Professionally trained RAD qualified dance tutors.

Faculty Biographies

Experienced and professionally trained

GEMMA WILLIAMSDIRECTOR

Gemma’s dance teaching career spans 30 years and involves teaching in the UK, Italy, Norway, Canada and the USA. She has taught ballet at professional schools such as The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and Laine Theatre Arts, Epsom UK, Boston Conservatory at Berklee (USA) and since 2016 has been the Director of Metrowest Dance Academy.

She is an examiner and tutor for The Royal Academy of Dance traveling extensively in these roles. Since 2012 she has tutored various modules of the Royal Academy of Dance CBTS and also delivers CPD courses from Pre-Primary to Advanced 2.

She was instrumental in implementing the RAD Access Route at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Since 2019 the course has produced registered RAD teachers who are now teaching and performing across the USA and Europe. The Access Route offered by the RAD in collaboration with Boston Conservatory at Berklee is the only college program in the USA where dance students can achieve RAD registered teaching status alongside their degree in dance.

Since opening Metrowest Dance Academy in 2016 Williams has been focused on providing a professional and highly informed level of dance training for all students. She works with the faculty to ensure cohesive teaching strategies and learning outcomes are met across every class. The team collaboratively stage full length productions and provide students with the opportunity to take RAD ballet exams annually. Williams is incredibly proud of the atmosphere, environment and standard of performance achieved at the school.

Gemma's Qualifications

BA Hons in Classical Ballet Teaching

Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Dance (LRAD)

Advanced Executant Examination (ARAD)

Associate Teacher of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (AISTD)

SÉARLAIT CARRBFA Boston Conservatory at Berklee, RAD RTS

BIO

Séarlait graduated from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee magna cum laude in 2019 with a BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance and Royal Academy of Dance RTS.

Séarlait began her training at the age of 3 in Indiana. Continuing on to Boston Conservatory to complete her BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance, Séarlait was fortunate to work with choreographers such as Sydney Skybetter, Stephanie Martinez, Uri Sands, Roderick George, the Urban Bush Women, Zoe Scofield, and Taylor Rodman.

Séarlait supplemented her dance training at Joffrey Ballet School in 2012, the Ailey School Professional Division in 2013 and 2014, NW Dance Project 2017, SpringBoardX 2017, and Buglisi Dance Theatre 2019. Her love of acting led her to a physical theater group called SynTheater under Simona Minns in their 2016-2017 season.

She is currently teaching at Metrowest Dance Academy and Boston Ballet School through their Education and Community Initiatives program. Most recently Metrowest Dance Academy sponsored Séarlait’s training to be a certified Progressing Ballet Technique instructor.

SONIA CABLE

BIO

Sonia trained at Metrowest Dance Academy through Advanced 2 Ballet, gaining distinction and participating in the RAD international Genée (Fonteyn) Competition in Toronto. While dancing at MDA, Sonia performed in many productions including Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Snow White, and the Wizard of Oz. After continuing her professional dance training at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Sonia is now completing her undergraduate degree at Framingham State University. Sonia continues to deliver MDA’s outreach program at Metrowest YMCA and is also a member of the office staff. This year Sonia will teach jazz to Grade 4/5 and Advanced levels. She will also be substituting across all levels of ballet and act as rehearsal coach for the upcoming Nutcracker.

NIA LESSARD

BIO

Nia Lessard is from Framingham, MA, and continues to live locally while dancing professionally in Rhode Island. She began her classical ballet training at age 4 at Boston Ballet School, continued her training at Northeast School of Ballet, and later with dancers Carlos Molina and Erica Cornejo. She graduated from Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Professional Division Program in 2022, and joined the Grand Rapids Ballet as an Apprentice.In 2023 she returned home to Framingham to join BalletRI as a Junior Apprentice, where she currently dances.

Outside of classical ballet, Nia has spent her summers attending contemporary dance programs to expand her movement knowledge and has recently dabbled in ballroom dancing.

TANIA PRADOBFA in Ballet and Contemporary Dance, RAD RTS

BIO

Tania Prado is originally from Cuernavaca, Mexico. She graduated from Universidad de las América Puebla (México) in 2003 with a B.F.A. in Ballet and Contemporary Dance, where she trained in the Cuban style. In addition, in 2014 she earned her teaching certificate (RTS) from the Royal Academy of Dance.

She studied the RAD method under the guidance of Mrs. Ivonne Robles-Gil and danced with the Antoinette company in Puebla, México.

In 2010, she moved to El Salvador where she was invited to work with the Compañía Ballet de El Salvador, Vivra Studio and Ballet Academy Alicia de Rusconi as a character dancer, dance teacher and choreographer. Additionally, she worked as a consultant for El Salvador’s Secretary of Education, crafting the first ever curriculum for a B.F.A. in dance and a curriculum for high school specialization in dance.

In 2020 she gained the Progressing Ballet technique certification.

On 2019 she moved to the U.S. and now she begins this new journey with the MDA family, where she wants to share her love and passion about RAD ballet technique.

KRISTIN TIMSBFA California Institute of the Arts

BIO

Kristin Tims began her dance journey in Burlington, MA, at Suzanne’s Dance Connection. She holds a BFA in dance and has studied at the California Institute of the Arts, Boston Conservatory, and Zurich University of the Arts. From 2017 to 2023, Kristin managed a mobile dance company and studio in Los Angeles, serving over 450 students across 12+ locations.

Kristin currently performs with BoSoma Dance Company and teaches Hip Hop at MIT. Outside of dance, Kristin works full-time in the Mathematics department at MIT, supporting 12 faculty members.

JOSEPH TOLSON

BIO

Joseph Tolson is a Boston-based Hip Hop performer and educator. His passion for dance began in his living room, imitating the moves of Michael Jackson and Usher. This love for dance has since taken him to the “Olympics of Hip Hop”, competing with HJC and Phunk Phenomenon.

Joseph currently serves as the assistant coach of the award-winning Framingham High School Dance Team and is a member of the Boston-based dance crew, HJC.

CEIT ZWEILBA in History, MA in Theater Education

BIO

Ceit Zweil is a professional performer and arts educator. Having trained in the RAD tradition as a young dancer, she now specializes in dance and choreography for young theatre performers. She has had the pleasure of teaching for some amazing arts education programs, including The Young Company at Greater Boston Stage. As a performer, she has appeared onstage with The Huntington, New Repertory, Lyric Stage Company, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, New England Light Opera, Wheelock Family Theatre and Greater Boston Stage Company. Her career as a multimedia producer and project manager in educational media includes many flagship properties for PBS Kids. She holds a BA in History (Smith College) and an MA in Theatre Education (Emerson College).