Owner

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Annie DuLong Close is the owner and director of Center Stage Dance Studio. She has over twenty years of dance teaching experience and holds a Master’s Degree in Human Movement Education from Boston University, where she graduated a member of Phi Lambda Theta (national honor society for educators). In addition to teaching dance, Annie has been certified as a Group Fitness and Yoga Instructor through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA), a Pilates Mat Instructor through the Physical Mind Institute, and a Personal Trainer through the International Sport Science Association (ISSA). Her performance resume includes five seasons as a New England Patriots Cheerleader, including performances with Ricky Martin at the America Bowl in Mexico City, Mexico, performance and promotional appearances at Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans, LA, as well as NEPC Show Troupe performances for the U.S. Military in Fort Hood, TX and Eglin Air Force Base in FL. Annie has been awarded multiple Line Captain Awards while on the Cheerleaders and had the honor of being named "Best Dancer/Performer" during her Rookie season as a NEPC.

Annie has been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to teach all over the country, including at her alma mater Boston University, perform and choreograph pieces for Boston Celtics home games, teach at the American College Dance Festival (ACDF), and choreograph numerous Regional and National award-winning competition and pageant routines. Her dancers have performed all over New England, including at Spooky World, Canobie Lake Park and at the MLS Championship Halftime Show alongside Christina Aguilera in Foxboro, MA. In addition to training dancers, she has also coached and choreographed for the Nationally ranked BU Terriers cheerleading team. Annie has trained at Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center in NYC, and performed at Harrah’s Casino Ballroom in Atlantic City, NJ and the Hilton Hotel in New York City, NY, amongst others. When Annie isn’t teaching dance at CSDS, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Michael, and their children.

Krystle has been a member of the Center Stage Dance Studio family since its inception in January of 2007. She has competed and performed in multiple genres of dance, including tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, pointe and musical theater. Her competition experience includes productions of “Yankee Doodle” (tap): ADA’s in Derry, NH; “Dancin’ Fool” (tap): Sophisticated Productions and ADA’s in Lowell, MA; “Ballroom Blitz” (tap) and “Everything Old is New Again” (jazz/musical theater): Sophisticated Productions. In addition to teaching ballet, hip-hop, jazz, tap and contemporary at CSDS, Krystle also choreographs for Curtis James Salt/Salty Bovine Films Co. Her current work can be seen in the short film production of “Mosden.” Krystle has taken her love of dance and expanded it to include dance photography: some of her most recent work can be seen on this website under Studio Fun.

Demi has been a dancer since the age of two, and has pursued this passion over the years at various dance studios. Throughout her 20 years of dance, Demi has been expertly trained in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, lyrical and pointe. She has been a member of Center Stage Dance Studio since its opening in 2007.  She has participated in multiple dance competitions including productions of “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” (tap) and “Yankee Doodle” (tap); ADA’s in Derry, NH; “Dancin’ Fool” (tap); Sophisticated Productions and ADA’s in Lowell, MA; “Love Me Right” (tap); Step Up 2 Dance in Melrose, MA.  She has also participated in multiple dance workshops across New England, where she has acquired skills from many well-known choreographers from around the U.S.  During high school, she participated in Waltham High School’s Dance Theatre, of which she became captain for her senior year.  She continues to participate in the high school’s production as an alumnus.

Aside from her career as a dancer and dance teacher, Demi is a recent graduate of Endicott College where she received a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology and Human Services.  She currently employed within the Waltham Public Schools system and is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Moderate and Severe Special Education.

Chinthu has been dancing for about 10 years and is currently a student at Stonehill College with a major in marketing. She has taken dance classes at Stonehill including hip hop, lyrical, and modern. Chinthu grew up dancing a few towns over in Wakefield, MA at Catch the FUNk! Dance Studio. While there, she gained experience as a dance instructor/choreographer, a class assistant, and was trained in hip hop, lyrical, and tap. She also danced with Catch The FUNk’s Dance Team, performing on the Parquet Floor at 6 Boston Celtics Games, along with numerous other local performances. She performed alongside the performance team at Canobie Lake Park in Salem, NH and Disney World’s Downtown Disney in Orlando, FL. As well as performing at various haunted attractions around New England, Chinthu was first able to perform independent choreography at the haunted attraction ‘Fright Kingdom’ in Nashua, NH where she has performed for the past eight fall seasons. Chinthu continues to perform at Catch The FUNk! Dance Studio’s recitals with her alumni, and also continues to help as backstage staff for Center Stage Dance Studio, and Debi’s Dance Studio during recital season year to year. Chinthu is ready for this new adventure and is excited to teach for Center Stage Dance Studio!

Paige has been dancing for over 17 years and is currently a student at Bentley University, where she is a member of Dance Team‘s Performance and Competition Squad. She performs at all home football and basketball games, and traveled this year to Daytona Beach, FLA with the team for the National Competitions. There, the team placed second in the Challenge Cup. She helps choreograph performances for Greek Life at Bentley University and also choreographed and directed a flash mob for Athletic Evolution to support finding a cure for ALS. Most recently, she was awarded “Rookie of the Year 2013” for the Bentley Dance Team. Paige’s dance training includes tap, jazz, hip-hop, kickline and lyrical. She was a member of the Debi’s Dance Studio performance team, where she performed at 5 Boston Celtics Games among other local performances. She graduated the studio being in all advanced classes, and continues to perform in the recital’s opening number as an alumni. Paige is excited to bring her dance and teaching experience to Center Stage Dance Studio!

In addition to her day job as Regional Sales Manager for Rene Furterer, Kathryn works as the backstage manager, assistant to the director, recital coordinator and business administrator for Center Stage Dance Studio. She assists in all aspects of managing the school and will step in as substitute instructor when needed!

Her dance experience includes 16 years of dance training (beginning at the age of two) in tap, jazz, ballet, kickline and gymnastics. She continues to train and expand her repertoire, which includes Barre Fusion; a combination of Pilates, ballet, weight training and advanced barre work.