Our Fall 2025 Roster
Our Fall 2025 Roster
DATES: September 6th-October 4th (4 Saturday classes, plus a showcase, for a total of 5 weeks)
LOCATION: Greene Dance Studio, located at 4311 Sara Rd. Suite 209, Rio Rancho, NM 87124
8:15am-9:15am: Basic Acting (any age; Instructor - Amy Lynne Hillard)
9:00am-9:55am: Musical Theater Games and Movement (ages 5-8; Instructor - Alina Bangerter)
10:00am-10:55am: Choreography (ages 8-18; Instructor - Nikki Morrison Carico)
11:00am-1:00pm: Vocal Intensive (ages 12-18; Instructor - Tatyana Smith)
1:00pm-2:00pm: Play Writing (any age; Instructor - Amy Lynne Hillard)
2:00pm-3:30pm: Advanced Acting (ages 12-18; Instructor - Madison Dodd)
Basic Acting Class
with Amy Lynne Hillard (she/her)
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Time: 8:15-9:15 AM
Location: Greene Dance Studio, located at 4311 Sara Rd. Suite 209, Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Price: $125
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It’s time to start with the basics! Are you ready to begin building your own “actor’s toolkit” and learn what it takes to create believable and exciting characters for the stage? Then this is the perfect class for you! No matter what age, all students will be provided with training from the ground up during this course. We will start with the foundational building blocks of acting so that the next time you’re cast in a show, you’re ready to rise to the occasion!
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Amy has spent most of her life revolving around the theatre world in one way or another. She started taking her own acting classes as an elementary student and credits that time of her life for the unwavering love for the craft of theatre. Since starting to work with Heartstrings in 2022, she has enjoyed directing and working with the casts of each production she’s had the opportunity to be a part of in various capacities. Amy graduated from The University of Toledo with a bachelors in English & a focus on Creative Writing. After a lifelong journey of loving stories & obsessing over how they can come to life on stage, she’s excited to share her knowledge and passion with new students!
Playwriting
with Amy Lynne Hillard (she/her)
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Time: 1:00-2:00 PM
Location: Greene Dance Studio, located at 4311 Sara Rd. Suite 209, Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Price: $125
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Are you passionate about storytelling? Have you wondered what it takes to bring a compelling story to life? Telling stories that people care about is a HUGE part of writing plays & in this class we’ll be diving into all the little pieces that come together to write a great play! From characters to conflicts, we’ll have a lot to cover. This class is a perfect fit for any student who would like to learn more about the art of storytelling; a great resource for actors and writers alike! Throughout the class, students will work on putting together all the important components it takes to tell a compelling story and for the showcase, we will show off all our hard work with staged readings of our completed one act scripts!
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Amy has spent most of her life revolving around the theatre world in one way or another. She started taking her own acting classes as an elementary student and credits that time of her life for the unwavering love for the craft of theatre. Since starting to work with Heartstrings in 2022, she has enjoyed directing and working with the casts of each production she’s had the opportunity to be a part of in various capacities. Amy graduated from The University of Toledo with a bachelors in English & a focus on Creative Writing. After a lifelong journey of loving stories & obsessing over how they can come to life on stage, she’s excited to share her knowledge and passion with new students!
Musical Theatre Games & Movement
with Alina Bangerter (she/her)
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Time: 9:00 AM-9:55 AM
Location: Greene Dance Studio, located at 4311 Sara Rd. Suite 209, Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Price: $125
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Musical Theater Games and Movement is a great introductory class for students 5-8! We’ll do what the class name says: play some games and practice some movement! The main focus will be what musical theater is all about: FUN! We’ll also learn a short dance for the class showcase. Come ready to dance, play, and have fun!
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Alina Bangerter is a young, driven director, actress, and dancer who loves helping others experience the joy of dance and theater—and she can’t wait to share that passion with her students. Since the age of five, she has had a heart for directing and has led a variety of children’s productions, including Robin Hood, Beauty and the Beast, The Sound of Music, and Shakespeare’s The Tempest.
Alina has trained in ballet with Dance Theater Southwest and is currently expanding her skills by learning clogging and tap. She also has a deep love for folk dance and serves as the lead choreographer for the Albuquerque Folk Dance Group, where they explore traditional dances from around the world!
Choreography
with Nikki Morrison Carico (she/her)
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Time: 10:00 AM-10:55 AM
Location: Greene Dance Studio, located at 4311 Sara Rd. Suite 209, Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Price: $125
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Choreography class is meant for students 8 and over who have some dance or performance experience. The class will focus on basic musical theater dance steps and vocabulary. We’ll also learn a dance number to perform for the class showcase. Come to this class ready to strengthen dance skills, move a lot, and have fun!
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Nikki has spent most of her life on or near the stage. She grew up dancing and performing, and has spent the last 4 years choreographing for heartstrings productions. She loves movement and dance, and is excited to share that love with her students. She is also a 5th grade teacher at New Mexico International School and is passionate about education in all its forms.
Vocal Intensive
with Tatyana Smith (she/her)
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Time: 11:00 AM-1:00 PM
Location: Greene Dance Studio, located at 4311 Sara Rd. Suite 209, Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Price: $225
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This dynamic vocal intensive is designed for young singers who want to strengthen their technique while bringing songs to life through powerful storytelling. Students will learn proper breath support, vocal placement, diction, and tone production to ensure a healthy, resonant sound. Through guided exercises and repertoire work, they will explore how to convey emotion, character, and narrative, turning each performance into a captivating experience for the audience. This class blends classical vocal principles with expressive interpretation, empowering singers to connect deeply with their music. By the end of this intensive, students will have both the technical tools and dramatic skills to sing with confidence, artistry, and authenticity.
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Tatyana Smith is a dedicated General Music Teacher at Mission Avenue Elementary and Vocal Director at Heartstrings Theatre Company. She earned her degree in Music Education with a concentration in Vocal Music from Alabama A&M University. A classically trained vocalist specializing in opera, Tatyana has also performed in numerous theatre productions over the years. Her passion lies in nurturing and developing young voices, helping students discover both skill and confidence. With a lifelong devotion to the performing arts, she brings artistry, discipline, and joy to every classroom and stage she enters.
Advanced Acting
with Madison Dodd (she/her)
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Time: 2:00-3:30 PM
Location: Greene Dance Studio, located at 4311 Sara Rd. Suite 209, Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Price: $180
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Advanced Acting serves students ages 12-18. This course will include: ensemble building, scene study, character study and monologue work - but most importantly FUN! In this class students will learn a variety of acting techniques to help them develop and play characters on stage. Using scenes and monologues students will learn a character role, rehearse and perform a small part of the show. If your child is ready for their next step in their acting adventures this class is right for you!
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Madison Dodd is delighted to join the heartstrings team! Madison holds a BFA in musical theatre from Stephens College and a Masters in Education from Emporia State University. Professional Directing and Acting Credits include: Okoboji Summer Theatre, Maples Repertory Theatre, Prairie Fire Children's Theatre, New Theatre and Restaurant, Leawood Stage Company, Faust Theatre, Worlds of Fun, and Fusion. Local Credits include: Albuquerque Little Theatre, Musical Theatre Southwest and Fusion. Madison has been teaching theatre for over a decade and is the artistic director of the Boji Bantam Children's Theatre during the summer season.