Enrichment Activities

shailini sisodia

Shailini Sisodia was born in Kathmandu, Nepal, and with her father being a well-known UN diplomat, the family lived all over the world. Massachusetts, however, has now been her home for the past few decades. A life long educator, Shailini taught at both Boston University and Northeastern University earlier in her career, and while she enjoyed that a great deal, she is currently living her true passion by teaching people how to cook food that is both delicious and nutritious. Toward that end, she teaches many different types of cuisines in her Boston area cooking classes, including at the well- known Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Kitchen and Boston Public Market. Shailini also volunteers with food related causes, and is a head chef for “Lexeatogether” right here in town. Shailini has taught cooking classes on zoom for Cary library and has been featured in both print and online local media. In her spare time, she loves to read, garden, travel, dance and act in plays." Most importantly, Shailini, or “Ms. S”, as her students call her, truly loves her cooking classes at Hayden Rec. Center!

Paris Stone

Paris joined the Enrichment instructor team at Hayden in the fall of 2021. She holds a bachelor’s degree in art education and is currently working towards her master’s degree at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. While she pursues her own education, she is committed to sharing her passion and knowledge for art with the students in her classes. She enjoys seeing them explore different materials, techniques, and styles of creation in her many classes. Outside of the classroom, Paris enjoys baking, going for walks in the woods, and doing portrait drawing!

Bri Jewett

Whilst studying psychology and philosophy at the University of New England, Bri began ceramics in 2019 when she enrolled in her university’s introduction to ceramics course. Since then, she has become enthralled by the apparent connection between the brain and the hands, and, has been self-learning through exploration and trial and error. Bri loves sharing and gaining experience surrounding the wonders of clay. She enjoys all aspects of ceramics and pottery, but sculpting and throwing on the wheel are her favorites. Her love for psychology and art has led her to work towards becoming a sensorimotor art therapist. She is currently obtaining her master’s degree in art therapy at Lesley University. Ultimately, she hopes to become a licensed therapist who specializes in sensorimotor art therapies.

nan cormier

Nan Cormier loves to share the power of creativity with people of all ages. An ardent lover of fiber arts, she enjoys experimenting with new media, such as book and print making and mixed media. A lifelong education advocate, she fell in love with art history at Smith College, studied education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and has exhibited works at the Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown, MA.

Beth Sullivan

Beth just recently graduated with a Math major and an Art minor from UMass Lowell. Art is her passion and is excited to be teaching at Hayden her love for ceramics started in high school and continued in college where is studied under a ceramic master. She also fell in love with oil painting and hopes to pursue her MFA in a few years. 

Renee blumsack

Renee began working at Hayden in September 2023. She holds degrees in Special and Elementary Education and has taught in classroom and vocational settings. She spent several years working as a clinical research associate in collaboration with physicians. Renee is an avid swimmer, movie, and concertgoer. She has two young adult children who live nearby and enjoys the opportunity to get out and explore with them.

katrina mccarthy

Katrina McCarthy just recently joined teaching at Hayden in September 2024. She graduated from the University of Rhode Island in May 2024 with a major in Economics with a minor in Business. A Lexington local, she grew up attending classes and programs at both Hayden Recreation Center and Hayden Ice Facility from a young age. She started figure skating at the age of 5 and competed as a synchronized figure skater for 10 years, she also taught Learn to Skate at Hayden from 2016-2020. She has had a passion for cooking and baking her entire life; taking cooking classes, watching hours of cooking shows and working at restaurants and cafes to expand on recipes and skills. She is very excited to start teaching this upcoming year!

Dance

Andrea Brooks

Andrea has been dancing and performing for 14 years. She began her training in ballet, tap, and jazz at the Dance Center of Waltham. Over the years she has expanded her training and education in lyrical, modern, contemporary, Pointe, hip hop, musical theatre, choreography, and dance pedagogy. Andrea has performed in musical theater productions at both high school and college level. She graduated from Springfield College in 2019 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Dance. While at Springfield College, Andrea was a member of the Best of Broadway Club, Dance Repertory Company, and the Dance Club where she performed in numerous events and shows. She has also performed with the Center Stage Dance team at various locations including Boston Celtics games, Step Up 2 dance competitions, Canobie Lake Park, and Universal Studios! Andrea enjoys sharing her knowledge and passion for performance with the young students that she teaches!

Willow Gertz

Willow has been dancing for over 20 years. She began her dance training at age nine at 5678 Dance Studio in Dracut, MA. In addition to training at a studio, Willow danced and performed in musicals with her middle school and high school theater company. During her years in theater, her theter company competed in and won several national Theater Competitions including Junior Theater Festival/itheatrics in Atlanta, GA and the National Performing Arts Festival in New York City and Orlando, FL. In college, Willow was a member of her college dance team and served as captain of the dance team during her senior year. As a member of the dance team, she performed at sporting events, campus events, and NDA Nationals in Daytona Beach. After graduating from college, Willow became a member of OnStage Dance Company and has been with OnStage for the past 6 years. In addition to dance, Willow has a passion for education. She earned her Master’s in Teaching and has been a science teacher for the last 6 years. Willow is excited to combine her passion for dance and teaching as a dance instructor for Hayden Recreation Centre.

Jillian Murray

Jillian Murray is a versatile dancer and choreographer from Burlington, MA where she began her dance training at Suzanne’s Dance Connection. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst in 2023, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. During her time there, she was a member of the UMass Dance Company and performed in multiple senior thesis dance concerts, faculty concerts, as well as the dance film with the National Endowment for the Arts, Convergence, directed by Dr. Aston McCullough. Upon graduation, Jillian began her professional career dancing for the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun as a member of their dance team. With the Sun, she’s enjoyed the opportunity to dance back-up for artists such as the Ying Yang Twins, Rayvon Owen, DJ Kool, and more. She is currently on her second season with the team. Additionally, she performed in the 2023 performances of Anthony Williams’ Urban Nutcracker. Most recently, she joined BoSoma Dance Company as a company member for the 2024-2025 season. Jillian is thrilled to share her love and passion for dance with her students!

Abby Morris

Abigail began her training at the age of three at Leanne Leslies School of Theatrical Dance in Lynn, Massachusetts. From that point forward her love of dance has never stopped.  Abigail has competed at the regional and national level. Her training includes ballet, jazz, tap, hiphop, modern contemporary and acro. Abigail continued her training at Dean college earning a BA in Dance and Arts and Entertainment Management. At Dean, she had the opportunity to use her knowledge gained in her double major to be a production coordinator for the Senior Dance Showcase.  Throughout her time there, she has also been able to perform in multiple shows and learn from amazing faculty including Kristina Berger, Jill Silverman and Kayla Luoma. Abigail has always dreamed of teaching and sharing her passion of dance. Abigail is excited to continue on her dance journey and teach at Hayden Dance. 

Stephanie aucello

Stephanie fell in love with dance when she started training at the age of three under Lisa Liston at Lisa Liston School of Dance. Stephanie continued training throughout her childhood, performing in full length ballets such as The Nutcracker and many recitals. As a dancer, Stephanie trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, acrobatics, musical theater and hiphop. As a competitive dancer, Stephanie has competed on both the regional and national levels, earning special awards and high score placements in both group and solo routines. Stephanie’s love for teaching began when she started assisting classes as a teen and has grown since. Stephanie has taught students ranging from 2-18 years old in multiple styles: jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, musical theater and hip hop. Stephanie takes pride in choreographing award winning competitive routines for both soloists and group dancers. 

Stephanie is also a certified Infant Toddler and Preschool Teacher in the state of Massachusetts. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Merrimack College with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Human Services in May of 2023. At Merrimack, Stephanie was able to combine three of her biggest loves: Singing, Dance, and Teaching as the choreographer for her on campus acapella group. 

Stephanie loves performing and sharing her love of dance and music with all of her students. After volunteering at multiple Hayden recitals and competitions over the years, substituting classes and choreographing for the Lyrical Team, Stephanie is excited to officially join the team of teachers at Hayden Dance! 

Grace goldberg

Grace started dancing when she was 2 years old and has continued her passion of dance to her current senior year at Salem State. At Salem State, Grace is studying Entrepreneurship and Dance with dreams to open her own dance studio where she will continue to share her love for dance with future students. While dance is her favorite sport to coach, she has also coached different levels of recreation and competitive gymnastics for 6 years and has coached varsity high school competitive cheerleading for 2 years. With her variety of a background in gymnastics, cheerleading, and dance she is beyond excited to join the Hayden Recreation Centre team to inspire dancers to love dance as much as she does!