Christine Farrar (Artistic Director)- Christine studied dance for 15 years under the instruction of Marjorie Duff, at the Boston Ballet's suburban school in Stoneham . At age 19, she started teaching dance for several local dance studios and choreographing many award winning groups, solos, duos for regional competitions. She has won many special awards for her choreography, high energy groups and precision in Tap. While still continuing as a dance teacher she decided to search for higher dance education along with drama and voice. In 1990, Christine moved to NYC to study dance and drama at the prestigious Academy of the Dramatic Arts. While there she got to meet many producers and directors of Oscar winning films, and was taught by the best in the industry. While living in NYC she continued to take dance classes at Steps on Broadway and Frank Hatchetts dance studio. Christine moved to Orlando FL in 1991 to further pursue her acting and dance career. She got the opportunity to work on several movies, My Girl, with Jamie Lee Curtis and Problem Child with the late John Ritter. Christine then worked for Disney as a tour guide at Epcot center. After returning to Mass in 1993, she continued to teach at several dance studios until ultimately opening The Dance Academy in 1995. Her Intensive students continue to win many gold and platinum awards and high scoring groups, solos, duos and trios. Her dance teams were invited to perform at Disney World in 2004, and put on a spectacular show for their audience. In 2006 her students had the opportunity to travel to NYC and take a musical theatre class from a Staff member at Broadway Dance in NYC, who had studied with Bob Fosse. The Academy's staff bases their philosophy on developing a true appreciation and love for dance, whether the student is a beginner or wants to pursue a career in dance.

Tracy DiJulia (Assistant Artistic Director)-Tracy joined the staff at CPDA in 1999, teaching ballet and pointe. She has danced with The Northeast Youth Ballet, The Youth Dance Company, SRO Players, and spent a season dancing professionally with Granite State Ballet. She has performed in American Express Cruise Fest, The Jack Karoack Festival and at Disney World, Fla. She has also had the pleasure of performing lead roles in Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker. Tracy 's choreography has won numerous special awards throughout regional dance competitions in MA and NH. now have a certificate in dance education from Northern Essex Community College, recieved with high honors. She is also currently working to get her degree in dance, and have recieved several scholarships and awards for academic excellence. She has been a judge for many auditions and her creative ballet productions continue to be a highlight of our annual show. Tracy also specializes in dance photography and has had her photos used in brochures and ads.

Michelle Harrington (Marketing Manager)- Michelle began studying dance at the age of 6 at Susan Woods Dancenter of Stoneham. She proceeded to dance for almost ten years there studying tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, lyrical, hip-hop and musical theatre. She was also a part of a dance team where she competed on a regional and national level. At the age of 16 she transferred her dance studies to Christine Proia's Dance Academy and continued on a dance team here where she achieved several top scores and platinum level awards for her groups, duos and solos. She also won the title of Ms. Sophisticated Dance for her top scoring solo in a a regional competition at the age of 16. Michelle is beginning her 10th year of teaching here at the Dance Academy. She is currently working with all of our dance teams and also teaching on the recreational level from the ages of 3-11. Michelle received the opportunity to take her dance team choreography down to Disney World in 2004 and in 2007. Her choreography has also won various special awards and top scores at regional and national competitions.

Michele Leary - Michele began dancing at the age of four. After 19 years of training locally and teaching for several studios, she began teaching for CPDA in 2000.  Michele teaches jazz and tap to a variety of ages from 6 thru adult.  She has an incredible passion for working with the younger children aged 2.5 – 5 in Preschool and Kinderdance level classes.  Outside of dance, Michele keeps herself busy spending time with her husband and four children and enjoys great success running a financial management co. for small businesses.

Tennille Hahn - Tennille Hahn as has been a dancer all her life and as even had the pleasure of having owner, Christine Proia as one of her teachers. During her last twenty-three years of dancing Tennille has studied tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, modern, lyrical, hip-hop, and musical theatre. She graduated in 2007 from Salem State College with a major in Graphic Design and a minor in Dance. At Salem State, Tennille received awards for Excellence in Graphic Design, Painting, and Dance. Tennille was presented with Presidential Arts Scholarships in dance and had won the Creativity Award for her choreography seen in multiple dance productions at Salem State. Tennille traveled to Disney in 2007 with CPDA where her own choreography was performed on the Magic Kingdom's Galaxy stage, and also to NYC where she has taken classes from members at Broadway Dance. Tennille is beginning her fourth year teaching at the Academy where she will be working with both recreational and competitive students.  She also specializes in graphic design and designs brochures and ads for the studio. She is a former Boston Cannons Dance Team member and has taught all ages in all areas of study at several studios along the North Shore.

Brittany DeRuosi - Brittany began her dance career fourteen years ago, here at the Dance Academy . Two years after she began dancing, she was placed in the Intensive Program and began competitively dancing at the age of 7. She started as an assistant teacher when she was eleven and is now looking forward to her third year on the CPDA staff. Among her and her teams achievements over the years, Brittany personally has won Third Best Overall Score in the Solo Tap Division and highest score in her age division. Her team has taken the "Judge's Choice Award" at two competitions, recieved the High Score Award in their age division, and numerous special awards for high energy, entertainment and precision. In 2004 and 2007, Brittany traveled to Florida and performed in Disney World with the studio's dance teams. Outside of the studio, Brittany is a sophomore at Endicott College majoring in Advertising.

Donna-Marie Ascolese - Donna-Marie is eighteen years old and is starting her second year of teaching at CPDA. She has been dancing for fourteen years in tap, jazz, modern, hip hop,and ballet. Donna-Marie plans to major in dance at Salem State in the fall. She will also be a business management minor. This past year she taught her dance team a hip hop dance which they won a choreography award and has also won numerous high scoring awards for her solos, duos, and group numbers throughout the years.

Alicia Knight - Alicia Knight has been dancing for 15 years at Christine Proia's Dance Academy. She has done tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, hip hop, modern, musical theatre and lyrical. Alicia is 18 years old and is attending Salem State College of Fall 2009. She plans to major in accounting and during her spring semester of 2010, she plans to also major in dance. During this past competitive dance season, Alicia won Top Soloist at Dance Creations. Alicia loves to dance and is teaching during the summer classes this year. Alicia is grateful for having a wonderful teacher, Christine, for 15 years, making her the dancer she is today.

Ashley DeRuosi - Ashley started her dance career when Christine opened the studio in 1995, at the age of eight, and since then, the studio (and the stage!) have been a second home for her. She competed in regional competitions with the studio's award-winning competitive dance team for eight years and danced in Disney World in 2004. Ashley started as an assistant teacher and taught for a year on the staff before graduating high school. After doing so, Ashley made the Merrimack College Dance Team where she performed at NCAA basketball games, performed before a Celtics game at the TD Bank Garden and competed at the national level in Daytona, Florida. Ashley is thrilled to be back teaching at the studio after receiving her Bachelor's Degree in English and Secondary Education from Merrimack College. In addition to teaching recreational and competitive dance students, Ashley is also a high school English teacher.