OUR TEAM

From instructors and studio management to front desk and work-study staff: our team is passionate about making you feel welcome, empowered, and excited to move: no matter your experience level.

INSTRUCTORS BY STYLE
STAFF BIOS

HEELS CLASS

  • EMILY | FOUNDER/CEO | HEELS & CONTEMPORARY

  • RICHARD | HEELS & HYPE

  • NATALIE | HEELS, BALLET & BARRE

  • CAROLYN | HEELS 101 & CONTEMPORARY

  • CHANELLE | HEELS & HIP HOP

  • EMILY R | COMMERCIAL HEELS

  • PRISCILLA | LATIN HEELS & HIP HOP HEELS

  • TIFFANY | HEELS

  • BELLA | HEELS & CONTEMPORARY

  • MOMO | HEELS

  • AMANDA | HEELS

YOGA & SOMATIC MOVEMENT

  • MEGHAN | YOGA & BODY WORSHIP

  • JANINE | YOGA

  • SAMANTHA | BODY WORSHIP

SNEAKERS

  • CHANELLE | HIP HOP & HEELS

  • DREA | JAZZ FUNK & HIP HOP

  • RICHARD | HYPE & HEELS

CONTEMPORARY

  • MALAYA | CONTEMPORARY

  • BELLA | CONTEMPORARY & HEELS

  • CAROLYN | CONTEMPORARY & HEELS 101

  • EMILY | FOUNDER | CONTEMPORARY & HEELS

BALLET

  • NATALIE | BALLET, HEELS & BARRE

  • MOLLIE | BALLET & BURLESQUE

LEADERSHIP & STUDIO MANAGEMENT

  • EMILY | FOUNDER & CEO

  • SAMANTHA | DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & PROGRAMMING

  • KAMILLA | STUDIO MANAGER

  • LEA | SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER & PRODUCTION

  • KATHERINE | DESIGNER & MARKETING SUPPORT

STAFF BIOS

EMILY CHANDRA | FOUNDER & CEO

Emily has a BA in dance from Dean College and studied under the Ailey School in New York City. She has danced & performed professionally in New York and Boston in modern, jazz, contemporary, heels dance and more. Emily is also a trauma informed, E-YRT and has led yoga retreats & movement workshops globally. Her work has been featured through Big Night Entertainment Group and on NBC Boston.

Emily is the founder of Seacoast Stilettos, her inclusive movement focused on helping people reclaim their power through dance. With her signature Seacoast Stilettos dance classes, Emily serves empowerment and community along with hype at her home studio in Peabody, Massachusetts, as well as studios, nightclubs, and other locales across the country.

Follow Emily on Instagram @emily__chandra

EMILY R | COMMERCIAL HEELS

Emily Reny has been dancing since the age of 10 and is a graduate of CLI Conservatory, an intensive program directed by Teddy Forance that focuses on developing versatile, professional dancers through daily training, mentorship, and performance opportunities. During her time there, she trained under leading choreographers including Ashley Cruz, Sienna Lyons, Teddy Forance, & many more. Sharpening her artistry across multiple styles. With heels and jazz funk as her primary focus, she now teaches heels, bringing confidence, musicality, and passion to her students. Performance credits include Marilyn Monroe (Sienna Lyons), CLI Creative Films (Miguel Zárate, Christopher Scott), and the Burju Shoes x Seacoast Stilettos “Express” project. 

RICHARD XO | HYPE & HEELS

Richard started his dance journey just a few years ago on TikTok, where he fell in love with dance and continued to train and self study. Within these past 2 years he has taught HYPE & Heels classes which have not only grown his confidence but so many others! Richard has been featured on NBC10 News and has performed at Big Night Live, and headlined Pride in the Port. Catch him every Tuesday for HYPE, you don’t want to miss this energy!

Follow Richard XO on Instagram @richardxo_

PRISCILLA | LATIN HEELS & HIP HOP HEELS

Priscilla is a Bronx, NYC -born performer, choreographer, teaching artist, and dancepreneur based in Boston. She is a 2024 Mass Cultural Council Creative Individual Award recipient, recognized for her work at the intersection of cultural preservation, performance, and community engagement.

Priscilla is the founder of Urban Feme, an all-women bachata fusion group that honors traditional Dominican bachata while incorporating contemporary influences, as well as Diaspora Dance Collective, a Boston-based dance and arts education company committed to delivering immersive, culturally grounded movement experiences to schools, organizations, and public events. Her work emphasizes the power of dance as a tool for storytelling, identity, and collective empowerment.

She is also a dedicated hip hop teaching artist at Urbanity Dance School and Hyde Square Task Force, where she mentors young dancers and fosters creative self-expression through movement

NATALIE | HEELS, BARRE & BALLET

Natalie True is a multidisciplinary artist, performer, and heels instructor from Byfield, MA. She received her BFA in Dance Choreography from Marymount Manhattan College (NYC) in 2018 and has since been featured in films such as Aviva choreographed by Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber and HBO’s Uprooted: The Journey of Jazz Dance. Performance credits include backup dancer for Dorian Electra and opener for Ari Shaffir at the Beacon Theatre NYC. Additionally, Natalie is a gogo dancer, barre fitness instructor, dance teacher, stylist/costume designer, and associate choreographer and dance captain for Maine Dance Company. 

Follow Natalie on Instagram at @thenatalietrue

CAROLYN | HEELS 101 & CONTEMPORARY

Carolyn McCarthy is a dance educator and choreographer who has taught students of diverse ages, abilities, and experiences for 20 years. She is a licensed dance instructor for grades k-12 in Massachusetts. Her love for choreography blossomed during her time in the University of Vermont (UVM) Dance Department, which gave her the platform to present original work at the American College Dance Association (ACDA) New England Conference and Vermont College Dance Festival. She was a member and president of UVM’s Orchesis Dance Company and was recognized with the Senior Outstanding Performance and Choreography Award upon graduation in 2015. Carolyn earned a Master of System Dynamics at the University of Bergen, Norway in 2018, formalizing her intuition around the role of art education in systems change. She founded Emergence in 2022, dedicated to expanding access to high quality dance instruction and tools for building resonant community narratives. Carolyn is thrilled and grateful to be teaching contemporary and heels as a part of the Seacoast Stilettos community.

DREA | JAZZ FUNK & HIP HOP

Drea Born and raised in Memphis, TN, Drea is a performing artist as well as choreographer currently residing in Boston, MA. She is the coach of the Maine Celtics Hype Team 25-26 and former co-manager of the WNBA Connecticut Sun Dance Team. Her journey to the New England area is a bold testament to how following your dreams really does pay off. She was also a Celtics Dancer of the 2024 NBA Championship Team, the Boston Celtics, for two seasons. Drea didn’t receive any technical training until her adult life. When she returned home after graduating from University of Tennessee at Knoxville (Go Vols!), she knew this was her moment to pursue dance professionally. In October 2022, she relocated to Boston and performed as a Celtics Dancer for two seasons. Those years shaped her not only as a better performer, but allowed her to step into her gift as a choreographer. Her choreography has been performed by many sports entertainment teams including NBA, NFL, CFL, AFL, and NCAA professionals. She has on-stage, on-court, and behind-the-lens experience, and her teaching style is energetic and encouraging. She teaches hip hop, jazz funk, and prostyle pom pop-ups.

CHANELLE | HEELS & HIP HOP

Chanelle has been dancing for over ten years, with hip hop as her foundation and passion. While hip hop fuels her soul, she joyfully embraced the dynamic styles of heels, Afro beats, and dancehall—adding new dimensions to her raw dance journey. Chanelle experiences span teaching kids and adults in communities like Boston, Brockton, and Providence, where she`s been able to inspire and learn from the dancers she has encountered.

As a member of the different dance teams, Chanelle has had the privilege of learning from talented choreographers, as well as choreographing for music videos and being apart of visual projects. In Chanelle`s classes, you’ll find a space that is raw yet welcoming—an inclusive arena for everyone to explore their unique style. Whether we’re diving deep into hip hop grooves or strutting confidently in heels, there’s room for expression and growth.

Follow Chanelle on instagram @Chanelleyo

BELLA | CONTEMPORARY & HEELS

Growing up, Bella was technically trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, musical theater, and tap. She attended intensives at the Joffrey Ballet school in NYC and Millenium in LA. Bella has worked with choreographers such as Kevin Maher and danced for artists such as New Kids on the Block. Bella found her way to Seacoast 2 years ago and it was love at first sight. She finds the most fulfillment in teaching dancers how to express emotion through movement and use this as a way of healing. Bella is also a veterinary nurse, and a crystal bowl sound healer. Catch her teaching contemporary and leading sound bowl healings at the studio!

Follow Bella on Instagram @bellaaa_rosaaa

MOLLIE | BALLET & BURLESQUE

Mollie Frederiksen is a dancer and physical therapist based out of the North Shore. Dancing since the age of 3, she has an extensive performance history in stage plays, musical theater, classical ballet, contemporary dance, and burlesque. Mollie graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 2013 with a BA in dance before attending MGH Institute of Health Professions, where she received her DPT in 2017. Now a board-certified clinical specialist in pediatric physical therapy, Mollie enjoys working with dancers of all ages and abilities at Bay State Physical Therapy and with Boston Ballet’s Adaptive Dance Program. She is also a burlesque performer and producer, and is a current member of The Betsi Feathers.

MALAYA | CONTEMPORARY

Malaya started her dance journey at the age of 4 and competed until age 18. Malaya has trained in various styles of dance including ballet, modern, jazz, tap, hip hop, contemporary and pointe. Malaya has performed in multiple dance showcases in the New England area, post competition dance career. Malaya has trained most recently with Cat Cogliandro in their dance training program The aCatemy! as well as debuting her first NYC performance at Anthology33 under The aCatemy! Malaya discovered Seacoast Stilettos in 2023 and fell in love with the inclusive nature, loving community and expansive class offerings in all genres. Malaya’s contemporary classes focus on researching one's unique movement through improvisation exercises and finding our emotive spark in phrasework. Malaya holds a safe space for individuals of all levels to learn, play and experiment.

Follow Malaya on instagram @malayaconrade

TIFFANY | HEELS

Tiffany Mendes is a Mom to a cheerleader. Capricorn. Cape Verdean & loves to include her culture into her freestyles. Book nerd on her free time & loves her a good nap! Started dancing at 3 years old, then entered competitive dancing at around 7 years old until she graduated high school. Performed at Disney, danced with the New York Rockets & attended many dance conventions like JUMP & danced with Shane Sparks, Brian Freedman, Mia Michaels, Aliya Janell & more. She started assisted teaching for studios at 17 & has taken multiple adult classes throughout the years - over 8+ years of teaching dance. She has taught pop-up classes & Zumba - versatile in styles including: flex & stretch, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, jazz, tap, hip-hop & heels. Offering open space for any & every gender, ethnicity, parents & more.

As a mother, it is important to Tiff to be able to open up and offer the space and availability to others alike to be free and be able to express themselves openly and confidently.

Follow Tiffany on Instagram at @sosooseductiff

MEGHAN | YOGA & BODY WORSHIP

Meg is a 200 hour Trauma Informed Yoga Teacher and Postpartum Doula. She also teaches indoor cycling and is certified in breath-work, meditation and Reiki 1. Whether she is leading a high energy class on the spin bike, guiding mindful movement on the yoga mat, or supporting people after birth, her mission remains the same: to create containers and hold space for people to come home to their most intuitive, compassionate and empowered self. 

Follow Meghan Buschini on instagram @mindfulmeg_

JANINE | YOGA

Janine is a writer, Reiki practitioner, and lifelong student of yoga. She has been practicing yoga for over fifteen years and graduated from her 200-hour teacher training with Radiantly Alive in Bali in 2024. She received her Usui Reiki Training with Gurdeep Bhogal of Parinama Transformative Healing Arts. Janine mainly teaches Vinyasa, but has experience teaching power, gentle, restorative, and yin yoga. No matter what the style, all of her classes emphasize a deeper connection between our minds, bodies, and inner worlds.

When she’s not on the mat, you can find Janine with a pen in her hand, either journaling or experimenting with new forms of writing. Janine has been published in Pride.com and is in the process of publishing her memoir on the queer femme experience in our current political context.

In her down time, you can find Janine walking the beach or caring for her plant babies with her wife Sarah. You can read more of Janine’s work on her Medium blog and can connect with her on Instagram.

MOMO | HEELS

MoMo Hobson is a professional dancer and heels instructor originally from Boston, MA. With classes fitting for all levels, body types and genders in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. MoMo Hobson has been in various commercials, music videos, concept videos and has choreographed for over ten local artists. Now being a member of LIV3LIHOOD SZN 6, who will be competing in World of Dance Finals in LA. MoMo proceeds to travel the nation, spreading her passion and knowledge for dance!

Follow Momo on Instagram at @momo_hobson

AMANDA | HEELS

Amanda started dancing at age 3, training in various styles of dance while competing until age 18. Amanda loves performing and has been in various shows including the 2013 Orange Bowl halftime performance, RAW Artists Boston showcase in 2020 with Seacoast Stilettos, Cult of Art, the Seacoast Stilettos Contemporary Showcase and currently performs as a gogo dancer in Boston. Outside of dancing, Amanda is a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant, certified FRC Mobility Specialist and Level 1 Kinstretch instructor. Amanda loves being able to apply her knowledge of anatomy and kinesiology into her dance training and teaching. Amanda teaches contemporary and heels with a goal to hold a safe space for students to express their creativity while developing strength and confidence through dancing.

Follow Amanda on Instagram @amanda_gunning

SAMANTHA | DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & PROGRAMMING

Samantha Mendonca (they/she) is a Fat Queer Gender-Fluid Stoner Witch, sex educator, embodiment & empowerment coach, yoga teacher, sensual movement instructor, and tarot reader. As the Director of Operations & Programming, Samantha brings vision to life behind the scenes by helping to shape the offerings, experiences, culture, &  space-holding that set Seacoast Stilettos apart.

They are the resident confidence and embodiment coach, supporting group programs and offering 1:1 mentorship for those ready to unlearn shame, reconnect to their bodies, and live more boldly in their truth. Samantha is also the creator of Body Worship, a Seacoast signature practice devoted to reverence, reclamation, and radical self-love through somatic exploration and sensual, yoga-inspired movement.

In addition, Samantha is one of the teachers for Seacoast Soul Retreats, where she guides participants through transformative experiences rooted in embodiment, nervous system awareness, and soulful connection.

At the heart of all of their work is a devotion to helping people come home to their bodies, their pleasure, their joy, and their most authentic self—beneath conditioning, expectation, and shame. Samantha’s coaching invites you to meet yourself with deep compassion and to gently (sometimes boldly) stretch beyond your comfort zone in the name of growth, liberation, and becoming more fully you. Follow Samantha on Instagram @samantha.not.sam

LEA | SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER & PRODUCTION

Lea began training in dance in 2007, she has trained in various styles such as ballet, tap, contemporary, jazz, and hip-hop. She has danced competitively for over 7 years dancing at competitions like Daytona’s National Competition, NDA, and competitions throughout New England. Lea has also studied dance at Dean College where she minored in Dance Education. In addition, Lea has over two years of teaching experience, her main styles are hip hop, jazz funk, and contemporary. An accomplished artist, photographer, and brand owner in her own right, Lea is also our resident videographer and social media manager here at Seacoast.

Follow Lea on Instagram @leasophia_productions

KAMILLA | STUDIO MANAGER

Kamilla is the Studio Manager at Seacoast Stilettos. She first found the studio in April of 2023 through a friend, and immediately signed up for the Beginner Heels Program. What began as curiosity quickly evolved into a commitment, a sense of community, and a deep love for the studio’s energy and mission. In February 2025, Kamilla joined the Work-Study Program as a way to give back to the space that supported her healing, confidence, and self-love journey. Seacoast Stilettos became a place of reclamation, joy, and creative freedom for her.

Kamilla is a Director of Human Resources with over eight years of experience leading teams, building systems, and advocating for people-first workplaces. In her free time, she transforms into Ophelia Plenty, a member of the Northshore burlesque troupe The Betsi Feathers. As a burlesque performer, she embraces camp and drama. Channeling confidence and humor.

As studio manager, Kamilla is passionate about creating a welcoming, empowering environment where dancers feel supported and celebrated. Whether she’s organizing behind-the-scenes or cheering you on from the sidelines, Kamilla believes dance should be bold, joyful, and unapologetically you.

KATHERINE | DESIGN & MARKETING SUPPORT

Katherine grew up at a small-town studio, and she danced with both general and hip-hop/contemporary companies during her time at Emerson College. There she fell even more in love not just with the community side of dance, but with the levels of creative collaboration that spring up around it: concept shoots, set and lighting design, visual media projects, and all the good things that keep you up at night.

After 6 long years without dance, Katherine took her first class at Seacoast in 2024 and never looked back. A web designer by trade, she loves designing promo material and continuing to build out new site experiences for the studio. Check out some of her work on her portfolio site.