NEPCAA Executive Board Members

President

· Owner & Artistic Director of Matta Dance Academy-

” School of Performing Arts” (40 years)

· Has received many top awards for choreography and Outstanding dance performances

· Received National awards & special recognition of excellence

· Voted the “Best Dance Studio in the South Shore”

· Former teacher (special education)

· Attended Boston Conservatory of Music, Boston Ballet

· Graduated from Emerson College, Boston. (Dance/Theater Arts/Communication-BFA Degree)

· Continuing-Ed Program at BSU majoring in Special Education

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· Former New England Patriots Cheerleader and Line Captain

· Former New England Patriots Cheerleader Choreographer & Coach

· Choreographer, Producer, & Director of the New England Patriots Traveling Dance Team (the first cheer coach to ever start a dance/performance team)

· First New England Patriots dance coach and choreographer to create, design, and host the first cheerleading clinic at Sullivan Stadium

· Had the opportunity to choreograph several of the NFL Pre-game and half-time shows during her time as cheer choreographer/coach

· Founding member of NEPCAA (est. 2011)

· Has served 13 years with the NEPCAA organization in various capacities…President, Vice President, Executive Board of Directors, fundraising chairwoman, served on several committees, co-chairperson of the NFCAO reunion in Boston July of 2024

· Organized and implemented the NEPCAA Wellness workshop designed for children and teens

· For over 40 years, has coached many cheerleading teams and choreographed competition routines for all levels and divisions (elementary thru college)

· Was the first coach at BRRHS to take her Division 1 Cheer Team to Nationals where they won first place

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· Miss Boston 1979/Miss America Organization

· Miss Massachusetts 1979- State Talent Award Winner

· Competed in the Miss America Pageant representing Massachusetts in 1979

· Awarded the Outstanding Woman of America

· Who’s Who in Pageants

· Toured the New England states with the USO

· Former Director for the Miss Brockton and Miss south Shore Scholarship Pageants

· Volunteered many years in the Miss America Scholarship Pageant program as director, choreographer, mistress of ceremonies, judge, as well as serving on other committees…

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· For over 50 years, has volunteered thousands of hours to many charitable organizations (Veterans organizations, Children’s organizations, Special Needs Programs, Elderly programs, Church programs)

Other Charities/NEPCAA related involvement…Wellness Workshops, Wreaths across America, Charity golf tournaments, My Brother’s Keeper, Christmas “adopt a family”, VA Hospitals,

· Married for 39 years, has two adult children and three grandchildren

Vice President

· Current Vice President of NEPCAA (2020-Present)

· Married to Paul DiChiara for 37 years and Mother of Devin Anne DiChiara Artist and Director of dd Designs

· Member of the New England Patriots 1983-1984

· Founding member of NEPCAA and former Social Committee Chair

· Member of the USFL Boston Breakers Cheerleaders 1981-1982

· Owner & Artistic Director of The Kathy Ryan Dance Studio, located in Norfolk for 34 years.

· Owner and Director of Platinum Performing Arts Competition for 14 years.

· BS from Suffolk University, Marketing Major, Management Minor

· AS from Aquinas College Legal Secretarial Major

· Director for Elite Performance Challenge

· Judges for numerous Dance Competitions, including American Miss, Performance Plus and Turn It Up Dance Challenge.

· Students have performed in 3 Countries, Canada, Bermuda 2x and Bahamas 2x.

· Students have either preformed or competed in 22 states throughout the country.

· They Performed on 4 different cruises. Twice on the Norwegian Majesty Cruise Line, 1x on The Disney Cruise Line and 1x on The Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.

· Performed on the Boardwalk in Wildwood, New Jersey.

· Performed Hershey Park.

· Performed 4x in Disney World

· Her students have won numerous High Score Awards.

· Her students have performed at Foxboro Stadium at multiply Pre-games and Half-Time performances in the 1990’s for the 6x World Champion New England Patriots.

· Her students have performed 5x at Pre-game and Half time at the Boston Garden for the 18x World Champion Boston Celtics.

· Her students performed 2x in Fenway Park for the World Champion Red Sox’s.

· Her students performed 1x at The Providence Bruins.

· Her students performed in The Macy Thanksgiving Day Parade.

· Kathy was the Original Instructor of the Dance Program at the West Roxbury Community School

· Kathy, was a Choreographer for Numerous Boston Area High Schools, Colleges and Churches Mt. St. Joseph Academy, Aquinas Jr. College, Boston College High School, Catholic Memorial High School, Cedars of Lebanon, St. Theresa’s CYO.

· Business Director & Assistant Choreographer for the Free Spirit Dancers.

· Appeared in a Mercury Cougar Car Commercial representing the Free Spirit Dancers.

· Member of the Professional Beverly Richards Dance Company.

· Dance Captain for the Be Fit to Breathe Program, for 3 years with the American Lung Association.

· Graduate of the Dance Teacher Training Certificate Program, sponsored by the Dance Teachers Association of America, Boston Chapter.

· Inducted member of the NFL New England Patriots Cheerleaders’ Hall of Fame 2010.

· Choreographer for the Norfolk, Medfield, Millis Pop Warner Cheerleading Program 1991-2004.

· Judged for Miss Massachusetts Preliminary Pageants affiliated with the Miss American Pageants.

· Nominated in Who’s Who among American Teachers

· National Dance Association member

· Professional Dance Teachers Association

· Member of AAHPERD

· United Chamber of Commerce

· Better Business Bureau

Chief Operating Officer

Treasurer

Secretary

5 years dance training-

Connecticut Theatre of Performing Arts- Waterbury, CT.

Children’s Dance Workshop- Watertown, CT.

8 years of Competitive Cheer-

Local and State Championships and ranked Nationally for Holy Cross High School Waterbury, CT. Appointed Captain while on both squads.

New England Patriots Cheerleader- 1997-1999 (2 seasons)

Performed home games in front of 60,000 people.

Traveled to Mexico City with the squad to perform at the American Bowl games halftime show with Ricky Martin and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

Appeared in two Cheerleader Calendars

Worked many promotional appearances and charitable events throughout New England.

3 additional years of dance training-

Broadway Dance Center- New York, New York

Studied Commercial Jazz and Hip Hop

Performed in the 2016 BDC Showcase in New York City under the instruction of Debbie Wilson.

NEPCAA member since 2017/2018

Participating and volunteering for charitable events around New England with the group.

Served on the board for 3 years as an assistant secretary.

Southern Connecticut State University
2001
B.A Corporate Communications