The Darien School of Dance was founded in 2010 at the YWCA Darien/Norwalk by Brigita Fulton. Mrs. Fulton believes that the beauty, athleticism and joy of classical ballet can be enjoyed by all ages. Starting dance at an early age develops physical, mental and emotional skills while encouraging a life long love of dance and learning.
Small classes are offered in a nurturing environment with individualized attention from experienced teachers. Dancers also have the opportunity to develop a respectful camaraderie with fellow students. Weekly lesson plans are prepared and monthly goals are established so that dancers are maximizing their time in class with learning an age appropriate dance curriculum in a fun non competitive atmosphere.
Brigita Fulton
Director
Brigita Veisbergs Fulton, Director, received her early dance training at the Boston Ballet School and was awarded a full scholarship at Steps in New York City. She has danced professionally in ballet, jazz and modern companies throughout the U.S. and abroad and has over 30 years of teaching experience. Mrs. Fulton is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT ® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through level 3. Mrs. Fulton is also a Master Teacher of Leap ‘N Learn, the premier dance curriculum for early childhood dance education.
Meet Our Staff
Missy Almy
Missy Almy has a BS in Early Childhood Education and a MA in Elementary Education.
Having taught Kindergarten and First grade for 12 years, Mrs. Almy is also an experienced teacher of tap, jazz, pre-ballet and ballet.
Kassie Darling
Kassie Darling has a B.S. from Michigan Stat Save e University & an MBA from Fairfield University.
Kassie began dancing at 3 and competing in national dance competitions by 12. Having competed Jazz at the NDA championship at a collegiate level, she is also trained in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary and hip-hop.
Chase Maxwell
Since Chase Maxwell was born in Los Angeles he has graced stages all over the world; assisting Baayork Lee, Danny Pelzig, Debbie Allen, and many others. He simultaneously graduated, received his BFA from Boston Conservatory and moved to New York in 2016 to perform with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. This then led to him dancing for Jennifer Hudson, J Balvin, Tyler Perry and making his broadway debut in Wicked. He has taught masterclasses around the world and is excited to share his knowledge this fall season.
Rita Martinez Corridon
Becca Moore Winter
Rita Martinez Corridon grew up in Miami, FL., where she studied ballet, flamenco, modern and jazz at Ballet Concerto School with teachers from the National Ballet of Cuba. She attended New World School of the Arts High School. As a student she attended summer workshops at The School of American Ballet, The Joffrey San Antonio Workshops as well as The Joffrey Ballet Summer Intensives.
At 17, she was a junior semi-finalist at The Jackson International Ballet Competition, and that summer she was invited to join the Joffrey II dancers. She joined the main company the following year, and danced there for 7 years, where she performed many leading roles including Clara in The Nutcracker, Frivolity in Leonid Massine’s Les Presages, Blue girl in Frederick Ashton’s Les Patineurs as well as many Gerald Arpino ballets. She did extensive touring with them, performing around the world with Billboards, a full length evening ballet to music by Prince.
Upon leaving the professional ballet life, she focused on raising her 4 kids, earning personal training certifications through the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), as well as courses on Nutrition at NYU.
She taught the New York City Ballet Workout in NYC.
While living in London for 2 years she worked as a private personal trainer and at a private gym, and while living in Paris for 3 years, was a teacher at the Academie Americaine de Danse de Paris, and taught creative movement classes in the children’s program at The International school in Paris.
Becca Moore Winter is an accomplished professional dancer, choreographer, and director who has toured all over Europe, Dubai, and the United States working with modern dance company, Pilobolus, and shadow dance troupe Catapult, performing on America’s Got Talent in the final rounds at Radio City Music Hall.
Holding a Masters of Fine Arts in Dance from Sarah Lawrence College, Becca has an extensive knowledge of dance technique, anatomy, history, stage direction, and program development. She has presented choreography and produced shows throughout NYC and CT, including the New Haven Arts and Ideas Festival, CoolNY Festival, DUMBO Dance Festival, and the White Silo Winery.
Teaching affiliations include the Pilobolus Institute and Sarah Lawrence College.
Becca created an original shadow dance show for families entitled ‘Woof Woof the Shadow Pup,’ which currently performs throughout the region.
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Darien School of Dance