Suzanne DeRosa, Owner and C0-Founder of The Little Green Tambourine, has been working with children for over twenty years.  For the last four years, she has been teaching Pre-K and continuing her studies in early childhood education, specializing in music.  As a Birth and Post Partum Doula, she provides support and encouragement to parents through the most important and sometimes most challenging journey of their lives.  She is also a certified Yoga Instructor for children, including her own - Hailey, Hunter and Sarah.  Suzanne is dedicated to being a community resource for children and families that want to learn proactive ways to care for their children and their environment.   As a mother of three children and a born teacher, she believes that children can and should learn through themes that they are naturally drawn to - like music, art and nature.

Suzanne has had formal vocal training, plays the guitar, and is in the process of writing her first album of children’s songs.  She lives in Farmington with her husband, three children, a caique and 3 chickens.

Suzanne

            Virginia Brown is a certified Baby Sign Language Instructor through the Signing Time Academy. She became interested in using baby sign language after the birth of her son Mason. She is now the proud mommy of two little boys and is beginning to use sign language with her newest baby, Garett. Virginia is a certified teacher for Pre-K through grade 6 and has a MA in Reading and Language Arts. She has taught Pre-K through grade 1 in both public and private schools in the area. Virginia has also been very involved with Mothers' Connection of the Farmington Valley. She has just finished a year as director and is currently their playgroup coordinator.

Cara

Karla Kress-Boyle has been teaching dance and children’s fitness classes for the past ten years.  Using dance to teach children how to respect and love themselves, their bodies and others is her mission.  She started dance at 3 and has been dancing ever since, dancing through taking many master classes in CT and NYC.  Additionally she has furthered her training and has become a licensed Betty Hoops Dance Therapy Instructor, and a certified Full of Joy Yoga Instructor.   She continues to use her dance training in combination with yoga and hoop dance to create fun fitness programs for kids.  She has been an instructor for many local dance studios in the area, and co-owner of her own dance studio for 4 years.  She has experience teaching tap, ballet, jazz, pointe, lyrical, and many creative movement and preschool dance development classes.  Currently she teaches dance classes and adult Hula Hoop for Health classes in West Hartford and is excited about the opportunity to work at the Little Green Tambourine teaching Toddler ballet (Dance! Dance!), Rhythm Moves, Yoga Rhythm and our newest dance class “Art in Motion”.  Her Hula Hoop for Health program for adults was featured on CT Style, last spring.  Karla also presented her Hula Hoop for Health Program at the CT Parks and Rec. and the CT Association of Physical Education Health Recreation and Dance Conferences.  Additionally she is the founder of CT Rhythm Moves bringing people Rhythm for Life!   She lives in West Hartford with her husband and their 2 year old son.

            Hannah Ardenski has been teaching singing, guitar and hand drum lessons to children of all ages for the past 10 years. She studied voice and musical performance at the Hartford Conservatory and has studied privately since the age of 7.  As a professional singer/songwriter, she has been nominated for Best Ct. Female Vocalist and has been the opening act for The Average White Band and members of the Allman Brothers Band.  Hannah has been a vocal/guitar instructor and the musical director at the Y.M.C.A., percussion ensemble teacher at the Hartford Conservatory camp, & Vocal/guitar teacher at Ricardo’s music.

Hannah

            Once the music is turned up, Kristen Heller will be the first on the dance floor.  She has worked with kids from ages 2-12 for the last five years and studied Child Development during high school. She'll be attending Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts this coming fall to study Child Psychology with a focus in special education.

            Kristen has lent a helping hand for numerous years through volunteer work such as the CF walk and the Autism Speaks walk. She not only loves being in the arts, but she loves being surrounded by the laughter of children. She hopes one day she can open up a studio where dance is not just a lesson to be taught, but a form of expression that all ages can soak up and enjoy!

Karla

Kristen

Virginia

Graceann

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Suzanne and her staff support their local community on a consistent basis.  They are advocates for children and support many non-profit organizations that are dedicated to helping children and families.

Some of the organizations that we support are: Alex’s Lemonade Stand, Healthy Child Healthy World, End Hunger CT, Green Halloween, Gifts of Love, The Cobb school, Canton Community Nursery School, The Boys and Girls Club, Local YMCA’s, Autism Speaks, local Earth Day events (Clean Up Farmington, 2008) and Treeswing- a non-profit organization that aims to get more children outside playing and getting fit.  They will continue to donate their time to raise money and awareness for children’s charities.

Farmington Post Article July 4th, 2008

Canton Life Article August 8th, 2008

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