INSTRUCTORS
Owner/
Artistic Director
Claude Michelle is a dancer, choreographer, director and an overall visionary. She has been the Artistic Director of Heavenly Praises Dance which is now Valiant Arts Company for 15 years and longs for more. Claude Michelle holds a Bachelor’s degree in Dance and Psychology from Rhode Island College, and a Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Dance Movement Therapy from Lesley University. Currently, she is a Therapist in Providence, RI working with the adolescent population. She focuses on providing an intermodal and creative process to therapy to reconstruct the idea that healing isn’t a uniformed process. She is the owner and Artistic Director of Valiant Arts located in Pawtucket, RI where she highlights healing, holistic process, and cultural awareness through movement. Her passion for arts and movement comes from a rigorous life full of experiences, struggles, relationships, release and so much more. Her motto: “Move to heal, Create to transform.
Claude Michelle Oliveira, MA, LMHC, R-DMT
Lyrical, Acro, Petite Jazz
Romie works as a Behavior Specialists at Achievement First Iluminar Elementary and is pursuing her Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis at Ball State University. Beyond her academic pursuits, Romie’s dance journey began at the tender age of 2 and has years of experience in gymnastics. As a versatile instructor, Romie shares her expertise in various dance styles, including Jazz, Lyrical, and Acro/Tumbling. Joining Heavenly Praises, Romie found not just dance but also a second family. The dance floor has been her canvas for self-expression, her sanctuary for growth, and the source of everlasting friendships.
Romie Bois
Hip Hop
Nia DaCruz, a Rhode Island native, discovered her passion for dance in Harlem, NY, participating in various programs. As the Dance Team captain at Tolman High School for three years, she graduated with a love for inspiring others to see dance as a liberating escape from life's challenges. For Nia, dancing has evolved into her preferred form of self-expression and letting go.
Nia DaCruz
Tap
Marisa is currently an Occupational Therapy Assistant. She graduated in 2018 from New England Institute of Technology. Marisa started dancing at Susan’s School of Dance when she was 3 years old. During her 17 years of dancing at SSD she learned a variety of different types of dance but found a love for tap dancing. She competed in multiple dance competitions around Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Marisa also traveled and danced in my favorite place-DISNEY WORLD! Dancing was and still is a huge part of her growth as a human being. Dancing has helped me escape the obstacles of life and gives her a chance to express every emotion. Dance gave Marisa the opportunity to be a part of a family that truly changed her.
Marisa Abbood
Jr & Sr Ballet
Shannon Norquist loves to move. Dance has a hold of her heart and won’t seem to let go. It started at the Danzante Community Arts Center in Harrisburg, PA when she asked, “How can I become a dance teacher?” Since then she has performed with the Nee Danse Company in Harrisburg, taught students in afterschool programs, libraries and wherever else anyone will let her share her love of dance. Upon moving to Rhode Island she performed with Fusionworks Dance Company and has choreographed and taught as part of their educational outreach. More recently she has taught at AS220 and participated in performances through Dance Works in Progress, the Frasier Fest, National Water Dance with Metamorphosis and the Valiant Arts Dance Collective. During the day, Shannon is an advisor to high school students at The Met High School in Providence.
Shannon Norquist
CONTEMPORARY & JAZZ
Carlie Silva
Carlie Silva
MINI & PETITE BALLET
Liz is a dance educator, mover, and choreographer, who is thrilled to be joining the Valiant Arts team for the 2023-2024 season! Liz fell in love with movement as a young child and has continued to expand that passion ever since. She received her BA in Dance/Performance Studies and Psychology in 2017 from Roger Williams University. Currently, she is expanding her understanding of how movement and embodied healing can support mental health by working toward her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling specializing in Dance Movement Therapy at Lesley University. Liz’s goal is to welcome all parts of each child into the space, while helping them to understand their bodies as dancers and humans who move.
Liz Powers
STUDIO COORDINATOR/MANAGER
Erica is a mother of 2 beautiful children. She works full-time at The Met High School as a Learning Specialist and is a recent graduate from College Unbound (Class of 2023) where she received her Bachelors degree in Organizational Leadership and Change. In addition to my work at The Met, Erica is a Perinatal Educator and Community Doula. She has a passion for educating pregnant teens with her teen pregnancy support group at The Met High School. Her hobby is making organic candles with her business Trae Escentials Co.