BECKY GREGOIRE
Owner / Director / Instructor
After sharing her incredible teaching talents with the students at Edgewater since 2001, Becky Gregoire, aka Ms. Becky, became owner of Edgewater in June of 2021. She brings her incredible energy to the students while maintaining the wonderful Edgewater quality and traditions.
Ms. Becky began her training at Diane’s Dance Academy at the age of 3. Her dance studies include tap, hip hop, jazz, modern, ballet, and pointe. Becky has been sharing her incredible talents with the student at Edgewater since 2001. She has taught dance classes and camps throughout New Hampshire for more than 10 years. Becky is a dance faculty member at Plymouth State University.
Becky has attended several dance intensives and workshops with New Hampshire Dance and at Plymouth State College as well as several hip hop workshops. Becky was a member of Edgewater Dance Company and has won many awards at regional and national dance competitions. Becky resides in Laconia with her husband and child. She is looking forward to this season with great excitement!
CATHY DEFREGGER
Instructor-Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Tap, Jazz
Cathy Defregger has studied dance since the age of 5. Through the years, she has trained in and performed ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, tap, and hip hop in Virginia, Florida, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and London, England.
Cathy received her BA in dance from Radford University in Radford, Virginia. During her studies, she spent a semester in London, England, where she studied dance and performed in the Malibu World Dance Championship. As the U.S. Representative, she placed in the top ten of over 35 dancers from around the world.
Cathy has taught dance classes to children and adults for various studios in Virginia, Wolfeboro School of Ballet, Tilton School, and 11 years at Edgewater Academy of Dance. She has performed with Chamber Ballet, Newport News Contemporary Dance Theatre, Student Dance Theatre and the Radford University Dance Theatre in Virginia. Cathy choreographed and performed in Street Car Company’s “Oklahoma” and “Grease” and choreographed “West Side Story” for Tilton School. Cathy was voted as one of the top three New Hampshire community theater choreographers in 2010 for her choreography for the Winnipesaukee Playhouse’s musical “A Year With Frog and Toad”.
Cathy, aka Ms. Cathy, feels honored to have served the students and families of Edgewater as owner and director for 16 years. She is also excited to be a part of Edgewater as passes the ownership torch to Ms. Becky. Ms. Cathy will continue to do what she loves, teaching dance classes that focus on strong technique and encourage creativity in a fun and nurturing environment. Cathy resides in Gilford with her husband, Hermann. She is thankful of the great support from her family and friends. As always, she is looking forward to this season with great excitement and energy!
JESSIE FARQUHARSON
Instructor – Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz
Jessie Byram-Farquharson graduated from Plymouth State University in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in Developmental Psychology and a minor in Dance. She has a Master’s degree in School Counseling and is currently working as a guidance counselor at Woodland Heights School. Jessie has been dancing since she was 3 years old, including 15 years at Edgewater studying tap, ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, and hip-hop. Jessie was a member of Edgewater Dance Company. At PSU, she took classes from many renowned teachers and choreographers from a variety of dance companies, including Refractions Dance Collective of NYC, Deca Dance Theater, Urbanity, Pantos Project, and BoSoma Dance Company. Jessie also had the opportunity to take two semester-long classes from Mziyanda Mancam of JazzArt Dance Company in South Africa. She was a member of the PSU Dance Team for three years, and co-captain her senior year. She has continued to choreograph and perform with the New Hampshire Dance Movement to benefit the Faith, Love, and Hope Foundation.
LAURA RAMSEY
Instructor – Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz
Laura’s dance story began at the age of five when she first started taking classes at Edgewater Academy of Dance. Her love of dance grew from there. Laura danced in numerous performances with Edgewater Dance Company, including performing at the PSU gala, the Belknap Mill, and competing in numerous dance competitions. In addition to dancing at Edgewater, she was a class assistant for several years in Pre-ballet and Tap.
Laura continued her training throughout college at Plymouth State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in business management and a minor in dance. While at PSU, she performed with the PSU Contemporary Dance Ensemble and Dance Project, and helped run the American College Dance Association conference.
Since graduating, she has continued to assistant teach at Edgewater, as well as substitute teach dance classes in various styles and ages.
Over the years, Laura has performed in various shows and ballet productions, including the Nutcracker with Northeast Ballet, Cinderella with Sole City Dance. She also appeared (with Rebecca Gregoire) alongside Weird Al Yankovic at his concert at Bank of NH Pavilion.
Outside of the studio, she balances life as a full-time administrative assistant, a proud homeowner and newlywed.
Ballet and Pointe hold a special place in her heart, but she truly loves all forms of dance. Laura is thrilled to be sharing her love of dance with her students at Edgewater this season.
JOEY GOLDBERG
Instructor – Theatre-Jazz, Tap, Jazz
Joey Goldberg has been dancing since the age of 3. Joey is a graduate of Plymouth State University with a major in Musical Theatre performance with an option in Vocal Studies. Throughout her time at Plymouth, Joey was in various productions such as: Into the Woods, Godspell, Urinetown (Dance captain), and Once Upon a Mattress (Dance captain). She also was selected by her PSU dance teacher, Rebecca Gregoire, to assist with multiple classes.
When not in the classroom, Joey enjoys going to the gym, being with her dogs, eating ice cream, and spending time with her friends and family.
Joey looks forward to sharing the passion, joy, and drive she has for theatre and dance to her students at Edgewater this season!