Alissa Bachand grew up dancing competitively in the Southern Tier area, training in all disciplines of dance. She is a graduate of 黑料网 where she received a B.S. in Biochemistry with a minor in Dance. In her time at Geneseo Alissa was the recipient of the Nona Schurman Scholarship for Excellence in Dance Composition, the Sue Ann Kreutter Dance Award and received a variety of undergraduate research grants for dance performance. She eventually went on to produce, choreograph, stage, and perform a senior thesis in dance.
Alissa attended the American Dance Festival in Durham, NC on scholarship and while there studied with Douglas Nielson, Jeffrey Bullock, Lisa Race, David Dorfman, and 鈥淏opi鈥 Patterson with whom she performed repertory from Mark Morris鈥 鈥淭he Hard Nut鈥, She was also selected to work with Twyla Tharp.
Alissa鈥檚 professional and performing career started as a company member, and eventual soloist, for Shelter Repertory Dance Theater (MN). She was a company member with Ko-Motion Movement Theater (NY) and was a Co-Captain/ Choreographer for a Professional Lacrosse League Dance Team. Throughout her performing career she worked as an artist in residence at a variety of Midwest colleges and universities. Alissa became an Arts in Education Ambassador with Ko-Motion Movement Theater. She performed and worked collaboratively with school age children throughout the Hudson Valley.
Currently Alissa is in her 16th year as the owner and studio director of The Movement Box Dance Studio located in Syracuse NY. Her dancers have gone on to excel in collegiate dance programs and work professionally. Additionally, Alissa is an experienced Master Teacher and Adjudicator for a variety of dance competitions and conventions. She works for Empire Dance Challenge, Impact Dance Adjudicators, All Out Dance Competition, and Groove National Dance Competition (One Beat Brands). She spends her spring season adjudicating over 4000 routines across the United States.
Alissa鈥檚 approach to teaching is one of discipline, history, body awareness, and proper technique. She incorporates dance fundamentals with kinesthetic sense, and combines her science background with dance technique, to teach body placement, alignment, and injury prevention. She believes strongly in a well-rounded and highly versatile dance education with emphasis on all genres of dance styles, and techniques. Most of all she tries to inspire through passionate teaching, dynamic energy, and pushing students to aim for their highest potential, while embracing all that dance has to offer!
When Alissa is not in the studio she is hiking mountains, catching summer music concerts, or working on her health and fitness coaching!
