Alicia’s Dance Studio has been a staple in dance education in the Rehoboth community since 1994 

Alicia Ecklund is the artistic director and is celebrating 20 years as a dance educator and studio owner. She has known that she wanted to open her own school since she started dancing at the age of eight. 

As a child, she has studied with numerous studios in the area to receive a diverse knowledge of dance.

Majoring in dance at Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts, she performed in numerous shows while attending Dean. Graduating with high honors, she received her degree in dance in 1994 and opened her school the same year. She frequently takes classes at professional teacher workshops to learn the latest choreography that she can bring back to her students to keep them motivated and challenged.

Her students can be seen performing in parades, at malls and other performances including the studio’s annual recital.

Alicia has choreographed entire musicals for the cast of The Music Man, Camelot, and Fiddler on the Roof.

She has donated her time teaching after school programs at local schools as well as inviting girls scout troops into her studio to earn their fitness badges.  In the past she has taught dance at Twin Oaks Farm Learning Center inspiring boys and girls alike.

When she is not teaching, Alicia is a big sister for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ocean State.  She has been a mentor for 2 years and has found the experience to be fun as well as rewarding.

Amy Kiley has had a love for the theatre and dance ever since she can remember. She started dancing at the early age of three. Her training began with Theresa Laundry and Donna Carter. Throughout her middle school and high school years she mainly focused on the art of clogging. She was a member of Hickory Flat Express clogging team and traveled to various states to compete and share her love for the dance and culture with other people. She is one of few clogging teachers in New England.

She was also a team member and captain in her high school cheerleading squad and later coached and assisted various squads . Throughout her adult years she has been featured in commercials, movies and print work. Throughout the last 12 years she has trained with various master teachers from all over the country. She has been teaching and sharing her joy for the arts and music with children for the past 11 years. She believes it's impossible to tap and be sad so dance will always be a part of her life.

Lauren Noons was a student at Alicia’s Dance Studio for 13 years before coming onboard as a teacher in September of 2011.  Over the years, she has studied ballet, lyrical, pointe, hip hop, and tap.  She has been lucky enough to further her dance education by attending workshops and classes throughout Southern New England.  Lauren loves working with children that share the same passion as she does…DANCE!  She is currently a student at Rhode Island College and is working on her Bachelor’s degree in Business Management.  Her greatest joy as a teacher is watching the progress her student’s make throughout the year, and watching all of their hard work pay off when they perform on stage.

April MacDonald attended Alicia’s Dance Studio for 15 years and has been an assistant teacher/choreographer since 2007. She has studied many styles including ballet, lyrical, tap, hip hop, jazz, and pointe and has taken many master classes while attending the East Coast Edge dance convention in Taunton, MA for the past 3 years. She is working towards her Bachelor’s degree at Bridgewater State University and is a part of the University’s dance company. April loves to share her enthusiasm for dance and enjoys helping her students to continue to learn and grow each and every year. 

Beth Cook began her love of dance the first day she was enrolled in class.  She studied with April, May and June Dance School during her early years of dance.  She then went on to dance with Dimensions Center of Dance in North Attleboro.  She competed with the Dimensions competition team for 10 years.  Throughout her career she has studied with various teachers from Dean College, Wheaton College and Cape Cod Conservatory. 

She’s also taken classes with Festival Ballet Providence and the Boston Ballet.  She has a Bachelor’s degree from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.  Although she has studied many different styles of dance, ballet is her first love.  She enjoys working with children and passing on her love of dance.  She believes dance builds a foundation for strength and self esteem.  She gives the children encouragement with a positive attitude.  She is often heard saying “Can’t  is not allowed in this class.”

All of the teachers bring their own individual style and creativity into their classes;
encouragement and patience is a principal they all share.