Studio Staff | Alma Lea's Dance Studio, Inc.

The Studio Staff

Alma-Lea began her dance education at the age of 6 in her hometown and has continued to train and stay educated in the ever evolving art of dance. After opening Alma-Lea’s Dance Studio in July 1991, she continued to train and in 1997 received her Dance Masters of America Chapter Certification and was inducted into the New England Chapter of Dance Masters of America. In 2014, she received her Graduate Diploma from DMA’s Teacher’s Training School at S.U.N.Y. Buffalo receiving national certifications in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern & Acrobatics. Alma-Lea then continued her education to include becoming a Regional & Nationally certified examiner in all disciplines. Most recently, Alma-Lea was sworn in to the Board of Directors for Dance Masters New England and is on the Examinations Committee and is the current Membership Chairman. Alma-Lea also enjoys her time spent chaperoning the DMA Student Honors Intensive Program each summer. Alma-Lea is also a long time member of the Maine Dance Teacher Club. In 2009 received the R.E.M.M. Community Volunteer award for her dedication and commitment to the club. She is currently on the Vice President & a board member for MDTC. She has been involved in competitions for many years with her students bringing home several Overall High Score Awards, Judges Choice Awards, Outstanding Choreography Awards, National Dance Team Nominations, Regional Title holders and several special awards. Alma-Lea has trained several winning pageant contestants in talent including Little Miss Maine, Miss Maine and more. She has inspired many of her students to continue their dance careers in college or opening studios of their own. Her students have been awarded several scholarships and been accepted into prestigious performing arts programs such as Dance Olympus VIP Tour, The Joffrey School of Ballet & DMA's Student Honors Intensive. She has also choreographed for East Auburn Baptist Church’s “Christmas Spectacular” and “Event” Productions. Alma-Lea is also involved with many community events such as The Moxie Festival Performances. Alma-Lea hopes to always be able to inspire, educate and spread the knowledge she’s gained through dance to as many people as possible. Alma-Lea is First Aid/CPR certified and Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (Y.P.A.D.) certified.

ALMA-LEA PACE

Owner/Studio Director

Jami Ames, teacher and choreographer since 2006, began taking dance classes at the age of three. Jami trained in ballet (Cecchetti & Vaganova), pointe work, jazz, tap, lyrical, and contemporary. She is a 2014 graduate of Dance Masters of America's Teachers Training School at SUNY Buffalo passing national exams and completing certifications in ballet, tap, jazz and modern. She is a member of Dance Masters of New England - Chapter 5. Jami also holds both Alixa Flexibility (M1) and CPR/First Aid certifications. Her students have gone on to receive highly recognized scholarship opportunities, title placements, and have been accepted into collegiate dance and performing arts programs. Jami currently adjudicates for dance competitions across the country and is on staff as a competition judge with Impact Dance Adjudicators.

JAMI AMES

Asst. Director, Choreographer

Nicole Nolin began dancing at the age of seven and was one of Miss Alma's very FIRST students! Nicole was a dedicated dancer and acrobat as well as a member of the ALDS Competition & Performance Team. She began teaching at age 16 with an all boys hip-hop class! In 2007, Nicole began teaching at a local studio, creating a successful competitive program and has been educating ever since. Nicole is a graduate of Dance Masters of America's Teaching Training School in Buffalo NY passing national exams in ballet, tap and jazz. She is also certified in Safety & Risk Management with USA Gymnastics. Nicole has been a past board member and President of the Maine Dance Teachers Club and is currently a DMA member. In addition to dancing, Nicole is a licensed cosmetologist currently working at a salon in Lewiston. She loves spending time with her husband, step-son & 15-year-old Yorkie/Cocker Spaniel, Sophie. Miss Nicole is excited to share her love and passion for dance with ALDS students!

NICOLE NOLIN

Choreographer

A longtime student of the studio, Brooke has trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz and more. She very quickly became our most sought after class assistant (especially within our Children's Program) in middle and high school. After graduating, Brooke joined our adult classes and has continued training ever since. Miss Brooke is a graduate of Dance Masters of America's Teachers Training School passing national exams in Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Modern. She is also First Aid & CPR Certified. Brooke has years of experience working with children at a local preschool/daycare and truly loves working with our tiny dancers!

BROOKE YORK

Choreographer

Miss Anna quite literally grew up in dance! She began taking class at Alma-Lea’s Dance Studio at the age of 2 in the very first Mommy & Me Program and went on to dance competitively for 12 years. She trained in a variety of dance styles including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and hip-hop. She began assisting with classes in 2018 and is a recent graduate of the ALDS Teacher Apprentice Program (T.A.P.). In the summer of 2024, Miss Anna has completed her first year of Dance Master's of America Teachers Training School and plans to continue this year!

ANNA DIONNE

Choreographer

Richelle has been dancing since she took her first steps. She loved music and dancing
in the booths at a local restaurant when she was a toddler out to eat with her mom and
dad, that as soon as Virginia Polcari would take her into class, she was enrolled.
Richelle’s first dance recital piece was I’m a little teapot and her family still talks about
watching her perform on stage in 1974. Virginia’s dance school was in Orange, MA and
is now known as The Dance Studio of Orange, MA. It’s here that Richelle’s passion for
dance grew while she learned ballet, jazz and tap from two very dedicated women.
Richelle’s passion for ballet grew and her teachers recommended she take her learning
to someone with more expertise. Richelle began studying with Miss Margaret Diamond,
who’s career spanned more than two decades with the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. Miss
Margaret focused on skill and technique Richelle progressed to pointe under her
tutelage. Richelle remained with The Dance Studio for jazz and tap during this time so
she could still perform. She even was selected by Mrs. Polcari to be in the musical,
“Peter Pan” at the local community college where she was choreographing!
Richelle began teaching after her oldest son was born in 1990 and taught the littles,
which brought so much joy. Richelle also continued performing at her local community
college in chorus roles to maintain skill, including “A Midsummer Night’s Dream’” “Big
River” and “The King and I.” Richelle took a few years off when she had her second son
and daughter, however jumped right back in once her daughter arrived by joining her
daughter at The Dance Center in Winchendon, MA as a student. Richelle continued
teaching by doing Choreography for the Narragansett Regional High School Drama
Club’s performances, which included “Little Shop of Horrors,” “My Fair Lady” and
several others. Richelle served on the Parent Dance Board at TDC while her daughter
was on the competition team, while continuing to dance and perform in the recital each
year.
Richelle moved with her family to Maine in 2012 and while working for the phone
company in Portland continued to take ballet at the Portland Ballet two nights a week.
She had continued to search for a studio in Maine she could call home and is excited to
say that Alma-Lea’s is exactly what she was looking for! Richelle is excited to still be
dancing ballet and jazz and teaching for Miss Alma!

RICHELLE BROSSI

Choreographer

Mr. Riley is an Alma-Lea’s Dance Studio alumni. He trained in a variety of dance styles and was a member of our competition team. Not only is he knowledgeable in dance, Riley has been a valuable asset to our recital stage crew and has many years of management experience. He'll be a friendly face in the studio office as well as managing the front of house at our shows!