Teaching at MAMA

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Christina has dedicated many years to the students of the Monadnock Region. She has a true passion for helping students become the best they can be. Whether as a dancer, performer or other professional career. 

Miss Christina began her training at the Philadelphia Performing Arts School at the age of ten, on a full scholarship. At this prestigious school, Christina took daily classes in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre, Spanish & Character Dance. Other aspects of the performing arts were also studied; acting, voice, dance history, & Labanotation. Partnering, piano and music history, as well as set design, stage makeup, costuming and choreography were also studied. After attending the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, she went on to dance professionally with the Pennsylvania Ballet Company, Wildflowers ll and the Delaware Opera Society, performing in Ballets and Opera's such as Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Rumpelstiltskin, Die Fleidermouse, Carmen and many others. Her summers were spent attending dance programs and taking master classes with renowned teachers such as Benjamin Harkarvy, Melissa Hayden, David Howard, Alvin Ailey, Andrew Pap & Lupe Sorano. She danced for Rudolph Nureyev when he was presented with an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the Arts. She has been teaching and choreographing for over 35 years, including the Well School, Northern Lights Dance Theatre & The New Hampshire Dance Institute. 

She is proud of the many students that have trained under her, many of which have gone on to pursue dance in higher education and to dance professionally.

ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR & INSTRUCTOR

Ms. Krystin Hicks is excited to be at the helm of MAMA! She is helping parents & students  with everything from getting you started in your training at the Academy to ongoing programs, scheduling, tuition, store sales and more!

Krystin is returning to her original passion of dance after a 20 year hiatus. Her home studio from 7-18 was at Ballet Austin in the heart of Texas. She was an original member of Austin Musical Theatre Program and her numerous credits there allowed her to join Actors Equity at age 18. 

 She then attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NYC) as a  straight theatre major and Boston Conservatory as a musical theater major. 

After a dance injury and surgery she started a yoga practice for recovery. She took her first Yoga teacher training in 2006 and has taught in Austin, Boston, Maui, Ireland and beyond for the last 18 years. She also co-created, facilitated and taught the first ever 200 hour Yoga teacher training program hosted by Harvard University. Krystin is thrilled to be back in the studio and can't wait to meet you! 

ADMINISTRATION & INSTRUCTOR

Miss Hannah has a wonderful and dynamic approach to teaching. She loves to share her vast knowledge of Hip-Hop with her students!

Hannah McGee (she/ her) is a dance educator, performing artist, and choreographer based in New Hampshire  where her dance and musical theater journey began. She expanded her knowledge into a more diverse embodiment of styles and artistic expression at Springfield College (SC), where she graduated with a BA in dance and a BS in business management in May of 2025.  During her time at SC, she had performed works by Ana María Álvarez (Contra-Tiempo), Darrell Grand Moultrie, Sarah Zehnder (Zehnder Dance), Tatiana Desardouin (Passion Fruit Dance Company), and Maureen Shea. As a part of the SC Dance Repertory Company from  2022-2025, led by Artistic Director Sarah Zehnder, McGee performed at the Springfield Thunderbirds Hockey halftime show and the American College Dance Association’s (ACDA) adjudicated and Informal Faculty Concert performances.

She  is able to step into a leadership role as if it were second nature, for instance, teaching dance classes, choreographing in a variety of settings, and directing musicals. She served as co-president of the SC Best of Broadway club for three years and treasurer  and PR for the SC Dance Club. She has taught dance classes for ages 3-23 in an abundance of styles including hip-hop, jazz, ballet, contemporary, tap, musical theater, and improvisation in various dance schools, summer sleep away camps, and public schools.

She  is at the beginning of her teaching career and has an urgency to share her craft in creative ways. Her goal is to fuel the passion for dance in others through a supportive and encouraging environment, leaving room for her students to explore personal artistry  through guided improvisation and character work. She motivates her students to build confidence in themselves and each other and to create community and resilience.

McGee  feels privileged that her passion for dance is something that she can share with others through different embodiments. Her most recent research continues to explore women's empowerment through a choreographic work, "Untether... Obstruct... Reform... Affirm!"  set on 9 dancers, breaking free from the social stigmas placed upon them by the overpoweringly reinforced gender based power dynamics. McGee uses different choreographic tools to bring her dances to life, using imagery and mixed media. Creating artwork or  images with the dancer's bodies to represent her work, sets up dynamics in McGee’s research that mold the foundation of her work.

INSTRUCTOR

Miss Amanda is sweet and caring and cares so much for every student she teaches. Fun and inspiring, she will bring joy and discipline to a fun-filled class every week!

 Amanda danced for fifteen years at Monadnock Academy of Movement Arts,  studying Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Modern. She continued to take classes in Ballet and Modern while living on the seacoast of NH.

Amanda has a background in Early Childhood Education with a certificate in ECE as well as her AS in Early Childhood Education. Amanda received her yoga teacher certification in 2016. She has also attended “Raising the Barre” workshops with American Ballet Theater.

She taught preschool locally in Hancock NH for two years, as well as in El Paso Texas where she was able to bring her love of the outdoors to her class and teach an outdoor nature based childhood program for children ages 5-8.
Amanda is a homeschooling mother to three children, all of whom love training at MAMA!

INSTRUCTOR

Madeline is sensitive and caring, wanting each student she teaches to foster the love of dance much as she has.

Madeline  took her first ballet class at just two years old, laying the foundation for a lifelong passion for dance. Growing up, ballet was her primary focus until the age of fourteen, when she discovered hip-hop and instantly fell in love with its energy and freedom.

A  graduate of a performing arts high school, Madeline spent the majority of her school days immersed in dance training. She also received private instruction and attended classes at the renowned Broadway Center for Performing Arts (BCPA) in New York City, where  she participated in multiple summer intensives to refine her technique.

While  hip-hop is her favorite style to teach, Madeline is also highly skilled in acro instruction. Over the past four years, she has expanded her role in the dance world, choreographing and teaching to share her passion with the next generation of dancers. Dedicated  to continuous growth, she spends her mornings training and further educating herself in the styles she loves before heading into the studio to teach.

For  Madeline, dance is the perfect balance of structure and creativity—a liberating art form that builds confidence, discipline, and self-expression. Her goal as an instructor is to inspire students, helping them develop not only as dancers but also as individuals,  empowering them to become the best versions of themselves.

 LEAD INSTRUCTOR

 Karl’s classes provide students with a healthy balance of discipline and fun. He pushes students to be their best, while giving them space to grow as individuals, and always looks for ways to help them to celebrate their achievements and to be proud of their work. 

 After nearly 20 years dancing and teaching professionally in New York City, Karl is  thrilled to be back in his home state of New Hampshire, teaching for Monadnock  Academy of Movement Arts.  

Beginning dance at the late age of 19, Karl received his training at Boston Ballet, The  American Academy of Ballet at Vassar College, and The University of New Hampshire,  where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Theatre and Dance. While  continuing his education during his career, his formative teachers were John Prinz, David  Howard, Finis Jhung, Elena Kunikova, Alphonse Poulin, Debbie Roshe, Richard Pierlon,  Tony Stevens, Steven Sophia, Jacob Brent, Mark Dendy, Jana Hicks, Val Suarez, Max Stone, and Zena Rommett.  Throughout his years a performer, Karl had the privilege of working with many inspiring  artists. Highlights include Jerry Mitchell, Matthew Broderick, Vanessa Williams, Micky  Dolenz, and Robert LePage and his Ex Machina team. 

Select credits include: the national  tour of Pippin (ensemble and aerial captain), NBC’s Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and  eight years dancing and flying for The Metropolitan Opera.  As an instructor Karl has taught a range of dance styles: ballet, jazz, theatre dance, lyrical, contemporary, conditioning, movement for actors, and dance improvisation. He also gives master classes in ballet, jazz, dance improvisation, leap and pirouette technique,  and partnering.  

He has taught workshops for Phillips Exeter Academy, Berwick Academy, the University  of New Hampshire, and Plymouth State University. In NYC, he taught in the BFA  program at The New York Film Academy’s Musical Theatre Department for ten years;  and he was the lead dance teacher and a member of the senior faculty for nine years at The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. Several of his students have become  professional dancers and actors, performing in Broadway shows, national and  international tours, TV series, and major motion pictures. Karl is a member of the  Actor’s Equity Association and the American Guild of Musical Artists.  

INSTRUCTOR & FITNESS COACH

Picture & Bio Coming Soon!

Assistant TEACHER 

Samantha is very sweet and caring, and loves to be in the studio sharing her love of dance. She will make sure students are having fun and embracing themselves fully.

Samantha has been dancing since she was two, starting with ballet and eventually exploring contemporary, modern, jazz, and acro. She spent her middle and high school years on a studio competition team and trained at Pioneer Valley Highschool, where she joined the Modern Pre‑Professional Company. 

That led her to the National High School Dance Festival twice, an experience that really shaped her as a dancer. Through the company she learned about the roots of modern dance and took master classes with professional company’s. At the same time, Samantha participated in DEL (Dance Education Laboratory) an outreach initiative, where high school students teach elementary students about dance and improvisation. Through this experience, she developed valuable teaching skills, creativity, and deeper appreciation for dance education in younger students and kids who may not have access to a studio. 

Samantha is in her senior year at Colby Sawyer College, where she's been totally involved in the dance club since her freshman year. She has been choreographing for the club for 4 years. Now, she’s proud to be the club’s co‑president, helping to put shows together and create a positive environment for everyone involved.

She is super excited to be assisting in classes at MAMA as she works toward being a full fledged teacher!

GUEST INSTRUCTOR

 Shawn is best at giving students the motivation needed to accomplish the difficulties of dance training. He has a unique ability to inspire confidence and help students gain an inner understanding of movement, vital in today's dance world where developing movement from within is paramount.

Shawn began his training as a young boy at the Monadnock Academy of Movement Arts taking classes in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop, Musical Theatre, Ballroom & More. 

He went on to pursue a Bachelors degree in Theatre & Dance from Keene State College and toured for 7 years with the world renowned dance company Pilobolus, acting as Dance Captain. He performed and studied with Bill Irwin, and has partnered with many notable industry leaders for stage, screen and behind the scenes work, allowing him to further his mastery of the arts in dance, theatre & film.

He continues to work under the direction of Sidi Larbi Cherkoui's Eastman Dance Company of Antwerp, Belgium as a dancer and assistant choreographer. He has worked with the Beyonce & Jay-Z, choreographing for her music videos; Spirit & APES**T, and dancing with Emma Watson, in the film Little Women. He appears in the Netflix film ANIMA, the recently released Cyrano the Musical Film, and has won numerous awards for his own dance films, including Lincoln Center & The Baryshnikov Arts Center. 

Assistant Choreographer for Chiroptera in Paris, France. He's currently traveling the world to dance, perform, choreograph, film and act. He loves to come home to Peterborough, NH to teach dance to the students of MAMA! 

CHOREOGRAPHER

Miss Riley is especially invested in giving students a true sense of the arts and dance. She works tirelessly to bring a unique and strong sense of self to the dancers at MAMA. Her creative spirit and calm energy give students a safe, yet inspiring setting to pursue their own unique talents.

Miss Riley Anne Lynch graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Theatre and Dance, at Keene State College, specializing in choreography and performance. She spent two semesters studying at Duke University for the American Dance Festival.

 She is currently a freelance performer and the director of her own Modern Dance Company, 

Weather Makers Dance. 

She has studied with and performed the works

of Monica Bill Barnes, Heidi Henderson, Ishmael Houston Jones, Cynthia McLaughlin, Shawn Fitzgerald Ahern and many more. Studying abroad in Italy and Athens Greece with Robert Lawson, learning the many facets of show creation and the fascination for creating art based on humanity has shaped how she works. Riley began her training under the direction of Christina Ahern of Monadnock Academy of Movement Arts when she was three years old. She is a poet, a writer and an avid story teller.

She is very proud to be a part of the fabulous team of dancers, teachers and choreographers at MAMA.