The NY Dancers Studio
"Artistry comes only with strong technique"
The NY Dancers Studio puts the focus on the process of learning, not just a recital.
The NY Dancers Studio was founded by Director Stacie Nelson to bridge the gap between raw technique and artistry so often lacking in dance instruction on Long Island.
Ms. Nelson’s focus is on the total performance experience. Only proven professionals who have spent their careers in front of an audience train our students in the
artistry of dance. The studio offers classes in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip hop, modern, creative and Broadway jazz from Monday-Saturday. All classes are taught by dance professionals who have performed with The Radio City Rockettes, The Paul Taylor Company and Momix. The levels range from beginner to advanced. We hold master
classes regularly with NYC teachers and Broadway dancers. The studio also presents an annual performance of “The Nutcracker”. We offer discounts to students in multiple classes.
The studio is fully air conditioned.
Our Team
Stacie
Nelson
Amanda
Fiorentine
James
Guasto
Christina
Lynch-Markham
Julia
Kane
Sarah
McLean
Hanna
Olvera
Kelsey
McKillop
STACIE NELSON
has been performing and teaching for over 25 years. She is the director and choreographer of the esteemed Dance Theatre Company and has appeared on stage with such luminaries as Chubby Checker and Latoya Jackson. After graduating from the Long Island High School for the Arts (formerly the BOCES Cultural Arts Center), she was a scholarship recipient at the World Famous Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and her choreography has been featured in numerous venues throughout NYC and Long Island. Ms. Nelson was the assistant choreographer for the Disney Channel commercial for the W.I.T.C.H. series of books, which ran on Disney, ABC Family, and Nickelodeon TV. In March 2004 she was hired as assistant choreographer for the 25th Anniversary Bacardi Industrial at the Las Vegas Sports Center. In 2014 Ms Nelson choreographed a commercial for Healthfirst that aired internationally during the 2014 World Cup. As a Ballroom and Latin dancer, Stacie has performed in numerous venues including The Tilles Center for the Performing Arts with National Ballroom and Latin Champion Sanj Hira, and continues to perform in many venues. She is a Licensed Practical Nurse, and a proud mother to four talented daughters.
AMANDA FIORENTINE
graduated with a BFA in Dance from Adelphi University and currently works there as an adjunct professor teaching ballet. She has worked with choreographers from The Martha Graham Company, The Canadian Ballet, Jennifer Muller Dance Company, Nicholas Andre Dance Company and The Paul Taylor Company. Her favorite choreographer is Aszure Barton who choreographed for Mikhail Baryshnikov. Amanda performs with The Dance Theatre Company and teaches throughout Long Island as well.
JAMES GUASTO
started his career in the show Tap Dogs where he performed Off-Broadway and in the first national tour. James then went on to perform as a featured dancers on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Other noted shows are 42nd Street and Revolution as well as many industrials and conventions. James has been teaching for many years and has taught across the U.S. His style in unique and fun. His love for dance shows in his personality!
CHRISTINA LYNCH-MARKHAM
received a BA from Hofstra University and has danced with the Amy Marshall Dance Company. She joined The Paul Taylor II Dance Company in 2008. In 2013, Christina was invited to perform with the Paul Taylor Dance Company. Christina was chosen by the state department as a cultural envoy in India to represent America and modern dance.
JULIA KANE
Julia is a graduate of Long Island High School for the Arts, and is currently working towards her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance at Adelphi University. Recently she has completed the Summer Professional Semester at Broadway Dance Center, where she studied under Michelle Barber, Ginger Cox and Diana Laurenson. She has had the honor of performing in works choreographed by Jim Cooney, Zanza Steinberg and April Cook, as well as being the dance captain to Matthew Powell. She has participated in summer intensives at Joffrey Ballet School, the Future Dancer and Dancemaker Workshop at NYU Tisch School for the Arts, The Rockettes Summer Intensive, and in workshops with Ann Reinking, Linda Haberman, Valarie Pettiford, and Lloyd Culbreath.
SARAH McLEAN
has been trained in many different styles of dance for over 16 years. She began training under our very own Stacie Nelson at the young age of four and has not stopped since. She has trained under some of the leaders in the industry including Chelsea Hightower of So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars, Michael Trusnovec, Christina Lynch-Markham and Ruth Andrien of The Paul Taylor Dance Company, as well as many current and former Radio City Rockettes. As a senior at Adelphi University, she always makes time in her schedule to take classes in Adelphi University’s dance department. She currently performs with The Dance Theater Company in many benefits and performances across Long Island as well as performing with Unique Entertainment. Sarah has been seen in productions including Mary Poppins, Guys and Dolls, Aladdin, and The Music Man. She can be seen each year in “The Nutcracker” taking on various roles. Sarah spent a full year as a Girl Scout Troop leader teaching underprivileged youth how to dance, and also teaches dance to children ages 3-13 at a private elementary school. Dance is her passion and she loves to share this passion with each and every one of her students.
HANNA OLVERA
was born in Kuopio, Finland. Her education includes Dance New Amsterdam, Bachelor of Culture and Arts from Iceland Academy of the Arts, Ballet major from Kuopio Academy of Music and Dance. Hanna has performed with Fiebre Bugalu, White Road Dance Media, Ko-Ryo Dance Theater, and in The Little Mermaid. She has been choreographing and teaching internationally. She holds many awards and has been commissioned throughout the world.
KELSEY McKILLOP
began her dance training at The N.Y. Dancers Studio with Stacie Nelson at the age of five. At the studio, she was fortunate to study tap with former Rockettes Julie Tomaino, Laurena Barros, Michelle O-Steen Vivona, and MaryEllen Scilla, modern with Christina Lynch-Markham and Michael Trusnovec of The Paul Taylor Company, and ballet with Alexandra Pernice and Amanda Fiorentine. As a dancer with The Dance Theatre Company, she has performed in The Huntington Summer Arts Festival and The Edgar Allen Poe Festival in Riverhead. After various roles in "The Nutcracker", she spent a season as Dance Captain. From 2012-2014, Kelsey studied and performed choreography at The Rockette Summer Intensive, and hopes to perform one day as a Radio City Rockette.
We are a competition-free studio
Testimonials
“If you are looking for a dance school for your son or daughter then please pay close attention. First and foremost The NY Dancers Studio is a wonderful school for students to learn and practice dance. Being an educator, I am attuned to what constitutes a positive, productive, structured - and yes even fun filled classroom. These attributes are all in abundance at NYDS. Upon further reflection, The NY Dancer's Studio is like one great big happy family. The teachers treat the kids as if they are their own . Each of the dance teachers is thoroughly professional - many having performed on Broadway and even with The Rockettes. Notably, Stacie Nelson, the owner and director, stresses proper instruction in dance above all. The kids form bonds with friends that last a lifetime. The fact is that The NY Dancer's Studio helps and challenges each student to be the best performer he or she can become. I always look forward to the annual recital as it is the climax to yet another year of hard work, practice, sacrifice and dedication by so many - none more so than the students. However, I can truly say that I have come to appreciate seeing Ms. Nelson and her stellar staff start with these students ( many on shaky legs and feet ) in September. I love the process and discipline through which these students invariably blossom in confidence, strength and stature. We owe much to The Art of Dance as practiced at The New York Dancer's Studio.”
-Derek Tolbert, Garden City, NY
“I can’t say enough about the wonderful experience we have had at The New York Dancer’s Studio. Ms. Nelson and her staff are a professional, talented, caring group of instructors. Their focus on technique develops the skills of both new and experienced dancers alike. My daughter is thrilled to go to class and loves the time she spends in the studio. We have seen incredible growth in her dance ability and we know that growth will continue thanks to the skill and dedication of these wonderful teachers. We wouldn’t think of going anywhere else!”
-The McLean Family, Westbury, NY
“The NY Dancers Studio is a wonderful place for kids of all ages to learn and grow through dance. The teachers and staff are top notch! My daughter has enjoyed taking classes for 5 years. The recitals are always entertaining, well choreographed and lots of fun.”
- Nancy Wink, Uniondale, NY
“My daughter had started dance classes in Manhattan for a couple of years before our family moved to Long Island in 2007. I had hoped to find something comparable to the quality of instruction and dance atmosphere she received in our old neighborhood. Of the three dance programs I initially enrolled her in, New York Dancers Studio brought the best fit for her growth as a performer. My daughter's interests in the multiple dance classes offered are a testament to how challenged she wants to be by her teachers, while still having fun at NYDS. The faculty, curriculum, and professional and personal attention to my daughter (and now her younger sister) remain at high, quality standards expected of a dance program. This is widely evident at the yearly recitals held in June, which we always look forward to. Additionally, we have attended performances by Miss Stacie's Dance Theatre Company and, more recently, hosted a children's birthday party at the studio. NYDS has provided an enriching source of dance culture for both of my daughters and we are fortunate to be associated with a wonderful program for the past four years.”
-Stephanie Blakeman, East Meadow, NY
“Our daughter Angelina has been dancing at New York Dancer's Studio since she was three. Angelina, now ten is still dancing. The credit to her love of dance is the amazing teachers she has had throughout the years! Each year builds upon the previous and challenges her. There has never been a harsh word spoken to her. The staff is always kind, caring and respectful. We love to watch the beautiful graceful dancer that has come from this studio. Many more years of dance! Thank you.”
-The Zampini Family, East Meadow, NY
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Due to the increasing interest and concerns with regard to dance competitions, I felt it was time to formally address the subject, and to communicate the views of myself, the teachers at the studio, and the professionals I have had the opportunity to work with throughout my 25+ years of teaching, directing, and performing in the dance world.
First and foremost, dance competitions are a billion dollar industry and a huge moneymaker for studios, primarily the reason they participate. There are fees for participation, costumes, travel, and the mandatory classes your child must take to be on the team. Everyone gets a trophy, high platinum, low platinum, gold, silver, first, second, etc. No one loses because you have paid for these trophies. While the students often think competitions are fun, most parents I have spoken with dread the long weekends, endless hours and the cost involved.
When a child does competition, a "competition dancer" is the highest level they will achieve. Dance is an art, and unfortunately that is what has become lost. You will not see elegance and mastery of any technique. "Tricks" are just tricks and these dancers are not taught the technical skill to back up what they are performing. Skipping over, or not mastering the fundamentals before jumping ahead limits the growth of the dancers. The only thing that advances a dancer is the time they are willing to put in to achieve their goal and the desire to master the overall technique rather than a single performance. Only professionals can produce professionals, another aspect lost in competition schools. When auditioning, competition dancers are overlooked by colleges and conservatories as well as professional companies due to their informal training and lack of technique.
There are very few non-competitive studios, these being the ones who produce dancers with artistry and strong technique, and students who move on as professionals in the dance world. The N.Y. Dancers Studio Inc. was started as an alternative for children and adults who seek this type of studio. We focus on teaching the art of dance. I opened this studio to pass on my love of dance, and provide professional teachers so that our students have the opportunity to dance as a career if they choose, or to simply have a love and respect for the art. I will not compromise technique, and will continue to provide professional teachers and sound, thorough training. I treasure my students and their families, and appreciate the privilege to teach them.
-Stacie Nelson, Director