Faculty

• I've Got Rhythm Dance Center provides a creative and comfortable learning environment. It is our belief that each student has the ability and eagerness to learn, and with enough time, patience and encouragement, she or he can be easily inspired. Only positive motivation will be used when teaching, therefore, creating a positive self-image in students and a happy healthy atmosphere for everyone!

Meet Our Director
I've Got Rhythm Dance Center Director, Sharon (Oliver) Fernandes

Peter DaSilva
Peter, a native of New Bedford, is a graduate of Salem State College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. He has received extensive training in voice, acting, dialects, and stage combat. As a local actor, he has worked with New Bedford Festival Theatre, New Bedford Youth Repertory, and The Star Players of Bristol County. Favorite stage credits include; And Then They Came for Me, My Fair Lady, A Chorus Line, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, West Side Story, Art, The Glass Menagerie, and Jesus Christ Superstar. Since 2005, Peter has directed productions of Peggy the Pint-Sized Pirate, Recess, Toy Camp, and Though the Looking Glass for IGRDC.

Karissa Raposa
Karissa has been dancing at IGRDC since its opening in 1992. She has been assisting and teaching preschool classes for the past 5 years. Karissa graduated from the Dental assisting program at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational High School in 2007. She now attends Bristol Community College and is enrolled in the early childhood program. She is also certified in radiology and has worked with the elderly at Alden Court Nursing home for the past 2 years. Besides teaching the preschool children at IGRDC she enjoys raising money and collecting supplies for local animal shelters.

Jessica Furtado
Jessica Furtado began dancing at the age of 7. Jessica currently attends Bridgewater state college majoring in Social Work and Dance. Jessica joined IGRDC in Dec of 2008. She enjoys attending Hip Hop master classes and conventions in Boston & NYC. She has trained with star choreographers of So You Think You Can Dance, Tabitha, Napoleon Dumo, Kevin Maher, Tony Testa, and Rhapsody. As well as David Moore and Nick Wilson from Europe's version of So You Think You Can Dance. She also trained with Jamal Simmons, choreographer of Step up 3D and the Hannah Montana Movie, Twitch, Marty Kudelka, Popin Pete, Mr. Wiggles, Ian Eastwood and Dave Scott. From America's Best Dance Crew, the Jabbawockez, Boogiebots, Status Quo, and Quest Crew. Jessica continues to train in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, pointe, irish, soft & hard shoe, hip-hop, modern, contemporary, and musical theater.

Paula Lauzon
Paula Lauzon comes to us from Lisbon, Portugal. While in Portugal, she studied for our years under the Director of former Russian Ballerina, Anna Mascolo – who produced some of the finest dancers in Europe. Ms. Lauzon choreographed and performed in various high school productions such as: Grease, Saturday Night Fever, Cabaret, etc. Paula moved to this country in 1981 and continued her studies with Brun Studios of New Bedford, where she was a member of the New England Dance Ensemble. She was a ballet instructor at this studio for two years. She studied with the Dance Academy of Westport and also with Festival Ballet of Rhode Island. Presently, she teaches Ballet for Children at the new Bedford YMCA – she has been there for nine years. Ms. Lauzon will be teaching the ballet classes in which she will concentrate on the basic techniques of ballet. One particular focus will be on the child beginner. Ms. Lauzon GRADUATED Magna Cum Laude from UMass Dartmouth, with a Major in Humanities/Social Services. She is an administrative supervisor for Hawthorn Medical Associates.

Jennifer Collins
Jenn majored in dance at Dean College and comes to I’ve Got Rhythm Dance Center with over 25 years of studying and teaching dance. Her choreography for competition has received many gold medals and awards for being outstanding, unique and creative. In 2005 the competition she choreographed for, qualified to be part of the American Team Work’s Competition in Germany. Jen currently teaches at other schools and is educated in the arts of ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, musical theater and acrobatics. She has choreographed performances for Walt Disney World and Universal Studios and has worked with the Stonehill College Dance Team for competition at the National Dance Association finals in Florida.

Jeff Mahmood
Jeff has been teaching at I’ve Got Rhythm since 2004. He began his dance training in Cheshire, Connecticut at the age of 6. He is a graduate of Roger Williams University and holds a Bachelor’s Degree of the Arts in Dance Performance. Jeff is educated in and has experience in teaching ballet, lyric, modern, tap, hip hop, and ballroom dance. He has performed at the Six Flags Great Adventure for Radio Disney in Agawam, Massachusetts, and at the Bushnell as a backup dancer for Christy Carlson Romano. Jeff is currently the director of his own Dance Company, Clashing Rhythms, which he created in 2003. He enjoys traveling and sharing his passion for dance in the form of teaching at other dance schools.

Cheryl Lintala
Cheryl has been an instructor at I’ve Got Rhythm Dance Center since 2001 and has over 25 years of studying and teaching dance. Cheryl teaches Creative Movement, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Gymnastics and started a program teaching the mentally challenged. Cheryl has participated in the Dance Masters of America Teachers Training School; the High Scope Workshops for Early Educators; and The Dance Teachers Conference in New York City and Project Motivate conference in Boston. She has performed in and choreographed numerous high school musical productions and has also choreographed, costumed and designed theatre sets for a number of productions. Cheryl free lances as a choreographer and teacher at other schools in the area..

Contact us today for more information!