Chickee's Dance World

Premiere Dance School of Worcester MA

Faculty & Staff

“Chickee’s Dance World is full of caring, loving and encouraging staff members who treat their clients like family! 

Chickee - Director/Owner
Chickee brings more than 40 years of dance experience to the studio, with an extensive background in jazz, tap, ballet, pointe, lyrical, and fitness. She is the proud owner and director of Chickee’s Dance World in Worcester, Massachusetts, now entering its 43rd season.
Deeply committed to her community, Chickee has choreographed for numerous high schools, churches, and theater organizations. She and her studio regularly participate in charitable events, fundraisers, regional and national competitions, dance conventions, and local performances. In recognition of her service, Chickee has received multiple citations and was honored with the Key to the City of Worcester.
At CDW, Chickee oversees the front office, faculty, and staff while continuing to share her love of dance in the classroom. She treasures the relationships she has built with generations of dancers and their families and is always happy to stop and chat. A lifelong Worcester resident, Chickee is the proud mother of two children, Ariana and Michael.
Ariana is the Artistic Director and Manager of Chickee’s Dance World in Worcester, Massachusetts, where she leads a highly regarded dance program serving both competitive and recreational dancers of all ages. Known for her creative direction and leadership, Ariana has built a reputation for producing impactful choreography and developing confident, disciplined performers.Her work has received numerous regional and national choreography awards, as well as overall high score recognitions and scholarships. In recognition of her impact, an award has been established in her name honoring choreography that promotes meaningful and positive messaging—reflecting her influence within the dance community.
Ariana holds a degree from Stonehill College in Dance and Business Administration, with a minor in Entrepreneurship, supporting her work as both an artist and creative leader. In addition to directing Chickee’s Dance World, Ariana is an adjudicator and guest educator for competitions, conventions, and workshops. She is recognized as a trusted mentor to dancers, educators, and families across the dance community, and is known for her ability to guide both artistic and personal development. Her background includes leadership roles as a Varsity Dance Team Head Coach and Varsity Cheerleading Tumbling Coach. 
She holds certifications in Acrobatic Arts and flexibility training, further informing her technical and artistic approach.Ariana is passionate about leading with intention—creating work that is both powerful and purposeful, while building dancers who are confident in both their artistry and identity.
Claire began dancing at Chickee’s Dance World at age five, training in jazz, tap, ballet, pointe, contemporary, hip hop, and improvisation. She began assisting at age 11 and became a Junior Instructor in 2014. Claire graduated from Rhode Island College with a degree in psychology and is currently pursuing her master’s degree at Assumption University to become a school adjustment counselor. Now a Head Instructor at CDW, she is also YogaKids certified and remains an integral part of the CDW family
Stephanie Dery, born and raised in Massachusetts, started dancing when she was four years old, training in ballet and jazz until finding her passion within hip hop. During high school she was invited to join the senior hip hop competition team with Miss Tanya’s School of Dance, and competed throughout New England for two seasons where they were consistently top scorers. Stephanie enjoys sharing her love of dance and participated in her high school’s STEP program by interning as a student teacher, and has since substituted for the studio Director when needed. She has trained at the Jeannette Neill Dance Studio in Boston and has performed in their repertory show for several years.
Stephanie enjoys continuing her dance education by participating in conventions such as Monsters of Hip Hop. Stephanie is a graduate of Fitchburg State University with a major in Business Management and has choreographed and taught Street classes in the University’s Dance club. She has been invited to teach master classes and workshops at studios in Central Massachusetts and is excited to continue her journey with Chickee’s Dance World!
Ashley is graduate of Dean College where she received her Associate of Arts Degree.  While attending Dean she trained in various styles of dance including jazz, ballet, tap, and modern. During her time at Dean College she was one of only five interns selected for a summer Teaching Assistant Internship at The Boston Ballet.   While there she had the pleasure of learning from Luciana Aimar the head of the children’s curriculum. Ashley began her dance training in Worcester, MA and furthered her training at the Burncoat Middle and High School Fine Arts program.  Ashley has a passion for working with the Senior Citizenship community during the daytime.  Ashley has organized numerous performance opportunities at Senior Communities for dancers to share their love of dance and give back to the Senior community!  Ashley is excited to continue teaching and sharing her love of dance with all her students.
Tracy Mattison grew up dancing for 15 years in Worcester, beginning with Mindy K McGovern, then dancing and assisting for Diane Kelly when Mindy retired. She grew up studying jazz, ballet, musical theater, and her true passion, tap. Upon graduating from Anna Maria College with a bachelor’s degree in Early Education, Tracy worked towards her Masters Degree working in many schools in the surrounding areas. After starting a family, Tracy began instructing dance in a local dance studio, where her daughters danced competitively for 15 years. Instructing dance for 15 years in the Worcester area, Tracy is passionate about teaching young dancers, ensuring correct foundations of dance, encouraging dancers to always try their personal best, and most importantly, having fun as they work as a team.
Sarah began her dance career at the age of two at a local studio in Worcester, and joined their competition team at the age of four. She has won six regional titles, competed in several national competitions, and danced for the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and Walt Disney World several times. In addition, she found her love of teaching dance through eight years of assisting and choreographing. Sarah graduated from Assumption University this past spring where she majored in English and double minored in education and human services & rehabilitation studies. While at Assumption, Sarah was part of the Assumption University Dance Team where she placed 3rd in the nation for DII Pom Division and 2nd in the nation for DII Team Performance. Currently, she is working towards her M.A. in School Counseling at Assumption University. She is excited to continue at CDW this season, and to share her passion for dance with others.

Analis has had a passion for dance since the age of 2.5 when she began her dance career. She studied various styles of dance along with competitively dancing for 10 years. Through out her competitive years Analis won multiple top score and special awards both regionally and nationally. After her time in studio, Analis attended Dean College where she studied Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Tap, and Modern. After graduation, Analis continued to share her passion for dance by teaching young dancers both competitively and recreationally. Analis is also a teacher for the Southbridge School System and has 10+ years of teaching experience. Analis is thrilled to continue with her CDW Family!

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Cara is a dedicated mother of two wonderful girls. Her journey into the world of dance began at the tender age of 3 when she took her very first steps onto the dance floor at CDW. Little did anyone know at that time that this would mark the beginning of a lifelong passion and commitment.

 

From those early days, Cara’s love for dance only grew stronger with each passing year. She honed her skills and dedication to the art of dance and by the age of 11, she was already making an impact as an assistant at CDW, sharing her enthusiasm and knowledge with younger dancers.

 

Cara’s dance repertoire is as diverse as it is impressive. Her training encompasses ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical styles, showcasing her versatility as a dancer. Her dedication and passion for the art have not only enriched her life but have also inspired her own family.

 

Today, Cara’s legacy lives on as her children have become part of the CDW family, with her oldest daughter even joining the competition team, following in her mother’s footsteps. Cara’s journey is a testament to the enduring power of dance, family, and the joy of sharing one’s passion with the next generation. She is very excited to be back teaching!

Meet Dena, a passionate dance enthusiast who transitioned from being a dedicated dance mom to a nurturing dance teacher. With a heart full of love for the art of movement, Dena, a CDW alumni pursued her dreams of becoming a dance instructor and became certified in Acro Arts Preschool Certificate.

As a mother, she witnessed the transformative power of dance in her child’s life and was inspired to share that magic with others. Today, Dena brings her unique blend of parental understanding and professional training to her dance classes, creating a safe and joyful environment for young dancers to learn and grow. Her journey from mom to teacher exemplifies the beauty of following one’s heart and making dreams a reality.

From the age of 5, Kelsey found her rhythm in the world of dance. What began as a fun activity blossomed into a passion. At the age of 9, Kelsey took her first steps towards becoming an Instructor at CDW by serving as a teacher’s assistant. Today, a senior in high school, Kelsey is more the ready for her own classroom! Her journey from Junior Assistant, to Assistant to Junior Instructor to this pivotal role of Instructor is a testament to her dedication to her dancing and her CDW Community!
As a competitive dancer, Kelsey has been recognized regionally and nationally a collection of awards both regionally and nationally at dance competitions and conventions. Her contributions aren’t confined to the studio – she’s also an integral member of the Burncoat High School dance department and dance team, where she brings her infectious energy and willingness to learn.
Above all, Kelsey is known for her nurturing approach towards young dancers. Her love for guiding and shaping her students is palpable, creating an environment where children flourish not only as dancers but as confident individuals!

bio coming soon

Jackelyn is an inspiring and dedicated dance professional whose career has carried her from the studio to performances on some of the world’s biggest stages. Holding a degree in Dance Performance along with a minor in Business, she has successfully combined creativity with professionalism throughout her journey. Her experience includes performing alongside renowned artists such as Justin Timberlake, French Montana, and Katy Perry—opportunities that have influenced her growth as both a performer and mentor.
Today, Jackelyn is passionate about motivating and guiding the next generation of dancers. She works with Imagine Dance Challenge as a Director proudly serves as a judge and educator, where she continues to encourage young performers and help them reach their full potential.
Daphne Sweeney began dancing at the age of two and has spent years cultivating a strong technical foundation across a variety of dance styles. She trained as a member of a competitive dance program and has continued to expand her artistry by studying with respected industry professionals, including Casie “Tynee” Goshow, Mikey Perkins, and Abby Lee Miller.
Daphne’s passion for dance shines brightest in jazz, acro, and hip hop, where her athleticism, musicality, and performance quality come together. Her performance experience includes productions with Boston Dance Company, Dance Prism, Paula Meola Dance & Performing Arts, and Melrose Youth Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker.
As an instructor, Daphne is passionate about creating an encouraging environment where dancers feel challenged, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential. She believes in building strong technical foundations while helping every dancer grow in confidence, artistry, and a genuine love for dance.
Outside the studio, Daphne is pursuing her nursing degree at Worcester State University, bringing the same compassion, dedication, and work ethic to her studies that she brings to her students each week.
Maureen is an accomplished dance educator, choreographer, and performer with more than 35 years of experience in the dance industry. Passionate about developing technically strong, confident dancers, she believes every class should inspire students to dance with purpose, intention, and artistry while encouraging each dancer to reach their own unique potential.
Originally trained in Massachusetts, Maureen furthered her studies through extensive summer training in New York City, including classes at the Alvin Ailey School and with renowned ballet educator David Howard. Her training also includes study at Boston Ballet, Jeanette Neill Dance Studio, The Dance Complex, and Green Street Studios, providing her with a strong foundation in ballet, jazz, modern, choreography, and improvisation.
In 1998, Maureen opened her own dance studio, where she spent 13 successful years teaching dancers of all ages before selling the studio in 2011 to continue pursuing new educational and artistic opportunities. Throughout her career, she has established children’s ballet programs, directed dance education initiatives, choreographed theatrical productions, and served as the Artistic Director, choreographer, and performer for Song Caravan, creating original productions that combined live music and dance.
A graduate of Fisher College, Maureen is also a Certified Yoga Instructor and Certified Pilates Mat Teacher, bringing an extensive understanding of alignment, strength, body awareness, and healthy movement patterns into every class she teaches.
Committed to lifelong learning, Maureen continues to study, collaborate, and grow as both an artist and educator. Her teaching philosophy centers on building strong technical foundations while fostering confidence, musicality, discipline, and a genuine love for the art of dance. Through progressive, intentional instruction, she empowers dancers to set meaningful goals, embrace challenges, and develop into confident, well-rounded artists.
Lisette Ayala is a graduate of Dean College, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Dance with a minor in Business. A lifelong athlete and artist, she was also a four-year member of the Dean College Women’s Soccer Team, bringing exceptional strength, athleticism, and body awareness into her teaching.
With over 20 years of dance training, including 16 years in the competitive dance world, Lisette specializes in acrobatics, jazz, lyrical, and contemporary dance. Known for her exceptional technical foundation in acrobatics, she is passionate about helping dancers safely develop strength, flexibility, control, and confidence while mastering progressive acrobatic skills. She began assisting acrobatics classes at just 12 years old and has since dedicated her career to developing technically sound, well-rounded dancers.
Lisette has taught master classes, summer intensives, studio programs, and high school workshops while also choreographing award-winning competitive routines. Her expertise in acrobatics led her to become a member of the United States Acrobatics Team, where she traveled to perform before later returning to assist with national team auditions—an honor that reflects her technical excellence and leadership within the acrobatic dance community.
Most recently, Lisette was featured in the internationally screened dance film Liquid Spine, choreographed by Katie Pustizzi, which has been showcased from Boston to Italy.
As an educator, Lisette is committed to creating a positive, challenging environment where dancers build confidence through proper technique and purposeful training. Her classes emphasize safe progressions, strong fundamentals, and artistic expression, empowering students to become confident, versatile performers both on and off the stage.

bio coming soon!