Meet the Team

Miss Lauren has 33 years of dance experience and has been teaching dance for 23 years. Her dance experience covers a broad range of genres including: Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Jazz- Funk/Hip Hop, Pointe, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern, and Irish Step. Miss Lauren has danced, taught, and choreographed for local studios and also organized an All- City Select Dance Ensemble for New Bedford Public Schools. She continues to take classes at Broadway Dance Center in New York City where she studies various genres. Miss Lauren received her Masters of Education from American International College after graduating from Bridgewater State College where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education for grades 1-6 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. She then completed her Masters of Education in Dance in 2019 at the University of Northern Colorado. Her Master of Dance Education thesis topic regards the importance of dance integration in learning science at the elementary school level and is published. Miss Lauren is a licensed K-12 Dance Specialist in Massachusetts and certified Kidding Around Yoga teacher. She is also certified in Acrobatic Arts Preschool Acro Dance and Module One. Along with memberships in the National Dance Educators Organization and The International Association for Dance Medicine & Science, Lauren owns and directs Illusions Academy of Dance, Inc. and teaches Creative Movement and Dance for New Bedford Public Schools. Lauren recently became a certified Health Coach and is looking forward to adding health coaching for dancers and women to Illusions Academy of Dance services.

Donna has been actively involved with the arts for most of her life currently teaching musical theatre at Illusions. She has performed with the Star Players of Bristol County, Bridgewater State College, and New Bedford Festival Theatre. Donna has been an executive board member for SPOBC & NBFT as well as an assistant of NBFT Apprentice Program. Conna can be seen emceeing various shows and pageants throughout the area. She is also a professional vocalist and musical theatre/cabaret performer and coordinates cabaret performances throughout the area. Donna has a Masters of Science from Boston University in Speech-Language Pathology. She has assisted with elementary musical theatre show and talent shows for NBPS. She has been involved with the Miss America Organization since 1981, in a variety of capacities and is the current Executive Director of the Miss New Bedford Scholarship Program and Miss New Bedford’s Outstanding Teen.

Marisha is 17 years old and has been dancing since the age of 3. Her favorite style of dance has always been tap but She has experience in many styles including ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, theatre, pointe and Irish step. Marisha likes teaching at illusions because she loves to share her passion for dance with young dancers. Marisha has been in numerous theatre productions at illusions and at school but her all time favorite would be The Lion King Jr. where she got to play a lioness. As a member of the Illusions performance company she has had the opportunity to dance in Disney twice, perform in many competitions and for numerous community performances . When she’s not dancing or teaching at illusions she enjoys being at the beach and hanging out with friends and family! Marisha is the recipient of a $1,000 College Scholarship from Southeast Invitational Dance Competition. Fun fact every winter she enjoys making maple syrup in her backyard with her dad and she loves archery!

Serrena has 18 years of dance experience and has been teaching dance for 4 years. Her dance experience consists of Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Pointe, Theatre, Acrobats, and Contemporary. She has been in many theatre productions at Illusions Academy of Dance that include The Lion King, Shrek, and The Jungle Book. Serrena was a part of the Illusions Performance Company and was able to take class and perform in Walt Disney World, along with competing at local competitions and conventions. She enjoys sharing her love of dance with her students and watching them grow.

Our Leadership Program is designed to teach our students, who are interested in teaching dance, how to do so. In the program, interns will learn the expectations for teaching classes, lesson planning, injury prevention, and choreographing before they transition into becoming a class assistant.