Our Team and Advisors

Samantha Bresnahan has been a dancer since three years old and has taken extensive amounts of classes in all genres of dance. She has recently graduated from NYU Tisch School of Arts with a Masters in Movement Therapy. She is also a registered dance educator. Throughout high school and college, Samantha assisted classes for young children at a local studio and has worked with many children with either PTSD or Special Needs throughout her life. Samantha is the owner of Sam's Dance Therapy and lead therapist.

Patricia Harms has a BFA in dance from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She is a Registered Dance Educator, and has two New Hampshire teaching endorsements, Dance and Theatre. In 1990 Patricia conceived Triad Dance Ensemble and co-directed, choreographed, and performed with the company through 1996. She has been an artist-in-residence in the public schools, and currently directs the Dance Program at Pinkerton Academy in Derry , New Hampshire . Patricia shares her love of dance in a variety of settings and enjoys collaboration with like-minded artists. She is a co-founder of Range of Motion Arts.

Christine Jacques performed extensively with such dance companies as Ballet West, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and modern dance company Dance Kaleidoscope. She later founded and directed movement arts studio and company Elysium Dance Project where she developed dance, yoga, and integrated arts programming. For twenty years she has been active as a dance educator and choreographer, also collaborating regularly with other artists. Her interest in expressive arts therapy led her to complete a BS in movement therapy. She currently works as a movement specialist focused on special populations and is co-founder of Range of Motion Arts.

Michelle is our main receptionist. She always has a smile on her face and has become a part of the family here at Sam's Dance Therapy, since she is always there to greet the children as they come in the door.

Lisa Bresnahan is the mother of owner Samantha Bresnahan. Lisa has worked as an office manager, controller, and business owner. Lisa's home business, Ledgersmart, is a tax preparation business serving local community members as well as across the country. Lisa has earned her BS in Accounting/Finance and serves as Samantha's main source for advice when in need for her business. Lisa helped Samantha prepare for opening the dance therapy studio and continues to help with bookkeeping. She also knows many laws and regulations having to do with small businesses, so she is an advisor for that. She is also the tax preparer for Sam's Dance Therapy.

Jim Dietz is the owner and manager of The Loft Restaurant of North Andover, MA and Joe Fish Seafood Restaurant and Bar located in North Andover and North Reading, MA. Jim has earned his BS in Marketing and has created three thriving businesses in his time since graduating college. Jim is great at marketing, whether it be the creative or black and white aspect of it. This is why Jim Dietz serves as an advisor for the marketing of Sam's Dance Therapy. He has helped come up with the plan to launch a social media campaign and advertise through television and radio commercials. He is also currently working on getting Sam's Dance Therapy's name into hospitals so patients can be sent here for therapy.

Nicole Nickerson is a dance studio owner and teacher. She advises us on regulations for the dance industry and helps come up with dance activities that are engaging and therepeutic for children. Since she has extensive experience working with children in a dance environment, Nicole is the perfect advisor for a dance therapy business directed towards children.