508 . 673 . 4880 | Lindaonstage@aol.com
ON Stage Academy of Performing Arts
Fall River's Premier Youth Musical Theater Programs
Director Linda Mercer-Botelho
Linda's dedication to dance education is truly commendable, and her extensive training speaks to her commitment to excellence. With 40 years of experience as the Founder and Director of On Stage, Linda's expertise shines through.
She honed her skills with a concentration in Pedagogy at the Boston Conservatory of Music, Dance Department, and furthered her education in New York under the guidance of renowned Jazz teachers such as Charles Kelly, Frank Hatchett, Susan Samuels, and Phil Black.
Her credentials include graduation from the American Ballet Academy’s teachers Intensive at Vassar College, and she is a certified "LEAP AND LEARN" teacher specializing in classes for children aged 2 1/2 to 8, using the "Leap and Learn System."
Linda's commitment to staying updated with the latest in dance education is evident through her membership in IDEA (International Dance Educators Association) and her consistent attendance at the "DanceLife Teacher Training Conferences." This ongoing education ensures that she provides the best for her students in a continually evolving field.
As a member of the Dance Teachers Club of Boston and the National Dance Education Association, Linda keeps her skills fresh by training with world-renowned teachers and integrating innovative techniques and choreography into her company's repertoire.
Her dedication extends to producing, directing, and choreographing performances for the school for the past 40 years.
Furthermore, Linda's role as the President and Artistic Director of On Stage Theatrical Productions is highlighted by her creation of the "Give Kids a Chance Program," which is dedicated to sharing the performing arts with underserved children in Fall River.
With her wealth of experience and commitment to her craft, Linda continues to be a vital part of the arts community in Fall River, Massachusetts. We look forward to the 41 st season of On Stage and the continued enrichment it brings to the community.
Roger Botelho | Musical Director/ Musical Theater
Voice/Piano
Roger has a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from the University of Lowell and a Masters Degree in Special Education from Bridgewater State College. After working as a music teacher in the Fall River School Department for 17 years, Roger has recently retired from his position as a special education teacher at Old Rochester Regional Junior High School. The leader of the Bavarian Brothers, Roger has performed throughout the country with the authentic Bavarian Band. Having performed the national anthem for the New England Patriots seven times, he now enjoys performing for the elderly in area nursing homes and with the On Stage Vocalists. Roger is the Music Director at On Stage where he teaches group, private, and harmonizing voice lessons, and works with all of our musical productions.
Karen White
Director : Musical Theater Productions here at On Stage
Musical Theater Dance/ Broadway Bound and Competition Choreographer
Karen specializes in musical theater instruction after appearing in dozens of college, regional and local productions, her favorites being A Chorus Line (“Val”), Annie (“Lily St. Regis”), and 42nd Street (“Anytime Annie”). She has directed and choreographed casts of up to 88 middle school students in
Grease, Beauty and the Beast, Bye Bye Birdie, High School Musical, most recently she has directed "A Christmas Carol", Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Lion King, And Frozen Jr. for On Stage Theatrical Productions.
An English Journalism/ Theater graduate of the University of Massachusetts/Amherst, Karen has taught master classes in musical theater instruction for Dance Masters of America Chapter 5 teacher workshops and served as a competition judge for the Greater Brockton Dance Teachers Association.
Her work with dance competition students at various New England studios has been recognized with numerous judges’ choice and choreography awards.
She is also certified to teach jazz and ballet by the Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston.
Karen worked as a freelance writer for Dance Teacher, Pointe, and Stage Directions magazines, and most recently as editor in chief of Dance Studio Life magazine where she interviewed theater and dance luminaries such as Ben Vereen, Mia Michaels, Chet Walker, Benjamin Millepied, and Leslie Browne.
Lisa Mailloux- Tap / Jazz / Mommy and Me/ Choreography
Lisa Mailloux is the former owner/Director of Steppin’ Out Dance Studio of Portsmouth, RI. The studio was in operation for 25 years, with hundreds of students passing through its’ doors. Her students have gone on to dance in higher education, own studios, perform in companies, on cruise ships and in national tours.
Lisa is a founding board member of The International Dance Entrepreneur’s Association (I.D.E.A.), founded in 2016 by Mr. Rhee Gold. She is a Certified Instructor of Rhythm Works Integrated Dance, a clinical hip hop program for students with individual learning differences. Lisa is a member of Dance Masters of America (DMA) and is a past Secretary of DMA, NE Chapter #5. She has also been a judge for several dance competitions in the Northeast.
Lisa is a former NFL cheerleader with the New England Patriot “Spirits” and has studied with many of the leading names in dance today. She regularly attends continuing education conferences throughout the country and has also been the Director of the Tiverton and Portsmouth High School Color Guard/Dance Teams for the past 20 years.
Lisa is looking forward to sharing her love of dance with today’s families and future generations. She is presently a faculty member at two dance studios in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts and is an Independent Consultant for Dance Studio Owners. She resides in Portsmouth, RI with her three children.
Kim De Cost
Jazz/ Leaps/ Turns/ Jumps
Kim grew up dancing for the late Carole Miller in Taunton, MA. She graduated from Bridgewater State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications, Theater and Dance. She also attended Dean College, where she auditioned for and was accepted into the Alvin Ailey School of Dance. She has performed in many shows, including The Pajama Game, A Chorus Line and Anything Goes. Since graduation, Kim has taught at several local studios at both the recreational and competitive levels, holding positions as choreographer, instructor, Company Manager and Assistant Artistic Director. She continues to teach master classes locally in Musical Theater, Jazz, Ballet and Turns, Jumps, Leaps.
Kim's choreography has been recognized at both the regional and national levels, winning numerous high score, choreography, judge’s choice, and costume awards. Kim’s Musical Theater Productions have earned top honors Nationally. Several of her pieces have also been invited to be a part of the United States Dance Team and be a part of the World Championships.
Kim is a professional, passionate instructor and choreographer who believes anything can be achieved with a little hard work and passion!
Nikki Camara
Hip Hop and Hippity Hop Classes
Nikki started dance at the age of 4 at On Stage and danced until graduating high school. She studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, and musical theater. She traveled to Walt Disney world and performed with the On Stage jr/sr company. While in high school she joined the hip hop dance team and that is when the love for hip hop started. She danced for four years and was captain of the team Senior year. After graduating, she went on the BCC and earned an associates degree in Health Science. During this time she also joined a local hip hop dance crew called the Movement Specialist, based out of Fall River, MA. The hip hop group traveled to various competitions and Monsters of hip hop dance conventions winning first place and overalls numerous times. They also took the title of New Englands Best Dance crew. Nikki has been working at local dance studios teaching hip hop and jazz for the past 15 years. She is a competition choreographer who has won first places, overalls, and specialty awards for her work. Her favorite part of her job is seeing the confidence grow within her students inside and outside of the dance room. She is excited for her first year of teaching at On Stage. Nikki is a resident of Swansea with her husband and four children.
Stacy Wong- Ballet/ Tap/ Jazz/ Hip Hop/ Private Lessons - Competition Team
Stacy is a graduate of Prividence College with a double major in Biomedical Engineering Accounting and Accounts Management. A member of the Providence College Dance Team, Stacy lead her team to win awards at the national level in both Jazz and Hip Hop. Stacy is an On Stage Alumni with over 18 years of experience with On Stage. She began her dance training at ON Stage at the age of 3. Her training has included Broadway Dance Center, Festival Ballet, and the many guest teachers that have worked with the Providence Friars Dance Team.
Throughout her studies at On Stage she concentrated on Classical Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern Dance, Musical Theater, Acting, and Voice. As a member of the dance company she was awarded many 1st place awards in Ballet, Tap, Contemporary and Jazz. She has traveled to and performed with the Company in Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Six Flags.
We are happy to have Stacy Back in the studio as part of our staff for the 2023-2024 season.
GUEST TEACHERS
Alexander Cruz
Boys Classes, Senior Company Jazz/Tap
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Featured Dancer- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
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Featured dancer- Saturday Night Live
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West Side Story National Tour
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A Chorus Line-National Tour
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EVITA- 5TH AVE THEATER
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Graduate of RI College- BA in Communications and Dance
Direct from New York
Alex is a member of
SAG and AFTRA
with professional experience in
television and stage.
Alex is currently performing
ON BROADWAY in the musical
Moulin Rouge
Deborah Y. Wilson (Debbie)
Deborah Y. Wilson (Debbie), a native New Yorker, is a performer, choreographer, and dance educator. After majoring in dance at Brooklyn College, she joined Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Certificate Program. From there, she attended Broadway Dance Center and became a Frank Hatchett Dancer and teacher, and eventually got her own class. During her more than 30 years of teaching at BDC, she is one of the only teachers that has taught, Jazz, Commercial Jazz, Musical Theater, Street Jazz, Jazz Funk, and TV/Video Jazz.
Recently, Debbie got accepted into the Stage Director and Choreographer’s Foundation Observership Class which led to her being an Apprentice Director/Choreographer to Jerry Mitchell for the Pretty Woman National Tour (101 Productions).
Performance credits include “Sesame Street Live” and “The Wizard of Oz” national tours, “Porgy & Bess” (Bregenz, Austria), and “The Radio City Christmas Spectacular.” Debbie has
assumed the role of Performance Director for “Sesame Street Live” and Production Assistant for “American Prophet – Frederick Douglass...In His Words” at the Apollo Theater, and “Dancin Feet” Video Series featuring Lane Napper.
Debbie’s international teaching gives her a unique perspective on dance and music styles from around the world. She is currently on faculty at Broadway Dance Center and has taught at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Steps on Broadway, Peridance Capezio Center, and Dance Theatre of Harlem.