Meet The Team
Alicia Howell
Studio Owner/Director of sizzling Stompers
Alicia is the owner and operator
of Alicia’s School of Performing
Arts, is a Graduate of Appalachian
State University with a Bachelor of
Science Degree in Psychology and
Concentration in Personnel
Administration.She has been dancing since the age of three and has had numerous years of dance and theatre training under various professional choreographers and performers throughout the United States. Alicia has been involved both onstage and off and has choreographed numerous shows for Harnett Regional Theatre, Campbell University, Benson Little Theatre, Garner Magnet High School and Mt. Olive College’s Show choir. She has also served as choreographer for the Miss Garner, Miss Johnston
County, Miss Benson, Miss Dunn and Miss South Johnston High School Pageants. She is also a faculty member at Campbell University where she teaches Ballet, Tap, Clogging and Jazz through the P.E. Dept. Alicia resides in Raleigh with her husband Steve. Her studio has been in business for 33 years and prides itself in her belief shared by her incredible staff, a passion like none other that instills confidence, creativity, inspiration and the value of FAMILY in its truest sense allowing the reassurance that Alicia's is ALWAYS their FOREVER HOME!!!
Kinsie Somarriba
Instructor/Artistic Director of ASOPA Company
Kinsie Howell has called NYC
home for the past 8 years but is
now back Raleigh, NC where
she began her dance and vocal
training right here with Alicia's. She also studied with North Carolina Theatre Conservatory and has been in over 13 North Carolina Theatre shows in Raleigh. She is a proud Pirate of East Carolina University where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre Performance. Kinsie has worked across the United States,
Canada and Asia in National and International Tours including The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein (Inga/ Elizabeth Understudy) and A Chorus Line (Judy Turner). Other favorite main stage performances include CATS (Demeter), Victor/Victoria, Spamalot, and The Little Mermaid. Kinsie has taught and judged with numerous Musical Theatre and Dance workshops across the country as well as studied under Broadway Directors and Choreographers such as Susan Stroman, Baayork Lee, Casey Hushion, and Jennifer Werner. With her performance she's also competed and coached in various pageants across the MAOT and Miss America systems. Being apart of the Alicia's family and incredibly special gift!
Marilyn Ruch
​
Instructor
Marilyn Brickmeier relocated to North Carolina from Long Island with her husband Keith in 1994. Their daughter Elizabeth was born in 1997, and also shares Marilyn’s passion for dance. Marilyn started teaching dance at 16 years old and quickly realized that being a dance instructor was what she wanted for her career path. With the encouragement of Diane Reynolds, she spent summers in NYC obtaining her Dance Teaching Certification from Dance Educators of America. Marilyn teaches Preschool, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Clogging. “It is a pure joy to give my heart and soul to these children because what comes back tenfold is the greatest blessing ever! Being part of the Alicia’s Family has truly enriched my life!
Nancy Cole
Instructor
Nancy Cole has been part of the Alicia’s family for over 20 years. She graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance Performance. The dance program at ECU offered a variety of classes along with training from guest artists such as The Koresh Dance Company, David Dorfman Dance Company, River North Dance Chicago and Inaside Dance Chicago. She has taught multiple genres and ages in the private studio. She has earned several awards for her choreography over the years including: Best Choreography, Overall High Score of the Day/Weekend and Most Entertaining! You can find Nancy dancing anywhere there is music and space along with her husband, John, and their daughter, Lenny! She is excited to continue sharing her heart and passion for dance with ASOPA!!
Hope Overby
​
Instructor
Hope Overby has been dancing since the age of 5, beginning with ballet and quickly adding jazz, tap, pointe, and clogging. She has had intensive dance training, studying under Roni Mahler, Janice Barringer, Daryl Retter, Debbie Dee, and the late Steven Boyd. She continues to study the art of dance through conventions and workshops.
Hope has been teaching for 27 years, and has experience in dance, theatre, and pageantry. She has won numerous awards, both personally and with her students including most talented and best choreography.
She enjoys passing her passion and love of fine arts onto the next generation. “It brightens my world to see the eyes of a child sparkle with new knowledge and love for dance”.
Elizabeth Brickmeier- Blackmon
Instructor
Elizabeth Brickmeier, daughter of Miss Marilyn, has been in our Alicias Family since age 3. Studying under all of our talented faculty, she collaborated with miss alicia on "Thunder". The dance won her the non-finalist talent award at Miss North Carolina as Miss Johnston County 2016. She graduated from Johnston County Early College Academy in 2016, and went back to JCC to persue her Cosmetology degree, and is currently working with the John Michael's Creative Hair Team in Smithfield, as well as teaching Hip Hop and Clogging here at Alicia's! Elizabeth is engaged, and is looking forward to planning her wedding and starting the next chapter of her life journey with her Fiance Barrett Blackman