Dancers, from left to right: Elaine Sisler, Anne Schwartz, Ann Budner, Jill Baker, Dorothy Anderson-Perales, Michelle Rosen, Heidi Schauster.
Dorothy Anderson trained at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre. As an independent choreographer, her work has been performed in cities across Canada as well as in the Boston area. She performs with the Deborah Abel Dance Company, most recently in Mexico, 2019. Dorothy has been a contributing member of Encore Dance Ensemble since 2018, performing in diverse New England venues. Over the pandemic Dorothy created a new repertory of solo works that were first shown as videos, then in live zoom links and finally in in-person services at First Parish, Bedford.
Anne Schwartz, is a math tutor and folk dance instructor, and joined Encore Dance Ensemble in 2011. She has performed with Kelley Donovan and Dancers, Ann Carlson, Margaux Skalecki and Boston Rock Opera. Anne serves on the board of directors of Beth Soll and Company and Deborah Abel Dance Company. She currently studies modern dance with Deborah Abel.
Ann Budner is a founding member of Encore. She has performed with Christien Polos’ Ariel Dance Theatre, Cle Douglas Dance Theatre, Perla Joy Furr, and Joie de Vivre. She currently studies modern dance with Deborah Abel and Pilates with Shawn Giles.
Elaine Sisler is a teacher and arts advocate, and a founding member of Encore Dance Ensemble. She has performed with the Buffalo Dance Theatre Ballet Company, Estelle Dennis Dance Theatre, Peabody Conservatory and Cultural Arts Institute of Baltimore. In 2006 Elaine was awarded the “Distinguished Arts Educator in Dance Award" by the Massachusetts Alliance for Arts Education. Elaine is a member of Skyloom Liturgical dance group and the international Sacred Dance Guild.
Jill Baker was a quiet kid with a whole lot of wiggles, then she discovered dance. Many decades later, she has studied, choreographed, taught, and performed in the United States, as well as abroad. She has a passion for teaching children and believes that dance is for everybody. Jill joined Encore Dance Ensemble in 2022 and is thrilled to be a part of this joyful, collaborative group.
Heidi Schauster is a new member of Encore, joining in the summer of 2022. She is a nutrition and somatic therapist, author, and mother of twin teenagers. Her dance training foundation included twenty years of ballet, as well as some modern dance. In the last few decades, she explored more improvisational dance forms like African, Contact Improv, Swing, and Tango, as well as Ecstatic Dance and dishwashing dance parties. She has also performed as a professional stilt dancer with the troupe Mortal Beasts and Deities. Heidi loves eclectic music and dance forms that combine elements from different genres, and she finds dancing to be both grounding and spiritual.
Michelle Rosen started dancing at the age of 2 and only paused briefly to have her own children. Her dance background is broad, and includes ballet, modern, contemporary and jazz. She performed with Circle of Dance in New York, and currently studies modern dance with Deborah Abel. She’s thrilled to return to choreographing and performing with Encore.
ENCORE ALUMNAE:
Paulina Fiore is a voice over professional and a choreographer. Paulina has performed with Perla Joy Furr, Joie de Vivre, and Create and Construct Dance Company. A specialist in improvisational movement, Paulina has been dancing for most of her life. She also enjoys horseback riding with her daughter, Sasha.
Patricia Koenitzer has been with Encore Dance Ensemble since its inception in 2007. She has performed in both musical theatre and dance productions. A native of Central Illinois, Patricia earned her Master of Arts in Dance from University of Hawaii-Manoa. She has held dance residencies in schools, directed studios, conducted workshops, and appeared on educational television. Currently, Patricia has flown South, on sabbatical. While away, she hopes to maintain her choreographic connections with Encore.
Paula Rushboldt is a social worker. She has been with Encore since its inception in 2007. Paula has performed with Christine Polos’ Ariel Dance Theater, Kathleen Chapin X-Rexar and Lisa Simon. She studies modern dance with Deborah Abel.
Christine Vozella has performed in both Boston and Boulder, CO. In Boston she has performed dance with Nicola Hawkins, Christien Polos, and others, as well as Hopkinton’s ESL musicals, plays, USO shows, and Natick's TCAN play "Lost in Yonkers". In Boulder she has danced, hung from a flying bed, flown on a trapeze, performed Shakespeare, and had the opportunity to die on stage in 3 different roles. Christine moved to Maine in 2019, and in 2022 was in an original musical on the Deertrees stage, playing a Sauna Siren (!) in "an Evening at Dave's Sauna". Christine has been with Encore Dance Ensemble since its inception in 2007.