Meet Our Teachers
Melanie Pagurko
Melanie Lecher Pagurko, DanceMaineia's founder, has been teaching dance in Midcoast Maine for 42 years. She received her early training at the Casco Bay Movers Dance Studio and the Portland School of Ballet. Her traveling dance training includes a trip to Natal, Brazil, a stint of training and teaching at the Phoenix School of Ballet, and a venture to Chicago, Illinois, where she danced at the Lou Conte Studio. Melanie also took classes with many master teachers at the Bates Dance Festival. She continues to train with various teachers at the Casco Bay Movers studio and an occasional class at Steps on Broadway in New York City.
Melanie's passion is teaching dance to students of all ages and abilities. Her desire is to see students at all levels experience the joy of movement in a positive, fun setting.
Photo by Midcoast Photo
Zaniah Puchalski
Zaniah started dancing at age 3 and continued through high school, growing into the dancer she is today with Dancemaineiea. After a year without dancing during her first year of college, she rediscovered her passion and need for dance in her life. She danced with Adagio dance company at Brandeis University for 2 and a half years, learning and choreographing dances to perform in the biannual showcases. Her favorite dance styles are contemporary and ballet, but she has also been trained in hip hop and jazz. Now back in Maine she is thrilled to share her love of movement and music with the next generation of DanceMaineiea dancers.
Calista Pagurko
Calista was a DanceMaineia student as soon as she could walk, and her passion for choreography was evident at just four years old. At age nine she began additional ballet training at Atlantic Ballet Company, and a few years later she started training extensively in both ballet and pointe at Elizabeth Drucker's Ballet School. Here she performed in annual productions with the school, Youth American Grande Prix competitions, and in nursing homes for the elderly. Calista has also trained at Casco Bay Movers, Joffrey Ballet School, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway in ballet, modern, contemporary, partnering, jazz, theater jazz and hip hop.
Calista loves to instruct others to help them learn and grow as dancers, artists and human beings. She is honored to continue teaching as a guest instructor for students of DanceMainea when she visits from Miami Beach, FL.
Photo by Focus Photography
Anna Pagurko
Anna has been dancing for as long as she can remember. Growing up, she trained with her Mom at DanceMaineia and received instruction in a variety of styles. Anna also enjoyed taking classes from Kathleen Hoffman, Michele Cox of Atlantic Ballet Company, and Elizabeth Lau of Casco Bay Movers. Over time she has enjoyed taking master classes with professionals such as Kassandra Rateau, Devin Woolridge, Josh Beaver, Nick Anthony and Shaq Reed.
As a teenager, Anna began teaching at her mom's studio. Over the years she has worked with several students of varying ages and levels.
She enjoys helping them build their skills and confidence while always having fun!
Francesca Weller
Francesca discovered her passion for ballet at just three years old, inspired by watching her sister's classes. She began her formal training under Elizabeth Drucker, a former New York City Ballet dancer, in Maine. Over the years, Francesca honed her craft through prestigious programs, including Miami City Ballet, American Ballet Academy, Nutmeg Conservatory, and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Francesca is excited to return to DanceMainea after stepping back from teaching pre-pointe and pointe in 2022 when she became a mother.
Photo by The Tiffany Studio
Ashley Steeves
Ashley Steeves has been dancing her entire life - but not in the way that you're "supposed to". At age 3 she was creating dances for her siblings to perform for parents and grandparents. At 5 she was in her first ballet, Snow White. After that life-changing production, Ashley wasn't able to regularly attend dance classes and worked with Youth Theaters in Southern Maine.
At 14 Ashley enrolled in The Ballet School with Elizabeth Treadwell-Drucker. She received her formal ballet and teacher training there. She went on to dance with Full Circle Dance Studio, Gemini Dance Company, Dirigo Dance Project, Tony Zumba, Living Room Dance Collective, and Vivid Motion.
Almost 10 years ago Ashley decided to create her own performing arts group, Resurgence Dance Company, which she continues to run to this day. She works with teens and adults and gives them a place to perform. While Ashley is very focused on RDC, she's thrilled to work with students in a structured studio this year. She hopes to bring artistry and technique to anyone who attends her classes. The community and non-competitive atmosphere at DanceMaineia is a perfect fit for Ashley, and she looks forward to meeting everyone and dancing together!