the nonprofit "Dancers Making Waves Inc.", alongside Kelly Thind and Candice Brown-Dunn, which is a student-led fundraiser performance event each December donating to local charities. Also in 2014, Amy and Kelly co-founded "Artistry In Motion", a Cape Cod based Summer Intensive featuring master teachers from across the country right here at Dance Designs!
Amy wholeheartedly believes in Joe Tremaine's famous words "dance training is life training" and instills this in her students with each and every step! She strives to encourage all of her dancers, whatever their chosen path in life, to work tirelessly toward
achieving their dreams ... just like she did!!!
Kelly Thind
Assistant Director
Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, DDC Assistant Director
"Dancers Making Waves Inc." Co-Chair
"Artistry In Motion" Co-Founder
Kelly started dancing at the age of 3 at Dance Designs. She was trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Lyrical and was an original member of the Dance Designs Company under the direction of Amy DeFeudis until she graduated high school in 2005. Kelly continued her training at Marymount Manhattan College as a BFA from 2005 -2006 and then transferred to University of South Florida where she double majored
and received her BFA with a Ballet Performance concentration and her BA in business. While in college
she had the opportunity to perform for renowned choreographers such as Gretchen Ward Warren, members of the Trisha Brown Company, John Parks formerly of Alvin Ailey and Sascha Radetsky of American Ballet Theater.
While in school Kelly performed part time at Busch Gardens Tampa and taught Ballet at America’s Ballet School in Tampa, FL. She had the opportunity to perform in 3 DisneyWorld
parades as a guest to the choreographer’s assistant and other small productions in the
Tampa Bay area. In 2009, Kelly returned to Cape Cod to be near family and continue her true passion of teaching dance. She has been on the faculty at Dance Designs since 2009 and became our Assistant Director in 2014! Alongside our Director, Amy DeFeudis, Kelly formed the non-profit "Dancers Making Waves Inc" in 2014 as well as the Dance Designs annual Summer intensive "Artistry In Motion" (2014 - present).
Kelly's choreography has won numerous awards at both regional and national competitions and her choreographic concepts have also received special recognition. Kelly is now a married mom to two girls, living in Centerville, MA and living her dream of teaching dance.
Norah Dale Allen
Ballet, Pointe, Adult Ballet
Norah Dale Allen began her early ballet training in Cambridge, England and Ottawa, Canada and continued training in Boston after her family moved to Winchester, Mass in 1957. She trained and performed in Boston for two years with Alicia Langford and then stopped dancing for several years. However, after her daughter Brenda was born, she was determined to get back to Boston classes again - first studying with Mme. Anna Roje and then taking classes at the Boston Conservatory and with E. Virginia Williams and members of her Boston Ballet Company.
After her husband's graduation from BC in 1968, the family moved to Cape Cod and welcomed a son, David, in 1969. Norah opened her own ballet studio in Pocasset in 1972 where she taught Ballet and Tap. She also began taking Ballet classes with Barry Edson and was an original member of his Cape Cod Ballet Company for several years. She performed the lead rolls in several classical Ballets including Odette/Odile in SWAN LAKE, Princess Florine (Bluebirds), and the Fairy of the Golden Vine in SLEEPING BEAUTY, and Sugarplum, Snow Queen, Spanish and Arabian in NUTCRACKER.
She sold her studio in 1981 and for several years commuted to Boston attending the Chamberlain School of Retailing and then serving there as Director of Admissions as well as an instructor. However, she realized again how much she missed Ballet and so resolved in 1990 to get back to the barre. Fortunately a new teacher had moved onto the Cape establishing a studio nearby and Norah resumed classes, eventually teaching Ballet there and at the Cape Cod Conservatory.
Norah joined the staff of Dance Designs in 1994 and has been teaching here ever since. In 1995 she became the co-producer and host of a monthly cablecast series called THE SPIRIT OF DANCE. This show ran for 4 years and was cablecast from the Yarmouth studio to all Cape Cod towns and several Boston area communities.
Meanwhile she had also discovered ballroom dancing and in 1996, established the local chapter, now known as Cape Cod Ballroom Dancers (CCBD), of USA Dance, the national ballroom organization. She has taught ballroom in several locations including Dance Designs, the Cape Cod Community College, the Academy of Performing Arts in Orleans and Studio 878 in Chatham. Over the past few years she has studied and competed with her ballroom instructor, Adam Spencer, from Chatham. She also competed in the first annual Cape Cod Dancing With the Docs fundraiser and subsequently coached another couple the following year. Norah served as President of CCBD for 4 years but chose to step down as President at the end of 2019 and has now assumed the position of Vice-president.
When she joined the staff of Dance Designs she began teaching the Level 3 classes with students who were old enough to begin pointe work. Eventually she expanded the levels up to Level 7 and one of her outstanding students was Kelly Quealy (now, Thind). When Kelly returned to the Cape after majoring in dance at college, it was a thrill for Norah to be able to start turning over her younger students to Kelly. Norah is also thrilled now to have multi-talented former students Tory Hitchcock and Shae Forest both on staff at DD as well and countless other alums visiting through the years.
Norah has many times expressed how honored and grateful she feels to still be part of our lovely DD family. And we all share our “hearts for Norah” every day!!
Keith Silva
Hip Hop
Keith Silva is the Director/Choreographer for the dance company "Movement Specialists" established in Fall River in 2006 (2015-2016 Prelude New England Hip Hop Dance Competition Champions, , 2019 2nd place, 2017 3rd place).
Keith has choreographed for Jordan Knight (lead singer for New Kids On The Block) solo tour "Live and Unfinished"; for the comedy group "The Portuguese Kids"; for XBOX Dance Central (Assistant choreographer to Nick DeMoura) and for The Boston Celtics various dance teams. Keith first visited Dance Designs as an "Artistry In Motion" intensive guest teacher in 2013 then joined our faculty permanently in 2014.
As a performer, Keith can be seen in “Ghostbusters 3” (2016 Feature Film, Dancer), "Passionada" (2002 Feature Film, Dancer) & "Jungleland" (2019 Feature Film, Actor/Extra). He also is a Videographer & Custom music mix producer/editor working for shows including The Monsters of Hip Hop in LA.
Keith furthers his own training with The Monsters of Hip Hop Workshop; The Pulse Tour; Broadway Dance Center (NY); Alvin Ailey Studio (NY); Millennium Dance Complex (LA); The Debbie Reynolds Studio (LA); Movement Lifestyle (LA) & The KAOS Tour
and he loves his Cape Cod dance family!!
Morgan Simms
Modern
Morgan started dancing at the age of 4 in East Lyme, CT at the Imperial Academy of Dance, where she studied ballet, modern, and tap. She continued her training at George Mason University in VA her freshman year as a dance and geology double major, then transferred to the College of William and Mary in VA where she graduated with a major in geology and a minor in dance. Her college curricula provided experience studying with professors who were members of the Mark Morris Dance Group, Alvin Ailey, Paul Taylor, and the Washington Ballet; master classes with multiple companies including Cleo Parker and Hubbard Street; choreography and performance opportunities; and attending and analyzing multiple professional dance performances. Additionally, an injury in college required her to take 6 months off from dance, during which time she competed in synchronized swimming, providing a unique opportunity to integrate her dance and competitive swimming backgrounds.
She completed her master's in marine science at Stony Brook University on Long Island, which provided the opportunity to study dance in New York City and perform with Movement of the People Dance company. Her first job as an environmental consultant brought her to Baltimore from 2012-2018, where she performed with several dance companies and was actively involved at Morton Street Dance Studio and Baltimore School for the Arts events. Throughout her career, Morgan has divided her time between dance and studying the ocean and has always appreciated how the two complement each other. She has met and worked with dancers who work as performing artists, therapists, writers, doctors, musicians, teachers, and more and is fascinated by how dance training has influenced their professional paths. Morgan currently also works as a coastal geologist at Applied Coastal Research and Engineering in Mashpee.
Throughout her travels and experiences, Morgan has found a feeling of home through dance and the community it creates and is thrilled to be welcomed into the one at Dance Designs.
Tory Hitchcock
Musical Theater, DDC Choreographer
Tory Hitchcock is a New York City based performer originally from Barnstable, MA where she trained at Dance Designs. In 2011 Tory started training under Joe Tremaine and his faculty, traveling as an assistant at Tremaine Dance Conventions and performing on their company.
Tory continued her training at the American and Musical Dramatic Academy of New York where she discovered her passion for musical theatre. Tory has performed regionally and internationally with prestigious companies such as the Emmy-Award winning production company RWS Entertainment Group, Busch Gardens, the Palace Theatre and Royal Caribbean International.
Tory is excited to be home teaching and choreographing for Dance Designs while eagerly awaiting her next contract.
(And her dance family is excited to have her!!)
Alexis Karras
Administrative Assistant, Production Assistant
Adjunct Faculty (Family)
Shae Forest
Contemporary, Jazz, DDC Choreographer
Shae Forest (DDC alum) holds a BFA in Dance, a Psychology minor and a Professional Certificate Degree in Arts Management from UMass Amherst. Under the direction of mentors like Paul Dennis (Limón Company) and Bronwen MacArthur (Bebe Miller Company), Forest gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for modern and contemporary dance. In 2018, Forest studied in the United Kingdom at the leading university for dance, University of Roehampton. There she refined her contemporary and commercial dance style knowledge. At UMass, Forest performed in several faculty pieces and works presented at the surrounding Five Colleges. In addition to concert dance, Forest's commercial dance training led her to be a finalist for the New England Patriots Cheerleaders team.
Forest's choreography from her thesis work, "Speak", has been selected to perform at Boston Contemporary Dance Festival's "On Stage" virtual show (August 2020) and in Empower One Another Dance Festival by Nozama Dance Collective and Onstage Dance Company in September 2020. Forest's passion for creating goes hand-in-hand with her love of teaching. She has assisted well-known teachers from all over the region including Kat Pantos, director of Pantos Project Contemporary Dance Company. In addition to dance, Forest is barre fitness certified and has taught stretch, strength, and barre classes at multiple studios and gyms in MA.
Forest's most recent accomplishment was receiving a contract with the Palmera Entertainment Agency. She had planned to travel to Kos, Greece and perform. Due to COVID-19, her contract has been put on hold. Shae will be performing in a Christmas show at The Amato Center for Performing Arts in NH this November.
Shae is thrilled to be teaching and choreographing back at her dance "home" at Dance Designs (and we are thrilled to have her)!
Candice Brown-Dunn