ABOUT
The current Harrison Block Building was built in 1923. The Ballroom and it’s adjoining rooms were used by the Rebekahs and Odd Fellows as their meeting rooms. It also served for town meetings and festive social gatherings. In 1994 Nan Brett became owner of The Ballroom. Its purpose, now, is to provide an arena to nurture a spectrum of movement, expressive, and performing arts techniques. The Ballroom’s 2,000 square foot main floor, mirrored wall, great acoustics, and 16-foot-high ceilings with molded plaster decorative work, provides a great venue for movement classes, performances, meetings and social gatherings. In addition to the original Ballroom, in 2001 Nan purchased the neighboring function room which had been converted to residential and office use in the 1970s. Extensive renovation has restored this room to its original beauty. The addition of this large room with kitchen facilities has allowed for further expansion of classes and functions at The Ballroom.
The Ballroom, located in the Harrison Block Building,
was built in 1923.
FACILITY RENTAL
The Ballroom’s spacious studios are available to rent for classes, workshops, functions and performances. Sound systems are available in both studios, tables and chairs are available to rent and there is a piano in one studio—perfect for a class, music lessons or recitals.
Call Nan Brett at 207-583-6964.
NAN BRETT, DIRECTOR
Nan earned her BA from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York majoring in Psychology with a minor in dance. She has done post-graduate work in Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology at the University of Southern Maine. Nan is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine, IDEA and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education and Dance. Building upon her foundations as a teacher of Modern Dance and Children’s Creative Movement, Nan became an ACE Certified Fitness Instructor in 1986 and has maintained her accreditation since. Always a strong believer in the health enhancing qualities of movement, Nan has been teaching movement classes since 1980. Nan is a December 2018 graduate of the New Hampshire Institute for Therapeutic Arts - earning her certification and licensure through the State of Maine as a Licensed Massage Therapist.
FACULTY
NAN BRETT
Nan Brett discovered her passion for dance as a young student in Boston, MA. She continued with her dance studies as an undergraduate at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY majoring in Psychology & Dance. It was during this time that she studied with many respected members of the dance community who helped to shape her foundational beliefs about the importance of excellence in dance education.
JULIETTE LAUZIER BRIDGES
Juliette Lauzier Bridges joined The Ballroom dance faculty in 1998 bringing her talents for teaching Ballet, Jazz, Modern & Tap. Juliette has had extensive training and teaching experience through the Maine State Ballet school where she is a faculty member and, in addition, is a soloist with the Maine State Ballet Company (having danced with MSB since it's inception).
BECCI WEBB
Becci Webb became a part of The Ballroom’s dance faculty in 2006. Becci began her dance training at the Maine State Ballet at age 3 but really caught the dance/performance bug when she was Clara in The Nutcracker at age 10. Becci eventually became a featured soloist at the Maine State Ballet and continues to serve as a summer faculty member when her busy schedule allows.
IMARI
Imari has been Bellydancing professionally for over 25 years and as a teacher has shared her passion with thousands of women throughout New England. Imari is the director of New England’s premier Bellydancing troupe-Imari & the Sahara Desert Dancers. This beautiful, powerfully feminine Bellydance troupe is made up of women of all ages, sizes and walks of life.
KIMBERLY HAMLIN
Kimberly Hamlin is a fiber artist, knitting designer and dancer native to Western Maine. She received her B.A. in Liberal Arts from Bennington College, where she studied visual arts, dance, and dance improvisation. Kim has trained/performed with Melinda Ring/Special Projects, Bates Dance Festival, LStreet Dance Theatre, Art Moves Dance Studio, Ram Island Dance, and Expansion Arts. Most days, you can find Kim in her shop Fiber & Vine, located on Main Street in Norway, Maine.
KEITA A WHITTEN FOSTER
Keita is the founder of Redefining Therapy, Ready, Set THrive!, Community Dialogues on Racism as a Public Health Crisis amid COVID-19, The Harriet Tubman Movement Coalition, and somatic liberation dance waves /circles. She is an alumnas of University of Southern Maine receiving honors as a Parents as Scholar Recipient, while solo parenting her two sons. Today Keita is a wife, an awesome grandmother, an astistá, writer, and continues to learn how to cultivate food, and facilitates a repertoire of embodied liberation practices for BIPOC communities to heal internalized racial adversities/oppression and trauma. Keita is the Space Holder and creator of music for Somatic Liberation Dance at The Ballroom.
ALLISON TABER
Allison has a degree in Early Childhood Education and has worked with young children for 20 years, incorporating music, dancing & creative movement into her curriculum. She's trained at The Ballroom in yoga, tap, fitness, and Zumba for 10 years and is a Certified Zumba instructor for adults as well as a Certified Zumba Kids instructor.
SARA HANDSPICKER
Sara Handspicker began her dance career at The Ballroom in 2000 and continued as an exemplary dance student in Ballet, Jazz & Tap until her graduation in 2007. Sara received her BA from Keene State College majoring in Theatre and Dance with a concentration in Modern Dance. After college Sara's performing arts career led her to the Walt Disney World Resort where she engaged with and entertained guests. Sara has now come back to her roots in Maine and as a dancer, joining the dance faculty of The Ballroom for our 2020-2021 season! We are thrilled to welcome her back.