Exit Dance Theatre - Meet the Dancers

A non-profit dance company based in Newburyport, MA.


	Fontaine Dollas-Dubus, 1987 Co-founder and Co-Director Fontaine has always related to dance with a dramatic and theatrical connection. Her dances most often tell a story, at times fictional, (“Red High Heels”1996) but many times historically based, (“Kristallnacht” 1994, based on the Holocaust; “Pit Girls” 2004, based on 19th century English coal mining women). She has studied dance with: Irene Weiss, Luigi, Francis Roach, Christien Polos, Diane Noya, Denise Collins, Pam Smith and more. She also has a passion for acting, which she studies with Marc Clopton. She’s married to award winning novelist Andre Dubus III and owns The Dance Place of Newburyport, MA.
	Wendy Hamel, 2000 Co-Director Wendy received her BA from Bradford College in 1998 and started performing with Exit in 2000. She taught dance at several local dance studios including Ballet New England, Kathy’s Tumbleweed and the Triton Regional High School Dance Company, but more recently has set her sights on auditioning for film and theatre. Wendy is a dancer/model/actress who has also performed with the Donovan Dance Company, the Bradford College Dance Company and the Seacoast Civic Dance Company. She has studied under Denise Collins, Mary Lee Karlins, and Lillian Carter—studying ballet, modern and jazz. Wendy's most recent work includes the independent film, Billy Todd’s War produced by American Rhino Productions, the Harvard University Independent Film, “Dance By Design,”playing Texas in the musical Cabaret, Annie in Chicago and the role of a Transylvanian in The Rocky Horror Show Live! at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre in Portsmouth, NH. Wendy recently launched her own business called Med-Marketers and is hoping to gain several new clients this year.
	Cheryl Fisher-Schwind, 1987 Co-founder A founding member of Exit, Cheryl began her dance career in 1980 at Bradford College, graduating with a BA in Humanities. As a member of the Bradford College Dance Co., she trained with Irene Weiss, Kathryn Mickel, Luigi, Adrienne Hawkins and Christina Polos. She also studied polish laboratory theatre and Grotowski acting technique with Stephen Haley. In 1987 she co-founded Exit. She then began a 2-year certificate program in Laban Movement Analysis and Post-Jungian psychology in New York City and came back with a certificate in Movement Analysis and Psychology. Cheryl is a Nationally Certified Licensed Massage Therapist with a private practice in Newburyport. Cheryl is married and lives with her wonderful husband and daughter in Boxford.
	Sarah George, 1995 A native of New Hampshire, Sarah began her formal training in ballet, jazz and theater dance with Paula Vinzi in whose company she performed as a young professional. Circumstances led her to San Diego, CA where she attended high school at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts and trained extensively at the California Ballet School. Sarah has performed with the San Francisco Ballet, Pax Fiat Dance Company-a Graham-based modern company in San Diego, Company Dance Traverse in Michigan and with Karlins & Co./ Dancers At The Edge Of Time in Newburyport, MA. Her teaching experience includes creative dance and ballet at the Pax Fiat Cultural Center in San Diego and modern/jazz/funk at Governor Dummer Academy in Byfield, MA. Sarah is a Certified Licensed Massage Therapist in Newburyport, MA and lives in Rowley with her husband Jon.
	Erin Foley, 2001 Erin has been dancing for over 15 years in the Newburyport area. She was a member of the Joppa Jazz Dance Co. for fi ve years where she studied with Cheryl Schwind, Irene Weiss, Susan Atwood, Diane Bowden, and Denise Collins. Erin attended Colgate University and danced under Joy Canning. She graduated with a degree in English from the University of New Hampshire. Erin recently joined Fontaine Dubus as the co-director of the Joppa Jazz Dance Company. She also teaches jazz, ballet, and hip-hop at The Dance Place. Erin lives in Salisbury, MA.
	Nicole Cheney, 2001 Nicole graduated with Bachelor’s of Science from UMASS Lowell where she danced with the UMASS Dance Company. Since the age of 5, Nicole has performed at several venues in the North Shore area. In 1996, she was the Assistant Choreographer for The Littlest Angel at the Firehouse Center for the Arts. Nicole also coached and choreographed for the Triton Regional H.S. Colorguard Team in 2000 & 2001. She currently works as a Civil Engineer and lives in Atkinson, NH with her husband Brad.
	Tricia Walsh, 2004 Tricia began dancing with Exit for the premiere of “Pit Girls” in February 2004. Tricia fi rst studied dance at Fowler Studios in Medford, MA as a child. Later, while an English and Theater major at North Adams State College, she taught, performed and choreographed at the Berkshire Dance Theatre in Adams, MA and Bennington, VT. Additionally, Tricia has studied dance with several Boston dancers including Jeanette Neil, Susan Casey-Murray and Andy Taylor. In May 2003, Tricia earned her Master’s of Education from Lesley University in Cambridge. Tricia currently works as a special education teacher for Amesbury Public Schools.
	Darlene Doyle, 2005 Darlene started dancing with Exit in 2005. She has trained in jazz, tap, ballet and modern. Whatever the form of dance, her passion for the art has stayed true over the years. Darlene graduated from UNH in 1999, with a BA in English/Journalism and a minor in dance. She performed with the UNH Dance Company during her time there and studied under Gay Nardone and Larry Robertson. She has trained under various instructors, all of whom have taught her unique perspectives and techniques in dance. Darlene works in marketing and lives in Amesbury, MA with her husband.
	Edward Speck, 2006 Edward began dancing with Exit in 2006. Edward is proud and grateful to have been named Artistic Director of Theater in the Open, with whom he has been a company member for 12 years. He looks forward impatiently to another magical season of teaching at the Theater in the Open Summer Arts Workshop. He is both thrilled and honored to be a member of Exit Dance Theatre.
	Jennifer Steeves, 2009 Jen grew up and trained in Calgary, Alberta Canada. During her studio years she competed in many dance competitions in Western Canada. While she was in college she was a professional cheerleader for the Calgary Stampeders which is part of the Canadian Football League (CFL). She received a BA in Dance from the University of Calgary. After graduation Jen danced professionally for Carnival Cruise Lines in their main production shows. She met her husband aboard the ships and now resides with him and their two children in Georgetown, MA. Jen has been teaching locally for the past 10 years and began teaching for the Dance Place in Newburyport last September. She has danced locally with both Forty Steps Dance and Green Glass Dance Companies and is very excited to dance with Exit Dance Theatre this year.