Our Team

Chris DiBenedetto, Voice and Piano Instructor
Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in Education from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and is a music teacher in the Revere Public Schools. He is well versed in Musical Theatre, Jazz, and Western Classical. When not teaching, Chris is music directing or performing in shows such as Seussical Jr. (The Academy of the Company Theater), Into the Woods, Little Shop of Horrors, The Wizard of Oz, The Music Man, Footloose, and Willy Wonka (Randolph Theater Company), Spamalot (HCMT), and most recently Young Frankenstein (HCMT). Currently, Chris is studying to earn his Masters Degree in Music Education from Boston University. 

As an educator, Chris believes in a solid foundation in music theory and technique fundamentals that allow for creative expression in lessons and performance.

Colleen S. McDonough, Voice Instructor

Colleen is a graduate of Bridgewater State University with a Bachelors of Arts in Vocal Performance and Music Education.

As an instructor, Colleen specializes in musical theatre and classical styles, focusing on relaxed and healthy singing. Her students have been accepted to a variety of prestigious musical theatre, music and summer intensive programs including Emerson College, Boston Conservatory, Syracuse University, Marymount Manhattan College, Fordham University, and Penn State. 

As a vocalist, Colleen has performed across New England and New York. Highlights include Spamalot (Lady of the Lake), Hairspray (Tracy Turnblad), 25th…Spelling Bee (Olive Ostrovsky), Avenue Q (Kate Monster/ Lucy), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), The Music Man (Marian Paroo), and Children of Eden (Yonah). In 2018, Colleen had the privilege of performing under composer and conductor Eric Whitacre at Carnegie Hall. 

When not singing or teaching, Colleen enjoys spending time at home with her husband Christopher and their orange cat O’Malley, playing the ukulele, and planning trips to Disney!

Tanisha Arthur, Dance Instructor

Tanisha’s dance career started when she was three years old, training in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, and acrobatics. She competed at her studio for over ten years where she won several special awards and titles with her dance team. When Tanisha reached middle school, she became a dance teacher apprentice and continued this throughout high school. Tanisha then found her love for children and teaching dance and furthered her dance education at Dean College, majoring in Dance. During her time at Dean, Tanisha was professionally trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and modern. She performed in several student and teacher choreographed shows as well as choreographing her own group pieces and solos. Tanisha began her dance career while attending Dean, teaching jazz, tap, hip hop, and lyrical.

In addition, to dance, Tanisha is a licensed Zumba instructor, teaching dance fitness classes throughout the Boston area. She is also enrolled at Bay State College, working towards becoming a licensed physical therapy assistant.

Tanisha is ecstatic to bring her love and knowledge of dance to Boss Academy. She strives to bring the best dancer out of every student and is thrilled to help educate dancers to be the best they can be!

Olivia Leonard, Dance Instructor
Olivia is a proud alumnus of Boss Academy; she has been with the studio since it’s opening in 2002. During her time as a student, Olivia tried everything Boss has to offer from classic ballet classes to private vocal training. She was apart of Boss’s first competition team and, throughout her years at the studio, went on to win regional titles in both her solos as well as group pieces. She has taken the many skills learned from Boss Academy and applied them to auditions outside the studio, her most recent being for an entertainment position at Walt Disney World.

Olivia is a recent graduate of Bridgewater State University where she studied English Communications with a minor in Education. A former Disney employee, Olivia hopes to return to the company before pursuing a career as a secondary education teacher.

Olivia is thrilled to be back at the studio sharing the many skills instilled into her as a Boss Academy student with the next generation.

Victoria Schneider, Dance Instructor

Victoria is an alumni of Boss Academy where she has studied ballet, jazz, pointe, tumbling, tap, hip hop, contemporary, technique, and lyrical for 13 years and competed on dance team for 10. Victoria started with Boss Academy at the age of 4 and has grown up with the studio when it first opened in 2002. She is very happy to call Boss her second home. 

Victoria graduated Bridgewater State University in December 2018 where she majored in Biology with a minor in Biochemistry within three and a half years. She is planning to go back to school to become a Physician Assitant in the near future. As of now, she works at South Shore Hospital as a LNA. She continues to take classes in Boston to continue her dance education.

Victoria is always excited to share her love for dance with all the younger students and cannot wait to see them grow and mature as their dance skills progress.

Emily Sulock, Dance Instructor

Miss Emily has been teaching varies styles and ages at Boss Academy since 2013. She has choreographed a handful of solos, duets, group dances, and musical theater numbers. Her choreography has received special awards for her innovativeness and use of props. Emily is passionate about dance and enjoys sharing her love for the performing arts with her students. Her classroom is focused on technique, strengthening and conditioning, and improvisation. Emily loves to encourage her students to keep pushing themselves in order to be better and stronger dancers. She works hard to create a positive classroom so dancers feel safe to express themselves and find their own voice as performers and choreographers. 

Emily began her dance training at Nancy Mulford Dance Studio and Donna Tambussi Studio of Dance in New Jersey. She grew up performing in competitions and conventions in the Philadelphia and New York City area. She had the opportunity to perform on Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, and Walt Disney World as well as during half time at Madision Square Garden, opening basketball games for the 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center, and Disney’s ending production during ABC’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. 

A graduate of Salve Regina University, Emily received a B.A. in English Communications with a double minor in dance and theater. During her four years at Salve she performed with Extensions Dance Company and choreographed pieces for her junior and senior year. During that time her pieces were invited to perform during the American College Dance Festival informal shows. While with Extensions she had the opportunity to work with several renowned choreographers such as Jodi Leigh Allen, Joe Celej, Ali Kenner-Brodsky, Eva Marie Pacheco, and Melissa Gendreau. In 2012 Emily was the recipient of the Salve Regina Dance Award for her dedication to the dance department.

After graduation Emily pursued her dance career in Boston and Providence. She was granted the opportunity to dance with Urbanity Dance Company, Luminarium Dance Company, Embrace Dance Company, and Ali Kenner Brodsky & Co. During this time Emily performed at BCDF (Boston Contemporary Dance Festival) and UMass Amherst opening for Time Lapse Dance Company.

Emily is a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant. With her rehab background, Emily is passionate about educating her dancers on strength and conditioning and use of proper technique in order to avoid injuries.

Brianne Taber, Acting Instructor

Brianne has been training with Boss Academy in dance, acting, and voice since she was 7 years old. She was also a competitor on Boss Academy's dance competition team where she also competed as a soloist. Brianne has won numerous awards such as Miss Star Power and scored numerous highest scoring titles. She has been teaching dance and acting at Boss Academy since 2014.

Brianne has taken her training and done many shows outside of Boss Academy. Her favorite roles include Lucinda in Into the Woods, and Virtue in Anything Goes. Other shows Brianne has performed in are Annie, Hairspray, Spamalot, Sleeping Beauty, Jesus Christ Superstar, Fiddler on the Roof, and the Nutcracker. 

Brianne loves the opportunity to keep Boss Academy close to her, and work with such wonderful and talented students alongside KathyJo, and other Boss Academy Staff. She enjoys watching each students progression, watching them flourish, and accomplish any goals they may have. 

Kayla Crawford, Tumbling Instructor
Kayla’s tumbling career began at age three. As the daughter of a gymnastics instructor, she perfected her craft at home and in the gym.  She competed for her town and high school cheerleading team, winning multiple state and national championships while leading the team as a captain her senior year.  Kayla was recruited to Quinnipiac University’s Division I Acrobatics & Tumbling team where she was named an NCATA All-American in 2014 and went on to be a captain her senior year.  

Kayla has been a tumbling and gymnastics instructor since 2010.  She really enjoys sharing her passion for tumbling with her students all while helping them build confidence in themselves to carry out in their everyday lives and into their future.

Felicia Rembert, Dance Instructor
Felicia grew up as a competitive dancer for over two decades and has trained at studios including Broadway Dance Center, STEPS on Broadway, Alvin Ailey, and her local NJ studio. Felicia was a member of the nationally ranked Rutgers University dance team. She has modeled for Dance Spirit magazine, Bodywrappers, and the Dance Teacher Summit fashion show. She appeared on TV shows including The Apprentice, The Rachel Ray Show, Aeropostale commercial, American Gladiator, and many nationally televised news specials.

In 2008, Felicia appeared on MTV’s Season 2 of America’s Best Dance Crew. Following that, she became a member of the NJ Ironmen and New Jersey Devil Dance Team and was part of the New Jersey Devils Dancers for six years. In 2013, Felicia appeared in the Kelly Clarkson, “Stronger” music video. She also has worked closely with many choreographers such as Mia Michaels, Mandy Moore, Shelia Barker, Talia Favia, Sonya Tayeh, and Tabitha & Napoleon. Felicia can also be found backstage or judging for well-known competitions and teaching at dance studios around the country.

Stephanie Wnek, Dance Instructor

Stephanie trained under some of the country's top instructors as a member of the national award winning Jill Justin Dance Alliance Hip Hop Company. Stephanie choreographed and starred in several music videos by up and coming artists. Her choreography has won many high score awards at regional and national competitions; as well as Choreography and Entertainment Awards. On top of being an enthusiastic teacher, she enjoys judging around her home state of New Jersey. She has recently started traveling nationwide to share her award winning choreography and passion for this art at dance studios and conventions.