Sarah Daunt has recently joined the MAX team, as the Moving Arts Early Childhood Program Director, teaching Creative Movement, Ballet, Dance Making and Moving Family. Sarah Daunt began teaching dance in 2006. She maintains individual student needs and supports injury prevention through proper instruction and preparation. Her extensive teaching in toddler through adult dance education supports her knowledge of the dancer’s development at all ages. In her twelve years of teaching Sarah has coordinated the establishment of several youth dance programs and continues to deepen her knowledge of early childhood education. Sarah has been the youth dance program coordinator of but not limited to, Carnegie Art Center and Lisa Taylor Academy of Dance, Buffalo, NY, and Bluffton School of Dance, Bluffton, SC. Sarah finds great joy in her commitment to serving the community and is honored to be a part of MAX.

She received her 200-hour yoga certification from the Kripalu Center of Yoga and Health in 2011. Received her Grade One Cecchetti Council of America Certification in 2012. Her training includes Hilton Head Dance under the direction of ABT Principle Karena Brock, Alabama School of Fine Arts, Ballet South GA, and Washington School of Ballet. Sarah has worked professionally with Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet Company, Habit Dance Project NY, and Jacobs Pillow, MA. Her choreography has been presented at The ALT Theatre, Lawyers for the Arts, Buffalo NY, and the School of Contemporary Dance and Thought, MA.

Nina was born and grew up in New York City. She trained from the age of nine at the School of American Ballet in New York, and performed regularly in children's roles in many of New York City Ballet’s productions, including ‘Nutcracker,’ ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ ‘Coppelia,’ and ‘Harlequinade.’ In 1984, she moved to San Francisco to join the San Francisco Ballet. She left San Francisco in 1991, first for France where she danced with Le Ballet du Nord, and then Montreal where she danced with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, retiring in 1996. While a student at SAB, she trained extensively in classical Pilates with the late Romana Kryzanowska, one of Joseph Pilates’ early students and his designated successor. Nina also teaches yoga, and is certified in the Iyengar method, having trained in Paris with M Faeq Biria, one of BKS Iyengar’s leading disciples in the West. She has taught yoga in New York, London and Melbourne, Australia. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Great Barrington.

Andrea's early training in the arts began in the summer youth dance program at SUNY Brockport Dance Department, and at the Student Preparatory Program at Eastman School of Music for harp and percussion. She attended Interlochen Arts Summer Camp and Interlochen Arts Academy in Northern Michigan. She then went on to Bard College, NYC, studying with Albert Reid, Aileen Pasloff, Lenore Latimer and Jean Churchill, and graduated in 1992. While dancing and choreographing at Bard College, she was a teacher for the Bard’s Youth Theatre/Dance Programs, instructing young artists through creative movement, dance technique, and composition. Andrea participated in the theatre department as the Assistant TD and wrote her senior thesis in Anthropology on Arts Education. She was a dancer for nine years with the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company, resident company of the Egg in Albany, New York. As a member of ESDC, Andrea was one of the Arts-In-Education performers for the company’s outreach workshops in New York State’s Capital Region. Supporting the arts and having the opportunity to bring dance to schools and youth programs throughout the area, continues to drive Andrea’s passion and commitment to dance education. She performed with Ellen at Kaatsbaan, Lincoln Center, Dance Space NYC, Sage College and other venues throughout New York. Andrea was on faculty for the performing arts program, and community dance classes at Berkshire Pulse in Housatonic, MA for many years. Her 25+ years as a professional dancer and teacher has brought her to Seattle, Albany, and the Berkshires.

As a Modern Dance Technician, Andrea works diligently to create the most well-rounded, safe, fun, and challenging classes for youth, teens, and adults. Currently she is working on creative works for her newly established performing company, and is leading a new wave of seasoned dancers to the stage. Her next exploration can be found through a new class she is developing through her research and training in mind-body centering and restorative somatic practices. It is an essential practice that she infuses her knowledge of Kinesiology principles into all her classes, from creative dance, to Modern Dance, and even Zumba.

Ellen graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance from Adelphi University and trained in the Lester Horton Technique with Regina Larkin and personal coaching from Carmen Delavallade. Ellen studied ballet with the late Rebecca Wright (principal dancer and teacher at ABT) and Frank Augustine (former principal dancer of the Canada National Ballet Company). She performed the role of “the chosen one” in Joyce Trisler’s Le Sacre du Printemps, danced with GiBa in motion (NYC), and was company manager/dancer for Imago Dance Theater (NYC). In 2005 she performed a duet by Sean Curran while teaching for Harvard University’s Dance Program and was Repertoire Assistant for Curran at Marymount Manhattan College, Roger Williams University, and Rhode Island College. She co-founded a non-profit dance company before becoming Dance Director at Pomfret School in CT for four years. At that time she was also Executive Director of the Cornerstone Performing Arts Center in Fitchburg, MA, and was awarded a $21,000 capital grant from the Amelia Peabody Foundation. While in Fitchburg she built relationships with Fitchburg Public Schools and North Central Mass Charter School to coordinate youth dance programs, and received the Community Builder Golden Hammer Award from the United Way of Central Mass. She created, choreographed and produced over 25 dance/music/theatre productions from 2006 -2010, including the original play Outside the Wire at the Boston Center for the Arts. In 2011 she danced for BoSoma Dance Company at Boston University, and performed David Dorfman’s Prophets of Funk. In 2013 she was chosen as a presenter for Community of Scholars at Lesley University for work with dance in nature. Ellen was a faculty member for the performing arts and community dance programs at Berkshire Pulse (MA). Ellen believes that arts education is a vital part of building the next generation.

Mimi’s early career (pre-children) included practicing law, nonprofit arts administration and film and television production in San Francisco. While living in the Bay Area, Mimi studied ballet, modern dance, Afro-jazz, American show jazz, contact improvisation and tap. She performed with the Gloria Unti Modern Dance group for several years.

After moving to Austin, Texas in 1989, Mimi became a nationally certified ACE Aerobics Instructor and Personal Trainer. Mimi combined her dance experience with her knowledge of body mechanics to create a unique style of aerobic dance. After two years of intensive Iyengar yoga training, Mimi opened her own yoga studio in 1995. Mimi continued to teach in large fitness clubs throughout Austin and also maintained a vibrant personal training business. Mimi has taught every possible format of land aerobics including cardio-funk, cardio-yoga, step, Zumba, cardio-sculpt and circuit training. Mimi believes that it is imperative to keep growing and learning, and to that end she has received certifications in Indoor Cycling (Spinning), Advanced Mat Pilates, Zumba and Barre since moving to the Berkshires in 2004.

Locally, Mimi has taught fitness classes, yoga, Pilates and Zumba at Berkshire South Community Center, Simon’s Rock, Cranwell Resort, Berkshire Functional Fitness and Berkshire Pulse. Mimi also wrote and produced her own weekly radio show,” Mimi’s Morning Mojo” for WSBS.

Mimi is co-founder and managing partner of CATWALK Boutique which benefits Berkshire Humane Society, and she also sits on the Advisory Board of PURRADISE. Mimi lives in Great Barrington with her lovely husband Mark Lefenfeld and 2 Siamese cats (all rescues). Mimi fervently believes that exercise is the “fountain of youth” and plans to just keep moving.