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MEET OUR STAFF
SHARING OUR PASSIONS
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Dance & Physical Fitness Instructors:
Matthew Flynn - Beginning Boxing
Tia Wade - Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, & Jazz
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Kat Leblanc - Musical Theatre
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Eran Bazzelle - Program Director
Crystal Lemay - Tesa's Place Supervisor
Courtney Maciasz - Executive Director
Tammy Yates - Bookkeeper
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Music
Ben Deshotels: Guitar (Thursday)
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Matthew Flynn: Boxing and Drum Instructor (Thursday)
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Matthew is currently enrolled in UL in Lafayette where he drives in from the school one night a week to continue teaching his students his love of boxing and drums.
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Matthew was born and raised in Erwinville, LA. Matthew has been a member of Boy Scouts since age 6. He earned his Eagle Rank on March 6, 2019. Matthew enjoys music, driving, gaming and hanging out with friends.
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Avery Jameson: Music Theory, Piano and Voice (Mondays and Thursdays)
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Avery Jameson obtained their bachelor’s degree in vocal performance at LSU in the studio of Dr. Loraine Sims. They are currently singing with the Baton Rouge Early Vocal Ensemble, a local professional vocal group specializing in lesser known historical works written before the 18th century. Avery also writes and arranges their own music; one of their arrangements was recently premiered in the Baton Rouge Early Vocal Ensemble's 2017 Christmas concert series. In addition to these engagements, Avery has performed with the Acadiana Symphony, the LSU Symphony, LSU Opera, and the LSU A Cappella Choir. In their spare time, they enjoy writing fantasy fiction and snuggling with their cats.
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​Eric Littleton: Drums (Tuesday)
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Kamran Vienne: Violin (Wednesday)
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Starr Grizaffi: Tumbling (Tuesday)
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Starr Grizaffi has been teaching children in either gymnastics, dance or physical education for the past 44 years. A former collegiate gymnast and cheerleader at College of DuPage in Illinois and member of the LSU dance theater group she brings her expertise in many forms to the Centre. Starr began teaching at the Centre in its beginnings many years ago, as well as a former member of our Board of Directors. Starr currently teaches physical education and health at Catholic Elementary for the past 26 years.
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Tia Wade: Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop and Jazz (Wednesday)
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Kat Leblanc: Musical Theatre (Thursday)​
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​Heather Beaud: Pottery (Thursday)
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Heather Beaud is a native of Morganza and now lives in New Roads. She has an associate degree in architectural drafting from ITI Technical College also has a bachelor’s degree in fine arts with a concentration in ceramics from LSU.
Heather has always had a love for the arts since a very young age and believes it is important for children to be introduced to art at an early age. It promotes self-esteem and expression. It also allows them to learn how to trust themselves and communicate their thoughts and feelings freely.
Ceramics (pottery) is a very versatile art form. It allows you to design many different objects such as plates, bowls, mugs, serving dishes, jewelry, sculptures, wall hangings, etc. It is also a very satisfying and meditative art form. It is extremely rewarding to see something manifest out of a lump of clay. Designing each object is a creatively playful process that grounds us to mother nature by taking something from the earth and transforming it with your own hands and your imagination into an object that has meaning and purpose. She looks forward to sharing her art skills with the community.
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Melissa Blount: Sewing Instructor (Tuesday and Wednesday)
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Chloe Landry: Pre-K Art (Thursday)
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Chloe is a former Centre for the Arts student. She started taking art classes at 3 years old. This will be her third year teaching Pre-K Art.
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Chloe continues her college journey at Academy of Interactive Entertainment. Chloe is talented in sculpture, watercolor and acrylics. Her charcoal work is amazing. Chloe enjoys music and hanging out with friends.
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A'na Nolan: Visual Art (Tuesday and Wednesday)
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A'na Nolan Huckabaa grew up in Denham Springs, Louisiana where she found her love and passion for art starting around 5 years old when her kindergarten teacher discovered her drawing detailed helicopters and landscapes. A'na's passion for teaching Art is here at Centre for the Arts. She is the Children's Ministry Director at First Baptist Church of New Roads. She has had a teaching job in elementary school for 18 years and is member at First Baptist Church of New Roads.
A'na lives in Ventress with her 2 rescue dogs living their best life, and she enjoys gardening.
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Eran Bazzelle: Program Director
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Eran is a native of Livonia and has been a student at the Centre since 2010. Eran began working here the summer of 2020. They work well with the youth at the Centre helping children with homework, making snacks, playing games and anything else the students need.
Eran enjoys doing makeup for our theatre productions and is planning to attend cosmetology school in the future.
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John Aaron Blanchard: Custodian
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​Phyllis Labatut: Custodian
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Crystal Lemay: Tesa's Place Director
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Courtney Maciasz: Executive Director
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Courtney Maciasz has been painting from a very early age and was formally trained as an artist at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA. Ever since graduating, she has focused on finding ways to share her love for art with students of all ages. After moving to south Louisiana, she was introduced to the Centre and knew immediately that she wanted to be a part of this amazing place.
After teaching art at the Centre for several months, Courtney assisted the Centre’s co-founder, Tiffany, and eventually took on the Executive Director position in August of 2013. She currently lives in Zachary with her husband, Stephen, and three children, Luke, Lizzy, and Joey.
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Tammy Yates: Bookkeeper
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