Stop by 725 Civic Center Drive, Augusta or call 207-623-1933 today!

We welcome you to our beautiful new space! 

Pat Michaud Photo: Students of KDC in photoshoot

   Kennebec Dance Centre, formerly known as Encore Dance Centre, is a dance studio that offers all phases of dance to all ages. Our goal is to promote the art of dance through excellence in education, instruction and performance throughout the Greater Kennebec Valley.  The study of dance builds creativity, confidence and discipline. For students interested in improving their skills throughout the school year as well as the summer, we have created a variety of different programs to fit everyone's needs.
    Since 1973, founder/artistic director Keltie McCatherin Collins has been creating, teaching, and choreographing for her school.  Her training began as a young child, she was the youngest of 5 children and followed in her big sisters' footsteps after she was a student of theirs.  Jean McDonald and Carol Martin, Keltie's sisters had their own studios in the Kennebec Valley region, both have moved out of state and return to Maine's coast for the summers.  
    Keltie continues the tradition of keeping a highly reputable school molding many talented dancers who perform locally and nationally .  A plethora of Keltie's students go on to continue their dance education in college as well as professional performing. Former KDC student and teacher, Peter Chamberlin of Augusta, who recieved his BFA in Dance at SUNY Purchase, is now a featured dancer in the world renowned modern dance company, Bill T. Jones.  One student, Sarah Johnson of Waterville, who joined us her senior year in high school,  recently was seen on Broadway in 42nd Street and was casted as one of 2003's Radio City Rockettes. Former student, Holly Labbe, earned her Bachelor's degree at Colby College, and went on to Ohio to earn her Master's degree and is now teaching, choreographing, and performing modern and contemporary dance in Washington state.
    Encore Dance Centre was invited to attend and compete, representing the state of Maine in the National Invitational Dance Festival in Hollywood, CA in 1988. The troupe of dancers returned home with numerous awards, medals and honors.

Pictured: Encore Dance Company at the Young Americans' National Invitational Dance Festival in Hollywood, CA. 

 Through the years KDC's dancers have also been involved in Tremaine, Dance Olympus, and Dancers Inc. competitions where they were repeatedly invited back to compete on a national level and placed in High Gold, Gold, High Silver and Silver! Also, they have received many special competition awards including: Best Choreography, overall Highest Score of the Day in Junior and Senior divisions, and Best Presentation. 

    In 1996, three of KDC's dancers, in collaboration with Andrei Bossov, formerly of the Kirov Ballet, were invited to compete in Japan's 2nd International Ballet Competition in Nagoya, Japan.  Andrea Michaud Tracy, Peter Chamberlin, and Patricia Gatcomb were the fortunate 3 of 7 from the United States who were chosen to represent the USA competing against many other professional ballet and modern dancers from around the world.

Pat Michaud Photo 
Pictured top left to right: Patricia Gatcomb, Peter Chamberlin, and Andrea Michaud Tracy. Japan International Competition photoshoot.

     One of Keltie's own creations, The Tap Nutcracker, which she debuted in 1996 continues to flourish annually.  The entire show is based on the original "Nutcracker" story to Tchaikovsky's score, but Keltie choreographed all the dances for tap only.  All of the school's tap students are welcomed to participate in the performance and it is usually held in early December of each year. 

    Keltie’s greatest passion is to teach the very young dancer and watch them bloom into self-confident young adults who will go on and pursue a career in dance professionally or simply enjoy their love for this wonderful art.

    Outside of her school, Keltie continues to choreograph for Cony High School's longest running minstrel show in the country, Chizzle Wizzle. Each of her siblings including herself: John, Jean, Carol, and Charlie were seen on that stage singing and dancing in their days of high school. Many KDC students who attend Cony High continue the tradition of singing and dancing in this show. 

    The Cony Dance Team is another newly organized team, inspired by student, Shari Katz.  Keltie's daughter, Holly voluntarily coached the dance team for its first two years and Keltie has since taken over the position.  The high school has enjoyed another talented organized club to entertain and display their talents within the school's grounds and activities.

    Also,Keltie was invloved with the Moscow Ballet in producing its Nutcrackers in collaboration with Clear Channel Radio and the Kennebec Dance Center of Augusta.  For two years, the Moscow Ballet's Nutcracker performances at the Augusta Civic Center have been a success.  Keltie held auditions and rehearsed all the students who participated in the show and was a key player in the production of the show.

 No student has ever been denied admission to Kennebec Dance Centre. It is the School's policy to admit any student regardless of age, sex, color or creed..