2024-2025 LIAD STAFF
Our professional staff of Dance Educators have been selected not only for their own performance ability, but more importantly because of their exceptional ability to communicate their skills to our students/your children. Our Staff has College Degrees and are extremely talented in dance as well as educated to teach children.
Miss Julia
JULIA - joined the LIAD family in 3rd grade! She was the dance captain of her high school drama program and then continued on to study dance and English at SUNY Brockport and SUNY Stony Brook. She began teaching full time for L.I.A.D. in 2008 and then on to choreograph for our Nat’l Competition Team in Contemporary, Tap, Jazz and Hip Hop. A few of her 1st pl. dances include "Coming out of Ashes”, "Do You Know”, “Can You Hold Me”, “Case of the Ex”, “Fergalicious” as well as Mr. Teen. In 2021 she led the Jr. team to an undefeated regional season with "Me Too" and "Got Your Number". Her most notable dance was “PTSD” that grabbed the heartstrings of all the audience members every time they performed. In 2016 she took on a new role as a dance mom when her first daughter joined the tiny tot program and now has two beautiful daughters in the school. She is passionate with every age she teaches, from 2 years old to 18, giving them confidence every step of the way. With her extreme love for children, she offers a perfectly age appropriate and exciting class in every subject, for every age. In 2020 Julia joined Acro Dance Teacher's Association becoming a certified Acro Dance teacher and introduced it as a new subject to L.I.A.D. The subject has since grown, encompassing three different levels for children 6+. Ever growing as a dancer, teacher and choreographer, Julia is continually looking for new and better ways to pass on the knowledge and love for dance to all of her students.
Miss Stephanie
STEPHANIE received her Bachelor of Science degree in 2013, from Farmingdale State College majoring in Science, Technology and Society, and is currently getting her Masters in Social Work. She started dancing at the age of two at local LI studios and started teaching Hip Hop, Jazz and Musical Theater to both Recreational and Competitive levels at the age of 17. Stephanie continues to expand her knowledge of dance by taking master classes in the city and attending dance education conferences at UDMA and Rhee Gold seminars. She has also taught Dance and Acting classes at the SEA program in the Sachem School District and Hip Hop classes at the REC center at Stony Brook University. She loves seeing the growth of her students throughout the year & enjoys being a positive role model. “It’s an amazing feeling when you get to watch your students bring your choreography to life on stage.” She has been on staff at LIAD since 2014.
Miss Kalysta
KALYSTA - is a home grown LIAD dancer and teacher. She began as an assistant and is currently an incredible teacher to our youngest dancers giving our little shining stars the foundation they need to become a strong dancer. Kalysta graduated as a very talented, lead dancer in our Dance Co. winning some of the most prestigious awards at competitions.
Miss Alexis
Alexis is a dancer and choreographer from Long Island, New York. She was an L.I.A.D. home grown dancer from the age of 2-12 and she was a 1st place winner high score soloist at every competition in which she competed. She then trained for many years at Broadway Dance Center NYC in their esteemed Children’s and Teen’s program and then with the Arts in Motion Company as well. Other company work includes Theresa Stone’s “Abstrakt Beings”, Cat Cogliandro’s “Catastrophe (too)!” and touring with Artist Simply Human as a member of the first ever “The Company”. Alexis graduated from Rutgers University in 2023 with her Bachelors of Science where she also the Team Captain and team member of the Rutgers Dance Team. She is a well rounded teacher, well trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary and tap, currently working on staff for Universal Dance Association NJ and now back at LIAD her original dance family,
Miss Ashley
Ashley started her dance career at the age of 3 at Long Island Academy where she advanced to the competition line and Dance Company. After graduating, Ashley moved to NYC to study dance at Marymount Manhattan College. She graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in 2007, also majoring in business and psychology. She has been teaching and choreographing for the past 18 years. Ashley is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, lyrical, modern, and hip hop. She looks forward to continuing the LIAD tradition of implementing impeccable technique to her students.
Miss Taylor
Taylor began dancing at the age of 2 where her passion for the arts ignited. Growing up, she competed with her studio’s Elite Company, earning numerous 1st place titles and scholarships. Her dedication led her to attend various master classes and intensives at renowned institutions like Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway and the prestigious Joffrey Ballet School in Manhattan where she learned from industry icons such as the Radio City Rockettes, Alvin Alley, Frank Hatchett and ballet master Finis Jhung. Equipped with a degree in Liberal Arts post-college, Taylor embarked on a fulfilling path dedicating herself to teaching and choreographing across Long Island for over 15 years, inspiring dancers of all ages. Her performances and choreography have shone on grand stages including Madison Square Garden, Walt Disney World and Radio City Music Hall. In 2015, Taylor graced the stage for the last time professionally with a ballet skit alongside comedian Hannibal Buress. Now rooted in Suffolk County and embracing motherhood, Miss Taylor shares her experience and enthusiasm with LIAD, nurturing and inspiring the next generation of dancers. Her mission remains to instill the love for the art of dance among her students.
Miss Victoria
VICTORIA Is welcomed back to LIAD teaching our more advance dancers. She has extensive teaching and choreography experience in classical and contemporary Ballet and Pointe - beginner thru advanced. Her early training was with Claire White and Nina Golovina (from the original Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo). Intensive training with K. Fedicheva (prima ballerina with the Kirov) receiving near perfect marks on the Vaganova Method exams. She also studied with American Ballet Theater, Paris Opera, Pennsylvania Ballet and NYC Ballet. She performed extensively through the United States and Europe and in 1995 she was awarded the prestigious Sir Lawrence Olivier Award. In 1999 she danced opposite former Bolshoi and Royal Ballet Stars.Victoria maintains a vast interest in choreography and fusing elements of classical technique with the limitless possibilities of contemporary movements. She is the mother of four children and still performs on rare occasions.
Miss Laura
LAURA Born and raised on Long Island, N. Her passion for dance started at age 2. She attended a local studio where she was trained in many different styles of dance, such as Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Musical Theater and Hip Hop. She later competed regionally and nationally traveling to different states for many years. After High School, Laura decided to further pursue her dance career. In 2010, She continued her dance training at Dean College studying Jazz, Hip Hop, Ballet, Modern and Tap and graduated in 2013 with her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance and Minor in Business. She has trained with such professionals as Gregory A King, Kelly Peters, Ricardo Foster and Donlin Foreman. Laura has also taken master classes from Robert Hoffman, Gil Stroming, Brian Friedman and many more. She was a member of the Dean College Dance Team, the Hip Hop team SYNERGY, and a cast member in the college production of “Chicago”. After she graduated, Laura went into dance teaching and continued to audition and performed in regional theatre in musicals such as The Producers, and The Boy from Oz. Laura was also featured in Merengue/pop artist D’Stefano’s music video “En Este Elevador as a dancer. In 2015-2017 Laura was apart of the New York Cosmos Girls, a professional Dance team for the New York Cosmos Soccer team. Laura continues to teach and take masterclasses and also looks foward in sharing her passion and creativity with the LIAD students.