Dancing with the Stars: Berklee Edition

Name: Dancing with the Stars: Berklee Edition
Start: 2026-01-21T18:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-01-21

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Wednesday / January 21, 2026 / 6:00 p.m.

Boston Conservatory Theater

31 Hemenway Street, Floor 2

Boston

02115

United States

(View Map)

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Two dancers on stage, with a hand on a brick that they're standing over. background is red and stage is a reflective purple.

Dancing with the Stars: Berklee Edition returns on January 21, 2026. The fifth annual competition features well-known personalities from Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Berklee College of Music, competing on the dance floor while raising much-needed funds for Dance Division scholarships.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Dance Division Faculty Award, a scholarship fund that provides financial support to continuing dance students in high academic standing with a demonstrated financial need. This scholarship is named in honor of the beloved faculty of the Dance Division, who have personally committed to serving as the founding donors of this initiative.

Program Information

Hosts

Linda Embardo, Technology Training and Communications Manager
Derek Savick-Hesser, Technology Training/eLearning Specialist III

Judges

Rob Lagueux, Vice Provost
Maureen McMullan, Concert and Event Producer for External Affairs
Andrea Zuñiga (guest judge), Director, JK-12, Visual and Performing Arts Department
Cambridge Public Schools

Performing Teams

C’mon Let’s Jive
Pooja Agarwal, Associate Professor of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Partner: Dafna Melamoud (BFA '25, dance)
Dancers: Delaney Humphrey, Andrea Martin, Hadley Russell, Sam Sharp, Elena Tsitsas, Eden Vachtel

Sweet in the Mornin’
Brenda Ross, Community and Partner Engagement Director for Music Therapy
Partner: Laila Franklin (BFA '19, dance), Assistant Director of Admissions

Work
Lindsey Stein, Assistant Director, Academic Programs Operations
Partner: Raul Cruz, Associate Professor of Dance
Dancers: Leah Brighter, Mina Fleming, Giadalyn Marshall, Leila Sims

Spy Game
Kelly Torres, Senior Ticket Operations and Patron Services Manager
Partner: Francois Noel, Assistant Professor of Dance
Dancers: Katelyn Cote, Hayden Livesay, Kynlee Mcbride, Ray Phillips

The Joy of Dance
Kera Perron, Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management and Student Success
Partner: Nino de los Reyes, Associate Professor of Dance

Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries
Ryan Braaten, Manager of Industry Relations
Partner: Denise Pons-Leone, Professor of Dance
Dancers: Sarah DaSilva, Alex Grant, Audrey McNinch, Amelia Otte, Ayden Wilson

Moonlight
TaLaya L. Clanton, Associate Director of Orientation and First Year Experience
Partner: Joseph Dreeszen, Senior Director of Alumni Affairs and Annual GivingDancers: Matthew Crittenden, Joelis Martinez-Santiago, Kay Willams

Dance Division

Tommy Neblett, Dean
Mila Thigpen, Chair
Isabella Sun, Assistant to the Dean

Executive Leadership

Jim Lucchese, President
Betsy Newman, Executive Vice President
David Bogen, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
Michael Shinn, Executive Director, Boston Conservatory at Berklee
Kim Haack, Associate Vice President of Administration, Boston Conservatory at Berklee
Kaitlin Passafaro, Chief of Staff

Additional Support Provided By

Audio Visual Services
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Box Office
Conference Services and Special Events
Concert Operations
Office of External Affairs
Office of Institutional Advancement

Performance Services Staff

Director of Performance Services – Hanna Oravec
Assistant Director of Production – Rebecca Donald
Production Stage Manager – Kathryn Genest
Assistant Stage Manager – Emily Pascucci
Technical Director – Taylor Kaufman
Assistant Technical Director – Caleb Harris
Props Manager – Hannah Spangler
Lighting Supervisor – Jacob Inman
Production Electrician – Nate Morrissey
Audio Supervisor – Andrei Radu
Audio Engineer – Maddy Poston
Costume Shop Manager – Alison Pugh
Costume Stock Manager/Stitcher/Draper – Kathy Scott
Stitcher/Draper – Sam Martin, Evan Petrow
Wardrobe Manager – Blue Barber
Costume Shop Intern – Jackie Olivia
Staff Stage Managers – Joel Butler, Cam Sarchi
Assistant Director of Concert Services – Luis Herrera
Concert Services Production Manager – Kendall Floyd
Concert Services Coordinator – Matt Carey

Boston Conservatory thanks audience members for viewing this program information online. This paperless program saved 200 sheets of paper, 21 gallons of water, and 18 pounds of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions.

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