BEHIND EVERY DANCER WHO BELIEVES IN THEMSELVES IS A
WHO BELIEVED IN THEM FIRST
Owner & Creative Director, Dance Instructor
ASHLEY KOHL
Ashley Kohl started dancing at New England Dance Conservatory at the age of 2. She was in the back line for her first dance on stage, but that didn’t stop her from pushing her way to the front line. She always knew she was meant to pursue performance and inspire others to have a passion for it. She went on to dance at "The Dance Shop", where she studied ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical and acrobatics under the instruction of Joy Barcome and Marianne Bouthilette. She continued dancing in their company, until her Mom, Darlene Sattler, opened Technique Studio of Dance in 1997. She danced competitively for most of her childhood, traveling across New England to compete and perform. Ashley began teaching and choreographing dance when she was 14 years old. She went on to attend Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter High School, where she was a member of Catalyst Dance Company. She traveled to conventions and dance festivals, learned from a variety of dance professionals and studied partnering, ballroom, ballet, jazz, modern and hip hop. She was asked to teach a hip-hop class during her senior year of high school and has also choreographed and performed in numerous musical theater performances. While living in New York City, she studied dance at Broadway Dance Center for 3 years, under various instructors including Chio, Luam, Jamie Jackson and Bev Brown. Ashley worked for The World of Disney Store in New York City where she was a full-time character performer. She was a Master Faculty member at NADAA Dance Conventions in New England. She taught all styles of dance at Technique Studio of Dance for over 10 years and also taught hip-hop to various ages and abilities at Hackworth School of Performing Arts for 3 years. She was certified to teach Zumba Fitness in 2007 and went on to teach for 5 years. Since then, she has continued to dance, grow, learn and choreograph.
Her experience as a co-host and associate producer of WWLP-22News’ NBC weekday morning lifestyle program, “Mass Appeal”, for the past 6 years has allowed her the chance to discover what fuels her soul and what her true purpose is.
Ashley is a western Massachusetts native. She was born and raised in South Hadley, and she is a graduate of the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts High School. Ashley also attended Wagner College studying Arts Administration, and the University of Massachusetts where she majored in Communications.
Her heart, soul and purpose are in being a mom to her 7 year old daughter, Summer and 6 year old son, Brody.
DARLENE SATTLER
Instructor
Ohana School of Performing Arts, formerly known as "Technique Studio of Dance" was founded in 1997 by Darlene Sattler. Along with her daughters Christy and Ashley, Darlene and her staff provided exceptional dance training in a fun, friendly and caring environment with emphasis on proper technique. Sattler has over 45 years of dance training including performing with The Massachusetts Ballet Company, The Springfield Ballet Company, The Frank Hatchett Dancers and the Dance Conservatory of New England.
She started her teaching career 25 years ago with Northeast Dance Academy before opening Technique 19 years ago. She has also taught for David Bovat, Pioneer Valley Performing Arts High School and Holyoke Community College. Her daughters Christy and Ashley have been dancing for the more than 25 years and have trained extensively in New York city and with some of the world's best choreographers. They have both danced professionally including jobs with Disney and have been teaching and choreographing for over 15 years.
DANCE INSTRUCTORS
SARA BUCKHOUT
Sara has been teaching with Technique Studio of Dance since 2009 after obtaining her BA in Dance from Dean College. She went on to obtain her Master's degree in Dance Movement Therapy and Licensed Mental Health Counseling from Lesley University, and currently holds a full time position working with children from the community in need of mental health services.Sara grew up in South Hadley, dancing at local studios in Holyoke and East Longmeadow. Sara attended Dean College to focus on her dance career, honing her technique in ballet, modern, hip hop and jazz. Her professors and choreographers included the likes of Jill SIlverman, Maryanne Kodzis, Nailah Randall-Bellinger, and Kelly Peters. Sara instills her values of teamwork and support, work ethic, compassion, love and fun in her classroom. She is an accomplished dancer, teacher, and choreographer, and has a passion to share her love of dance, music and performance with her students.
HEATHER FAGAN
Heather Fagan began dancing at the age of 2 with Mary Ann’s Studio of Dance in Springfield, MA. There she studied Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Lyrical for 15 years under the instruction of Mary Ann Langone. At age 16 a passion for teaching was born when she was asked to become an assistant instructor for several Jazz and Tap classes of various ages. After graduating from Granby High School, Heather attended Franklin Pierce University in Ridge, NH where she obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Dance. Her professors included Wendy Dwyer, Sally Bomer, and also “Boston Ballet’s” Reagan Messer. During her four years at Franklin Pierce, Heather choreographed and instructed dance at several elementary schools as well as at her college. She also did several performances with the Ravens Thunder Dance Team which she was a part of for 3 years. Her Senior year she co-produced a dance show titled “Creative Fusion” where her choreography of Modern and Lyrical was presented by students. Heather was also awarded The Spring Concert Dance Scholarship her Junior year and went on to graduate with High Honors. Directly out of college Heather began instructing dance in Belchertown, MA at Dance Solutions Studio. For the past 12 years she has choreographed and instructed classes for ages 2 through adult in the styles of Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, Contemporary, and Hip Hop. Most known for her creative dance terms, Heather brings a lot of fun, passion, and energy to her classes and she hopes to keep inspiring others through the art of dance at Ohana.
JENNIFER GILBURG
Biography coming soon.
HALEY WHITEHEAD
Haley Whitehead began taking dance classes at 5 years old at Technique Studio of Dance. Ever since she was young, she has always taken dance seriously and wanted to improve herself. Haley began to branch into every style of dance as she grew older, and was eventually asked to be a class assistant. The kids gave her the nickname of "Miss Sparkles" and it has stuck ever since! This sparked her desire to be around children and spread positivity. In the fall of 2018, Haley was promoted to instructor at Ohana, as well as continuing to assist in other classes!
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Born in Chicopee, Haley graduated Chicopee Comprehensive High School and will attend UMASS-Amherst. She has discovered a passion for helping children learn acceptance and love through dance and most importantly, to spread good vibes only!
KATELYN BAUDIN
Katelyn began dancing at the age of 2 with Unity Dance Spectrum and continued her dance education at Rising Stars School of Dance. There she had studied jazz, tap, ballet, acro and lyrical. She quickly gained her passion for teaching and became a choreographer at the age of 17. Katelyn has taken many master classes at Broadway Dance Center and at Jacob's Pillow. Her favorite master class was with Frank Hatchett. She has also attended many NADAA conventions. When Katelyn isn't at the studio you can find her volunteering at Barry Elementry School as the dance choreographer for their school plays, where she's been apart of the theater program in Chicopee for over 10 years. Katelyn also works full time as a surgical technologist in the operating room at Holyoke Medical Center. Katelyn is very eager to meet all her new students that will soon become family to her. "Teaching dance isn't about teaching the steps to the dance, but rather teaching them the steps to life!"
CAROLYN MCBRIDE
Carolyn McBride began her dance career at the young age of three where she received her early training at her mother's studio studying every aspect of dance. She found a true passion for choreography and began teaching at just 16 years old where her energetic and creative style was a motivating force for all of her students. Carolyn has had the opportunity to take from well known dancers/choreographers in Boston and New York City including Steven Boyd, Debbie Dee, and Robbie Mackey. She continued her dance training at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst where she focused primarily on jazz and tap instruction. Carolyn was the Co-Director of Dance Workshop for 25 years where she taught a variety of dance styles including jazz, tap, lyrical, musical theater and creative movement. She has choreographer routines for the competition team at Dance Workshop Inc. as well as for community events and Disney performances. In addition to dancing, Carolyn is a school psychologist where she has found creative ways to incorporate movement and the arts in her work within the school setting, providing another venue for students to express themselves.
CLASS ASSISTANTS
OFFICE / OPERATIONS STAFF
LAURA BOURQUE
Coming Soon!
DANIELLE BARONE
Danielle Barone grew up dancing at the Dance Concepts studio in Braintree, MA where she assisted in many classes and was on the competitive Dance Crew there. Danielle currently works in Residential Life at UMass Amherst and is a proud mama of 3 kids; all Ohana dancers in some form or fashion. She loves seeing all of your smiling faces as you come in to the studio and cheering on your kiddos loudly during performances!
