WHO WE ARE

Meghan and Kristen are lifelong learners and practitioners of dance and somatics. They are deeply inspired by the intersection of contemporary dance and somatic practices like Laban Movement Analysis and Bartenieff Fundamentals, as well as the teaching of Bill Evans. They have created a series of dance and movement classes based on this work, with the goal of finding connection, joy, and a greater sense of health and well-being.

What else do they bring to their classes? Over 20 years of teaching and directing programs; Meghan at Salem State University and Kristen at the Colleges of the Fenway and SynchroniCity Dance Co. They’ve earned certifications from the Laban Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies, The Evans Somatic Dance Institute, Moving for Life, and Yoga. As choreographers, they bring more than 20 years of artistry, collaboration, and dance-making to their classes.

Meghan McLyman

Meghan McLyman (MFA, MA, CET) is a Professor of dance and Dance Program Coordinator at Salem State University, and the former Chair of the Music and Dance Department. She has been instrumental in creating the Bachelor of Arts degree in dance. The University recognized her passion for teaching with the 2017 Distinguished Teaching Award, and in 2018 she received the Arts Learning Distinguished Teaching and Arts Advocacy Award and a 2022 Whiting Fellowship.

Meghan graduated with a BA in dance from Point Park University, received an MA in dance and arts management from American University, and an MFA from Hollins University in partnership with the American Dance Festival. She is a Certified Evans Teacher under Bill Evans, as well as a Moving For Life Certified Instructor under Martha Eddy.

Meghan has taught courses at various dance programs including The Colleges of the Fenway, The College of the Holy Cross, James Madison University, North Quincy High School, Green Street Studios, and Avery Ballet. She has held master classes at The Dance Complex, American Dance Festival, American College Dance Association,Tufts University, MIT, Webster University, Moving Target Boston, Green Street Studios, Canyon Ranch Lenox, and Dance Teachers Club of Boston, and Massachusetts Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. She has presented at the National Dance Education Organization Conference, International Association for Dance Medicine and Science Conference, Somatic Dance Conference and Performance Festival, and TEDXSalemStateUniversity. She is a past board member of the Massachusetts Dance Education Organization, the state chapter under National Dance Education Organization, and of the American College Dance Association New England Region.

Meghan and Kristen have been creating choreographic work with Accumulation Dance for over 20 years as collaborative partners. They have received support from the New England Foundation for the Arts, The Boston Foundation, and Boston Center for the Arts, and have been presented by Dance NOW Boston, Crash Arts/World Music, The Museum of Fine Arts, The Southern Vermont Dance Festival, Salem Arts Festival, Art Beat/Somerville Arts Council, Dance for World Community, The Dance Complex, Green Street Studios, Across the Ages Dance Project, Tufts University, College of the Holy Cross, Salem State University, and Hollins University/American Dance Festival. Meghan has also performed with The Caitlin Corbett Dance Company, 4 Square, The Falling Flight Project, Digby Dance, The Moving Laboratory, Flip Side Dance Theatre, Sister's Trousers, and with The Avery Ballet. She continues to develop her craft by immersing herself in various workshops, conferences, and master classes.

Kristen Duffy Young

Kristen Duffy Young (MFA, CMA, CET, RYT-200) is an educator, choreographer, performer, and arts advocate, who has dedicated her career to developing accessible arts programs. She is the founding Director of the Colleges of the Fenway Dance (COF) ensemble, beginning in 2006, and expanded the program to include more than 200 students per year in her 19 year tenure. Kristen also worked closely with COF's institutional partner, Emmanuel College, where she served as a faculty member of the Theater Arts Program from 2010-2023. In 2024, Kristen and collaborator Maddie Johnson founded SynchroniCity Dance Co., a non-audition Boston-based performance ensemble that is open to all adults. In the summer, Synchronicity also hosts a weekend dance intensive.

As an arts advocate, Kristen served as a board member, President and Vice President of the Massachusetts Dance Education Organization from 2015-2022. Her passion for developing community dance programs also led her to serve on the board of the Boston Dance Alliance from 2002-2005. She was awarded the prestigious Arts|Learning Distinguished Arts Education Advocate Award for Dance in 2020.

Kristen has choreographed and performed with collaborator Meghan McLyman for the past 20 years. They have received support from The New England Foundation for the Arts, Boston Foundation, Dance NOW, Boston, and more. She has also performed with Bill Evans, Caitlin Corbett, Bosoma Dance Company, Weber Dance, Rose Pasquarello Beauchamp, Carey McKinley, and Julie Pike Edmond.

Kristen earned an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College, a BA in Dance and a BBA in Marketing from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She is also a Certified Movement Analyst (CMA) from the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies, a Certified Yoga Instructor (RYT-200) from Yoga of Energy Flow, and a Certified Evans Teacher with Bill Evans. She loves facilitating joyful, community experiences through movement and dance and enjoys working with dancers and movers of all ages.