About Us

Marissa Ruddat is the founder and director of Marissa’s Dance Academy in Salem, Connecticut. Originally from Massachusetts, Marissa began dancing at a young age and trained both competitively and through her high school dance team. Her performance experiences include appearances at Disney World and Disneyland, the Orange Bowl, and on cruise ships across the United States.

Marissa earned her Bachelor’s degree in Dance (and neuroscience) from Dickinson College in 2016, where she served as captain of the modern and jazz dance groups and received choreography awards through the American College Dance Association. She later earned a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy.

In addition to directing the studio, Marissa is a pediatric occupational therapist who specializes in working with birth-to-three and preschool-aged children. Her background in child development influences her teaching approach, emphasizing healthy movement, coordination, confidence, and creativity.

As a resident of Salem, CT, Marissa is passionate about building a strong local community through dance. Through Marissa’s Dance Academy, she is proud to provide high-quality dance classes for children in southeastern Connecticut in a positive and supportive environment where every dancer can grow.

Aura’s passion for dance began at age 8 when she began training with Boston Ballet. She continued to expand her training and experience in the performing arts, attending Alvin Ailey’s summer camp and later joining local hip hop group Golden Kidz Inc. In 2007, Aura was accepted into Boston Arts Academy, where she graduated in 2011 as a dance major while performing with Jo’Me Dance Company, Chance Dance Company, and 4 Star Dance Studio’s Senior and Junior Performing Companies. She went on to earn a degree in Dance and Arts from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2016. As a dancer, teacher, and choreographer, Aura is passionate about helping students embrace who they are while building confidence, self-esteem, and a love of movement. While at UMass Boston, she created S.E.E.D. (Self Empowerment Encountered through Dance), a student-led program using dance to promote physical fitness, confidence, health, and self-expression, which she later brought to the Boston community. After taking time away from teaching to become a mother, Aura is excited to return to the studio and looks forward to growing, learning, and having fun alongside her students.

Cora is a junior at Connecticut College, where she is studying neuroscience. Originally from Rochester, New York, Cora has been dancing for over 10 years and has experience in both competitive and recreational dance. She trained in both the Boston and Rochester areas, gaining experience in a variety of dance settings and styles. Her years as a dancer have given her a strong appreciation for the creativity, confidence, and community that dance can provide. Cora loves helping young dancers build their skills while encouraging them to have fun and express themselves through movement. She is excited to share her love of dance with the students at Marissa’s Dance Academy and looks forward to getting to know her dancers throughout the year.

Harmony is a Norwich, Connecticut native who has been dancing for 16 years and teaching dance for the past four years. She is currently studying Human Services, bringing her passion for working with others into both her education and her work as a dance teacher. Harmony is also a member of a local adult dance company, continuing to train and perform while sharing her love of dance with her students. Throughout her years of dance training and performance, she has developed a strong appreciation for the confidence, creativity, and sense of community that dance can provide. As a teacher, Harmony loves creating a positive and encouraging environment where dancers feel comfortable being themselves while learning and growing. She is passionate about helping students build their skills while also developing confidence and a lifelong love of dance. Harmony is excited to be part of the Marissa’s Dance Academy team and looks forward to sharing her love of movement with her students this season.

Rose is a Lisbon, Connecticut native and a 2017 graduate of Griswold High School. She earned her degree in Early Childhood Education from Three Rivers Community College and has spent the past five years working as a preschool teacher. Rose’s love of dance began at age 11 when she took her very first hip hop class at Miss Jessica’s “Addicted to Dance” in Taftville, Connecticut. What began as a single dance class quickly grew into a passion for dance, cheer, performing, and the creativity that comes with being on stage. After leaving her own time as a performer, Rose found a new way to stay involved in the activities she loved by earning her Connecticut coaching license in 2018 and beginning her coaching career. Her background in early childhood education and years of working with young children have given her a strong understanding of how children learn, grow, and build confidence. Rose is passionate about creating a fun, encouraging environment where children can be creative, feel supported, and develop a lifelong love of movement. She is excited to bring her experience, creativity, and childlike spirit to Marissa’s Dance Academy!

Miss Taren brings a unique background in gymnastics, ballet, circus arts, medicine, and fitness to Marissa’s Dance Academy. Before discovering circus, she was a Level 10 gymnast and trained as a pre-professional ballet dancer. At age 19, she began studying circus arts while attending university, where she studied pre-med and political science with minors in Nanotechnology Studies and Biology. She graduated in 2022 and has continued to pursue her passions for movement, medicine, and fitness. Taren is also a certified personal trainer and continues to work in both the medical and fitness fields while performing and training in circus arts. Her diverse movement background gives her a unique perspective on strength, flexibility, body awareness, and performance. Her favorite style of dance is hip hop, while her favorite circus discipline is contortion. Taren is excited to share her passion for movement with her students and help them discover their own strength, creativity, and confidence through dance.

Miss Lyn has been a dance mom for over 25 years and is truly the ultimate dance mom! Her own love of dance began when she was young, when she took tap classes, and she has continued taking dance lessons as an adult. With decades of experience supporting dancers and families, Lyn brings a unique perspective and a genuine love for creating special experiences for children. Her connection to Marissa’s Dance Academy is especially personal, as she has been cheering on Miss Marissa and supporting her love of dance from the very beginning. Behind the scenes, Miss Lyn works in the studio office, helping keep things running smoothly and supporting our dancers and families in all the little ways that make a big difference. Her specialty is making magical moments and adding that extra sparkle to everything she does. Whether she is helping in the office, working behind the scenes, or cheering from the sidelines, Miss Lyn is always ready to make a moment a little more special. We are so lucky to have her bringing her creativity, warmth, and “dance mom” magic to Marissa’s Dance Academy!