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 to Clara’s Dream (2010-15), Coppélia (2011), Giselle(2013), The Sleeping Beauty (2014), Alice in Wonderland (2015).
Jennifer Guess (Ballet, Modern and Conditioning) 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, Tremaine, Hachett), she danced with the original Alvin Ailey Summer Repertory Company before being signed, working and traveling with the Campbell Agency (Dallas) and Fontaine Agency (Los Angeles). In addition to walking the runways in New York, Dallas and Los Angeles, Jennifer worked in print, editorial, catalog, and commercial television advertising. Using dance training in all her commercial work, Jennifer developed the ability to hone in on performance critique and professional development. Working alongside her modeling contracts, Jennifer taught at her alma mater, North Carolina School of the Arts (1989), and Westside Academy (Los Angeles). After 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. Currently Jennifer teaches modern, ballet, jazz, and Ballet Burn. She privately coaches students on proper form and stability to improve technique excellence and strength.
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”
Erin McNulty (Contemporary) is a New England-based contemporary dance artist and educator. She is dedicated to exploring dynamic and intimately informed movement languages; and celebrating diverse voices through dance and the expressive physical toolbox it offers. Erin holds a B.S. from Boston University, and a Postgraduate Diploma from Trinity Laban Conservatoire. She has danced with companies including Natalie Johnson Dance, Kairos Dance Theater, Eliza Malecki Dance, Rachel Linsky, Zoe Dance Company, Kelley Donovan & Dancers, and Paula Josa-Jones/Performance Works, and has presented her own work on stage and film extensively in the greater Boston area including as a 2018 and 2020 New England Dance Fund award recipient. Erin has taught dance technique and creative movement classes to youth and adults in studios, schools, and community spaces. She is currently on dance faculty at Boston University, Lebanon Ballet School and Wilmington Dance Academy, and serves as Instructional Coach & Research Specialist with Boston Ballet’s Education & Community Initiatives.
Cheryl Kirby (Scottish Highland Dance) began dancing at the age of 5 under the direction of Marguerite Reid in Philadelphia, PA. Cheryl had a very successful competitive career winning the US Inter Regional Championship seven times as well as finishing 5th in the Junior World Championships and third in the Adult World Championships. She was a successful competitor in the US, Canada and Scotland. During this time, she also trained at the Protchotsky School of Ballet and the Maryland National Ballet School studying Vaganova and Chechetti methods.
Cheryl is an instructor with the Davidson School of Highland Dancing in Maryland along side her mother, Catherine Fisher, and sister, Karen Rubach. She is also the Dance director for the United States Naval Academy. She is a Fellow in Highland with the British Association of Teachers and Dancers, a member of ScotDance USA and is an adjudicator for the Scottish Official Board of Highland dancing. She will be judging the world championships in thesummer of 2021. Her goal is to generate interest and maybe be able to take the beginning level of exams at the end of our first year. This Spring, Cheryl moved to the Upper Valley with her husband, Richard.
Susan Lamontagne (Ballet, Jazz/Musical Theater Dance, Conditioning, Pas de Deux, Zumba) started dancing at age 3. Her training includes Classical Ballet, Jazz (lyrical and Musical Theatre), Modern and tap. She has trained in NY and Japan, as well as many other places throughout the US. Her 20-year professional performing career included Broadway, National and International Tours including the Tony Award winning Fosse (Original B’way company), Cats (Demeter – Broadway, National Tour & Germany), Red, Hot & Blue (Papermill Playhouse), West Side Story (Gratziella – National & European tours), Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby (Original Tiger Lily), Starlight Express (Ashley – Germany & Las Vegas) and A Chorus Line (Kristine) and NY Metropolitan Opera’s The Merry Widow.
Susan is directing, choreographing and teaching theater arts in schools, dance schools and theater programs around the US. Her NH/VT Upper Valley Directorial/Choreography credits include: Pentangle and Artistree’s Cabaret, CATS & The Rocky Horror Show. NCCT’s On The Town (Dir/Choreo), Curtains, Footloose, Once On This Island, Beauty and the Beast, 42nd Street (Choreo) and Opera North’s My Fair Lady. Out of town Directorial/Choreography work include Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, Lend Me A Tenor, Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, Peter Pan and The Wizard of Oz.
Susan considers it an honor and responsibility to pass on the techniques and styles of the many amazing choreographers, directors and mentors she’s had the privilege of studying while adding her own style. She is a much sought after master class guest artist instructor as well as being a board member for the Upper Valley’s City Center Ballet. Susan considers it a huge responsibility to help dancers to reach their personal potential in a healthy balanced way allowing them to take dance in whichever direction they choose while fostering skills that will help carry them through life for years to come.
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.
Clayton Teal (Ballet, Pas de Deux, Boys) began his training at the age of 6 in Kissimmee, FL at James Dance Center studying Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern and Acrobatics. He continued his training with The Albany Berkshire Ballet in Albany, NY and started touring with the company at age 15. He performed numerous principal roles such as The Cavalier and Snow Prince in the Nutcracker to the Roasting Swan Pas de Deux in Carmina Burana in his career with them. He has performed with such companies as Southern Ballet Theater in Orlando, FL, The Upstate New York Ballet in Syracuse, NY, Ballet for Young Audiences in New York, NY and has been part of the City Center Ballet since 2000 performing roles like Franz, Prince Desire, Dr. Coppelius and the Wicked Step Mother. He has been teaching advanced level ballet classes as well as mens and partnering classes with the Lebanon Ballet School. He has also been on the technical side of the theater designing sets and props as well as stage managing and rigging.