THE MEMBERS

Dancer

Amy Maria Burns graduated magna cum laude from Adelphi University with a BFA in dance. She had the honor of working and studying with Robert Christopher, Carmen de Lavallade, Gail Gilbert, Edisa Weeks and Rebecca Wright. Ms. Burns has danced in works by Robert Battle, Maria Bauman, Laura Bennett, Colin Connor, Danny Grossman, Deb Meunier, David Parsons, Pascal Rioult and Anna Sokolow. Amy currently dances with American Dance Legacy Initiative’s repertory company, Dancing Legacy, Denizen Arts, Balliamo Dance Company and as a guest with Bill Evans Dance Company. She performed with Fusionworks Dance Company for 15 years. She is also a former member of Sokolow Now, dedicated to performing the works and preserving the legacy of choreographer Anna Sokolow. In addition, she has performed with Danza Organica. She currently teaches dance at Brookline High School and has been on faculty at Brown University, Dean College, Dancing Arts Center and Express Dance. She is a Balanced Body certified Pilates instructor. When not dancing she spends most of her time with her three greatest accomplishments who go by the names Anthony, Eliana, and Marcus.

Dancer

Donna Martini-Proulx graduated from Connecticut College with a degree in Dance Studies/Science. She joined Groundwerx Dance Theatre in 1989 and performed with them through 1993. After taking a hiatus from dance for 26 years to focus on her family, Donna was inspired to return to dance to share one of her first loves with her grown children. She is very grateful to Annamaura and Nancy for this opportunity to dance with the Balliamo Dance Collective. Currently she is a Family Liaison for the West Warwick School Department and Assistant Children's Teaching Leader for Bible Study Fellowship. She would like to thank her husband of 29 years, Larry and her family at Mind & Body Studios for their encouragement and support. And above all, God for the beautiful life He has given her.

Dancer

Hannah Petrarca graduated in May 2017 from RIC summa cum laude as a double major in Art History and Dance Performance. At RIC, Hannah had the opportunity to work with many different choreographers including Tommy Neblett, Angelica Vessella, Jessica Pearson, Bill Evans, and Marta Renzi. Soon after leaving RIC, Hannah joined Fusionworks Dance Company for their 30th season which allowed her to learn and perform works by artistic director Deb Meunier as well as choreographers Martha Armstrong Gray and Aaron McGloin. From there, Hannah had the pleasure of meeting Anna Maura Silverblatt and has been thrilled to perform as a part of Balliamo Dance Collective in a variety of movement creations. Hannah also continues to explore her own choreographic creativity throughout the Providence area.  When Hannah is not dancing, she enjoys her day job inspiring visitors at Roger Williams Park Zoo!

Choreographer and Dancer

Nancy Reed graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. While there, she danced with the Second Avenue Dance Company, performing in an original piece by Milton Meyers and in Paul Taylor's Esplanade. After NYU Nancy moved to New Orleans where she danced with the New Orleans Modern Dance Company and with Rapides InterArts Group. Nancy has danced with Annamaura Silverblatt since 2015, including performing Annamaura's piece Metamorphosis in the Northeast Choreographers Festival in Providence, RI. Nancy is thrilled to be a founding member of Balliamo. When not dancing, Nancy is a school-based Occupational Therapist and a group exercise instructor. She is also a proud Mom of Sam and Max and a grateful daughter of Sandra and Barrie.

Choreographer and Dancer

Stephen Urspring (MFA) is an Assistant Professor of Dance Studies at Dean College where he directs the dance scholarship initiative and honors dance curriculum. He is the Operations Director at the American Dance Legacy Initiative (ADLI) and sits on the Board of Directors of Green Street Studios in Cambridge, MA. Mr Urspring hold an MFA in dance from Smith College and a BA in Economics and Italian Studies from Brown University. His choreographic work has been presented globally, most notably by the Bates Dance Festival, Triskelion Arts, the Massachusetts Dance Festival, Green Space, the Boston Center for the Arts and with the Boston Touring Group in London UK. He is thrilled to have reconnected with Annamaura Silverblatt, with who he studied choreography and composition at Brown University.

Dancer

Caroline Zanni, from Johnston, Rhode Island, graduated from Rhode Island College with a BA in Dance Performance and a BS in Community Health and Wellness concentrating in Wellness and Movement Studies. During her time at RIC, Caroline had the pleasure of studying with Eva Marie Pacheco, Jessica Pearson, Angelica Vessella, and William Wilson. Upon graduation, Caroline has performed with choreographer Tony Guglietti, Prometheus Dance, Providence Ballet Theatre, and The Boston She Party Productions. Caroline is thrilled to now be performing with Balliamo Dance Collective!