Faculty / Staff
Nichola Johnson, MFA
Director
Dance Faculty
Dance - ballet, modern, jazz/contemporary, choreography and composition, tap
Director of The Complex Dance Company.
• Nichola began dancing at the age of three under the direction of the late, Roy Perrault. Nichola studied Dance Pedagogy and Performance at The Hartford Camerata Conservatory, holds a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts and a Master's of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College. Nichola has spent her life immersed in the performing arts and brings a passion to this community that is infectious. Nichola founded The Complex in 2004, then named - Nichola Johnson's Studio of Dance. In the past 20 years The Complex has grown and evolved into an anchor for the town of Putnam.
Nichola is an Adjunct Professor of Performing Arts/Dance at Eastern CT State University, as well at CT STATE Community College, and a creative contributor through the development of new work and serving as Director for Main Stage Musicals. Nichola served as the Associate Director of The Cultural Center at Eagle Hill and as a Professor of Dance at Nichols College. Ms. Johnson has performed, developed, and presented work to national acclaim and has had the honor to be in creative conversation with artists, educators, and learners from varying communities. Nichola is passionate about creating, nurturing and sustaining arts programs that advance the development of our youth and emerging artists.
Julie Watt, MFA
Co-Director
Creative/Visual Arts Faculty
Visual and Creative Art - painting, drawing, creative process, photography, creative writing, 3-dimensional art, community art, graphic design
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• Julie Watt brings a wealth of knowledge, passion, and inspiration to The Complex Community. Julie holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Graphic Design from Northeastern University and an Master's of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College. Julie is the Graphic Design and Digital Media Department Head at Norwich Technical High School and an Adjunct Professor of Painting at QVCC. Julie has also served on the faculty at the University of New Haven teaching Multi-Media Design.
Julie spent much time in the professional world of Graphic Design working for companies such as Time Warner NYC, Valassis Communications CT, ADVO CT, and ADCO MO. Julie is passionate about education and the arts and is currently working towards her administrative certification in Educational Leadership at Central Connecticut State University.
Madison Palmerino
Music and Theatre Faculty
Emily Zornado
Director of Theatre Education
Music - ukulele and voice, music theory.
Theatre - acting, playwriting, theatre arts, musical theatre
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• Emily Zornado has been working as a member of the Complex music faculty since 2015 where she began assisting productions as a musician and teacher. She is now the Director of Theatre Education, where she directs multiple Complex productions a year, offers private voice lessons, and teaches many classes. After ten years at the Complex, she is no less excited to come to work every day. Her teaching is driven by compassion, technique, and play. Her students can expect to work to a high standard and be met with individualized mentorship along the way.
Emily Zornado holds Bachelor's degrees in Social Work and Music, with a focus in Education.
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Alex Plucenik
Dance Faculty
Dance - jazz/contemporary, modern, hip hop/acro
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• Alex Plucenik holds a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Dance performance from Rhode Island College and is the Director of Dance at Putnam Science Academy. At the age of 3 Alex fell in love with dance and carried that passion with her to college and beyond. As an alumna of The Complex she believes in the mission of this beautiful arts space which has help build her teaching philosophy over the years. Alex was fortunate enough to do an independent study in college and spend time with Nichola Johnson, truly immersing deep into her core values of teaching. It was here that she discovered her true purpose with dance which was dance education.
While a part of the Rhode Island College Dance Company Alex studied with many artists from all over including Angelica Vessella, Kathy Smith, Eva Marie Pacheco, Adrienne Hawkins, Daniel Singh, Bridgman and Packer, and many more. Alex is extremely excited to continue her love for dance education here at The Complex. Thank you to Nichola and Julie for creating such a beautiful space for the arts.
Kellie Schimmelpfennig
Admin Team
Theatre - musical theatre
Music - voice, guitar and piano
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• Madison Palmerino is an educator, musician, and performer with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education. Based in Putnam, CT you may have seen her perform in the past years as Gertrude in Seussical, Janet in Rocky Horror Picture Show, and most recently as Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. With extensive experience as a performer and training in the pedagogy of music education, Madison brings a playful and informed technique to the lesson room.
Madison believes that musical ability is a muscle that can be strengthened, no matter the starting point. All it takes is the will to build it up. With this mindset, she works to creates a space of productive challenge, perseverance, and growth.
Studio Coordinator / Production Manager
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• Bio Coming Soon!
Kelly Mackay
Dance Faculty
Dance - tap and jazz/contemporary
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• Kelly has been a member of the Complex faculty since 2015. She began her dance training at the age of three, at Mass Motion Dance (formerly Terri Gordon Dance Centre). Kelly is a graduate of the Hartford Conservatory, where she studied Dance Pedagogy and Performance. Her internship included study with Jacques d’Amboise (former NYC Ballet principal dancer) and the National Dance Institute (NYC), whose
focus is hard work, team building and joyful learning, which she tries to embody in the classroom. She has performed as a guest with the Sonia Plumb Dance Company as well as at the 5X5 Dance Festival and throughout New England. Kelly believes teaching is a process of learning from students and encourages her students to question their assumptions and explore their potential. Her teaching is informed by her knowledge of anatomy and kinesiology. She
believes in creating an inclusive, supportive environment which focuses on strong technique, personal study and the freedom to fail. Kelly also works as Maternal Fetal Medicine Sonographer.
Shannon Jutras
Dance Faculty
Dance - ballet, modern, and jazz/contemporary, Director of The Complex Ballet Company
• Shannon Jutras is passionate about the intersection of art and community. Her classes focus on anatomically safe technique and helping people of all ages find joy in artistic expression. Shannon is a graduate of UMASS-Amherst, where she earned a BFA in Dance and a BA in English. She has performed with companies throughout New England, including José Mateo’s Ballet Theatre, TEN31 productions and Metamorphosis Dance Company. Shannon enjoys exploring the connections between music, literature, and history and considers herself a lifelong student of the arts.
Katelyn Cramer, MA R-DMT
Dance Faculty
Dance- ballet, tap, jazz, movement therapy
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• Katelyn has been dancing for over 25 years and is a 2009 alum of The Complex. After The Complex, Katelyn relocated to Western MA, where she attended Springfield College under the direction of Dr. Cynthia Nazzaro. She earned a Bachelor or Arts in Dance with a minor in Disability Studies, focusing her studies on choreography, modern dance and improvisation, and pedagogy. She continued her education at Antioch University New England where she earned a Masters of Arts degree in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling, where dance and movement is utilized in tandem with psychology to promote the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical integration of the individual. Over the years, Katelyn has worked in several different therapeutic settings focusing her work on infant through childhood development, attachment, and the Autistic and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities communities. Over the years, Katelyn has balanced her therapeutic dance work with creative work teaching dance, performing, and choreographing throughout Massachusetts. She is incredibly grateful to return to The Complex for another year as a staff member.
Catie Verostick, MT-BC
Corey Stanley
Jodi Stevens
Music Faculty
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Dance and Theatre Faculty
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Music Faculty
Theatre - acting, musical theatre, theatre arts
Dance - tap, hip hop
Visual Art - drawing, painting, 3-D, conceptual,
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Corey is reaching his 10th year in the world of performing arts! He started out as a student in The Complex’s first original theatre company, and made his way through each discipline of the studio. After graduating he studied with professional acting and dance teachers, and independently studied scenic art. Corey has won a Kennedy Center American College Theatre award for his scenic work at Western Connecticut State University. During the pandemic Corey worked with us at the studio as an interdisciplinary arts intern. Corey now works as the assistant to our studio manager, and teaches ballet, tap, hip-hop, acting, musical theatre, and visual arts! When Mr. Corey isn’t seen in the studio, he will be found performing all over! He is also a singer and tap dancer for The Catnip Junkies, a NOLA jazz group that performs in the tri-state area. He has been blessed to perform on stages of all kinds, and is able to apply firsthand what he teaches his students here at the studio!
Music - piano, guitar, bass, ukulele, woodwinds
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A sought after bassist and multi-instrumentalist, Jodi teaches bass guitar, guitar, piano,
percussion, ukulele and woodwinds. She received her Bachelor of Music with a
concentration in Education and Bass performance from Berklee College of Music. Jodi has done everything from performing, instructing private lessons, group lessons, and choir directing for over 20 years. Jodi welcomes students with a warm kind approach all
while catering to a students individual learning style.
Music - voice, piano, ukulele, guitar
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Catie Verostick is a musician, educator, performer and Board Certified Music Therapist with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy and minors in Psychology and Musical Theatre from Anna Maria College. She has performed in recent productions of “The Prom” (Ensemble/Alyssa Greene Swing), “The Little Mermaid” (Allana) and “Something Rotten” (Bea).
Catie’s teaching style is supportive and flexible, tailoring lessons to each student’s goals—whether that’s learning a favorite song, preparing for performances, or simply building confidence through music. Drawing from both clinical and performance backgrounds, Catie creates a positive, engaging space where students can explore, express, and enjoy music.