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.
	Wendy Hamel, 1999 Co-Director Wendy received her BA from Bradford College in 1998 and started performing with Exit Dance Theatre in 1999. Wendy has also performed with the Donovan Dance Company, the Bradford College Dance Company and the Seacoast Civic Dance Company. Wendy's film work includes the independent film, Billy Todd’s War produced by American Rhino Productions and the Harvard University Independent Film, “Dance By Design.” Her theatrical credits include Cabaret, Chicago and The Rocky Horror Show Live! Wendy works in marketing and lives with her boyfriend Bryan and their daughter Avery in Merrimac, MA.
	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.
	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.
	Sarah George, 1995 Sarah began performing with Paula Vinzi in New Hampshire at an early age. She attended high school at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts and continued her formal training 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. in Newburyport, MA. She taught at the Pax Fiat Cultural Center in San Diego and at Governor's Academy in Byfield, MA. Sarah is a Licensed Massage Therapist in Newburyport.
	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 five 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 DD 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 Newburyport, MA.
	Nicole Cheney-Duquette, 2001 This is Nicole’s 7th year with Exit Dance Theatre. Since the age of 5, she has been dancing and performing around the North Shore area and also coached and choreographed for the Triton Regional H.S. Colorguard Team in 2000 & 2001. From 1996 to 2000, Nicole danced with the UMASS Lowell Dance Company. It was at Umass Lowell that Nicole received her Bachelor's of Science in Civil Engineering. Currently, Nicole happily lives in Atkinson, NH with her husband, Brad, and works as a Project Manager for the Manchester, NH branch of TFMoran, Inc.
	Scott Smith, 2002 Scott is an not only a dancer but also an actor, teacher, choreographer and director. Scott first worked with Exit Dance Theatre in one of the "Bathroom Suite" adaptions back in 1991, and is thrilled to be working with the company again. Mr. Smith is also a company member of Theater in the Open based at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, where he has done choreography for several productions. Scott's choreography has been seen at Regis College, Lynnfield Middle School, The Pingree School, The Firehouse Center, and The Gloucester Stage Company. Mr. Smith studied theater and dance at Emerson College as well as film and television at New York Performance Works.
	Tricia Walsh, 2004 Tricia began dancing with Exit for the premiere of "Pit Girls" in February 2004. Tricia first 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. She currently works for Thom Pentucket Area Early Intervention in West Newbury as a Development Specialist.