Meet Our Instructors

At Melrose Dance Academy, we value the experience and expertise of our teachers. We think this provides the cornerstone of not only a good dance education, but an enriching life experience for students. At our studio, we are a close-knit family of teachers who have been together for many years both as instructors and students, who all have diverse backgrounds of dance and are passionate about coaching and inspiring your children.

Melrose Dance Academy is happy to announce that we are CLI Studios Certified for our commitment to continuing our dance education! Part of our partnership with CLI, includes certification for continuing education. The requirements are taking a number of classes in technique, teaching and business per quarter over a year period with some of the top teachers and choreographers in the business. We are looking forward to continuing our partnership with CLI Studios and offering even more opportunities to our students!

Amanda Bruno Thompson (Artistic Director)

Amanda Bruno Thompson is the Owner and Creative Director of Melrose Dance Academy, bringing over 15 years of experience teaching dance to children, teens, and adults of all skill levels. Since founding the studio in 2013, Amanda has led MDA to become a premier dance destination in the Melrose area—earning top honors such as Gold in the Region from the *Wicked Local Reader’s Choice Awards* and being named the #1 Dance Studio in Melrose, MA.
Amanda’s love for dance began at just two years old in her hometown of Melrose. That early passion evolved into a lifelong dedication, culminating in her graduation from the prestigious Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston’s DETC training course in 2005. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts from Salem State University, where she studied dance, photography, and the fine arts.
Trained across all major dance styles, Amanda continues to expand her knowledge and skills through ongoing education. She partners with CLI Studios in Los Angeles, where top choreographers provide professional development for MDA staff. Her choreography has earned multiple awards at both regional and national competitions.
In addition to her dance credentials, Amanda is currently training in The Godfrey Method—a dynamic, movement-based approach that promotes safe, effective development of flexibility, strength, and mobility. This science-informed method enhances performance and injury prevention, allowing Amanda to offer well-rounded, body-conscious instruction to her students.
Amanda finds deep fulfillment in teaching and nurturing dancers of all ages. She’s passionate about helping students build confidence, discipline, and self-expression—skills that extend well beyond the studio and into all areas of life.
Certified Dance Teacher – Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston
ADTA Certified Acro Dance Instructor
Certified through CLI Studios for continued excellence in dance education
Photo credit: Prudente Photo

Miss Courtney

Miss Courtney has been part of Melrose Dance Academy for over 10 years! She began her dance journey at the age of 3 at a local dance studio. She trained extensively in tap, jazz, ballet, and hip hop, and grew up performing as a dedicated member of the community.
Courtney holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts and Dance from Franklin Pierce University, where she also had the incredible opportunity to study both theater and dance abroad in Europe. With a background that blends strong technique and performance experience, she brings a dynamic and theatrical energy to every class she teaches.
At MDA, Courtney shines brightest when she’s combining her love for dance and storytelling in our Musical Theater classes. She also has a true passion for teaching tap and is known for making her tap classes both challenging and fun. We’re so lucky to have her sharing her creativity, talent, and years of experience with the next generation of dancers!

Miss Olivia

Miss Olivia’s dance journey began at just 2 years old—and she hasn’t stopped moving since! She trained for nine years under Miss Amanda in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, and Contemporary, and was a proud member of the MDA Performance Team. During her time on the team, Olivia wowed audiences on stage at competitions, danced down Main Street in Disney World, and even performed at a Boston Celtics pre-game show.
Her passion for dance followed her to college, where she joined the dance team while earning her Master’s Degree in Special Education from Merrimack College. Today, Olivia brings her love of teaching into both the classroom and the studio, inspiring students with her energy, creativity, and heart.
Olivia is CPR and First Aid certified, and continues her professional dance education through training with CLI Studios—always staying current and committed to her growth as a dancer and instructor.

Miss Magen

Miss Magen has been dancing since the age of two and is trained in a wide variety of styles, including Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Modern. Her journey with MDA began as a recreational dancer for six years before she joined the performance team, where she danced for an additional eight years until she graduated high school. Magen recently graduated from Salem State University with dual degrees, Bachelors of Arts in both Dance and Psychology. During her time there, she was an active member and choreographer of both the Salem Dance Ensemble and the student-run dance group, Repertory Dance Theater, with whom she also served as President. Her college experience not only enhanced her performance skills but also deepened her understanding of dance education. While at SSU, she had the incredible opportunity to participate in choreographic residencies with guest artists Lonnie Stanton and DeAnna Pellechia and has had the opportunity to work closely with esteemed artists Meghan McLyman and Betsy Miller. During her time as a dancer, Magen has had the opportunity of performing at a variety of events, including Red Sox and Celtics games, The Harlem Globetrotters, Walt Disney World parades, and the American College Dance Association’s regional conference. Although her performance career has come to a close, Magen remains committed to her growth as a teacher. She continues to refine her artistry and explore innovative teaching methods to enhance her impact in the studio. Magen has loved her first year as a full-time instructor at MDA and looks forward to continuing her journey with the studio for many years to come.
Magen is certified in CPR and First Aid
Magen is a certified dance teacher by the Dance Teacher’s Club of Boston
Magen has a Bachelor of Arts in Dance & Psychology

Miss Samantha

Samantha has been dancing for as long as she can remember. She began her training at Lisa Liston School of Dance and received her degree in Dance from Salem State University in May of 2018. While studying at Salem State, Samantha studied with Meghan McLyman, Betsy Miller, James Morrow, as well as performed in pieces choreographed by William (Bill) Evans and Nateli Ruiz. Samantha was a choreographer for Salem State University’s Repertory Dance Theatre as well as Salem Dance Ensemble. She created numerous tap, contemporary and jazz pieces. She was a two-time Presidential Arts Scholarship winner as well as the recipient of the Meaghan Noel Scholarship for Dance. Over the years, she has danced in many recitals, competed in numerous competitions, and performed in full length shows such as The Nutcracker. As a competitive dancer, she has won many high score and special awards.
Samantha has taught lyrical, ballet, tap, jazz, Acro, and hip hop classes to students of all ages at many different levels. She graduated from the Dance Teacher’s Club of Boston and the American Society’s Dance Education Training Course as the valedictorian of the class, receiving the Lila Frances Viles Award. Her passion for dance really shows whether she is on stage performing or teaching in a classroom. She wants to be able to share her passion with others and can’t wait to show her love of dance to the world.

Miss Dylann

Dylann has been a dancer at Melrose Dance Academy since the age of 2. She has trained under Miss Amanda, and various other instructors at the studio in all styles of dance. Dylann joined the studio’s Performance Team 6 years ago, pushing herself to be the best dancer she can be. During her time at the studio, she spent many hours as a Teacher’s Assistant, where she developed a passion for working with our youngest ballerinas. This past dance season, Dylann trained in Miss Amanda’s classes to begin her teaching journey and became certified from CLI Studios to teach Preschool Dance. During her certification program, she took classes from master teachers such as Julie Kay Stallcup, Melissa Sandvig, Loren Dermody, and many more! Dylann is excited to start sharing her passion for dance with MDA’s youngest ballerinas, and to keep growing as a dancer herself!
Dylann is certified in CPR and First Aid
Dylann is certified by CLI Studios for her commitment for continuing her dance education.

Miss Mackenzie

Mackenzie began dancing at the age of 5, and many years later is now a Dance Major with a Modern Dance concentration and Psychology minor at Salem State University. She grew up a competitive dancer, has attended summer intensives with the American Academy of Ballet and Bolshoi Ballet, and is an apprentice with Dance Prism Ballet Company. She performed with them in The Nutcracker where she played the role of Clara for three seasons, and performed the Bournonville Napoli Divertisment Variation in their annual showcase, Kaleidoscope, as well as in many other Ballets. She has had the opportunity to choreograph and perform her choreography in Dances in the Raw and the Spring Concert with the Salem Dance Ensemble. She also participated in guest artist pieces and recently attended the American College Dance Association Conference in Rochester, New York this past season. Mackenzie enjoys teaching and has experience as a Parent-Child Movement class instructor with The Little Gym of Woburn. She hopes to continue to perform, teach, and choreograph any chance she gets.

Miss Courtney H

Courtney is a hip hop dancer and teacher from Revere, MA. In college, she founded Suffolk University's first hip hop dance crew, W!cked. She was a member of Phunk Phenomenon, seen on Season 6 of MTV's America's Best Dance Crew, from 2009-2018. She traveled with Phunk Phenomenon to Hip Hop International in 2010 and 2013 placing second and third in the USA respectively. She has performed at numerous charity, college and corporate events. Some other notable performances include Boston Celtics, Hot 96.9, House of Blues and Dancing for Hope, a charity event hosted by NKOTB's Jordan Knight. Courtney has taught at various dance studios on the north shore and is excited to join the MDA team!

Miss Aiden

Aiden began dancing at the age of two, and has been in love with it ever since! She danced with Dance it Up! as a child, participating in their annual Nutcracker performances and training in all styles of dance. She also spent many hours as a Teacher’s Assistant at this studio, working with students from ages 2-14. She currently attends Salem State University with a double major in Elementary Education and Dance, and is enrolled in the Elementary Education 4+1 Accelerated Masters Program. At Salem State, she has participated in many guest artist works, choreographed for the Salem Dance Ensemble, and had the opportunity to attend the American College Dance Association’s regional conference multiple times. Aiden cannot wait to share her love of dance with the upcoming generations of dancers!

Miss Kristina

Kristina began her dance training at the age of 2. For over 8 years, she trained with Miss Amanda on the MDA Performance Teams in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Lyrical, as well as training to with Miss Amanda to teach our youngest dancers. She has danced pre-game shows at the Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox and Providence Bruins games. She has also danced in several competitions, Disney World, and in New York with the Rockettes. Kristina enjoys working with our tiny dancers at the studio, as well as with our Acro dancers. Kristina is currently working on advancing her teacher training and is excited to start an all new dance season!
Kristina is certified in CPR and First Aid .
Kristina is certified by CLI Studios for her commitment for continuing her dance education.

Miss Sarina

At the age of 2, Sarina started dancing at Melrose Dance Academy and hasn’t stopped since! Sarina is a teacher at the studio and works as an assistant studio manager. Sarina has performed in Disney World, New York, at Celtics games, and Red Sox games. You will often see her running our front desk or jumping into our dance classes to assist the teachers. She is certified to teach through CLI Studios and hopes to keep learning and growing both as a dancer and teacher.
Sarina is certified in CPR and First Aid.
Sarina is certified by CLI Studios for her commitment for continuing her dance education.