Our Teachers
Jessica Phifer
Jessica Phifer, owner and artistic director of Mass Best Academy of Dance has devoted nearly her entire life to Dance with over 24 years of training and 14+ years of teaching experience.
She received her Dance Education at; Boston Ballet School, Boston Dance Company, Hartford City Ballet, Broadway Dance Center and Kates Dance Company Plus. Most notably trained extensively with Maria Hughes of the Royal Ballet and Clyde Nantais of the Boston Ballet.
Jessica recently choreographed routines that competed and placed in the top 3 at the May 2015 Mid -Season finale episode of “Dance Moms”. Her long time student Kaleigh Cavanaugh was featured in September 2014 as guest on Abby Lee Miller’s Dance Team for the hit T.V. series “Dance Moms” episode “Another One Bites The Dust”. Kaleigh has traveled the nation holding a three time national title and will be attending the Joffrey Ballet Program this summer. Jessica’s students continue to keep in touch with Miss Abby attending workshops and classes in Pittsburgh throughout the year.
Many of Jessica’s students have competed around the nation winning national and regional Titles, High Scores, Scholarships, Special Judges Awards, and have been recognized numerous times for outstanding dance technique. Her current and former students have attended Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, PACE, SUNY, Dean, Cal arts, and many more prestigious Dance schools and Dance Company’s throughout the nation.
Jessica has attended numerous dance conventions and workshops throughout her dance career learning from the top dance teachers and choreographers around the nation and has won Tittle, High Score, Choreography and Special Judges Awards at the Regional and National level.
Jessica is a former company dancer with Boston Dance Company and has professionally performed in the Nutcracker with Boston Dance Company, Albany Berkshire Ballet, and the Maynard Nutcracker including main roles as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Arabian.
Jessica is a devoted teacher, proven by her commitment as a Dance Instructor at Kates Dance Company Plus since 2001 and Miss Tricia Dance Studio since 2013. In these studios, she has taken the role of teaching, choreographing and developing high quality technique for competitive and recreational dancers in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical/contemporary, Tap, Hip/Hop, Musical Theatre, Pointe, Acro, Adult Dance/Fitness and more.
Jessica is a former Assistant Director and Choreographer for Dance Company Worcester and has Choreographed Variations for the “Nutcracker” as well as Dance productions for the Girl Scouts of America and Pop Warner.
Jessica continues to inspire others through her love and passion for Dance.
Jay Stout
Jay Stout has been dancing for over 15 years and has spent 12 of those years at Miss Tricia’s Dance Studio. When he was 9 years old he started competing, where he has won many scholarships, special judges awards, regional and national titles. Jay’s biggest accomplishment as a competitive dancer was winning regional Senior Male Dancer of the Year from American Dance Awards with his solo choreographed by Miss Jessica. Jay has participated in dance events such as Starpower’s Power Pak, The Gold School Intensive, MOVE the Initiative, The FIVE Intensive at DancerPalooza, and much more. He was involved in a contemporary company called Impact Dance Company for two years under the direction of Meghan McCaffrey. Currently, Jay is studying at Nichols College as an accounting major and finance minor. One of his favorite things about going to Nichols College is that he can be apart of the Mass Best Family. Jay loves teaching, choreographing, and sharing his passion for dance with the Mass Best dancers.
