INSTRUCTORS

 

 

Owner/

Artistic Director

Claude Michelle is a dancer, choreographer, director and an overall visionary. She has been the Artistic Director of Heavenly Praises Dance which is now Valiant Arts Company for 15 years and longs for more. Claude Michelle holds a Bachelor’s degree in Dance and Psychology from Rhode Island College, and a Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Dance Movement Therapy from Lesley University. Currently, she is a Therapist in Providence, RI working with the adolescent population. She focuses on providing an intermodal and creative process to therapy to reconstruct the idea that healing isn’t a uniformed process. She is the owner and Artistic Director of Valiant Arts located in Pawtucket, RI where she highlights healing, holistic process, and cultural awareness through movement. Her passion for arts and movement comes from a rigorous life full of experiences, struggles, relationships, release and so much more. Her motto: “Move to heal, Create to transform.

Claude Michelle Oliveira, MA, LMHC, R-DMT

Lyrical, Acro, MINI & Petite TUMBLING

Romie works as a Behavior Specialists at Achievement First Iluminar Elementary and is pursuing her Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis at Ball State University. Beyond her academic pursuits, Romie’s dance journey began at the tender age of 2 and has years of experience in gymnastics. As a versatile instructor, Romie shares her expertise in various dance styles, including Jazz, Lyrical, and Acro/Tumbling. Joining Heavenly Praises, Romie found not just dance but also a second family. The dance floor has been her canvas for self-expression, her sanctuary for growth, and the source of everlasting friendships. 

Romie Bois

Hip Hop

Nia DaCruz, a Rhode Island native, discovered her passion for dance in Harlem, NY, participating in various programs. As the Dance Team captain at Tolman High School for three years, she graduated with a love for inspiring others to see dance as a liberating escape from life's challenges. For Nia, dancing has evolved into her preferred form of self-expression and letting go.

Nia DaCruz

PETITE LYRICAL & JAZZ

Jacqueline Needle started dancing at the age of 3. She trained with the Baltimore Ballet and YPI Dance Studio in Maryland until the age of 15. She went to Hereford High School in Maryland where she was a member of the Hereford Dance Team as a performer and choreographer. During high school she was the president of the Best Buddies Club, an organization that pairs able-bodied students with intellectually and physically disabled students in an effort to end social isolation. She hosted the first Maryland Best Buddies talent show and choreographed a football half-time routine for the Best Buddies to perform. In 2017, she became a competition dancer for Maryland Arts eXplosion where she competed from 2017-2020 in Jazz, Lyrical, Acro, and HipHop. She grew up taking Jazz, Lyrical, Acro, HipHop, Modern, Ballet, and Breakin’ at The Young People’s Summer Stock Performing Arts camp. She eventually gave back as a ballet, hip-hop, lyrical, and jazz teacher in the program. As a national level equestrian, Jacqueline spent her free time volunteering at the Retreat at Beckleysville, a therapeutic horseback riding center, as a riding instructor.  She earned her bachelor’s degree in health promotions and psychology at the University of Lynchburg. While at Lynchburg she was a starter on the NCAA Equestrian team where she earned 3 national championships and was inducted to the Lynchburg Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023. She danced for the University Dance Works Company and led the company as dance captain her senior year. As a member of Alpha Chi Omega, she served as social chair, risk management, and vice-president. She graduated from the University of Lynchburg Suma Cum Laude in 2024. She moved to Providence, RI this summer to pursue her Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree at Johnson and Wales University. Dance, horseback riding, and helping those with special needs are still her passions! She is known and appreciated for bringing the party to any situation!

Jacqueline Needle

APPRENTICE, LEVEL 1 & 2 Ballet

Shannon Norquist loves to move. Dance has a hold of her heart and won’t seem to let go. It started at the Danzante Community Arts Center in Harrisburg, PA when she asked, “How can I become a dance teacher?” Since then she has performed with the Nee Danse Company in Harrisburg, taught students in afterschool programs, libraries and wherever else anyone will let her share her love of dance. Upon moving to Rhode Island she performed with Fusionworks Dance Company and has choreographed and taught as part of their educational outreach. More recently she has taught at AS220 and participated in performances through Dance Works in Progress, the Frasier Fest, National Water Dance with Metamorphosis and the Valiant Arts Dance Collective. During the day, Shannon is an advisor to high school students at The Met High School in Providence.

Shannon Norquist

CONTEMPORARY & JAZZ

Carlie Silva has been dancing since she was 3 years old and has been teaching and choreographing for over 10 years. She has been trained in pre-professional and collegiate settings by Elizabeth Parkinson, Katherine Wildberger, Mary Ann Lamb, Steve Rooks, and Rebecca Darling. Carlie is also a registered dance/movement therapist and infuses her teaching style with a healing, self-expressive and exploratory approach. Carlie has a BA in Cultural Anthropology from Vassar College and an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lesley University. She is so excited to be back teaching jazz and contemporary at VA! 

Carlie Silva

CULTURAL/AFRO FUSION
Dina Elias holds bachelor's degree in Cell and Molecular Biology, and is currently pursuing a master's in Medical Science at the University of Philadelphia. Beyond academics, her passion lies in dance, a journey that began at the age of 10 with Heavenly Praises. In high school, she established her own dance team, served as the choreographer for Classical's cheerleading squad, and assumed the role of President and choreographer for a dance organization in college. Through dance, Dina not only forged enduring friendships but also found a path to be her most authentic self.
DINA ELIAS