These are the lovley ladies and gents who make The Dance Factory Possible!
Teachers
Nicole Pajer, Director: Miss Nicky is an honors graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a BA in Dance Education, a BS in Psychology, and a Masters from London University in Arts Management. She has taught dance for over 25 years and has been on stage for more than 40. She is a former Disney dancer who opened the Disney magic for Disney Cruise lines. She was an onboard dancer and entertainment manager fro DCL for 5 years and and worked with artists like 98 Degrees, the She Daisy’s, Oprah, the Olsen Twins, Ricky Lake and many more. Nicky has trained with Ken Lipits, former principle for the San Francisco Ballet, Anita Oski a former Manhattan Rockette, choreographer Ron Devito, and Frank Hatchet of Broadway Dance Center in NYC, and she has taught dance in London and New York. Nicky also works with the Miss America Program and is a former Miss Mass. Teen having won talent for dance. She has owned the Dance Factory for 19 years and is so proud to have former students in college dance programs, working professionally as dancers, on the DF teaching staff and bringing their own children to the Dance Factory for classes.
Jenn Zalatores: Miss Jenn is a graduate of Rhode Island College with a degree in biology and her Masters degree in exercise physiology at Liberty University. She has been dancing at the Dance Factory for over 25 years and has had the privilege of teaching for 10 years. Jenn has been the secretary of the National Association of Dance and the Affiliated Arts for the past 5 years. She has shared her love for dance with the community as a guest choreographer at school events and conventions and plans to do so for years to come.
Kayla Hatch: Miss Kayla has been dancing at the Dance Factory for 18 of her 20 years dancing. She has been on staff for 4 years and loves sharing her favorite style of dance Tap as well as Hip hop and Jazz. Kayla recently graduated from Westfield State University where she studied Elementary education and science. She hopes to continue to share her passion for dance with her students for many years to come!
Katie Dooney: Miss Katie returns to the Dance Factory this year after two years away! She is a graduate of Our Lady of The Elms College in Chicopee, MA, where she studied social work. She has studied Irish Dancing since the age of 4 and reached Prize Winner Status by age 8. Katie studied at the McDermott Academy until 1997 and then at the Claddagh School of Irish Dance. Katie also works at Integrated Rehabilitation Services. She has been teaching dance for over 20 years.
Kaylee Armitage: Miss Kaylee is a familiar face at the Dance Factory, having danced with us for over 18 years. She is now studying dance at Dean College and is starting her career teaching dance right here at home. Kaylee looks forward to many more years in the field.
Nora Cuddy: Miss Nora started dancing almost 30 years ago at Betty Gundersen’s School of Dance. She went on to study at the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School, then graduated with a BA in the Arts from Franklin Pierce University. She performed and won awards at the American College Theatre Festival and the American College Dance Festival. Nora has studied under the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Martha Graham Dance Company, and Stephen Petronio to name a few. She has toured throughout New England and Europe. She currently is the director of the Framingham Community & Cultural Center. When Miss Nora is not dancing, you can find her spending time with her partner and their two standard poodles, Lucinda and Otis.
Staff
John Henderson, "DJ Hendotronic"
Mister Hendo is "The Man Behind the Curtain" - cutting music, creating programs, and most importantly, keeping Miss Nicky sane.