Meet The Team
Morgan Cacciapouti
Owner/Director
Miss Morgan began dancing at the age of 2 and was hooked instantly. Morgan grew up dancing competitively and attending conventions with master teachers such as Mia Michaels, NappyTabs, Sonya Tayeh, Travis Wall, and many more. She was recognized numerous times for “emotional execution” and “intensity” in her dancing. Morgan took every opportunity she could to dance and took multiple classes at Broadway Dance Center.
Following her high school graduation in 2014, Morgan attended Dean College in Franklin, MA where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with two Bachelors Degrees, one in Dance and one in Arts and Entertainment Management. During her time at Dean, she took every opportunity to choreograph and perform in shows. Her choreography was chosen for several Dean shows and she was even presented with opportunity to bring her choreography to Philadelphia to perform in the Koresh Artists Showcase in coordination with the Koresh Dance Company. Morgan also had the opportunity to perform with Flo Rida in front of 60,000 people at the Patriots Opening Game after winning the Super Bowl. Additionally, Morgan had the opportunity to intern with Bill Evans, a master in the fields of tap and modern dance. During her internship, she attended the Bill Evans Teachers Institute and was able to take classes with professional teachers and choreographers from around the world, many of whom are teachers on the collegiate level.
Since her graduation from Dean College, she has continued her education through teacher conferences and trainings. Morgan is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique, an innovative body-conditioning and strengthening program, and just recently attended the Rhee Gold DanceLife Teacher Conference where she studied with world renowned teachers, choreographers, and dancers. Morgan has won awards for her innovative choreography and has been on faculty at a dance convention for the Maine Dance Teachers Club. Morgan is passionate about continuing her education and giving her students the most well rounded education she can offer them. She is excited to take on the new year and share her passion for dance with her students.
Nikki Mead
Founder/Instructor
Nikki started dancing at one of the most structured and technique-based studios in the area, Kimberly's School of Dance Education. She was exposed to competitions and conventions at an early age and was recognized by some of the greats in the dance industry as having exceptional tap technique and best execution; She was selected to tour the country as a VIP to famous choreographers throughout various convention outlets. She attended Eastern Connecticut State University and doubled majored in Fine Arts-Dance and Business Administration. During that time, she competed regionally and nationally, traveling all over the United States, as part of the ECSU Dance Team. She later captained and coached the team and taught various classes at local colleges including ECSU as part of her internship. She also taught Pilates, Raise the Barre, choreographed competitively for various studios throughout the New England area, and performed in plays, shows, and musicals before opening a dance studio in 2006. Since the opening of her studio she has continued her training through master classes held throughout New England and is looking forward to a lifetime of working closely with her students to help build their dreams and pass the torch!
Ana Luisa Thompson-Konopka
Instructor
A native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Ms. Thompson-Konopka graduated from the Maria Olenewa School of Dance, the official School of the Theatro Municipal of Rio de Janeiro where she studied with Jacy Jambay, Consuelo Rios, Regina Bertelli, Marcelo Coelho, Silvana Andrade, Paulo Melgaço, Sergio Lobato and under the direction of Maria Luisa Noronha. Also among her teachers, Ms. Valeria Moreira, Mr. Eric Valdo and Mr. Antonio Vasconcellos. The Olenewa School is internationally recognized, with graduates performing in major Ballet Companies in the US and Europe. While a student there, Ms. Thompson-Konopka was chosen to perform in Coppelia and La Sylphide with the Company of Theatro Municipal of Rio de Janeiro. She also danced with the Brazilian Modern Dance Company, Companhia de Danca Rio, under the direction of Angela Ferreira and with choreographies from Diana Tomasetig. Ms. Thompson-Konopka completed the David Howard Teacher’s Seminar in 2000. She served on the faculty at the Performing Arts School of Worcester from 1998 until 2004 where she was a former Ballet Mistress, Assistant Director and Director of Curriculum. She served as Ballet mistress for Ballet Arts Worcester (BAW) from 2005 to 2017. She choreographed ballet, modern and contemporary pieces for the Worcester Youth Ballet Company and PASOW’s The Nutcracker. Ms. Thompson-Konopka has performed in numerous productions of The Nutcracker; she was guest artist with the Melrose Youth Ballet, Dance It Up and PASOW’s since 1997 dancing the roles of Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen, Arabian Princess and Spanish Soloist. She is now a full time faculty member and Ballet Mistress at The Hanover Conservatory for The Performing Arts. Besides teaching every level of classical ballet technique, her expertises include coaching in Classical Ballet variations and stretching & strengthening exercises geared towards dancers. Ms Thompson-Konopka continues to add to her knowledge and experience in dance and has been licensed as a Zumba instructor in July 2019 and certified as a Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) teacher in January 2020.
Lori Hutchinson
Instructor
Lori has more than 29 years of dance and tumbling experience. She began her studies at Debbie Sichols Dance Center where she took several classes in all forms of dance and tumbling. Lori danced competitively for many years and traveled around New England taking master classes from the best in the world. Lori received her degree in Early Childhood Education. She was a preschool teacher for 10 years at Grace Preschool in Oxford, MA. She currently manages the office for a family owned construction company and teaches tumbling at several studios in the area. She resides in Dudley with her loving husband and two amazing sons.
Julianna Brissette
Instructor
Julianna is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer who has been involved in the dance world for 19 years. She was a member of the class of 2020 at Nichols College, where she attained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Sport Management and Hospitality Management. During her time at Nichols College, she was a member of the Nichols College Dance Team.
Throughout her many years in the dance community, she has grown a passion for performing, but found her real love in teaching and choreography. She loves working with her Inspired Arts Company family!
Tina Gagnon
Instructor
Tina started dancing at age 3 at Debbie Sichol’s Dance Center in Southbridge, MA. Her passion for the art of dance continued to grow into her teen years., competing and performing locally. Her team's exposure in regional competitions ultimately led her to perform in Russia and Copenhagen in her early teens. She furthered her dance education at Oklahoma City University receiving a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance degree in 1997. Throughout her time at OCU Tina was a member of The American Spirit Dance Company and enjoyed performing throughout Oklahoma. Tina also performed in Das Festhaus at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, VA during the summer of 1996. After graduation she returned home to teach and share her love of dance with her community. She was a faculty member at Diane Power Dance Dimensions from 1997-2005 and loved seeing her students grow into confident dancers. In 2005 Tina opened Spotlight Dance Academy in Southbridge with her best friend Karen Cotton. Their mission to bring the love of dance to their hometown flourished until 2020 when the pandemic forced them to close their doors. Tina’s love of dance however, did not close with those doors. She found The Inspired Arts Dance Company as a place for her daughter to continue her training and for herself to continue sharing her knowledge and love of dance. Tina is excited to be a part of a new adventure and is looking forward to bringing the smiles out from behind the masks and into the TIAC classroom.
Renee Paire
Instructor
Renee began dance and gymnastic lessons at the age of 3 with Debbie Sichol’s Dance Center and Giguere Gymnastics. She performed in local shows and competitions, being chosen twice to perform in the Nutcracker with the Pittsburgh Ballet and the Performing Arts School of Worcester. She was also given the opportunity to dance in Copenhagen, Denmark and Minsk and Moscow, Russia with her dance company. During high school and college she was a dancer in local summer productions of Jesus Christ Superstar, Pippin, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Renee graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science while dancing with the UNH Dance Company. After a brief time working in the laboratory her love of dance led her back to the studio to teach and choreograph at Debbie Sichol’s, local gymnastic schools, and the YMCA. Renee took a break to raise her 3 amazing children, Lucas, Keegan, and Millie, and is excited to get back into the studio to teach again.
Brenda Cacciapouti
Administrative Assistant
