Jennifer Prete Wasfy

Jennifer has been involved in the dance world since she was three years old. Her first dance experiences started in her own hometown, Westerly, Rhode Island. Jennifer's mother, being a former dancer herself, inspired Jennifer to get a jump start in dance. In doing so, Jennifer loved dance classes and continued taking dance lessons for 27 years after that in her hometown dance school, and also in other schools for additional experience in Mystic, Connecticut, East Bridgewater, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island.

Jennifer's teaching training was held at The Paula Coffey Dance Center in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts and at The Lydia DiScuillio School of Dance in Mystic, Connecticut. Jennifer then taught jazz, tap and hip hop for those schools as well as tap at The Dance Art Forum in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.

Jennifer has had the fantastic opportunities to also study under great master teachers such as Savion Glover, Debbi Dee, Shea Sullivan, Frank Hatchet, Jerry Rose, Brian Santora, Mark Goodman, Chris Smith, Sarah Jo Fazio, Barry Youngblood and many more. Jennifer and her staff attend professional conventions and workshops every year and attend regional and national competitions with the JPSD Dance Competition Team.

Jennifer is an active member of the Professional Dance Teachers Association, a member of the Rhode Island Dance Alliance and holds a Bachelors Degree in English Literature from Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. Jennifer is also the Assistant Producer for the Miss Rhode Island Pageant Program. She also is the Rhode Island Little Sister Princess Program Director. Jennifer works closely with the Executive Director of the Miss Rhode Island Program, Debi D'Iorio to provide the little sister princesses with a mentoring program involving the Miss Rhode Island contestants.  

Between Jennifer's dance experience and love of dance, she hopes to share her experiences and pass down the dance tradition to all of her students for many years to come.  

Trish Reis

Trish Reis has been teaching at JPSD for the past two years as a modern, contemporary and jazz teacher. She brings years of contemporary, modern, jazz and ballet experience to our school. Trish  Trish is a graduate of Salve Regina University with a major in English and a minor in Dance. She was the recipient of the Salve Regina University Theater Arts Dance Award and was a member of the Salve Regina University Dance Company. She was also a guest performer for the Island Moving Company, a guest choreographer for the University of Rhode Island as well as for Salve Regina University, and a dance instructor for the Carey Elementary School After School Program.

Trish is also an integral part of the JPSD's competition teaching staff.  Trish attends annual conventions and master classes along with the rest of the JPSD staff. We are so proud to have Trish on board with us!

Shannon Leiner

Shannon Leiner is our newest member on staff. She has been Irish step dancing for 10 years in Massachusetts. Her training was received at the Hansen-Keohane School of Irish Dance in West Roxbury, Massachusetts and at the O’Dwyer School of Irish Dance in Hyde Park, Massachusetts. Shannon has competed regionally and nationally for the past ten years as champion level dancer.   Her teaching experience was at the two schools from which she obtained her training. In addition to her dancing career, Shannon attends Rhode Island College and intends on pursuing a law degree after college.