Kathy Buccella: Director of Dance

Kellie Brito: Director of Competitive Dance

Kellie started with Dance with Energy in 2008. She teaches Discovery Dance, Creative Movement, Kinder Combo, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Acro and Performing Company classes.

Kellie received her B.A. in dance performance and education from Dean College School of Dance in 2007. There she performed as a featured dancer under Maurice Hines and as a part of the Elite Dance Company. While at Dean, Kellie focused her training on pedagogy, composition and creative movement. Kellie was also accepted into Alvin Ailey’s Independent Study Program in New York City. She has received numerous awards for her choreography at Dance with Energy.

Layla Mouline: Director of Recreational Dance

Nikki Gagliano

Nikki has earned her Bachelors of Arts in both Dance and Business Administration from Muhlenberg College in Allentown Pennsylvania. She grew up in central Massachusetts, where she studied the Royal Academy of Dance Syllabi under Joanna Duncan and acrobatics and aerial arts under the Hybrid Movement Company based out of Brooklyn, New York. She continued her dance training at Elite Academy of Dance where she danced competitively in all styles. In her time at college, she choreographed numerous contemporary works, developing an easily recognizable style, incorporating juxtaposition within the body between free and bound movement. She also performed in works by professional artists such as Randall Anthony Smith. She worked on other projects, such as fundraising for her jazz dance team, marketing for the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, and continuing with circus training and performances. In her summers, she taught creative dance to middle school aged students at Exploration Summer Programs at Wellesley College. Nikki aims to create a learning environment focused in creativity and exploration of the body by allowing students moments of improvisation and dance choreography.

Allyson Magazu

Allyson began dancing at Dance with Energy in 2013 and has danced competitively since 2015. She has trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and acro. Allyson has won several awards at dance competitions including earning second place for her solo at the Showstopper National Competition in 2019. She began assisting younger dancers at Dance with Energy in 2015 and has been teaching since 2020. Allyson teaches Discovery Dance, Tumble Tots, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Lyrical recreational classes as well as Performing Company classes. Allyson is attending Stonehill College in Easton MA where she will graduate with a degree in Education Studies and Performing Arts: Dance with a minor in Arts Administration in 2023. She is also a member of the Stoneworks Dance Company where she trains and performs in a variety of styles, as well as choreographing for their shows each semester. Allyson enjoys working with young children and sharing her passion for dance. She hopes to continue working with children and wants to integrate her love of dance into her career.

Jennifer Tilley

Jennifer Tilley Freeman is a Rhode Island native, currently working as a dance educator and musical theatre director with various organizations. She joined the Dance with Energy team in 2016. Jen began her dance training as a young child and grew up performing in showcases and competitions. Since completing the Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston’s Dance Education Training Course in 2003, Jen has had the pleasure of teaching hundreds of students. She continued her training at Rhode Island College and was fortunate to work with talented artists and choreographers while performing with the college’s dance company and in musical theatre productions. Professional performances include Providence’s Modern Movement Festival, “Up to Speed” choreographed by Nathan Andary, Open for Dancing’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” choreographed by John-Mark Owen and “In Full Flight” with Heather Ahern’s Aerplaye. “Parasite/gHost,” a collaborative project that combined body prosthetics, music, dance, and video, was performed in 2016. Jen is a veteran dance instructor with experience teaching all ages at schools and studios in RI and MA, including Dance with Energy, Riverside Dance Center, the Portsmouth Abbey School, Rocky Hill School, St. Philomena’s School, Just Dance!, Twinkle Toes Dance Studio, and RI Dance Alliance’s Chance to Dance. Since 2013 she has been part of the creative team at Arts Alive! Barrington. She has had the pleasure of directing and choreographing many shows including Lion King, Seussical, Willy Wonka, Wizard of Oz, Aladdin, Shrek, and Pinocchio. In 2014 she was a dance artist in residence at Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts. She has received awards for her jazz, contemporary, and tap choreography. Jen is passionate about her craft and is fortunate to share it with young performers. 

Eowyn Young

Eowyn Young has danced for 15 years, training under Boston Ballet, Brookline Ballet, and Harney Academy—the latter as a top ten New England Regional Open Champion, multiple time 1st place Ceili dancer, and World top 15-sub-minor Ceili dancer. She has performed on many stages in Boston and New York. Some reputable performances include the 70th Annual Tony Awards, American Repertory Theater (ART), North Shore Music Theater (NSMT), a Nick Sports project (Nickelodeon), and she has danced touring in A Christmas Celtic Sojourn (WGBH). Eowyn has also taught ballet and jazz for three years and choreographed numerous musical theater productions. Her most recent choreography was staged at Riverside Theater Works (Peter Pan and The Bodyguard). Aside from dance, Eowyn is also a passionate actress and guitarist, and has preformed on Regional and Off-Broadway Stages and TV/FILM—including, “Law and Order SVU” (Guest Star), and Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women”. She is super excited to grow as an educator and choreographer at DWE!