Over the past 10+ years, Starline has assembled the best staff of teachers available to the Stoughton area.  At Starline, we are focused on finding the best teachers to teach your child and assist in his or her growth.  

Although accolades and accomplishments are important the focus always has been and always will be on creating a supportive atmosphere where your child can have fun and learn at the level and speed they deserve.

(But as you can see above, they do get a little goofy from time to time)

Rayna Flaherty
​Director

         Rayna will be going into her eleventh year at the Academy and is a graduate of The University of the Arts in Philadelphia with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education.  Rayna has helped develop the many programs at Starline over the past 10 years with most recently specializing in the Creative/Children's dance program.
          She initiated the Starline Dance Team which is a wonderful outlet for students to push and challenge themselves and  has been recognized for countless special and overall awards at various competitions..
     Rayna has studied and taught at numerous places along the New England area and through Philadelphia including Broadway Dance Center in NYC as well as teaching at the Creative and Performing Arts High school of Philadelphia.  
     Rayna  also participates in a yearly grant program at the Jones Preschool here in Stoughton and has done so for the past 10 years teaching creative movement to preschool age children. This year she was happy to add the Gibbons school into her outreach programs.
        She is also a graduate of the  Boston Teachers Club of Boston where she received the "American Academy of Dance Award" and is a member of the Greater Brockton Dance Teacher's Association. where she is currently the chairperson for the club's annual dance competition. 
        Overall Rayna has extensive knowledge in Dance as she has been studying it her whole life! Her mission is about hard work but to also have fun!

Ariana Sutton
​Director

         Ariana is a graduate from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance Education. Ariana is well versed and has had extensive training in all forms of dance, including Ballet/Pointe, Modern, Jazz, Tap, and Musical Theater Dance.
       She has studied and taught at many places from Boston to Philadelphia including the Creative and Performing Arts High School of Philadelphia and Edge Dance Company of PA. Her performance credits include the Martha Graham Dance Company at the Zellbach Theater in Philadelphia, PA.  Contempora Dance Theater, the Blind Faith Dance Project, and Hokum Arts. 
          Ariana is currently a member of the Impact Dance Company based out of Boston where she trains and performs regularly.  She continues to network through this organization where she brings in master teachers for our students. Ariana is also an active member of the Greater Brockton Dance Teachers Association.
         Ariana is also a choreographer for the Starline Academy dance team where her choreography has won numerous awards. She is very excited for her seventh year at Starline and is delighted to share her love and creative passion for dance and theater with the students of Starline Academy! ​

Paris Kampanelas
 Voice Instructor

      Ms. Kampanelas holds a Bachelor’s of Music in Vocal Performance and Music Education from The New England Conservatory of Music.
    Ms. K was also the K-5 Music Specialist for the Gibbons School in Stoughton for twenty years. As well as traveling to other local elementary schools in the district and directing an award winning Show Choir for Stoughton High School. Ms. Kampanelas maintained a private voice studio and taught many students who are now studying music, voice and theater in colleges across the country today. 
      In 2012 Paris was named Stoughton's 2011-2012 Elementary Teacher of the Year by The Veteran's of Foreign War/ Michael Romanuk Post 1645 and by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in recognition for promoting Citizenship Education in her classroom and school.
      Ms. Kampanelas is a member of NATS (The National Association of Teachers of Singing), NE/OSA (New England Orff- Schulwerk Association) and the Massachusetts and National Chapters of MENC (Music Educators National Conference). 

Mark McCarron
​Piano Instructor


      Starline Academy is extremely fortunate to have Mark on it’s faculty as he is the most amazing accompanist around. Mark knows The Great American Songbook quite well and every Broadway show there is. Originally from Stoughton, Mark displayed his talents at a very early age and was the winner of Ted Mack’s Sunday Morning TV Talent Show. While living on Cape Cod, Mark’s talents led him to play piano there. Moving back to the area, Mark became the pianist for the original Starline Room Dinner Theatre and has collaborated with us ever since. During the Starline Room hiatus (1994-2004) Mark played cocktail piano for the Gondola Restaurant in Taunton and  for the annual MMAS Dinner Theater Shows as well as many private voice recitals and Starline Shows that were taken on the road. Mark has been playing for the Paris Cabaret and the Starliners since its reopening in 2004. Mark remains the pianist for the Paris Cabaret and likes to be available for all the Academy Recitals and Musical Theatre productions.

Patricia Biagini
​Dance Instructor

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​            Patricia Biagini is a dancer, choreographer and teacher with over 30 years experience. She is trained in classical Jazz dance,theater dance, tap, ballet and Horton technique. She has studied in New York and Boston with many masters of dance such as Gus Giordano, Luigi, Frank Hatchett, Ann Reinking, Jose Mateo, Rhee and Rennie Gold, Adrienne Hawkins and Jeanette Neil to name a few. Patricia has performed on stage with Stevie Wonder, been in the  rock band  video "KISS" and in a Caribean dance show in Aruba. She has also danced with independent choreographers in Boston and New York including her own dance ensemble, "Biagini Dance Company". Patricia has been on the faculty at Plymouth State University, Concord Academy and Boston Arts Academy. She has also taught for Ailey Camp Boston, Boston/Belmont Metco program, and Summer Arts at the Cambridge School of Weston. Her musical theater choreography includes many shows, such as "Once on this Island", "Carousal", &  "Jerry's Girls",  to name of a few.  She is also on the faculty for  Summer Arts at the Cambridge School of Weston.  In 2012 Patricia was honored as Dance Teacher and Choreographer of the year from Origination Cultural Center in Boston.
        Patricia is also a certified pilates instructor as well as a licensed Zumba instructor. Patricia is very excited for her fourth year at Starline Academy!

​Caitlin Bohara
​Dance Instructor

           Caitlin has studied ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip hop, musical theater, lyrical, and contemporary. At the age of three, she began her dance training at the Luis Pabon Dance Arts Centre and soon became an active performer and competitor within the company, “Style Extraordinaire.” The recipient of many gold medals at national dance competitions including Dance Masters of America, Stars of Tomorrow, American Dance Awards, Dance Concepts and the North American Dance Festival. Caitlin was also a DanceAmerica Dance Champion . She has attended master classes with Sam Fiorello, Sarah Jo Fazio, Frank Hatchett, and many other well respected educators and choreographers .            While living in Connecticut, Caitlin was a member of the Connecticut Sun’s Solar Power Dance Team for one season as well as the associate choreographer for the Miss Connecticut Pageant for the Miss America Organization for several years.  
           A graduate of the University of Massachusetts - Amherst, Caitlin was a member of UMASS Dance Team, ranking second place at the NDA national competition. Post college, Caitlin returned to CT and began as a dance educator. Currently residing in Massachusetts, Caitlin is entering her third season with DanceWorks Boston, and continues to provide dance education around the Boston area.

Zoe Kassay
Broadway Stars Instructor

           Originally from Franklin, MA, Zoe spent the last 6 years traveling in and out of New York City working at many regional theatres as well as traveling the world performing with Disney Cruise Lines. Zoe earned her BFA in Musical Theatre in 2011 from The Hartt School of Music. As a proud member of the Actors' Equity Association, some of Zoe's favorite professional roles include Doralee in  9 to 5 , Delee in  Smokey Joe's Cafe , Elle in  Legally Blonde , Penny in  Hairspray , Lina Lamont in  Singing in the Rain , and Mayzie in Seussical . On top of her love for performing, Zoe has also found passion in teaching and sharing her love of musical theatre and dance with her students. She will be working towards her masters degree in Theatre Education from Emerson College starting in the fall of 2017.  Zoe can't wait to push our students to make bold choices and find their own passion in the world of theater just like her teachers did for her!

Wyatt Palmer
Piano Instructor

               Wyatt Palmer holds a Bachelors and Masters of Music from the New England Conservatory in Boston. Since moving to Boston from Seattle in 2008, Wyatt has performed all over the Northeast and NYC. He has performed internationally, having performed at the Pori Jazz festival in Finland among others. 
             At NEC Wyatt studied under world-renown musicians such as Jerry Bergonzi, Miguel Zenon, Frank Carlberg and Fred Hersch. He participated in the Music-In-Education program, furthering his knowledge of music pedagogy.
               Over the past 5 years Wyatt has taught at many schools in and around Boston. He teaches piano and woodwinds (saxophone, flute and clarinet). Wyatt specializes in teaching classical, jazz, rock and pop. Along with teaching how to read music, he also teaches music theory and composition to his students.
​               Wyatt's goal in teaching is to inspire the students to explore the rich world of music. He want's to help his students reach their goals and achieve success in music.
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Melinda Rossi
Tumbling Instructor

           Melinda has built our Tumbling program here at Starline for the past four years. Melinda brings many years of experience in instructing gymnastics and Acrobatics to children and adults of all skill levels and abilities. Melinda was a competitive gymnast, and one of her highlights includes winning 2nd place in vault at the West Hartford State Gymnastics Competition. She was also recruited by Channel 5 to host an on-air monthly exercise segment for 2 consecutive years. Melinda presently runs 3 different successful gymnastics/acro programs in the area, and  is looking forward to another great year at Starline. You will find quite a passion for learning and building skills in her class!

Colin Minigan
​Piano & Guitar Instructor

            Colin Minigan is a Composer and Pianist born in Massachusetts. He obtained his B.A. in music composition with honors from Skidmore College in 2016, where he studied Composition and Ethnomusicology, as well as Piano and Classical Guitar. In addition to his European classical music training, He has also studied West African, East Asian and Central Asian music at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. Colin is passionate about music and music education, and deeply enjoys sharing this passion with others. ​

Tia DeVincenzo
Dance Instructor

            Tia DeVincenzo grew up dancing in the Boston area, joining the competitive dance world at the age of 8.  Throughout high school Tia taught dance at the Dance Studio of Wakefield and performed as a soloist and member of the senior competitive dance team.  Her solo accomplishments earned her a spot as an Elite Performance Dancer at Excel in Motion where she traveled and taught along side professional dancers including Allison Holker, Ellenore Scott, Alex Wong, "tWitch" and others.
            Following her passion for dance Tia attended James Madison University. She graduated in 2016 with dual degrees in Dance and Journalism.  As a member of the Virginia Repertory Dance Company, a pre-professional modern contemporary company, Tia had the opportunity to work with outstanding choreographers including Laurie Eisenhower of Eisenhower Dance, Xan Burley and Alex Springer of Doug Varone Dance Company, and many other talented choreographers.
             The VRDC performed at the American College Dance Association  and participated in an enrichment program in Martinique.  Internationally Tia had the privilege to study dance in London at the Royal Academy of Dance and Art, working with professors from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. 
            Upon returning to Boston, Tia has been working as a freelance artist, teaching dance and became a certified 200 HR Yoga Alliance instructor.  She is a member of Urbanity Underground and looks forward to joining Starline Academy as a teacher this year! 

Ryan Cheatham
Hip Hop Instructor

                       Since childhood, Ryan's passion for dance was evident; training in tap, ballet, and jazz throughout her youth. Ryan fell in love with hip hop at a young age and began to volunteer at the YMCA teaching hip hop to other teens. Her volunteering quickly turned into a job, making it clear that teaching hip hop would become a big part of Ryan's life. Ryan continued her love of hip hop and dance by coaching Brockton High School's hip hop dance team, dancing  in the musicals and  performing as a half time dancer for the school's football games. She was also the founder of Massasoit's hip hop dance team.
                    In 2009, Ryan joined Boston's own Phunk Phenomenon (a professional hip hop dance company). During this time, Ryan continued to develop her skills, performing at several dance competitions and events around Massachusetts with Phunk Phenomenon. 
                     Ryan is a graduate from Bridgewater State University with a Bachelors Degree in Media Communication and a minor in dance. She was also a part of Kinetic Edge, BSU's hip hop dance team. Ryan continues to teach in the south shore area and specializes in bringing high energy to the class, building confidence, and establishing performance skills with her students. 

Beth Weiner
Guest ​Acrobatic Instructor

Dancing since the age of 2, Beth has studied gymnastics, acrobatics, jazz, tap, ballet and lyrical. Beth earned her bachelor’s degree at Springfield College with a minor in Dance.  She has her Master’s in Special Education from UMass-Boston and was  a member of the Dance Team at UMass and choreographed theatre productions for the group.   
Beth has been a dance teacher since 2002, as well as a special education teacher in the preschool and elementary settings.  Beth’s specialty is acrobatics, where she competed nationally around the United States in groups and solos. She was also a competitive gymnast in her high school years. 

Kassandra Rateau
Guest Hip Hop Instructor

            Hip Hop Dancing is not just a hobby for Kassandra, it's a passion. Hip Hop has been cemented in her life since her early childhood years. Born in Boston and raised in Brockton, she first began her leadership role in 2000 as co-founder of the Brockton High Step Squad. In 2004 Kassandra Rateau transformed her positive energy and knowledge to the professional ranks due to the Phunk Phenomenon Dance Company. Not only has she been a dancer for Phunk for 11 years, she has also served as one of the dance instructors for youth and adults as well as the dance coach for the Boston Celtics Jr. Dance Team (Lil Phunk). Kassandra is now one of the leading choreographers at Phunk Phenomenon.
​          Some of her accomplishments include dancing for many charities, opening for Miguel and Jamn 94.5 (Boston's #1 Hip Hop Radio Station) Monster Jam. Kassandra has received numerous awards & medals at Hip Hop International Dance Competitions including placing 3rd on MTVs Americas Best Dance Crew Season 6. Kassandra specializes in high energy Raw Hip-Hop, Step, and performance skill. Kassandra coaches her dancers to build confidence, motivation, endurance, precision and as athletes.
         Kassandra Rateau received her Bachelors of Liberal Arts, Academic Major Criminal Justice at University of Massachusetts Boston.