Meet the members of our professional staff – trained professionals who danced with ballet and modern companies and on Broadway. Their backgrounds and years of teaching experience allows then to pass on to your child the accumulated knowledge of many generations of professional dancers, teachers and choreographers with whom their have worked.
Our Staff
Linda Copp, Director (Ballet, Conditioning, Pointe, Character Dance, Pas de Deux) has owned and operated the Lebanon Ballet School for over 30 years. Linda graduated from the Hartford Conservatory, CT and was a former soloist with the Connecticut Valley Regional Ballet Company. She began teaching in the Hartford, CT and Springfield, MA areas in 1971. For 20 years, she served as the rehearsal mistress for the Albany Berkshire’s production of The Nutcracker in Lebanon, which involved the selection and training of nearly 100 local dancers. She choreographed Hartford High musicals from 1998 to 2003 and worked productions for NCCT and Opera North. She is a founding director of City Center Ballet. She feels strongly that one never stops learning in the studio and as a dancer or a teacher.
Jennifer Henderson, Assistant Director (Ballet, Conditioning, Pointe & Variations, Pas de Deux) has studied at Lebanon Ballet School since its inception in 1984, and has trained with Madeline Culpo of Albany Berkshire Ballet and Andrei Bossov of Bossov Ballet Theatre in Pittsfield, Maine. She has danced the roles of Odette in Swan Lake (1997) and Swanilda in Coppélia (1998) in LBS productions. In 2002 she danced the Czardas lead in City Center Ballet’s production of Coppélia and as one of the stepsisters in Cinderella in 2005. She joined the Lebanon Ballet School teaching staff in January, 2003, and for several years was a local rehearsal mistress for Albany Berkshire Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Her signature piece of choreography, City Center Ballet’s production of Cinderella (2008), has established the creativity and talent that she has since brought to Clara’s Dream (2010-15), Coppélia (2011), Giselle(2013), The Sleeping Beauty (2014), Alice in Wonderland (2015). She was appointed Artistic Director of City Center Ballet in 2022.
Jennifer Guess (ballet, conditioning, pointe, variations) is an experienced dance teacher and dance coach specializing in technical training and performance preparation. Classically trained in the Vaganova method of ballet, classical modern techniques (Horton & Graham), and jazz (Luigi, Maddox, Hachett), she danced with the original Alvin Ailey Summer Repertory Company before working with the Campbell Agency (Dallas) and Fontaine Agency (Los Angeles). Jennifer taught at her alma mater, North Carolina School of the Arts (1989), and Westside Academy (Los Angeles). Moving to Dallas in 1998, Jennifer began teaching locally and fell in love with training the new generation of dancers in all styles of dance. After returning to the Upper Valley in 2018, Jennifer reconnected and immersed herself in the local dance community and currently teaches modern, ballet, pointe, jazz, and body conditioning. She privately coaches students on proper form and stability to improve technique excellence and strength. She is a founding director of the New England School of the Arts opening in Fall 2024.
Emily Higgins (Ballet, Conditioning and Pointe) grew up dancing at Lebanon Ballet School. She spent more time in the studio than anywhere else. In 2008, she was given her first principal role as Cinderella with City Center Ballet, original choreography by Jennifer Henderson. Since then she has performed many principal roles, including Swanhilda (Coppelia) and the Sugarplum Fairy (Clara’s Dream). Emily worked with many guest artists growing up, including David Fernandez, Leslie Peck, Alexander Brady and Saleemah E Knight.
In 2011 she spent her year at Ballet Austin’s training program under direction of Stephen Mills and Michelle Martin. Returning to the Upper Valley, she discovered her love for teaching and creating while working at The Dance Collective. Realizing her continuous love for ballet and performing, she continued to dance and perform with Lebanon Ballet School and City Center Ballet, returning to her home stage and company.
Emily is an active company member, and is looking forward to taking on a new role at the school as a staff member.
“I think that anyone who wants to dance should dance in whatever capacity they desire. I love bringing my knowledge to the younger generations and watching them grow into the dancers and people they want to be. It’s a very rewarding experience for everyone involved”
Kassady Small (Ballet, Conditioning and Pointe) began dancing at the age of two at Lebanon Ballet School From 2001 to 2009 she studied and performed with the Albany Berkshire Ballet, she then joined City Center Ballet in 2010 coming a principle dancer in roles as the Snow Queen and Dew Drop in Clara’s Dream. In 2019 she Graduated from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee with a BFA in dance, emphasizing in Ballet. Kassady is a classical ballet dancer who has trained in other dance styles: Salsa, Horton, and Counter Technique as well as other styles of dance. Currently she privately coaches, teaches open classes and choreographs. Kassady really enjoys the life that dancing gives to the body, mind, and soul. Inspiring others is what motivates her to keep moving.
Susan Lamontagne (Musical Theater) started dancing at the age of 3 like so many. Her training includes, Classical Ballet, Jazz (Mu. Theater plus others), Modern and tap. She has trained in NY, Japan as well as many other places. Her 22 year professional performing career included Broadway, National and International Tours, including Fosse (Original B’way co), CATS, West Side Story, Starlight Express and the NY Metropolitan Opera’s The Merry Widow to name a few favorites.
Susan has directed, choreographed and taught theater arts classes in schools, dance school and teacher programs around the US for over 15+ years. Upper Valley credits include: Pentangle Town Hall/Artistree Productions (CATS, Cabaret & Rocky Horror Show), The Grange Theater (S. Pomfret), Northern Stage Boot Camp for teens and many seasons with NCCT (North Country Community Theater) for both teens and adults.
She is a sought after master class guest artist. Contact her directly for classes at susanlala4@gmail.com