ASB Faculty

Ballet & Pointe, Rhythm & Movement, Kinderdance, Primary Dance & Tap.

Kristina began her dance studies at the age of 6 and continues to express her love of dance through her teaching. She began her training on Massachusetts’ North Shore with Ina Hahn and Robin Adair, then continued in Boston at the Boston Ballet School, and with Mme. Ana Roja and Mme. Tatiana Babushkina. Kristina performed for 3 years in the Boston and North Shore area as a charter member of The North Shore Civic Ballet, during which time she also studied ballet, modern dance, jazz and tap with Paula Schiff, Janet Craft, June Jeswald, Danny Sloan, and Gene Murray. She began teaching dance in 1977 and has taught extensively in the Massachusetts North Shore and Southern N.H. area, and began teaching at ASB in 1990. During her teaching career Kristina has taught and passed examinations in the Cecchetti Council of America ballet curriculum, and has taught in the Royal Academy of Dancing ballet curriculum. She has been owner and director of The Andover School of Ballet since August 1998.

Ballet & Pointe, Lyrical Dance, Stretch & Strengthen.

Michelle holds a BFA degree in dance from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and was a member of the U. Mass. Dance Company, performing and touring in the U.S.A. and England.  She was also a ballet instructor for the U. Mass. Dance Dept. for 2 years. Michelle has performed with The Windhover Dance Company in Rockport, MA, performing original works by modern dance pioneer Doris Humphrey, Ina Hahn, and Carol Burnham. She was previously on faculty in the dance department at Northern Essex Community College, teaching Modern Dance, Modern Dance History, and Dance Composition.  She was a company member with Deadfall Dance, performing original works and collaborative group improvisations by director Judith Wombwell of Phillips Academy.  Michelle is currently a member of the Deborah Abel Dance Company of Cambridge, MA, and has toured in Northern and Southern India with their performance of "Calling To You" where the company also gave spiritually inspired modern dance workshops to young women affiliated with SEWA (Self-Employed Women's Association).  She also performs with The Boston Liturgical Dance Ensemble in Boston, MA.  This is her twenty-fifth year of teaching at The Andover School of Ballet.

Jazz, Tap, 

Meredith received a B.A. in Dance with a dual minor in Business and Psychology from Dean College, from which she graduated with highest honors. During her four years at Dean, Meredith’s focus was on Pedagogy, Composition, The Vaganova Method of ballet technique and Horton Modern Dance Technique. She has studied and worked with masters such as Jill Silverman, Nailah Randall-Bellinger, Wyatt Jackson, Lisa Pari, Josh Hilberman, Bob Thomas, Denise Jefferson, Jay T. Jenkins, Pilobolous and the well-known NYC Rockettes. She has performed with Dean Dance Company and Dean College Dance Team. Meredith is currently teaching dance at several dance studios in the Boston area. She has received many high scores and special awards for her excellence in dance and choreography. Her philosophy is teaching proper technique to her students, which allows her students to increase their strength and develop as dancers without injury to the body. This is her sixteenth year of teaching at The Andover School of Ballet.

Contemporary, Ballet & Pointe, Modern Dance, Kinderdance, Primary Dance & Tap. Jazz, Tap Rhythm & Movement, Director of ASB Dance Company

Tabitha began her dance training at the Andover School of Ballet and continued with Jeannette Neill Dance Studio’s Boston Youth Moves program. She received her BFA in Modern Dance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where she had the pleasure of performing works by Bob Fosse, Louis Johnson, Merrian Soto and Brian Sanders, among others. Tabitha was also a member of the first college group to perform Martha Graham’s “Panorama” within a Graham Company program. She was a part of the university’s Choreography Emphasis Program and received the Dance Faculty Recognition Award for Excellence in Dance. Tabitha has attended dance workshops and festivals including Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival, Windhover Spreads its Wings, and The Limon Summer Workshop. She has been a member of the Windhover Dance Company in Rockport MA, performing works by modern dance pioneer Doris Humphrey and others. She has also performed with Dusan Tynek Dance Theater in QUARRY DANCE 1 and 3, and spent 3 years as a soloist with Urbanity Dance. Tabitha currently dances with Deadfall Dance, Ipswich Moving Company, and Sokolow Now, and is also a Certified Yoga Teacher. This is her twelfth year of teaching at The Andover School of Ballet.

Jazz, Tap.

Lisa studied dance at University of Nevada Las Vegas, and at Dean College, in Franklin, MA, and received a B.A. in Dance from Dean College, where she choreographed for and performed with the Dean Dance Company and the Dean College Dance Team. She studied with master teachers such as Jill Silverman, Jean Wenzel, Nailah Randall-Bellinger, Lisa Pari, Maryanne Kodzis, Jil Matrisciano, Wyatt Jackson, Jay T. Jenkins, Derick K. Grant, Troy Powell, Dudley Williams, Kristin Horrigan and Kelly Peters, and others. She performed in the “Video Game Awards Show” at the Grand Garden Arena, while in Las Vegas, NV.  Lisa also teaches dance in Kingston, NH, and has taught at the Haverhill YMCA. This is her ninth year of teaching at The Andover School of Ballet.

Ballet & Pointe, Progressing Ballet Technique 

Kodee Van Nort began her dance experience on the plains of Western Nebraska with Vaudeville veteran, Iris Besaw. Ms. Besaw’s intense training formed Kodee’s interest in dance as a craft, art, discipline, and language.  Kodee has an extensive background of dance including a wealth of education that includes a BA in Theater and Dance from the University of Wyoming and MFA in dance performance, choreography, and pedagogy from Sam Houston State University. During her performing career she was able to explore a variety of roles from ballet to musicals and theater. Her favorites include the original role of ‘White Buffalo Woman’ in the ballet Cattle Kate; classical roles such as ‘Pimpinella’ in Pulcinella; World Premier contemporary role of ‘Meander’ in The River; and character work in Le Bourgeois Gentihomme by Molière. In addition to performing as the "Phoenix" in The Cherokee National Heritage Center’s “Trail of Tears" she also served as assistant choreographer, and while in England, she joined Ad Hoc company where she was able to explore performance and choreography through improv with the community.  Following her desires for pedagogy, she has shared her passion for dance with students at the University of Wyoming, Western Nebraska Community College, Western Oregon University, Sam Houston State University, Austin Dance Company, Silverton Ballet and Performing Arts, Contemporary Dance Theater, Cincinnati Ballet, Miami Valley Ballet Theatre, St. Xavier High School., and Springfield College.  Kodee is an active Ex-Officio for OhioDance and is a Certified Master Practitioner in the Language of Dance®. This is her third year of teaching at The Andover School of Ballet.

Primary Dance & Tap, Ballet, Rhythm & Movement

Lissa Geggis began her dance training at Ipswich Moving Company School of Dance. While in high school she created an independent study with Jenny Carlson to learn dance pedagogy. She continued her dance training in college under Christine Bennett-Richard and Barbara Sholes. Lissa choreographed and danced in multiple performances and was a featured performer in her senior year. She earned a B.A. in Early Education and Care with minors in Dance and Psychology from Curry College. In her senior year she received the Dance Department Award. This is her second year of teaching at The Andover School of Ballet.

Ballet, Pointe

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Rachel Whitman has studied at the Cambridge School of Ballet, the School of American Ballet in NYC, and at the Royal Ballet School in London, England. She has been the recipient of Ford Foundation grants to complete her studies in both NYC and England. She became a member of the Boston Ballet in 1975 and was a featured dancer with them and with the Atlanta Ballet. In 1981 she and her husband founded the North Atlantic Ballet Company in Gloucester, Mass. 

Ms. Whitman has taught extensively throughout the New England area since her retirement from the stage. She has staged numerous ballets, both traditional and original for ballet companies in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Most recently, she was the Director of the Ballet program at the Center for the Performing Arts in Andover (now North Andover), Mass. During her five year tenure there, several of her advanced students were accepted to the Bolshoi Ballet summer programs. 

Her performing roles have included the Sugar Plum Faerie and the Snow Queen in the Nutcracker, Cinderella, the Evil Faerie in Sleeping Beauty, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, and Swanhilda in Coppelia, in addition to numerous soloist roles in Balanchine’s ballets, and in ballets by other notable choreographers. 

Ms. Whitman lives on the North Shore of Massachusetts with her family. This is her first year of teaching at The Andover School of Ballet.

Ballet, Pointe & Demi-pointe

Elizabeth St. Germain began her ballet training at the New England School of Dance, where she studied the Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus under the direction of Susan Smith. Post high school Elizabeth attended St. Anselm College and graduated with a BA in History. While at St. Anselm Elizabeth joined the Abbey Players and performed leading roles in Company, Fiddler on the Roof, Into the Woods, and Grease. Following college Elizabeth earned her MA in history at the University of New Hampshire. She then became a history teacher at Londonderry High School in NH. While at LHS she was able to apply her theater and dance experience to the role of Drama Club Assistant Director and Choreographer.  Elizabeth has taught ballet and pointe at Dimensions in Dance and has substituted at various other ballet schools in the New Hampshire and Massachusetts area.  Elizabeth is currently a company dancer with the New Hampshire based ballet company Ballet Misha.  She has performed corps de ballet, soloist and lead roles throughout her tenure.  Elizabeth has performed as “Queen Meroud” in Ballet Misha’s The Wild Swans, as “Queen Hippolyta” in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as Hot Chocolate, Marzipan, Waltz of the Snowflakes, and Rosebud soloist in The Nutcracker, as well as in many other roles.  Elizabeth is very excited to begin her new position as a ballet and demi pointe/pointe teacher at the Andover School of Ballet. This is her first year of teaching at The Andover School of Ballet.