Business Details
Your Premier Dance School in Somerville, MA
Mary Flynn Murphy Dance Studio has been a cornerstone of dance education in Somerville, Massachusetts for over six decades. Our state-of-the-art facility in Ball Square provides personalized attention to each student through a talented team of instructors with extensive professional experience. We specialize in developing well-rounded dancers at both recreational and competitive levels, offering structured programs for ages 18 months through adulthood. Our curriculum spans ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical, and contemporary styles, with specialized classes like Wiggle Worms for toddlers and summer intensive programs.The studio fosters a supportive 'dance family' environment that emphasizes technical excellence, creative expression, and lifelong friendships. With multiple generations of instructors and alumni pursuing professional dance careers, we maintain a legacy of excellence while continually evolving our teaching methodologies. Our students consistently achieve recognition at regional and national competitions, reflecting our commitment to nurturing both artistic talent and personal growth.
Services
Ballet Classes
Jazz Classes
Hip Hop Classes
Tumbling Instruction
Summer Dance Camps
Adult Tap Classes
Competitive Teams
Preschool Dance
Choreography Services
Dance Workshops
Highlights and features
- We offer 25+ years of competitive dance coaching experience
- Our instructors include former Boston Ballet performers and national award-winning choreographers
- We provide personalized attention in small class sizes
- Our alumni have received dance scholarships to prestigious institutions
- We maintain a supportive 'dance family' community environment
Services
Ballet Classes
Our ballet program develops technical excellence through progressive training in barre exercises, center floor technique, and French terminology. Students build poise, flexibility, and musicality while mastering classical positions and advanced combinations. The curriculum prepares dancers for professional careers or recreational enjoyment through structured levels from beginner to advanced.
Jazz Classes
Jazz instruction focuses on dynamic movement with warm-ups, isolations, and choreography to contemporary and Broadway-style music. Students develop performance skills through leaps, turns, and rhythmic combinations while learning proper technique and stage presence in a high-energy environment that encourages creative expression.
Tumbling Instruction
Tumbling classes teach fundamental and advanced acrobatic skills including cartwheels, walkovers, and aerials. Certified instructors use safe progressions to build strength, flexibility, and confidence through Acrobatic Arts curriculum. Classes are available for recreational students and competitive team members at beginner through advanced levels.
Summer Dance Camps
Week-long and daily summer camps offer themed dance experiences with multiple styles, crafts, and games. Programs include specialty workshops like Hip Hop-Tye Dye and Tumbling Camps, providing structured skill development combined with creative play for ages 3 through teens in morning sessions with flexible registration options.
Competitive Teams
Our award-winning competitive program includes jazz, lyrical, and tap teams that perform at regional and national events. Dancers receive elite coaching in choreography, technique, and stage performance while building teamwork skills. The studio has produced multiple national award-winning routines and competition champions over its history.
People
Sharon Parillo
Owner/Artistic Director
Sharon has directed MFM Dance Studio since 2000, with 25+ years teaching experience. A former Boston Ballet performer, she trained with industry legends and has coached award-winning students who now teach professionally and perform internationally.
Danielle McCabe
Co-Director/Business Manager
Third-generation instructor Danielle teaches competition teams and choreographs award-winning routines. With 12+ years teaching experience, she specializes in youth programs and has performed with prestigious dance companies while maintaining administrative leadership of the studio.
Michelle Andrade Bonos
Tumbling Instructor
Certified Acrobatic Arts instructor Michelle has taught tumbling at MFM since 2008. With 20+ years experience coaching competitive teams, she focuses on safe progressions and confidence-building while maintaining technical excellence in acrobatic dance training.
Alyssa Yenowskas
Dance Teacher
Alyssa began teaching at 12 after competing nationally as a student. With experience in multiple dance styles, she brings energetic instruction to classes while balancing her academic pursuits in pharmacy, maintaining her passion for dance education.
Katie Madden
Dance Instructor
Katie brings international performance experience from Germany and Malta to her teaching. With university dance company experience and theater productions, she combines technical expertise with creative expression while working as a speech-language pathologist.
Questions
What dance styles do you offer?
We offer ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, and tumbling classes for ages 18 months through adults.
Do you have competitive dance teams?
Yes, we have award-winning competitive teams in jazz, lyrical, and tap that perform at regional and national competitions.
What are your summer program options?
We offer week-long themed camps, daily workshops, and specialized programs like Tumbling Camps and Hip Hop-Tye Dye events.
Can adults take classes?
Yes, we offer adult tap classes and summer workshops for dancers of all experience levels.
What is the Wiggle Worms program?
Wiggle Worms is a 45-minute dance class for children 18 months to 3 years old with caregiver participation and weekly crafts.
How do I register for classes?
Registration is available through our website portal with flexible session options and discounted rates for multiple enrollments.
