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 enough to have worked for and traveled with a few well know National Dance Competitions including: Dance Explosion National Talent Competition, Starbound Talent Competition and Kids Artistic Revue. In 2009 Marissa and her husband successfully opened and ran On Pointe Dancewear N Apparel. A full service upscale dance boutique located in Woodbury Village NY. In 2015 she continued her love for dance and retail and founded Fullout Dancewear. A online Dance boutique specializing in hand crafted trendy apparel for all ages. Fullout Dancewear has been sold all over the US and in other parts of the country over the last three years. Marissa is very proud to have eleven brand ambassadors repping for her company and excited to continue to have Fullout grow. Marissa started teaching at a young age and is thankful to have had so many inspiring teachers and mentors throughout her years of dance. Her own choreography has also won many regional and national competitive awards. Marissa has been coaching kickline for the Sachem Sagamore Middle School over the last three years. She loved working with her team and was privileged to have helped them place in overalls at competition each season. Marissa is excited to now be a part of Elegant Dance and can’t wait to continue teaching and inspiring many young dancers in the future.

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.

Tracy, originally from NYC, comes to Elegant Dance Studio with 30+ years dance experience, having taught for 20+ years. She holds a BA Degree in Theatre-Dance, with a minor in Philosophy from Queens College. Tracy is a lifetime member of Golden Key International Honour Society. She has had the privilege to study with artists from companies such as Alvin Ailey, Paul Taylor, Jose Limon and Martha Graham, as well as numerous Broadway Dancers and Radio City Rockettes. Tracy has taught all ages and levels of the following genres: tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, (Horton) modern, African, creative movement, choreography/improvisation and musical theatre. She furthers her dance training by regularly taking class in Manhattan, and has been practicing Bikram Hot Yoga for ten years. In addition to teaching dance, Tracy has also been a freelance corporate and private dessert caterer since 2006, when she graduated from culinary school. Miss Tracy is very excited to be a part of the Elegant Dance Studio family and looks forward to providing her students with the best dance education possible, while in a positive, nurturing environment. She hopes to keep her ballet/pointe students on their toes!

Stephanie is an Open Professional competitor and dance teacher based out of Manhattan, New York. With a start in ballet, tap and jazz she moved into social Latin dancing and immediately fell in love. Over the past 10 years she has competed in all competitive ballroom styles, including International Standard and Latin as well as American Rhythm and Smooth. Stephanie has competed and performed both within the United States as well as internationally. With a passion for growth and communication, she thrives to not only better her own dancing, but also has a passion for teaching. She aims to create a comfortable and friendly environment to help others around her find joy in movement the way she has. Styles teaches: -American Smooth -American Rhythm -International Standard -International Latin

Sara has been dancing since she was two and a half so the studio has always been her second home. Throughout the years Sara has gone from competitively dancing at Michelle Cody’s Dance Center to dancing with a division one nationally ranked team at Sacred Heart University. Sara graduated with a bachelors degree in the Jack Welch school of business. Sara says; "I believe that dance is so much more than the physical movements, that it is an art, therapy and messenger."

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.

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. Dance is something that allows me to escape from reality and has shaped me into the person is today.

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!