Artistic Director- Shannon DeFusco is the owner and Artistic Director of Shannon's Studio of Dance Education. Shannon started dancing at the age of two in 1983. She studied Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, and Lyrical with Rosemary Medeiros and has taught these disciplines for 15 years.
Shannon's accomplishments include being a national winner in the R.I. Chapter of Talent America and a principal dancer for the Elvis Remembered Company. She has performed for the Annual Muscular Dystrophy Charitable Fund Raiser, the R.I. Junior Miss Pageant, and the Boy Scouts of America Convention for the R.I. and Massachusetts Chapters.
Throughout her career, Shannon has received numerous awards. She was the first place recipient in the American Miss Talent and Modeling Competition from 1990-1996. In 1994, Shannon received first place for the American Miss Talent and Modeling East Coast Finals and was two-time gold award recipient at the Lion's Club Dance Competition.
Shannon is a graduate of Dance Teachers Club of Boston. During her training, she studied under world- renowned teachers such as E. Laura Haussmann, Carol Hess, Tom Ralabate, and Diane Gudat.
Shannon's Studio of Dance Education was voted "Best Dance Lessons" in the August 2004 Best of RI issue of Rhode Island Monthly Magazine. Shannon's Studio of Dance Education was chosen as one of the countries top 50 studios that exemplify the spirit of competition, and was featured in Dance Spirit Magazine as one of the "Top 50 Studios on the Move" Shannon has also served as a judge for the Roger Williams University Hip Hop Team.
Most recently, Shannon has casted dancers for an online commercial for Hasbro Toys, and continues sharing her love for dance with her wonderful students!
Alicia DiMasi Peters
began her dancing career with Shannon under the direction of Rosemary Medeiros in 1988. She has performed with numerous dance companies including Dance Planet (1999-2005), Phase II (2004-2006), and the Andary Dance Company (2005-2008). Alicia graduated Cum Laude from Rhode island College with a BA in Psychology & Dance Performance. She was also a member of the RIC Dance Company throughout her college career.
Alicia has a Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Salve Regina University. She is currently working for the State of RI, Department of Human Services with the Office of Rehabilitation Services. She has been teaching at Shannon's for 5 years.
Alissa Salamon has been a teacher at Shannon's since 2004. She has coached Pop Warner Cheerleading for 8 years. In 2005 she led the Warren/Swansea Redskins to a National Competition in Disney. Alissa was a former coach to the Mt. Hope High School Hip Hop Dance Team. She can also be found on stage; Alissa has played "Tantomile" in Bristol Theatre Company's production of Cats in the summer of 2006. In 2007, starred in the Bristol Theatre Company's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Most recently, Miss Alissa has starred in an online commercial for Hasbro Toys. She is currently the coach for the Sakonnet Schooners Cheerleading Team.
Lisa D'Arcangelo has been dancing with Shannon for 10 years. She has been instructing pre-school ballet, tap, and jazz classes at SSOD since 2006. Lisa is currently a Senior at Rhode Island College. She is majoring in Elementary Education and English with a minor in Psychology. Miss Lisa is currently a teacher at Bright Ideas Pre-School in Middletown, R.I.
Kerry Deming has over 26 years of dance experience; trained at Atwood Performing Arts Center and Danceology,
as a competitive dancer and teacher. Miss Kerry has been privileged to study with and take class from many renowned teachers and choreographers, including Elaine Colaneri, Dante Sciarra, Tyce Diorio, Marty Kudelka, Wade Robson, and Sue Samuels. She has taken classes at Modern Jazz Dance Center for the Arts and Providence Ballet in RI, Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway and Alvin Ailey in NYC, Harddrive Studios and Spotlight Dance
in Orlando, FL. She has attended many workshops including Tremaine Dance Conventions and Project Motivate/Dancelife Teacher Workshops. Miss Kerry taught preschool gymnastics and was the Competitive Dance Program Director at Aim High Academy in East Greenwich, RI for 3 years. She has been a featured dancer in ‘A Chorus Line’ for Fantasy Works and‘Pippin’ for the East Greenwich Academy Players. While living in Orlando, Miss Kerry was a dancer for Walt Disney World and choreographed for pop girl groups Fuscia and Cassiopeia. Most recently, she was a featured dancer and Dance Captain for the Academy Players ‘The Wedding Singer’. Miss Kerry is very happy to be a part of the SSOD family!
Shannon's accomplishments include being a national winner in the R.I. Chapter of Talent America and a principal dancer for the Elvis Remembered Company. She has performed for the Annual Muscular Dystrophy Charitable Fund Raiser, the R.I. Junior Miss Pageant, and the Boy Scouts of America Convention for the R.I. and Massachusetts Chapters.
Throughout her career, Shannon has received numerous awards. She was the first place recipient in the American Miss Talent and Modeling Competition from 1990-1996. In 1994, Shannon received first place for the American Miss Talent and Modeling East Coast Finals and was two-time gold award recipient at the Lion's Club Dance Competition.
Shannon is a graduate of Dance Teachers Club of Boston. During her training, she studied under world- renowned teachers such as E. Laura Haussmann, Carol Hess, Tom Ralabate, and Diane Gudat.
Shannon's Studio of Dance Education was voted "Best Dance Lessons" in the August 2004 Best of RI issue of Rhode Island Monthly Magazine. Shannon's Studio of Dance Education was chosen as one of the countries top 50 studios that exemplify the spirit of competition, and was featured in Dance Spirit Magazine as one of the "Top 50 Studios on the Move" Shannon has also served as a judge for the Roger Williams University Hip Hop Team.
Most recently, Shannon has casted dancers for an online commercial for Hasbro Toys, and continues sharing her love for dance with her wonderful students!
Alicia DiMasi Peters
began her dancing career with Shannon under the direction of Rosemary Medeiros in 1988. She has performed with numerous dance companies including Dance Planet (1999-2005), Phase II (2004-2006), and the Andary Dance Company (2005-2008). Alicia graduated Cum Laude from Rhode island College with a BA in Psychology & Dance Performance. She was also a member of the RIC Dance Company throughout her college career.Alicia has a Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Salve Regina University. She is currently working for the State of RI, Department of Human Services with the Office of Rehabilitation Services. She has been teaching at Shannon's for 5 years.
Alissa Salamon has been a teacher at Shannon's since 2004. She has coached Pop Warner Cheerleading for 8 years. In 2005 she led the Warren/Swansea Redskins to a National Competition in Disney. Alissa was a former coach to the Mt. Hope High School Hip Hop Dance Team. She can also be found on stage; Alissa has played "Tantomile" in Bristol Theatre Company's production of Cats in the summer of 2006. In 2007, starred in the Bristol Theatre Company's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Most recently, Miss Alissa has starred in an online commercial for Hasbro Toys. She is currently the coach for the Sakonnet Schooners Cheerleading Team.Lisa D'Arcangelo has been dancing with Shannon for 10 years. She has been instructing pre-school ballet, tap, and jazz classes at SSOD since 2006. Lisa is currently a Senior at Rhode Island College. She is majoring in Elementary Education and English with a minor in Psychology. Miss Lisa is currently a teacher at Bright Ideas Pre-School in Middletown, R.I. Kerry Deming has over 26 years of dance experience; trained at Atwood Performing Arts Center and Danceology,as a competitive dancer and teacher. Miss Kerry has been privileged to study with and take class from many renowned teachers and choreographers, including Elaine Colaneri, Dante Sciarra, Tyce Diorio, Marty Kudelka, Wade Robson, and Sue Samuels. She has taken classes at Modern Jazz Dance Center for the Arts and Providence Ballet in RI, Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway and Alvin Ailey in NYC, Harddrive Studios and Spotlight Dance
in Orlando, FL. She has attended many workshops including Tremaine Dance Conventions and Project Motivate/Dancelife Teacher Workshops. Miss Kerry taught preschool gymnastics and was the Competitive Dance Program Director at Aim High Academy in East Greenwich, RI for 3 years. She has been a featured dancer in ‘A Chorus Line’ for Fantasy Works and‘Pippin’ for the East Greenwich Academy Players. While living in Orlando, Miss Kerry was a dancer for Walt Disney World and choreographed for pop girl groups Fuscia and Cassiopeia. Most recently, she was a featured dancer and Dance Captain for the Academy Players ‘The Wedding Singer’. Miss Kerry is very happy to be a part of the SSOD family!
