Laura Sciortino
Artistic Director/Owner
Laura began her dance training with several teachers on Cape Cod, Boston Ballet and The Hartford Ballet. Upon graduating from the prestigious Harid Conservatory on full scholarship she began her professional dance career and danced for a number of ballet companies such as Milwaukee Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, Channel Islands Ballet, Configuration, and Ballet Wisconsin. She performed leading roles in such classical ballets as The Nutcracker, Le Corsaire, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Paquita, and Sleeping Beauty. She also had the opportunity to perform leading roles in George Balanchine's Apollo and Valse Fantasie. She has also performed a broad variety of contemporary, neo-classical, and modern works by talented choreographers such as Phillip Trehet, Harrison McEldowney in Group Therapy and Dance Sport, Mark Dendy, Yves de Bouteiller, Graham Lustig, Hans Van Manen, and Micheal Smuin. Laura was described as "sleek and lovely" in DANCE EUROPE MAGAZINE for her work in Graham Lustig's Six Pianos. Her choreography has received high recognition for dance companies, dance studios, and dance competitions. She has received several choreography awards and "Critic's Choice" awards at New York City Dance Alliance, West Coast Dance Explosion, Showstoppers, and Youth America Grand Prix. Laura has taught for the Dance Teacher's Club of Boston, Virginia School of The Arts, and Festival Ballet of Providence. She continues to teach master classes and set choreography throughout the country. Her students have attended and received scholarships to Alvin Ailey, Alonzo Kings' LINES, Harid, Joffrey Ballet, School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Houston Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Royal Ballet School, The Rock, and Paris Opera Ballet School and have also received numerous merit scholarships for dance in Universities world wide.
She is also the proud mother of 13 year old Henry and 11 year old Cordelia. Laura recognizes that all life’s paths are unique and no two are the same. So her goal is to help all of her students succeed by working closely with their individual needs to help them pursue their passions!
Meet the Team
Yves de Bouteiller
Associate Director of the Classical Ballet Program
Yves de Bouteiller received his training in his native France, where he studied primarily with Marie-Laure Medova in Toulouse and subsequently with Robert Bestonso, Raymond Franchetti and Rosella Hightower. In 1979, he began his professional career in Europe as a soloist and principal dancer with such companies as the Ballet du Nord in France and Maurice Bejart’s Ballet of the 20th Century in Belgium. In 1989, he became a principal dancer with the Milwaukee ballet. In 1990, Mr. de Bouteiller extended his artistic talents to choreography. In 1991, he founded Ballet Wisconsin, formerly known as "Et toi, tu danses?” In 1995, he opened the Dance Center, the official school of Ballet Wisconsin. From 2000 to 2003 Mr. de Bouteiller served as artistic director of the Channel Islands Ballet, Ventura County’s former professional ballet company. Since 2003, Mr. de Bouteiller focused his career on freelance choreography. Some of his projects included, in October 2005, the creation of a critically acclaimed production of Romeo and Juliet for the Festival Ballet Providence in Rhode Island and, in October 2007, an invitation to teach company class for Alberta Ballet in Calgary, Canada. From 2008 to 2011 he served as ballet master for Festival Ballet Providence, in Providence, Rhode Island. In 2013, Mr. de Bouteiller received his « Certificat d’Aptitude aux fonctions de professeur de danse classique », the highest national diploma delivered by the French government.
Ariana Romano Harris
Director of the Acro Dance Program
Assistant to the Artistic Director
Ariana began her dance training on Cape Cod at an early age. She studied at Turning Pointe for 5 years. She has performed various roles in many ballets including Sleeping Beauty, Firebird, Cinderella, and The Sea Captain's Nutcracker. Ariana attended summer dance intensives at Bossov Ballet Theatre and American Repertory Ballet. During her 5 years at Turning Pointe, Ariana was a teacher's assistant and teacher. After graduating from Sandwich High School, Ariana attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she received a BS in Kinesiology with a concentration in Pre-medical studies. While attending UMass Amherst, Ariana studied dance in a variety of classes. During her time at UMass, she danced with Pulse Dance Company. Ariana captained the company her junior and senior years and choreographed numerous pieces for the company to perform. Each summer, while in college, Ariana returned home to teach during Turning Pointe's summer program. Ariana is Acrobatic Arts certified and has completed the Acrobatic Arts certification courses through module two.
Louisa Hopewell
Louisa began her dance training on Cape Cod and soon came to Turning Pointe Dance Studio where she studied for nine years. Louisa was also a competitive Highland dancer for five years which complemented her ballet training. Louisa attended summer intensives at Milwaukee Ballet, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Festival Ballet, and chaperoned and danced for the Gelsey Kirkland Summer Intensive. During her senior year at Falmouth High School, Louisa began teaching for Turning Pointe Dance Studio. After graduating from FHS, Louisa moved to Salt Lake City to study ballet at the University of Utah. During her time at the University Louisa had the privilege of studying under Calvin Kitten, a former soloist for Joffrey Ballet, Maggie Tesch, a long time principle at Ballet West, as well as Michael Bearden, Jay Kim, Victoria Stocki, Maureen Laird and Rory Foster. During her four years in the Ballet Department she performed various roles in Utah Ballet performances including Cinderella, choreographed by Jay Kim, Serenade, set by NYCB dancer Zippora Karz, Coppelia, choreographed by Rene Daveluy, Etudes, choreographed by Jay Kim, Sympatico choreographed by Michael Bearden, and many other contemporary and classical pieces. Louisa also performed a lead soloist role in Fokine's Les Sylphide, set and coached by Maggie Tesch. Louisa graduated this past spring with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Classical Ballet and plans to continue dancing and teaching.
Apart from her life as a ballet dancer, Louisa has taught swim lessons for Megan's Swim Program at Stoney Beach in Woods Hole. She is Wilderness First Responder certified through NOLS and loves to play the cello.
Amy Sellers
Amy has been teaching fitness classes since college when she shifted from ballet classes to dance aerobics and step. She is a Certified Personal Trainer and is certified through AAAA/ISMA in Aqua, Pilates and Group Fitness. She fell in love with teaching people 60 and above as she saw a need on Cape Cod for classes designed to keep people moving functionally, motivated to keep attending classes and challenged to do their best. Currently she teaches at several local senior fitness facilities where she continues to be inspired by people's dedications to staying fit. She still keeps her toes in dance classes too, as she is always willing to step in to substitute any dance class at Turning Pointe. Amy loves Turning Pointe, is one of its biggest cheerleaders and loves being a part of the Turning Pointe Family.
Sarah Garceau
Sarah began dancing at her local studio in grade school which took her all the way to Dean College, where she graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Dance in 2011. While attending Dean College, she attended the Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive in NYC in 2009. She partook in theatrical productions at Dean College and various dance shows including Dance Company and Choreographer. Sarah has taught at several different studios on the South Shore and was a member of Boston based hip hop crew, Unyted Stylz, for 7 years. While a member she competed in competitions and performed around Boston.
Julia Sykes
Julia began dance training at the age of nine, studying ballet, modern, contemporary, and jazz. After high school, she earned her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Degree in Dance from Long Island University, Brooklyn campus. In New York she had the opportunity to learn and perform choreography by various world renowned choreographers, including Ron K. Brown, Bill T. Jones, Jennifer Muller, Nathan Trice, and Twyla Tharp, among others. In the summer of 2014, she joined the dance team for the Mets Affiliated baseball team, The Brooklyn Cyclones. Upon moving back to her native Massachusetts, Julia began teaching at Center Stage Dance Academy (Plymouth MA), and began dancing with various companies and choreographers in the area, including Adrienne Hawkins and Project 31, among others. She has taught classes at local dance centers such as the Dance Complex in Cambridge, and taught intensives and guest choreography at local studios from the South to the North Shore of Massachusetts. Julia joined BoSoma Dance Company from 2018 - 2021, a company the Boston Globe describes as “vigorously athletic and artistically sculptural”, and “the Alvin Ailey of New England” from audience testimonials. She also taught at BoSoma School of Dance from 2019-2022. In 2021, Julia is earned her certification in Personal Training from ACE Fitness. In May 2022, she opened Studio 721 in Buzzards Bay, MA, which offers adult dance classes and dance related fitness.
Rebecca Wilson
Rebecca began dancing at the age of 3 and grew up on Cape Cod, where she was a member of a competitive dance team training in styles of ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, and hip hop. A recent graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education with a secondary major in Psychology. During her time at UMass Amherst, she became involved in the dance department on campus. As a member of the UMass Dance Club, Rebecca choreographed and performed in several pieces since her freshman year. She became President of the UMass Dance Club after previously working on the executive board for two years. She studied ballet each semester, training with instructors including Bronwen Macarther and Thomas Vacanti, as well as being part of the Alive With Dance performance group. Rebecca choreographed numerous pieces for the UMass Dance Club in styles such as contemporary, lyrical, jazz, and ballet. Rebecca is excited to share her passion and love for dance with her students!
Isabelle Ramage
Born and raised on Cape Cod Isabelle trained with Turning Pointe Dance Studio and graduated from the Intensive Division Program in 2019. She then joined Ballet Austin’s fully endowed Butler fellowship program for their 2019/2020 season under the direction of Stephen Mills. In 2020 she danced with Ballet Idaho under direction of Garret Anderson where she additionally taught for the Young Dancer Program of the Ballet Idaho Academy. Isabelle joined Newport Contemporary Ballet (then Island Moving Company) in 2021. She was a performing company dancer for Newport Contemporary Ballet until the conclusion of the 2024 season. Isabelle has had the pleasure of performing acclaimed classical and contemporary works including Marius Petipa’s Paquita, Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker, Jiri Kylian’s Falling Angels, Gerald Arpino’s Light Rain, George Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, and various new works. Still living and working in Newport, Isabelle is now perusing a degree in arts administration while continuing to share her love and knowledge of ballet to the students at Turning Pointe.
Tristan Marshall
Tristan Marshall, originally from Massachusetts, received his Bachelor of the Arts in Dance and a minor in Sports Sciences and Disabilities from Hofstra University. Throughout his time at Hofstra, Tristan received many accolades for his choreography. Since graduating, he has found a love for teaching & working with young students. Tristan strives to create a safe space to learn, grow & challenge each student he works with. He fuses athleticism & technique, with artistry & passion, and loves instilling this in the next generation. He has gotten to share his knowledge with many studios along the East Coast, ranging from workshops & intensives to choreographing competition dances throughout New England. Aside from teaching, he just finished dancing & choreographing for his second show with DanceWorks Boston and is in his fifth season on the competition circuit.
Kaitlin Goulart
Kaitlin began dancing at age 3 on Cape Cod, first playing a little Angel in the Nutcracker, progressing all the way to Clara, enjoying every second on and off the stage. In high school, she was a member of a competitive dance team at Center Stage Dance Studio, training in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and her favorite, hip hop. At Stonehill College, she continued her love of dance, participating in the dance club and teaching after-school dance to students in the Brockton Public Schools. Kaitlin holds a certificate in adaptive dance, teaching movement to individuals with disabilities from the Boston Ballet. Kaitlin is a 7th-grade teacher in the Falmouth Public Schools and is overjoyed to be back dancing, teaching, and inspiring others to dance!
Erin Usawicz
Erin’s early training was at Boston Ballet with Sydelle Gomberg and later as a scholarship student with Ballet Theatre of Boston (now Jose Mateo Ballet Theater) where she graduated from their Young Dancers Program. She trained extensively with Jose Mateo, Mary McKenzie Thompson, Elena Martinson & Andrei Ustinov. Erin was invited to apprentice with the company when she was 17 years old. After apprenticing, she danced corps de ballet roles in many classics, including The Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker and Cinderella as well as many original neo-classical works. Erin also trained in NYC with Finis Jung at Broadway Dance Center, and was invited to be a guest artist with Long Island Ballet Theater for their Nutcracker season. She attended Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University and graduated magna cum laude with a BFA in photography. Erin taught as an adjunct instructor in ballet at Centenary University’s theater department for 7 years where she developed the ballet curriculum for musical theater students as well as community outreach classes for teens and adults. As a senior faculty member at North Jersey School of Dance Arts from 2007-2024, she was also heavily involved in New Jersey Civic Youth Ballet, a non-profit youth ballet company. Erin also has coached students for Youth America Grand Prix, where some have placed in the top 10 for their categories. Her students have been accepted to many prestigious schools and companies such as The Rock School, The Harid Conservatory, Butler University Ballet, Ellison Ballet, School of American Ballet, Boston Ballet, New Jersey Ballet and American Repertory Ballet among others. Her philosophy is that “Ballet is for Everyone” and she aims to approach training in a way that welcomes diversity and seeks achievement in all students, no matter their level.
Airlie Santos
Airlie Santos has trained at Turning Pointe Dance Studio since she was 3 years old. She is a senior in the Pre-Professional Program at Turning Pointe. She has attended summer programs at Atlanta Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, The Rock School For Dance Education, Festival Ballet Providence and New York Dance Project. Airlie has placed in the Top 3 at Youth America Grand Prix, Universal Ballet Competition and Connecticut Classic on numerous occasions and has placed in the Top 10 at NYCDA, NUVO and 24seven. She has been awarded scholarships to summer intensives, year round programs and dance conventions. Airlie attended Dance Excellence in California in 2019 and 2022 and plans to go this year! Airlie is excited to share her love of dance with her students this year!
Amelia Moesman
Amelia Moesman is a senior at Sandwich High School. She has been dancing since she was 3, but this will be her 5th year at Turning Pointe Dance Studio. She has attended many competitions like YAGP, Universal Ballet Competition, Connecticut Classic, Nuvo, 24/7, and NYCDA. Amelia has received top 24 at YAGP in the junior category, 7th this year at Connecticut Classic, Nuvo breakout artist, 24/7 non-stop dancer, as well as a ballet scholarship from NYCDA. She has also danced in many award winning group dances at these competitions. She has attended Dance Excellence in California and two summer intensives at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and the past two summers at Next Generation Ballet in Tampa, Florida. At Sandwich High School, she is an honors student and involved in Student Council. She is very excited for this year!
Jackie Collins
Jacqueline (Jackie) has been dancing at Turning Pointe since she was three years old. Jackie has participated in Turning Pointe’s En Dehors performances throughout the community. Jackie has competed in competitions such as Youth America Grand Prix, NUVO, 24seven, and New York Dance Alliance. She has also attended Dance Excellence with Turning Pointe in 2019 and 2022. Jackie is currently a student at Falmouth High School, where she is the president of both the French Honor Society and National Honor Society, and the president and founder of the Model United Nations. Jackie also spends her time as a barista at Coffee Obsession, and a lifeguard at Bowerman's Beach Club. Jackie is looking forward to sharing her energy and passion for dance with students at Turning Pointe Dance Studio.
Rachel Blackburn
Rachel is a straight A senior at Mashpee High School. She has been dancing since she was 3 years old. She has attended Point Park University’s summer intensive, as well as Dance Excellence in Los Angeles, California an international dance festival. She has competed at Youth America Grand Prix, Universal Ballet Competition, 24 Seven, and New York City Dance Alliance. Rachel has been a teacher’s assistant at Turning Pointe and taught her own dance classes at Mashpee’s elementary school. She is a member of Mashpee High School’s chapter of the National Honor Society, the National Math Honor Society, and is Vice President of the National English Honor Society. Rachel can’t wait to share her love of dance with all of you!