TARA TOMMASIELLO

BALLET, JAZZ, CONTEMPORARY, ASST. DANCE COMPANY DIRECTOR

Tara has been dancing since the age of two, beginning her studies at Dance RI’s Providence location, under the direction of Debi Cusick D'Iorio.  While at Dance RI, Tara began competing at a very young age, participating in many conventions and master classes where she studied under such renown instructors as Scott Benson, Laurie Rousseau and Ron DeVito.  In 1996, Tara began focusing solely on her ballet technique with Festival Ballet of Rhode Island under the late Christine Hennessey.  She landed the role of Clara in their annual production of “The Nutcracker" in 1998 and soon after became part of the Junior Company, where she went on to dance a wide variety of roles.  In 2001, Tara joined the Senior Company as an apprentice dancer under their new name, Festival Ballet Providence.  Tara has since attended many master classes from others in the business, including Suzi Taylor, Travis Wall, Joey Dowling, Jason Parsons, Dan Karaty, Mandy Moore, AC Ciulla, Lauren Adams-Spinetti and Scott Jovovich, to name just a few.  Her choreography has been recognized within the New England competitive dance circuit, receiving numerous Platinum adjudications as well as Choreography Awards and Highest Overall Scoring Awards.  Tara takes pride in running her classes with a constant, motivating energy.  She strives to continuously push the boundaries that surround movement while always incorporating a great level of interpretation and diversity in every class.  Tara is the current choreographer of the Miss Rhode Island Scholarship Program Pageant. When she is not at the studio, Tara is using her business degree from Stonehill College as a Recruitment Sales Representative at the Providence Journal.  tara@talentfactoryri.com

RIKKI BICKNELL
BALLET & CONTEMPORARY

Rikki has been dancing since age 8, receiving her early training at Dance RI, under the direction of Debi Cusick D’Iorio. In 1997, she decided to focus on ballet at Festival Ballet of Rhode Island. After three years of hard work, Rikki had progressed to the advanced level and had to choose between dance and singing. She decided to take a hiatus from dancing and focus on her musical aspirations. After graduating high school, she studied voice at the University of Rhode Island and graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. Rikki currently uses her degree to teach general music, chorus, and band at Greenbush Elementary in West Warwick. She also directs the drama club at West Warwick High School. She returned to dancing after almost 8 years when she came to the Talent Factory in the fall of 2008! With Dana and Tara’s guidance, she rediscovered her passion for dance and is so pleased that she gets to share her love of movement with her students!

SHERYL ANNE ATWOOD

STUDIO MANAGER/FITNESS DIRECTOR

Sheryl is the proud mother of twin boys Travis and Tyler who are in Junior Company and CREW at the Talent Factory. Sheryl has an ecclectic background that includes dancing for 8 years herself. Sheryl is immersed in fitness in her personal and professional life. She is a successful fitness competitor and works as a personal trainer and group exercise instructor. Some of her certifications include SPINNING, TurboKick, Weight Mgt. Consultant, Life Coach, Personal Trainer. She teaches Yoga, Pilates, bootcamp, and dance as well. She has done workout videos and print work for RunnersWorld, Prevention, and Fitness Magazines. She is an instructor at the University of Rhode Island in the Human Development and Family Studies Department. She currently is the president of her Parent/ Teacher Organization, a coach for her twin's soccer team, and is very active in her community. Some of her past professional experience include working as a teacher, therapist, lecturer, researcher, and real estate agent. She is consistently striving for balance and bliss and has her priorities remains to be her family. Sheryl looks forward to doing personal training and group exercise at the Talent Factory and being part of this great team!!! Energetic, UNDENIABLY MOTIVATED, and often hilarious - Sheryl Anne Atwood. sheryl@talentfactoryri.com

CONNIE MURPHY
HIP HOP & CREW

Connie has been dancing and teaching for the past 8 years. She trained with Off the Curb, a hip hop troupe in Newport for 3 years where she performed around the U.S in such places like Third Eye Hip Hop Festival in Boston, SADD Conference in North Carolina, Americas Camp for kids who lost one or both parents in 9/11, Camp Dreamcatcher in Pennyslvania for kids infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, Special Olympics in Harlem, among various other shows. Connie got the chance to meet Omarion and Bow Wow and open for the Soulja Boy Concert right here in Providence. She has also taught many outreach programs and teaches hip hop at many locations in Rhode Island. Connie has trained with some of the best hip hop choreographers in the business such as Shane Sparks, Dave Scott, Luam, Wade Robson, Laurie Ann Gibson, Chris Judd and Rhapsody. She is currently a student at Rhode Island College where she is majoring in Community Health.

KERYN TOMMASIELLO
BALLET, JAZZ, CONTEMPORARY

Keryn has been dancing since the age of two, starting her studies at Dance RI RI, under the direction of Debi Cusick D'Iorio.  At the age of seven, Keryn began competing at various competitions where she received Best Technical Execution, various Platinum, Gold and Silver awards for her performances and was also the recipient of a NYC Jazz Scholarship at Jump Convention in Boston. She has studied under some of the best in the industry such as Suzi Taylor, Travis Wall, Mia Michaels and Dan Karaty, to name a few.  She started at the Talent Factory when it opened in 2004, where she focused solely one her favorite form of dance, contemporary. Since then, Keryn has been competing with the Talent Factory and assisting/choreographing for the Junior Company. In addition, Keryn recently traveled throughout Europe where she observed different forms of dance and culture. She currently lives in New York attending Syracuse University University majoring in Fashion Design. In her spare time, Keryn designs clothes and jewelry and dances with a dance organization, "Danceworks".