Meet the Team – Elegant Dance Studio – Medford, Patchogue, Farmingville NY

Jackie’s passion for dance didn’t end when her girls grew up and went college. Jackie desire to mentor and encourage young dances be confident and have high self-esteem. You won’t find a better mentor and cheer leader! Jackie finds it exciting to be able to help understand the value of discipline, commitment and work ethic. Self-confidence develops as young people overcome challenges to master new goals, learning to apply themselves and accomplish any task put before them. Jackie is taking her business management skills and coupling them with the very best talent in the industry to run the day to day operations and creative direction of the studio. She understands the value of our team by supporting and encouraging them with continuing professional development. Jackie is a firm believer that we are should be “life-long learners”.

Marissa Figueroa Aries Director

Marissa began dancing at the age of 3. She has studied various styles of dance Including Ballet,Tap,Jazz,Lyrical and Hiphop. As a competitive dancer, she received many high score and special awards at both regional and national competitions. After graduating high school, Marissa attended Dowling college. She then chose to successfully focus her efforts on strengthening her position as a dance educator while also furthering her professional dance training. She began training weekly in Manhattan at Broadway Dance Center. Taking classes under many amazing and world renown teachers such as Sheila Barker, Michielle Barber, Pam Chancey and Tracey Stanfield. Marissa’s professional dance credits include: “Dance Of Souls 1 & 2”, Salsa dancer for the “Israel Martinez Dance Company”, a hiphop background dancer for the rapper Reyn and a contemporary dancer in “The Dream” an off off Broadway performance choreographed by Kyra Johnson. For over fifteen years Marissa was lucky eno...More

Miss Donna INSTRUCTOR

DonnaMarie has been dancing since she was three years old. She is trained in tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, contemporary, and musical theatre. She teaches all ages, and has been teaching since she was 17. In 2013 she received her bachelors degree in Dance from Salem State University, where she also had a four year scholarship and won the creativity awards or Dance her senior year of college. She was also part of Reparatory Dance Theatre where she choreographed and danced for her college with fellow classmates. Over the years she has taught for different studios in Boston, to now studios in New York. She teaches both competitive and recreational dance. Competitively she has won choreography awards and scored within top ten, and has even taught at community events for children that do not have access to studios. If you ask her how she feels personally about dance she will tell you, “When it comes to dance it is MY LIFE. It is a way to express my feelings through passion and movement. Danc...More

Miss Cassie INSTRUCTOR

Cassie is from Medford, NY and started dancing at the young age of 2. Cassie trained in ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, musical theater, open, lyrical, and technique competing both at the regional and national levels. She has also taken many master classes and attended conventions that were taught by some of the best choreographers in the country. Cassie loves to share her passion with children and receives great satisfaction helping students realize their full potential, on and off the dance floor.

Miss Toniann INSTRUCTOR

Dance has always been a huge passion of mine ever since I started at the age of 3. I have studied many styles such as lyrical, hip hop, ballet, and jazz at Diane’s Dance Studio. I danced in the Lindenhurst Dance Ensemble and was captain of the dance team, choreographing many numbers throughout my high school career. I went on to study biology at St. Joseph's College and during that time, I choreographed various pieces for the dance club and talent shows. I went back a few times during college to the Dance Ensemble to co-choreograph a few pieces with my old dance teacher. During that time I also taught the dance program at the YMCA in Bayshore. When I got out of school I began teaching just hip hop. (Hip Hop is my favorite!) I am now working at Good Sam Hospital as a coordinator. Dance will always be my passion and I am so excited to be a part of such a great studio!

Miss Baylee INSTRUCTOR

Baylee, is from Patchogue, NY. She is attending St Joseph’s College for Elementary Education.

Baylee’s love for gymnastics started at the young age of 2 years old. She is a NYS All Around Champion. She continued her skills in high school and was a 5 year Varsity Gymnastics team member, captain of Varsity gymnastics team, All County selection, All League pick, Scholar Athlete.

Baylee has attended clinics and was trained by Olympic Champions. She will always have a passion for gymnastics and loves to share her talent and skills with children. Baylee is very excited to be teaching Acro classes at Elegant Dance Studio.

Colin INSTRUCTOR

Colin aka Bboy Boyo of floor militia crew NY. Breaking since 2005 and focused on bringing the Bboying culture to Long Island as well as training the next generation of dancers to the breaking scene.

Danielle Instructor

Danielle has studied at the Ohman School of Ballet, in Commack, under the direction of Frank Ohman (soloist with New York City Ballet for 25 years) since the age of six and was on the teaching staff for eighteen years teaching Ballet, Pointe, Modern (Limon), Tap, and Yoga before the owner passed away. She has also studied with her mother at the studio who was an SAB and Julliard graduate who danced with the Eglevsky Ballet Company and the Limon Company. She has danced in many performances as a soloist with New York Dance Theater throughout her high school, college, and post college years including the annual production of NYDT’s Nutcracker. She has performed in the Nutcracker for 21 years dancing in soloist roles such as Arabian, Hungarian, and Dewdrop. Danielle was the ballet mistress for NYDT ballet productions and head supervisor of costumes/ backstage during performances. She choreographed and rehearsed their pre-professional dancers in variations/ solos from Balanchi...More

Miss Sarah INSTRUCTOR

I started dancing at age four and every week I would look forward to dance class and especially recital week! Now as an assistant teacher I still love dance but in a new way, helping them, seeing them smile, and their faces light up when they grasp a new skill.

Miss Heather FRONT DESK

At three years young, Miss Heather’s Dad took her to her first dance class, and she has been twirling on her “tippy toes” ever since. Heather has had the chance to dance within both the non-competitive and competitive arena, attaining Platinum, Elite High Gold and High Gold titles. The structure and dexterity she learned from dance helped prepare her for her academic career and thus she has had the opportunity to study at several colleges: SCCC, University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain), St. Joseph's College, and Oxford University (United Kingdom). Heather is currently finishing a degree in Speech Communications and English Literature. We hope you get to experience Heather’s abundant smiles and warm welcomes this season!

Miss Sara Front Desk

My name is Sara and I am from East Patchogue, New York. I am currently a senior at St Joseph’s College pursuing Nursing. I have danced since I was four years old and am passionate amongst the art! I was fortunate enough to compete in all genres of dance of which include: tap, lyrical, ballet, jazz, pointe etc. I was even fortunate enough to work alongside those with special needs that also share a love for dance. Not only do I have a passion for dance, but I love helping others and taking on leadership skills to bring out good in all around me. I am so excited to greet you all at the Elegant Dance Studio reception desk and be ready to make your dance session extra lovely!

Tatyana TEACHER ASSISTANT

Mia TEACHER ASSISTANT

Khylah TEACHER ASSISTANT

Let’s put your picture here! WANT TO JOIN OUR TEAM?

Great dance instructors take dance very seriously. This doesn’t mean that they aren’t capable of fun during dance; it means that they truly enjoy what they do. When this is true, their enthusiasm will be palpable. They’ll be energetic and ready to dedicate the time it takes teach with passion. A good instructor is ready to share her or his love of dance with our students. Elegant Dance Studio is a brand new 4,000 sq. foot studio located in Medford NY. EDS is seeking a creative, energetic and reliable dance professional to join our team. We are looking for an enthusiastic teacher’s who have a passion for dance and loves to work with children of all ages. Candidates must be over 23 + with experience in teaching dance from beginners to advanced levels. Skills Needed:

Punctuality
Ability to motivate and encourage students
Positive attitude and genuine love for teaching kids
Responsiveness with e...More