DANCE FACULTY AND STAFF

Debra holds a Masters Degree in Arts Administration from Boston University and Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from Dean College. Debra was professionally trained through the certificate program at The Ailey School in NYC. Prior to opening Alegria, Debra was employed as the Dance Program Director for the Joan Phelps Palladino School of Dance at Dean College where she also taught modern dance, directed productions, advised the Dance Team and choreographed the musical Hairspray. Prior to moving to Western, MA, Debra was the co-owner and artistic director of Art in Motion Dance Company in North Kingstown, RI. Throughout Debra’s career she has taught at many New England Dance schools, won high awards for her choreography in the competition circuit,  worked with the RI arts learning network the create the state dance proficiency protocols, choreographed for community theatre, performed on MTV, worked for the Ailey Camp NYC and managed the Capezio Dance shop on West 51st Street NYC. Throughout her training and professional career she has had the pleasure and privilege of working and dancing with some of the dance industries finest including Kelly Peters, Arcell Cabuag, Tracy Inman, Olivia Bowman- Jackson. In addition to her dance training Debra was also a licensed massage therapist in NY and RI for 8 years.  Movement, dance and fitness is the key to a happy life. Debra is a ZIN member licensed to teach many of the Zumba® programs.  Mrs. Nunes finds passion in sharing her dance and anatomical knowledge with her students, young and old, while encouraging them to explore their emotional and creative freedom. Sharing her passion for dance is her way of giving and showing love.

Miss Nickie Fuller is a mother of 2 boys, with over 17 years of experience teaching dance to children and adults of all ages. She started her dance training at age 4 and loved it so much she continued into competitive dance and teaching. After graduating high school she started teaching dance full time at many Massachusetts studios, and auditioning for professional shows. Nickie spent many years as a Performer at Six Flags New England where she also climbed the ranks to Head Choreographer and Director of many shows during her 11 year employment. Her professional experience led her to many other performing opportunities such as; The Cher Extravaganza, Rip the Mic Burn The Floor, NCAA Division II Halftime Show, and Eclipse Dance Company. Most recently, she has established herself as a "Lady Gaga Tribute Artist", performing all over New England singing Gaga's greatest hits with her backup dancers "The Gagettes".

Alyssa is a Massachusetts native, who grew up dancing and traveling to compete all over the United States and as far as Germany.  Her studio and teacher credits share some of the regions greatest, resulting with her being well-rounded in all styles of dance. Growing up, Alyssa danced along side her childhood friend and world-renowned Teddy Forance, one of the founders of the “Shaping Sound Dance Company” as well as many well known dancers within the industry. She was accepted, received scholarships to, and attended multiple ballet programs including Kirov Academy of Ballet and American Ballet Theatre (ABT) for multiple years, where she was honored to be placed in their highest level of technical training. While competing, she had received many high scores, prestigious awards, and scholarships at both regional and national levels. Alyssa later went on to be a dancer at Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg, VA, which then led her to work with Stiletto Entertainment, on Holland America Line’s MS Statendam. 

Upon returning to land, she began teaching many styles of dance, at various studios throughout New England, with contemporary being her main focus. She has now been sharing her passion with students for over a decade. She has been recognized, and received multiple awards, for her outstanding choreography. Alyssa has taught at various studios around New England, being most recognized for her artistry in Contemporary, her grueling stretches, leaps, jumps and turns classes, and the instilling of technique in her students. Alyssa had previously been a company dancer for the acclaimed “Boston Dance Company” and also a member, choreographer, and Assistant Director for a Massachusetts based non-profit organization. She Co-Founded, and was Artistic Director, and Principal Dancer for “Shadows – Dance Art Experience”, which she has since resigned to continue her focus on her teaching career. 

Alyssa wants to continue sharing her passion of dance with young dancers, hoping to make a difference, as well as inspiring her peers. Her goal is to make them their own artist, dancer, and person. Each dancer has a special style and element that they bring to the table and as a teacher she tries to help them find that inside their heart and soul. She pushes each dancer to see that they are stronger than they even thought and that anything is possible with hard work and, of course, a little sweat and determination.
​
Alyssa will be teaching Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Turns/Leaps/Tricks, Acro and choreographing for our Competitive team