Angela Tarleton
Co-founder & Artistic Director
Angela Tarleton – known to all as Miss Angela – has over 30 years of experience. On a College and Conservatory level, she has worked in every medium of the performing arts. She understands the performance process from stretching to warm up the body to the bows at the end of a performance. Being equally actress, dancer, singer, choreographer, director, playwright and musician (also an accomplished flutist) she fits into any mold needed. She has taught acting to dancers and dance to actors, and works well with directors, musical directors, as well as the technical crew. She has designed lighting and costumes for many dance concerts. She is a “Renaissance Woman” in her own right. When teaching, directing or choreographing she maintains a strong focus of activity, creating a sense of unity and purpos that “gets the job done”! As an original visionary and founder of Christ Arts Institute, Inc. she kept the “vision alive” with her innovative ideas and dedication to excellence in training and performance, and she continues to do the same here in New Hampshire with Kearsarge Conservatory of the Performing Arts!
Angela Tarleton has written a Fully Graded System of Ballet Curriculum with accompanying music arranged by Kim Nichols and Angela Tarleton. A graded system simply means that each level has exact dance steps and techniques that are required learning before the student can pass to the next level. It also means that each teacher follows this curriculum so that no matter who teaches the classes, nothing is omitted before the student passes to the next level.
Contact:
angela@nhperformingarts.org
Kevin Tarleton
Co-founder and Director of Theatre Arts
Since 1973 Mr. Tarleton – known as Mr. Kevin – has Acted, directed, written and even technical directed hundreds of productions ranging from the classics to modern, contemporary, and original works in both the dramatic and musical venues; from professional to community theatre, film and television. Mr. Tarleton also founded a conservatory of the performing arts: Christ Arts Institute, Inc. (a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) corporation); Which now operates as Kearsarge Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Warner, New Hampshire. Over the last 10 years he produced a children’s theatre, Saltbox Players, out of the conservatory which performed both original and traditional scripts with original music. When not performing or directing, Mr. Tarleton was at times working in stagecraft and design, building sets for some of the first “Barney” videos starring Sandy Duncan; building production sets for Cornerstone Insurance’s annual gala at the Majestic Theatre in Dallas; or stage managing The Promise, a live passion play in Glenrose, TX. seating 3500 audience members in a outdoor amphitheater designed by Peter Wolfe and Associates. A renaissance man in many ways, Mr Tarleton is also a member of the Screen Actor’s Guild.
Contact:
kevin@nhperformingarts.org
Kristi Upton
Director of Dance & Certified Acrobatic Arts Instructor
Kristi Upton has over 20 years of dance experience. She studied ballet, tap, and jazz at the Fanton Dance Studio in New Fairfield, C T for 15 years. She was an assistant teacher there in ballet and tap for two years. Further ballet instruction was obtained at the University of Maine and Harrison School of Dance in New London . Kristi has also attended workshops in Irish and modern dance.
She has been teaching at KCPA for the past five years and has become a beloved member of the Performance Company as well as the Staff. She has been carefully and thoroughly trained by Director Angela Tarleton and is now the Pointe Technique Instructor. KCPA is blessed to have her as an excellent Instructor!
Michelle Gosnell
Resident voice and piano teacher
Michelle Gosnell is a Texas transplant to the New Hampshire Area. She has a Bachelor of Music with a specialization in vocal performance from Texas Tech University. In Addition, Mrs. Gosnell had the opportunity to work with Marshal Williamson who recently retired from Julliard after 36 years. Michelle is a coloratura soprano, and during her first session Mr. Williamson said, “My dear, you have a rare gift and there a very few of you left in this world; you must practice much and sing often.” She also had the opportunity to study with Edwardo Brown, Opera Director, of the Fort Worth Symphony.
While in Texas she had extensive experience with a professional acting troop call the Salt Box Players who traveled throughout the DFW Metroplex performing Children’s Theatre in both Public and Private Schools. Mrs. Gosnell is currently teaching Musical Theatre at Kearsarge Conservatory of the Performing Arts (KCPA) in Warner, NH and has a full schedule instructing private voice and piano to students both home schooled and public schooled students.
She says, “My goal in working with a voice student is to first recognize the natural range of the voice and then work closely with the student to choose a repertoire that both fits the voice and interests the student. We then work on vocal placement to find the true bel conto, combined with work on tonal memory, breathing, posture and relaxation; and in doing so we have fun! We learn and practice stage presence, facial expression, blocking and the importance of being passionate about performing. We learn to communicate as we perform, to share what the composer wanted to come across through the lyrics, melody and dynamics and often we analyze the accompaniment for any hidden meaning; in essence, we work to give the audience a wonderful experience.”
As far as piano lessons, she uses the Bastian Series for it gives a strong foundation in music theory as well as teaching the student to recognize patterns through intervals which is vital in sight reading. Miss Michelle, as her students call her, feels the most important thing is that she and the students have a positive and fun experience while learning.
Vincant Davis
Director of Operations
Vincant “Mr. Cheti” Davis
Mr. Cheti comes to us from our long lineage of students. He first joined Miss Angela and Mr. Kevin at the age of 4 in Fort Worth, Texas. He began his studies and was cast in his first production at age 5. Professionally he has had the opportunity to perform as well as study with the best in the industry. He shares our passion to allow anyone who has the desire to learn an opportunity to do so! He has danced professionally with Ballet Concerto, the now known company The Texas Ballet Company, The Houston Ballet as well as guest spots with some of the worlds leading companies. He is also accomplished in vocal performance and live theater as well. He has performed both nationally and internationally in musical and non musical theater productions and it is an honor to have him join KCPA.
Andrew Alvarado
My name is Andy Alvarado, I’m 24 and I’ve been dancing since I was a young kid. Growing up I was inspired a lot by my mother who was an apprentice at Boston Ballet before she got married and had kids. I started taking dance as soon as I was able to even walk. From tap, to theater I always enjoyed moving to music! I started substitute dance teaching when I was 18-19 and fell in love with instructing as well as performing! My goal always first and foremost as a teacher is to see my kids grow in skill and passion for the craft. When you’re passionate about something it reflects on how much growth there is, and growth is a sign of strength. I’m almost 25 and My number one goal as a dancer outside of teaching is to always be growing and never settling for where I am at as a dancer/performer!”
Zoe
Zoe the Therapy Dog