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28 Years of Excellence
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Since People to People Dance Center was founded in 1980, the school continues to be dedicated to fostering interest in the art of dance in Maine communities. Whether a student's involvement in dance is recreational or career-oriented, People to People Dance Center provides professional, quality instruction for each individual.
Learning the art of dance means...
self-discipline and responsibility of body and mind, developing musicality andself-expression.
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Michele Cox, Director at People to People Dance Center and its performing arm, Atlantic Ballet Company: A co-founding member of People to People Dance in 1980, Ms. Cox performed as a member of the Senior Company while also acting as Junior Company Rehearsal Director. In 1988 Ms. Cox restructured PPDC, emphasizing a stronger base in classical ballet technique for each performer. Ms. Cox studied classical ballet in the Russian Vaganova Style with Sharon Dante, Director of Nutmeg Conservatory of the Arts and Andre Bossov, soloist with the Kirov Ballet. She furthered her training in ballet, modern and jazz at Bates College, Duke University, Manhattanville College, Portland Ballet Company, and with Sarah Yarborough of the Alvin Ailey Company. She has performed and taught Ballet, Renaissance and African dance in theaters and schools throughout Maine. In 2002 she performed in Robert Steele's premiere work of "Mozartina" and in 2003 Saint Saen's "Impressions". Ms. Cox currently performs with Bossov Ballet Theatre and Atlantic Ballet Company. Her most recent roles include, "Nutcracker's" Arabian duet and Snowflake Waltz soloist, the bird in "Tin Soldier", solo artist in both "Don Quixote" and in Coppelia".
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Heather Cox-Griffin, Artistic Director at People to People Dance Center and its performing arm, Atlantic Ballet Company: Having begun her formal dance training at the age of seven at PPDC, Ms. Cox-Griffin furthered her studies in the four year pre-professional training program at the Nutmeg Conservatory of the Arts in Torrington, Connecticut. Her teachers and coaches included Eleanor D'antuono (Jeoffry and ABT) and Denise Warner-Limoli, Sharon Dante (artistic director), Joan Kunsch, Alexei Tchernichov, and Scott Thyberg. She has continued to further her professional skills performing with Ballet Companies throughout New England and California such as New Jersey Ballet Co., Simsbury Light Opera, Centennial Theater, State Street Ballet Co. (California), Bossov Ballet Theatre, Nutmeg Ballet Co., and Atlantic Ballet Co. while enjoying the ongoing study of Ballet Pedagogy. Her recent roles include: Cinderella, "Nutcracker's" Sugar Plum Fairy and Dew Drop Fairy, Marzipan Pas de Trois, Snow Queen, Giselle, the Owl in "Holly and Ivy", the Christmas Angel, The Spirit of death in "Carmen" and "Voices of Spring". Most recently Heather performed Pas de deux in Maine Grand Opera's "Die Fliedemaus". In the Spring of 2006, she danced the role of Swanilda in "Coppelia".
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Dierdre Miles Burger (Guest Artist):
 As instructor and choreographer for ABC and PPDC Dierdre Miles Burger resides in Belfast, Maine as her first home. When in residence Ms. Burger instructs People to People Dance Center intermediate and advanced ballet and point classes (levels III, IV, and V). She is an integral staff member during Atlantic Ballet Company's "Dance Your Dream" summer student training programs held at the PPDC studio and Camden's Teen Center, both on Knowlton Street.
Born in Burlington, Massachusetts, Ms. Burger began her formative training with Margaret Prishwalko Fallon and subsequently at Boston Ballet School. She was the recipient of the Ford Foundation scholarship. Upon receiving this prestigious award, Ms. Miles became an apprentice with Boston Ballet School at the age of fourteen. Following her high school graduation, she joined Boston Ballet as a full time member, performing such roles as Princess Aurora in the Sleeping Beauty, Ophelia in Hamlet, and the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker. Ms. Miles later performed as soloist with both Houston Ballet and Cleveland Ballet, her roles including Swanilda in Coppelia and Ben Stevenson's Britten Posole Deuk. In 1988, after many opportunities in performing and choregraphing, Ms. Miles joined the Boston Ballet's Artistic Staff, later being promoted to Artistic Coordinator. In 2001-2002, she directed The Worcester School for the Performing Arts. As principal of Boston Ballet School for 2004-2006, Ms. Miles oversaw the artistic and educational aspects of the largest ballet school in North America in three locations and supervised its faculty of over 50 staff and teachers. She established Boston Ballet School Ensemble, a youth performing group of upper level students and began a Trainee program for students with professional potential. Dierdre Miles Burger has instructed and trained students for many reputable schools and companies such as Boston Ballet, Boston Conservatory, Boston Ballet Company, Walnut Hill School, Ballet Workshop of New England, Franklin School of the Performing Arts and the Performing Arts School of Worcester. Atlantic Ballet Company is delighted that Dierdre Miles Burger has joined our staff.
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Buffie McLaskey, instructor and choreographer: lived and performed in New York City from 1998 to 2004. She is known for her entertaining and powerful hip hop and breakin' choreography which is fresh, unique and real New York style Hip Hop. Buffie has worked with Triple Threat Entertainment, Nina Sky, Mandy Moore and Def Jam Records, and also with Ken Swift and Honey Rockwell (of the movie "Honey"). She has danced with the original "B-Boys" and was known as a "B-Girl". Buffie has performed in many music videos and toured with various dance companies. She is a Master level teacher and has been teaching classes since she was 13 years old. Buffie is a "B-Girl" and a Hip-Hop Dancer but also likes lyrical and African dance and often incorporates those styles into her choreography.
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Robert Steele: is a highly motivated professional with an extensive artistic range in dance encompassing teaching, choreography, staging, and management. He founded the Lake Erie Ballet Co., in 1988, he established the Robert Steele School of Ballet in 1991 in conjunction with its performing arm, The North Coast Ballet of Pennsylvania. He has been a principal dancer and soloist from 1966-1986 in the Washington Ballet, LesGrandes Ballet Canadiens, Boston Ballet Co., and the Royal Danish Ballet. From 1969 through 2002 he taught at the Boston Conservatory of Music, Walnut Hill School of Performing Arts, Boston Ballet, Washington Ballet Company and School, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Pittsburgh Youth Ballet, Miami City Ballet School and several others.
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Mary Garcia (Guest Instructor): Co-founder and former Artistic Director of University Ballet of Chicago, and a Walnut Hill School alumna, Ms. Garcia has studied with numerous masters of the dance world including, Brenda Daniels, Daniel Duell, Tamara King, Samuel Kurkjian, Michael Owen, and Sara Yarborough Smith. Ms. Garcia has trained in various techniques from Vagonova to Balanchine, and Ailey to Taylor, and her staging and choreography experience includes original and classical works for several dance and theater companies. She has performed in over twenty productions, dancing solo roles in many classical ballets and contemporary works.
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Learning the art of dance means... self-discipline and responsibility of body and mind, developing musicality and self-expression.
Our students acquire…
- Acute coordination and balance
- Body knowledge and control of movement
- An advanced sense of space
- Confidence
- An emotional outlet
- A sense of community and self worth.
- The opportunity to prepare and perform
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