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The Right Dance Studio for Your Children!
The Right Dance Studio!
Dance Programs
Artistic Director - Jason Luks
"Falsettos", Irving Berlin's "White Christmas"
James Lapine's "Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing"
"On The Town", “My One and Only", "Tap Stars"
Faculty: Joffrey Ballet School - Musical Theater
Company Member: The JaM Project
Faculty: NYCDA, Syncopate
IDO World Tap Dance Championship Solo Winner
NYU’s Tisch School of Arts BFA
Jason Luks and Jenny LeProtto, our Artistic Directors, lead an incredible team of dance educators including on and off-Broadway performers, members of leading dance companies, university and conservatory faculty, and professional choreographers. Our faculty have graduated from, and currently serve as faculty members and guest choreographers for, the most prestigious university-based and conservatory dance programs including NYU’s Tisch School of Arts, Juilliard, Ailey, Marymount, and UNC's School of the Arts; as well as teaching at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway. Many of them are also members of highly esteemed dance companies such as Keigwin + Co and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Three of the last four annual Capezio A.C.E. Awards winners are members of our choreography staff. DANJ dancers have the unique benefit of working in-studio, taking technique classes every week with these gifted professionals.
Jason Luks and Jenny LeProtto, our Artistic Directors, lead an incredible team of dance educators including on and off-Broadway performers, members of leading dance companies, university and conservatory faculty, and professional choreographers. Our instructors and choreographers have graduated from, and currently serve as faculty members and guest choreographers for, many of the most prestigious university-based and conservatory dance programs including NYU’s Tisch School of Arts, Juilliard, Ailey, Marymount, and University of North Carolina School of the Arts; as well as teaching at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway. Many of them are also members of highly esteemed dance companies such as Keigwin + Co and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Three of the last four annual Capezio A.C.E. Awards winners are members of our choreography staff. DANJ dancers have the unique benefit of working in-studio, taking technique classes every week with these gifted professionals.
Jason Luks is a performer, choreographer and teacher. He is currently on faculty at Steps on Broadway, NYCDA, and Joffrey Ballet School teaching Musical Theater. He was a member of the Tony Award nominated Falsettos choreography team with Director and Pulitzer Prize winner, James Lapine. He worked with Josh Prince and James Lapine on the choreography for "Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing." Most recently, Jason served as Ryan Reynold's dance instructor for "Spirited" while dancing as a member of the Spirited Dance Company. Jason's performance credits include “White Christmas” (Broadway), “On The Town" (Barrington Stage), “My One And Only” (Stages St. Louis), Rasta Thomas' Tap Stars, Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the Late Late Show with James Corden, MTV’s Video Music Awards, and Good Morning America. He has performed at the Kennedy Center for Presidents Obama and Bush. Jason is a member of the award winning The JaM Project. He won the Adult World Tap Dance Solo Championship at International Dance Organization’s World Tap Dance Competition, and ADA’s National Choreographer of the Year. Jason’s choreography has been presented on Broadway's Walter Kerr Theater (Falsettos), the Kennedy Center, and Symphony Space NYC. Jason graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Dance.
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School Year Class Schedule
For class descriptions, click => Young Dancers Ages 2-7, or click => Dancers Ages 8&up or, for each style, click => ballet/pointe, tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, lyrical, hip hop, acro, and musical theater.
Faculty
Faculty
Jason Luks and Jenny LeProtto, our Artistic Directors, lead an incredible team of dance educators including on and off-Broadway performers, members of leading dance companies, university and conservatory faculty, and professional choreographers. Our faculty have graduated from, and currently serve as faculty members and guest choreographers for, the most prestigious university-based and conservatory dance programs including NYU’s Tisch School of Arts, Juilliard, Ailey, Marymount, and UNC's School of the Arts; as well as teaching at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway. Many of them are also members of highly esteemed dance companies such as Keigwin + Co and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Three of the last four annual Capezio A.C.E. Awards winners are members of our choreography staff. DANJ dancers have the unique benefit of working in-studio, taking technique classes every week with these gifted professionals.
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Artistic Director - Jason Luks
"Falsettos", Irving Berlin's "White Christmas"
James Lapine's "Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing"
"On The Town", “My One and Only", "Tap Stars"
Faculty: Joffrey Ballet School - Musical Theater
Company Member: The JaM Project
Faculty: NYCDA, Syncopate
IDO World Tap Dance Championship Solo Winner
NYU’s Tisch School of Arts BFA
Jason Luks, our Artistic Director, leads an incredible team of dance educators including on and off-Broadway performers, members of leading dance companies, university and conservatory faculty, and professional choreographers. Our faculty have graduated from, and currently serve as faculty members and guest choreographers for, many of the most prestigious university-based and conservatory dance programs including NYU’s Tisch School of Arts, Juilliard, Ailey, Marymount, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and others. Many of them are also members of highly esteemed dance companies such as Keigwin + Co, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, The Phoenix Project Dance, Pilobolus, The Difference Between, Mark Morris, and others. Three of the last four annual Capezio A.C.E. Awards winners are members of our choreography staff. In addition to guest teaching at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway, our faculty are frequently called on to teach for convention workshops including JUMP, NYCDA, The Pulse, Adrenaline, ADA, Legacy, VIP, SHOCK and more. Our dancers have the unique benefit of working in-studio, taking technique classes every week with these gifted professionals.
Jason Luks, our Artistic Director, leads an incredible team of dance educators including on and off-Broadway performers, members of leading dance companies, university and conservatory faculty, and professional choreographers. Our instructors and choreographers have graduated from, and currently serve as faculty members and guest choreographers for, many of the most prestigious university-based and conservatory dance programs including NYU’s Tisch School of Arts, Juilliard, Ailey, Marymount, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and others. Many of them are also members of highly esteemed dance companies such as Keigwin + Co, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, The Phoenix Project Dance, Pilobolus, The Difference Between, Mark Morris, and others. Three of the last four annual Capezio A.C.E. Awards winners are members of our choreography staff. In addition to guest teaching at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway, our faculty are frequently called on to teach for convention workshops including JUMP, NYCDA, The Pulse, Adrenaline, ADA, Legacy, VIP, SHOCK and more. Our dancers have the unique benefit of working in-studio, taking technique classes every week with these gifted professionals.
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Studio Tour
Studio Tour
Eleven, large, ultra-modern studios, all dance floors sprung for safety and finished with the highest quality surfaces. Spacious lounges for parents and dancers. All rooms heated and air-conditioned with home/office quality systems.
Competition Team
DANJ's competition team is a group of young women and men with similar interests who come together to learn, rehearse and perform -- in a supportive, fun environment. The team has achieved national recognition for their exceptional technique, diverse, professional choreography, performance qualities, and unique costuming. DANJ dancers understand that dance is an art form and that dance competitions are a place for them to gain exposure to, and develop friendly relationships with, dancers and choreographers from other studios and dance organizations.
Performing Hearts
DANJ is the proud sponsor of Performing Hearts, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing special needs children the opportunity to experience dance at no cost to their families. DANJ hosts, and provides faculty for, weekly Creative Movement, Ballet and Tap classes for these children. DANJ dancers volunteer as mentors for each child in the program. Every year, the children learn new, fun movements and perform in DANJ’s annual recital. The State of New Jersey, in a Joint Legislative Resolution of the Senate and General Assembly, formally recognized the contributions that Performing Hearts and its founders have made to the State and its people. The resolution was adopted in connection with Performing Hearts receiving the coveted Spirit of Community Award sponsored by The Prudential Insurance Company of America. Visit the Performing Hearts website to learn more about the program, enrolling, volunteer opportunities, and to watch the annual recital videos of Performing Hearts dancers.
Location
Location
Only Minutes from the Rockaway Mall & Sparta
768 Route 15 S, Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849
(behind Dunkin Donuts)
973-663-2009 dance.danj@gmail.com
Dancers from Morris (Jefferson, Oak Ridge, Rockaway, Randolph, Roxbury, Chester, Mendham, Denville, Mountain Lakes, Montville, Wharton, Morris Plains, Boonton, Parsippany, Pequannock), Sussex (Sparta, Newton, Andover, Hopatcong, Branchville, Byram, Franklin, Fredon, Green, Lafayette, Stanhope, Vernon), and Passaic (Wayne, Pompton Lakes, West Milford) counties.
Contact Us
General Resources
Contact Us
From Route 80
Take Rt. 80 to Rt. 15 North (Exit 34). Follow Rt. 15 North for approximately 6 miles (follow signs to the Pathmark Shopping Center and the Jefferson Diner). When you come to the traffic light at Edison Road, proceed in the left lane and take the next immediate left turn just past the Pathmark sign. Proceed to stop sign and make left onto Bowling Green Parkway (Pathmark will be on your left, the Jefferson Diner will be on your right) and follow the road to the traffic light at intersection with Rt. 15S. Cross Rt. 15 South (straight across Route 15) and follow the road between the Bank of America and Weichert Realty to the Lakeside ball field parking lot entrance on the right. Make a right into the back entrance or the Dunkin Donuts parking lot. Proceed toward Dunkin Donuts and you will see the dance studio on the left (beige stucco building with painted sign on the front left window).
From Sparta Area
Take Rt. 15 South past Weldon Rd. to the Dunkin Doughnuts. Make a right into the Dunkin Donuts parking lot. The studio is last building on the right (beige stucco building).
From the Randolph/Roxbury Area
Take Canfield (the road the Div. of Motor Vehicles Inspection Station is located on) to Route 46. Make a left onto Route 46 West. Make a right onto Dell Ave and follow to the end. Make a right at the stop sign and a quick left onto Berkshire Valley Road. Follow Berkshire Valley to Route 15. Take Route 15 North. As you approach the Edison Road light, stay in left lane. Just past the Edison light, make a left lane exit for Pathmark and the Jefferson Diner. At bottom of ramp, make left onto Bowling Green Parkway. Follow Bowling Green Parkway to the traffic light and proceed straight across Rt 15 South. Make first right (as soon as road bends to the right) into the back entrance of Dunkin' Donuts. The Dance Academy of North Jersey is the building on your left (beige stucco).
Jason Luks is a performer, choreographer and teacher. He is currently on faculty at Steps on Broadway, NYCDA, and Joffrey Ballet School teaching Musical Theater. He was a member of the Tony Award nominated Falsettos choreography team with Director and Pulitzer Prize winner, James Lapine. He worked with Josh Prince and James Lapine on the choreography for "Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing." Most recently, Jason served as Ryan Reynold's dance instructor for "Spirited" while dancing as a member of the Spirited Dance Company. Jason's performance credits include “White Christmas” (Broadway), “On The Town" (Barrington Stage), “My One And Only” (Stages St. Louis), Rasta Thomas' Tap Stars, Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the Late Late Show with James Corden, MTV’s Video Music Awards, and Good Morning America. He has performed at the Kennedy Center for Presidents Obama and Bush. Jason is a member of the award winning The JaM Project. He won the Adult World Tap Dance Solo Championship at International Dance Organization’s World Tap Dance Competition, and ADA’s National Choreographer of the Year. Jason’s choreography has been presented on Broadway's Walter Kerr Theater (Falsettos), the Kennedy Center, and Symphony Space NYC. Jason graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Dance.
Jason Luks
- DANJ Artistic Director
- Joffrey Ballet School Faculty
- Broadway: White Christmas (Ensemble)
- Regional: On The Town, My One And Only
- International: Tap Stars (Rasta Thomas)
- Choreography: Falsettos (Broadway),
- Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing (James Lapine)
- Company Member: The JaM Project
- Saturday Night Live
- The Tonight Show, MTV Music Awards
- The Kennedy Center Honors
- Commercial: Walmart, Estee Lauder
- Faculty: NYCDA, Syncopate, Tap the Map
- IDO World Tap Solo Champion
- ADA National Choreographer of the Year
- Performing Hearts Corp Founder
- National Spirit of Community Award
- NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts – BFA
Jason Luks
- DANJ Artistic Director
- Joffrey Ballet School Faculty
- Broadway: White Christmas
- Regional: On The Town, My One And Only
- International: Tap Stars
- Choreography: Falsettos (Broadway),
- Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing (James Lapine)
- Company Member: The JaM Project
- Performer: Saturday Night Live
- The Tonight Show, MTV Music Awards
- The Kennedy Center Honors
- Commercial: Walmart, Estee Lauder
- Faculty: NYCDA, DanceLife Teacher Conf.
- IDO World Tap Solo Champion
- Performing Hearts Corp Founder
- National Spirit of Community Award
- NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts
Jennifer Savelli
- Broadway: Spider-Man, Anything Goes
- Broadway: Dance Of The Vampires, Fosse
- Broadway: The Boy From Oz, Guys and Dolls
- Radio City Rockette, Pennsylvania Ballet
- Choreographer and Associate Director for Tony Award-winning Anything Goes tours
- CHICAGO, PBS Not Your Time, CBS NYC 22
- Broadway: The American Musical
- Kennedy Center Honors, The Tonys
- Academy Awards, MTV Awards, VMAs
- The Rock School Permanent Guest Faculty
- Faculty: Akron University, Pennsylvania U.
- Cruise Show Director and Choreographer: Princess, Radisson, Carnival, Oceania)
Sondra Steiner
- Studied and Worked with: Melissa Hayden, Gloria Govrin, Trinette Singleton, Christopher d’Amboise, Jacques d’Amboise, David Howard, Fernando Bujones, Roy Kaiser, and Barbara Sandonato
- Performance Credits include: Principal, Soloist, and Corps Roles in the ballets Paquita, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, La Fille Mal Gardee, Dracula, The Nutcracker, La Sylphide, Giselle, and Petrushka. Also performed with The Hungarian Ballet Academy and in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
- Training: Pennsylvania Ballet School (now The Rock School)
- Eduction: University of North Carolina School of the Arts with a major in ballet
Kelby Brown
- Pace University Faculty (Ballet)
- Training at School of American Ballet
- Los Angeles Ballet
- Pacific Northwest Ballet
- Pennsylvania Ballet
- State Ballet of Missouri
- Ballet Chicago
- Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center
- Cirque du Soleil
- Los Angeles Opera
- Celine Dion's "A New Day" (Las Vegas)
- Worked with Madonna, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Elton John, Usher
- Danced with Lady Gaga on So You Think
- Movies: The Dance Flick, Transformers 2
- TV: Weeds, Gossip Girl
Kristilee Maiella
- Native of Landing, NJ
- BFA in Dance: Montclair State University
- MSU Linda Roberts Outstanding Dancer Award
- NJPAC and Dance NJ’s "Jersey New Moves" fellowship for emerging young choreographers
- Received her early dance education at DANJ
- 2016 ADA Female Dancer of the Year
- Ffeatured roles in works by Martha Graham, Larry Keigwin, Nancy Lushington, Frederick Earl Mosley
- Worked with Stacey Tookey and was the lead dancer in her piece entitled “Gift”
- Performed at Symphony Space, Prudential Center, MMAC, and NJPAC
- Danced backup for ASAP Live in New York at the Barclays Center
- Artistic director of her own contemporary dance company, KM Dance Collective
Ashley Gallotto
- Received dance training at DANJ
- Teaches all styles of dance
- Teaches tumbling, acro, and aerial silks
- Work recognized for technique, performance qualities and choreography by many leading competitions
Brianna Ascione
- Professional dancer, actor, and singer
- Beginning to dance at two-years-old
- HS: Academy of Visual & Performing Arts
- BFA: Marymount Manhattan College
- Grew up training at DANJ
- Studies voice with Marianne Wells
- Off-Broadway: The Little Match Girl, The Concert
- Regional: Dames at Sea, Grease, West Side Story, Catch Me If You Can, Mary Poppins
- Other: A Chorus Line, Into The Woods, Big Fish, The Government Inspector, His Play, The Next Screenplay
- TV/film: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Marry Me
- Faculty: Mayo Performing Arts Center
- Associate Choreographer: Delbarton School
Terk Waters
- Complexions Contemporary Ballet
- Faculty: Joffrey Ballet School NYC
- Faculty: Marymount Manhattan University
- Faculty: Alvin Ailey Extension, BDC
- "Greatness resides in Terk Waters. He is a dancer rare for his generation" - Darrell Wood, critic, NYC Dance Stuff
- Western Michigan University BFA in dance
Amanda Molina
- Received her early dance training at DANJ
- SUNY Purchase BFA summa cum laude
- SUNY Conservatory of Dance performed works by Rosalind Newman, Rena Butler, Roderick George, Dorchel Haqq, Doug Varone and Jason Reese Cianciulli
- While at SUNY, Studed at London Contemporary Dance School
- Training at Ballet Hispanico ChoreoLab
- Summer intensives at Joffrey Ballet School, Steps on Broadway and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Sam Crimi
- Trained at the French Academie of Ballet
- Studied with: Francois Perron, …
- Manuel Vignoulle, Bivi Kimura, …
- Juan Rodriguez & Brice Mousset
- Traineed with The Joffrey Ballet in Chicago
- Danced with Cocodaco Dance Project
- Danced with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
- Performed in the Opera Carmen in NYC
- Performed with Parsons Dance Company
- Morris County native, started dancing at 6
- As a competitive dancer won many awards
- Top 20 soloists at the Dance Awards
Jenny LeProtto
- Tapaholics Dancer (Mike Minery)
- Speciality in Tap, Hip Hop, and Jazz
- Trained with Ray Leeper (So You Think, NUVO)
- Seton Hall University – BA Education
Juliana Belar
- Division I gymnast U. of New Hampshire
- Three-time Scholastic All-American
- UNH assistant gymnastics coach
- UNH Wildcats to conference championship
- UNH qualifyied for the NCAA tournament
- UNH Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology
- Master’s degree- Bowling Green State U.
- BGU Asst. Women’s Gymnastics Coach
- Coach for Gymnastics Clubs
- Choreographer for Gymnastics Clubs
- Acro coach for competitive dance teams
- Tumbling coach for recreational dancers
Jaclyn Walsh
- KEIGWIN + Company Principal Dancer
- ASH Contemporary Dance Company
- American Dance Artists
- Choreography: Perceptions Contemporary Festival, American Dance Guild, Boston Contemporary Dance Festival, NYU’s Past/Forward, Summer Stage Main Stage, Pushing Progress Showcase, Young Choreographer’s Dance Festival
- Guest Faculty: Juilliard, NYU, Montclair State University, Peridance, BDC
- Broadway Care’s Choreography Award (2)
- Capezio A.C.E. Choreography Awards
- Dance Magazines “Top 25 To Watch”
- Dance Spirit’s "Hottest Young Choreographers”
- NYU Tisch School of the Arts BFA in dance
- Tisch Achievement Scholarship in Dance
Angelica Stiskin
- Guest Choreographer
- Artistic Director Joffrey Ballet School
- Adjunct Professor Marymount Manhattan
- Faculty Joffrey Ballet School
- National Director at VIP Dance
- Move Society Brand Design Director
- ASH Contemporary Dance Company
- American Dance Artists
- Marymount College BFA in dance
Roland Culler
- Grew up in NYC and began dancing at a young age at TADA, youth theatre company
- HS of Performing Arts (Fiorello H. LaGuardia)
- Studied on scholarship at The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, The School of American Ballet
- Worked with Les Ballet Grandiva touring extensively in Japan, as well as Pennsylvania Ballet, Boulder Ballet, David Taylor Dance Theatre, and The Longmont Dance Theatre, touring and dancing in many classical and neo-classical roles
- Adjunct professor of Ballet at Pace University
- Works with Project Plié, a program affiliated with American Ballet Theatre
- Teaches Pa'lante scholars, the top level professional studies students at Ballet Hispanico
Daniel Vaniska
- Theater: "Hairspray,” "Footloose”
- "The Music Man" Tour
- Rasta Thomas' "Bad Boys of Dance” Tour
- Richard Ellner Scholarship (NYCDA & BDC)
- Caesar's Palace Broadway Review
- Industrials: Volkswagen Germany, Walmart
- Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Patti Krapels
- Faculty for Performing Hearts Program
- Specialized in children’s dance education
- Chiropractic physician pediatrics specialty
- Doctor of Chiropractic Life University
- B.S. Physiology at Michigan State University
Kristilee Maiella
- Guest Choreographer
- Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary
- Modern, Acro, Musical Theater
- ADA Nationals Dancer of the Year
- Montclair State University BFA in Dance '20
Private lessons for young children are a fast and focused way to become proficient in dance fundamentals. A private lesson is a “one-on-one” lesson with an instructor where you will receive individualized attention, learning specifically what you want to work on. The pace at which your instructor teaches is entirely based on your needs and you can feel comfortable asking questions and taking your time to learn. Private lessons are beneficial for:
- Jump starting foundation/beginner skills before enrolling in non-beginner classes
- Reinforcing and/or catching up on skills taught in classes
- Developing new and/or strengthening specific skills
Rates vary based on instructor and are scheduled by appointment only.
Private lessons are a fast and focused way to become proficient in your dance skills. A private lesson is a “one-on-one” lesson with your instructor where you will receive individualized attention, learning specifically what you want to work on. The pace at which your instructor teaches is entirely based on your needs and you can feel comfortable asking questions and taking your time to learn. Private lessons are beneficial for:
- Jump starting foundation/beginner skills before enrolling in classes
- Reinforcing and/or catching up on skills taught in classes
- Developing new and/or strengthening specific skills
- Rehearsing solo pieces for competition
- Preparing for a Show, Party, or Special Event
- Wedding first dances
Rates vary based on instructor and are scheduled by appointment only.
Private lessons are a focused way to refine and advance your dance skills. A private lesson is a “one-on-one” lesson with your instructor where you will receive individualized attention, learning specifically what you want to work on. The pace at which your instructor teaches is entirely based on your needs and you can feel comfortable asking questions and taking your time to learn. Private lessons are beneficial for:
- Jump starting and/or reinforcing foundation skills
- Developing new and/or strengthening specific skills
- Rehearsing solo pieces for competition
- Preparing for college and company auditions
Rates vary based on instructor and are scheduled by appointment only.