Belinda Bridgeman-Freeman: Artistic Director
Belinda is an accomplished dancer and model. She is the only woman to represent her state in three nationally televised pageants: Miss America, Miss U.S.A. and Mrs. America. She has performed in Europe and Asia - entertaining service troops all over the globe with the Miss America USO Show.
She is a former New England Patriots Cheerleader, member of the Delaware State Ballet Company, Delaware Regional Ballet Company, Jeanette Neil Dancers and Danny Sloane Dancers - just to name a few. Her modeling career has been equally successful with many print and commercial opportunities. Formerly with the Hart Agency of Boston, she is now with the New England Models Group of Manchester.
One of her greatest joys, today, is watching the many accomplishments of her students. They have performed in the nationally televised FEDEX Orange Bowl Halftime Show and as the featured dancers for the Miss New Hampshire and Miss Stratham Fair Pageants. Her students have also provided the Merrimack School District with afternoon performances of The Nutcracker.
As co-producer and choreographer for the Miss New Hampshire Scholarship Pageant for 18 years, Belinda hopes to continue in her efforts to see young women benefit from their talents through scholarships. She has been a stylist and choreographer to many former Miss New Hampshires in preparation for the Miss New Hampshire, Miss New Hampshire USA, Miss America, and Miss USA Pageants.
Brittany Freeman: Assistant Director
Tiny Dancers & Beginner Ballet and Hip-Hop Jazz Instructor
Brittany has been dancing at BBAD for the past 21 years and has trained in classical ballet, pointe, jazz, hip-hop, tap, and lyrical. She also trained for 15 years as a competitive figure skater. She is a former Manchester Monarchs All Star Skater, Boston Bruins Ice Girl, Miami Dolphins Cheerleader, and Florida Panthers Ice Dancer. She was also a Goldwell Trend Zoom Dancer in 2004 and was the youngest selected to perform in Boston and New York. She has been accomplished in the pageant world as well. Her pageant titles include: Miss New Hampshire Teen USA, Miss Miami Gardens USA, Miss Hollywood USA, and is the current Miss Gate City and represented Nashua and BBAD at the Miss New Hampshire Pageant April 28-30, 2011 at Pinkerton Academy in Derry, NH. She is now the Choreographer and on the Board of Directors for the Miss Merrimack Scholarship Program. Brittany is currently pursuing her Bachelor of the Arts Degree in Broadcast Journalism. In Spring 2011 she interned with NBC Miami having opportunity to report, write, shoot, and edit for the news!When in Florida, she enjoys taking classes at Miami City Ballet.
Shannon Stephens: Pre-Dance Instructor
Shannon has been dancing since the age of 4 and at the Belinda Bridgeman
Academy of Dance since 1995. She is trained in jazz, tap, ballet,
lyrical, and pointe. She was first runner-up in the 2005 New England
Model of the Year Competition and had the honor of being Miss February
2006 in the New England Beauties Swimsuit Calendar. She graduated from
Southern NH University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in
Communication. She currently works for Manchester Radio Group, which
includes 95.7 WZID, 96.5 The Mill, 1370 WFEA, and Hot Hits 94.1/103.1,
as the Assistant Promotions Director.
Class Assistants
Emily Curtis:
Miss Emily has been dancing at Belinda Bridgeman Accademy of Dance
since the age of three. She takes classes in Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical,
Jazz, and Tap. Emily has been assisting Miss Belinda in the Beginner Ballet
Classes for the past three years. She really loves working with the
little ones! Along with dance she enjoys being on student council. In
February of 2011, Emily competed in the Miss Merrimack's Outstanding Teen Program where she was third runner-up and then competed in the Miss New Hampshire's Outstanding Teen Program. She is the current Miss Lakes Region's Outstanding Teen and will once again compete for the title of Miss New Hampshire's Outstanding Teen in February 2012.
Courtney Schaub:
Courtney has been dancing at the Belinda Bridgeman Academy of Dance since the age of 4. She studies Classical Ballet, Pointe, and Hip-Hop Jazz. She enjoys helping out with the younger dancers. She earned the role of "Clara" in the 2011 Nutcracker Act ll.
