Our BKS Team
Kristen Samson
Owner and Artistic Director - Ballet Technique, Pointe, Variations, Pas de Deux, Lyrical, Young Children’s Program, Aerial, Acro
Jacqueline Goodhue
Co-Artistic Director - Aerial, Acro, Hip-hop, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Ballet Technique, Young Children’s Program
Morgan McGuire
Instructor - Ballet Technique, Pointe, Variations, Pas de Deux, Young Children’s Program
David Sun
Instructor - Ballet Technique, Pointe, Variations, Pas de Deux
Jacob Grass
Instructor - Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, Ballet Technique, Pas de Deux
Mackenze Ryan
Instructor - Aerial, Acro, Young Children’s Program
Kenneth Cedegren
Ballet Technique, Pointe, Variations, Pas De Deux, Young Children’s Program
Kaitlyn Cedegren
Aerial, Acro, Hip-hop, Young Children’s Program
William Fafard Jr.
Instructor - Contemporary, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Tap, Jazz, Acro
Biographies
Kristen Samson has been teaching Ballet Technique, Pointe, Variations, Men’s/Boy’s Ballet & Pas de Deux, classes on the N.H. Seacoast for over 25 years. Kristen has produced nationally award winning choreography, staged many classical ballets and choreographed a diverse genera of dance performances including the schools full length all student production of the Nutcracker. Many of her students have gone on to dance professionally, study in prestigious college, university programs, as well as summer dance programs. Kristen has a Vaganova based teaching degree from the Hartford Ballet and a BFA degree, magna cum laude in English Language and Literature from Southern New Hampshire University that she earned in 2007.
Kristen Samson is a former professional ballerina for the Hartford Ballet, Ballet New England and the Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre of Boston. She has danced and studied professionally for many choreographers and companies. She has performed soloist roles in Ballets such as Swan Lake, Giselle, Paquita, La Bayadere, Les Sylphides, Pas de Quatre and The Nutcracker. She has attended schools such as the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Hartford Ballet, Boston Ballet and Walnut Hill School for the Arts.
Kristen is excited to share her love and passion for ballet technique, barre and pilates with her students and is excited to be in the North Hampton community!
Jacqueline Goodhue is a core member of the BKS team as an experienced instructor in Dance, Aerial, Acro, and Barre. Classes with Jacqui are technical and informative, while guaranteeing a full-body workout. She is loved around the Seacoast for teaching after school programs, leading free classes at local events, and volunteering at the public libraries.
Jacqui started dancing at age two, training under the direction of Kristen Samson. This established a positive relationship between the two - making a wonderful team of Artistic Directors. Jacqui has preformed lead roles across all genres, attended summer intensives, and won top scoring awards at competitions. She had natural ability as a student teacher, and by high school she was setting choreography and instructing her own classes entirely.
In 2017, Jacqui graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Hartford with a degree in Business Administration. Leading the Uhart Dance Team, and training at The Hartt School. A talent for singing and acting brought her to New Zealand to study Indigenous Preforming Arts. She was accepted into the NZ Circus Sphere Performance Group, and the Auckland University Acrobatics Troupe. It was her 2018 internship in Indonesia where she established her love for Aerial, and she proceeded to train intensely in six surrounding countries. Her teacher training was done privately with hands on, professional instruction. Jacqui continues to train Aerial and Acro across New England, focusing her efforts on instruction and safety.
Morgan McGuire is not only a gifted ballerina, but she is also an excellent instructor and choreographer, especially for dancers focusing mainly on Ballet. She likes to thank Kristen Samson and Susan Endrizzi for her professional Ballet training and love of Classical Ballet performance. Ms. Morgan started dancing at a very young age, and was a competitive dancer for the Portsmouth School of Ballet (under the direction of Kristen Samson) by age seven. She has studied many styles of dance including Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Hip-hop, Contemporary and Lyrical. Morgan has traveled to numerous competitions around New England, regularly receiving high marks and special awards.
At 11 years old, Morgan began focusing solely on Ballet and Pointe technique. She joined the company at Northeastern Ballet Theatre, where she performed in many great Ballets including The Nutcracker, Pirate and the Gypsy, A Midsummer's Night Dream, Cinderella, and Snow White. In her teens, Morgan enjoyed an intense training/performing schedule all over New England. She has attended many summer dance intensives, including Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet School, Walnut Hill School, American Ballet Theatre, Detroit, and Burklyn Ballet - most of which were with a scholarship. In 2014, she graduated from respected Berwick Academy, where she also worked as a dance instructor and choreographer. Most recently, Morgan was the Assistant Director at a Ballet based dance studio, while also dancing lead roles and teaching Ballet for the studio.
David Sun has been teaching since 1989 throughout the Northeast, including at Boston Ballet School and its CityDance, Harvard University, Boston College, Boston University, Southern NH Dance Theater; Tony Williams’ City Ballet Boston, as well as many other schools. He directs and choreographs for his own group, SundanceX (www.SundanceX.com) since 2012. Mr. Sun received his primary training as a scholarship student with the late Richard Thomas & Barbara Fallis at the New York School of Ballet. He also performed as a dancer with the Houston Grand Opera, and with many regional dance troupes in New England and New York City. He is an accomplished photographer, with national credits in The New York Times, Dance Magazine, Dance Spirit, Boston Ballet, Boston Opera, Tony Williams’ City Ballet Boston & Urban Nutcracker, Southern NH Dance Theater, Vogue magazine, amongst many other clients. He has also appeared as an actor on CBS TV. Mr. Sun is known for his distinctive sense of humor while instilling a strict work ethic in the studio.
Jacob Grass began his training in ballet at the age of 9. He began attending and competing in dance competitions at the age of 15, receiving awards for ballet, contemporary, and lyrical performances. He has enjoyed dancing the roles of Nutcracker/Prince, Snow King, and Cavalier in “The Nutcracker”, as well as Prince Désiré in “The Sleeping Beauty.”
Jacob spent two years in Phoenix, Arizona as an intern choreographer and music director at Dream City Church. He then spent two additional years at Dream City working on staff as the Creative Arts Assistant Director. Dream City Church puts on the largest Broadway-style musical each holiday season, in Phoenix. Jacob has spent the past four years choreographing and teaching dance to beginner and advanced dancers in Arizona. He is currently in the process to get his BA in Music with Southeastern University.
MacKenze Ryan started doing Aerial Silks at the age of 12. She started as a student and shortly after, started teaching the art of aerial silks. MacKenze attended school at New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA), in 2015. She received her Introduction to Teaching Aerials Certificate. Since 2015, she has received her certifications in, Foundation Level Teaching Training, and Intermediate Level Teaching Training. She will also shortly be receiving her Aerial Rigging Certification. MacKenze continues to take workshops and classes whenever she can. She truly has a deep passion for teaching aerial silks to all aerialists!
Kenneth Cedegren has been dancing with Kristen Samson for over 20 years. He has taken his talents to elite Ballet programs such as Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Walnut Hill School, and Festival Ballet Providence. Not only is Kenneth a professional and respected instructor, but he is also a breath-taking performer. His favorite Ballet is The Nutcracker.
While training in class with Instructor Kenneth, BKS dancers explore their true potential for Advanced Ballet Performance. Students leave his class feeling motivated, inspired, and confident. The BKS Dance & Aerial Program prioritizes Classical Ballet Technique, and Kenneth shows the students why we always will continues to do so.
Kaitlyn Cedegren started dancing when she was two years old. Over two decades ago, Kaitlyn was one of the very first students to train under the direction of Kristen Samson. They have been training together ever since, making Kaitlyn the longest-standing student Kristen has had by far.
Kaitlyn has studied Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip-hop, and Acro. She was a competitive dancer at the pre-professional level for 12 years. By age 11, Kaitlyn was student teaching and organizing fundraisers for her dance school. Outside of the studio, Kaitlyn works as a registered behavioral technician and a certified Zumba instructor. She has her masters degree in non profit business, with an undergraduate degree in food service management and event planning. Kaitlyn loves sharing her passion for dance with those of all abilities, and we are lucky to have her on the team at BKS!
William Fafard brings his talent to BKS as a guest instructor, choreographer, and performer. Specializing in Musical Theatre, Tap, and Contemporary, Will is a true artist with his own creative style. He comes from a very long line of performers, both in Dance and Music. Will Fafard has an extensive background in Musical Theatre and Classical Ballet, and he has been performing in New England for over 17 years. Over the years, Will has earned many accolades in the Performing Arts world - such as winning ‘the best youth male actor in the state of Massachusetts,’ and many first place scores and overall titles at competitions. He thanks his acting career for his edge in Dance, and incorporates all these talents into his teaching and choreography.
Sue Ebbeson received her 200 hour yoga teacher certification in Classical Yoga from Yogalife Institute, New Hampshire, lineage from Mumbai, India. She has practiced yoga for over 30 years. She has taught yoga in the seacoast for over 10 years, focusing her teaching on active seniors, athletes, and caregivers.
Sue and her husband have lived together in Hampton, NH for over 50 years. They can often be seen running, walking, and biking along the beach (something Sue has done for many years). She is a talented potter and has owned her own business since 1975. Her passion for yoga makes it possible for her to continue her active and healthy lifestyle.