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Teachers at Pumps & Pirouettes
Moriah Richards Schartner - Founder/Director
Moriah began her dance journey at the age of 10 at a local studio in New Hampshire, quickly developing a deep love for all styles of dance. By 12, she was competing at a high level, earning multiple first-place and platinum awards in Jazz and Lyrical throughout her teenage years. After years of dedication to competition, Moriah expanded her training at Dean College, where she further honed her skills and technique.
In 2011, Moriah launched her professional dance career as a member of the Boston Cannons Dance Team, affiliated with the former Major League Lacrosse team. Her career then took her to Seattle, WA, where she continued her artistic journey, performing in various shows and furthering her dance education at Westlake Dance Center and Kirkland Dance Center from 2015 to 2021. During this time, Moriah discovered and embraced the empowering style of Heels dancing, training under Natalia Z, founder of Z Theory.
In 2021, Moriah returned to New Hampshire and founded Pumps & Pirouettes, a studio dedicated to providing recreational adult dance classes and performance opportunities. Her mission is to foster a welcoming environment for adult dancers of all levels, while sharing her passion for dance with the community. Moriah remains committed to her own growth as a dancer and educator, constantly seeking new ways to learn and inspire her students.
Maya Gray- Jazz Funk, Contemporary & Tap Teacher
My name is Maya Gray, I am from a small town named Cornville in Maine and now live in Manchester NH. I was a gymnast at a young age until I was 11 years old before falling in love with dance. I studied at TMT dance studio in Fairfield Maine until I graduated high school. Competing throughout high school, I choreographed and won awards within my competition years, performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the American Boston Tap Festival. After graduating high school I attended AMDA (American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NY. I have studied all styles including ballet, tap, contemporary, modern, jazz, hip hop, breaking, and pointe. When I came back to Maine in 2020 I suffered a traumatic brain injury which led me to lose all mobility. I have been working since then to regain all senses and function throughout movement of dance. Although this was not my plan after all my training, I have learned to love and appreciate movement of the body and dancing even more. I am dedicated, motivated, and inspired every day. Although I haven’t recovered my full ability prior to my brain injury, I have discovered an even deeper love and appreciation for movement, education and dance.
Brianna Kelley - Commercial Hip Hop Teacher
I’m Brianna (Bri) and I’ve had a passion for dance since a very young age.
When I was little, I would be caught practicing dance routines when I was supposed to be guarding my team’s goal on the soccer field. And that’s when it was clear that dance was something more for me!
I’ve been a student of Barbara’s Academy of Dance since age 3 and have taken classes like tap, jazz, musical theater, lyrical and my favorite of all hip hop! I was able to be a student teacher there for a few years until I left MA and went to college at the University of Rhode Island in 2014 where I was a member of the URI Dance Company as well. In 2021, I returned to Barbara’s both as a student and an instructor of musical theater, tap, lyrical, and hip hop for teens and burlesque jazz for adults.
My love of hip hop has always been present but it really grew in high school while I was a member of a dance crew called The Movement. This crew exposed me to a lot of dance firsts. It was my first exposure to hard hitting hip hop choreography that introduced me to styles like popping and breaking and allowed me to experience performing as a team for shows and competitions like UML’s Got Talent in 2013 where we won 1st place!
I am thrilled to have the opportunity to teach a hip hop class for adults and aim to create an open space for individuals to express themselves freely, feel confident and have fun!
Brendan Falsey - Street/House/Hip Hop Teacher
Brendan Falsey has always loved to dance. He grew up in a studio setting taking musical theatre,”HipHop” and tap classes. Brendan has recently been expanding his versatility by training with The Expressive Movement, StriveForChange Lifestyle, Sean Bjerke, Darnell Snoopy Brown, and others. He has also taught classes and workshops around New England, and is always looking for new opportunities to teach. Dancing is more than just movement to him, it represents strength, passion, versatility, growth, and so much more. For the past four years dance has been his career and he is always excited to further it and grow.
“I dance for those that come after. To open minds and hearts. Including my own. The connections I’ve made through movement, I never would’ve made otherwise. I’ve connected with so many incredible people. And my students are what keeps me pushing. I need to make myself better for them. For anyone who believes in me. So that I can pass on everything I learn and keep this beautiful tradition alive.
My inspiration for dance is change and communication. I want to be able to make people feel what I cannot explain in words. But it is also a release. It is a way for me to tell stories, exercise, create, and let things out in a healthy way. Dance, for me, is so much more than an art. It is one of the few universal languages of humankind along with music, physical, and visual arts. I want to be versed in all the styles I can find. I don't need to be an expert. But I want to know enough about each individual culture to be able to portray things, and have that culture understand."
Tiff Paris - Heels, Contemporary & Jazz Funk Teacher
Tiff Paris is a non-binary Boston based dancer. Tiff grew up in Manchester, NH and has been dancing for 20 years. Falling in love with dance at a young age allowed them to attend Dean College and receive a BA in dance as well as the Joan Phelps Palladino Artistic Excellence Award. They currently continue living out their passion for dance as performer with Onyxx Performance Group, Emotion in Motion, and Dance LAB .
Latoya - HYPE Movement Teacher
Hi, I'm Latoya, though some call me Toya or LT. Dance & Movement, and of course, Community have been my passions for as long as I can remember. I’ve always had vibrant energy that lights up the room, and I love to connect with others through dance & movement, leaving a lasting impression. Over time, my focus shifted to helping others discover their own magic through movement, encouraging them to break out of their shells and embrace the groove.
I vividly remember learning the Tootsie Roll during a trip to Chicago in the third grade and returning home to teach it to everyone on the playground. Moments like these, where dance brought people together, have stayed with me. Whether it was at parties or family gatherings, I was the one to start the dance circles, igniting joy and connection.
Today, my style has evolved. I’m not a choreographer, nor do I aim to be. Instead, I guide movement, encouraging people to tap into their body’s wisdom and move to the rhythm of their own beat—free from judgment or comparison. After my battle with stage four rectal colon cancer, I had to rediscover my love for movement. Dance became my medicine, helping me heal and accept myself.
Dance isn’t about getting it right; it’s about feeling good. It’s about the joy, the community, and the laughter that nourishes our bodies and regulates our nervous systems. Together, let’s create a space where we can explore wellness through movement, dance, breathwork, and self-observation—inviting you to get HYPE (Healing Your Parts Equally)!
Dya Peebles - HYPE Hip Hop Teacher
Dya is a self-taught dancer of 16 years. She started performing on the streets of Boston as a child before forming a girl group and traveling from city to city polishing her skills. She found a love of hip hop and k-pop 8 years ago, and now considers it her specialty. She’s loved dance ever since she first pushed back her living room couch and loves seeing others' passion for dance just as much!
Daniele - Ballet Teacher
Hi I'm Daniele! I studied ballet at Bedford Dance Center under the direction of Karen Pariseau, where form and technique were just as important as fun and expression.
Now, as a teacher at Pumps and Pirouettes, I strive to bring that same joyful approach—opening ballet up to anyone who wants to build greater strength in their muscles and grace in their movement.
While ballet has always been my primary passion, I took my first heels class at Pumps and Pirouettes when the studio opened, and I quickly fell in love with the way it challenges movement, performance, and mindset in a completely different way.
Dancing here as a student has pushed me to become a more versatile dancer, and as a teacher, I hope to do the same for others—offering the artistry, coordination, and choreography of classical ballet to all who want to learn.
Kai Bowman- K-Pop Teacher
Kai started her dance journey the first week Pumps and Pirouettes opened and has been growing with the studio since. She has a love for all styles of dance from hip hop to jazz funk, but the one that captured her heart was K-Pop.
Kai is a self led dancer that has developed her skills through dedication and a love for dance. She is deeply committed to sharing her passion with others and helping them discover the joy it brings.
Recently, she founded 919 Crew, a K-pop cover group, that brings together like minded dances to showcase K-pop choreography.
Soumia - Heels, Chair & Contemporary Teacher
My dance style? It’s a fusion of sensual confidence, soulful expression, and a touch of transformative magic. The movement I teach is rooted in the belief that dance isn’t just about steps—it’s about alchemizing who you are and who you’re becoming.
My journey began with a young Soumia who once put her passion on pause, only to realize that movement was the key to unlocking her truest self. I’m inspired by holding a space for others to experience that same transformation—to remind you that it’s never too late to reclaim your power, your confidence, and the parts of yourself you thought were lost.