Elaine Colaneri

Elaine Colaneri is the founder of Carousel Dance Studio and The Modern Jazz Dance Company / Center of the Arts. Elaine began studying dance at a very early age and by the time she was a young teen, her love for dance had become a passion that changed her life. One of Elaine's first instructors and the biggest influence in her life was Doris Holloway, who exposed her to some of the greatest dance teachers of our time. Elaine also studied in New York City with legendary Broadway choreographer and master tap instructor, Henry LeTang. She continued studying with him for over 25 years, traveling to New York on a regular basis, in addition to bringing him to RI to conduct workshops for her students. Elaine teaches his techniques and choreography in her tap classes. Sadly, Dr. LeTang passed away in 2007.

Elaine studied with other tap talents such as Leon Collins, Jerry Ames, Mary Jane Brown, Josh Hilberman and Diane Walker, just to name a few.

Elaine's jazz background is second to none. She studied in New York City with such amazing choreographers as Matt Mattox, Gus Giordano, Frank Hatchett, Ron Forella, John Mederios, Nat Horne, JoJo Smith, Barry Weiss, Jay Norman (an original cast member of West Side Story), and Peter Gennaro, choreographer of the original productions of Annie. These outstanding dancers also visited Elaine's studio in RI on several occasions to conduct workshops for her students.

Elaine founded The Modern Jazz Dance Company in 1972. The Company frequented New York City with Elaine and studied with many of the great instructors that Elaine had the opportunity to study with. Several of her dancers have gone on to have professional dance careers.

Elaine was an adjunct instructor at RI College for several years where she taught tap. She choreographed the RI College productions of Anything Goes, The Pajama Game, Mama, Gypsy, My Fair Lady and The King and I. Other local theatre choreography includes Chicago and Pippin.

Elaine continues to study, attends many dance conventions and is always seeking new talent to learn from or share her knowledge with. She is a life-long member of Dance Educators of America and a member of the Dance Alliance of Rhode Island.

Stephanie Albanese

Stephanie is a graduate of the School of American Ballet in New York. She has performed with Wilhelmina Frankfurt of the New York City ballet in "Firebird", in which she performed the lead. She has danced with Felice Lesser's Dance Theatre and Mary Miller's Contemporary Dance Company in Pittsburgh.

Stephanie lived in Paris while performing at the famous Lido and also in Las Vegas as a Cabaret Dancer. She teaches ballet for children and adults.

Margaret Hayes

Margaret began dancing with Elaine at the age of four. She continued to study with Elaine and the many master teachers Elaine introduced to her. She also studied in New York at the Alvin Ailey Studio, Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center and with tap legend Henry LeTang.

Margaret earned her undergraduate degree at Rhode Island College and a Master’s in Education at Emerson College. She teaches theatre and dance at LaSalle Academy where she is Chair of the Arts Department. Margaret also teaches, directs and choreographs in the after-school theatre and dance programs.

Margaret teaches adult jazz classes at the studio.

Daniel Shea

Daniel has been a professional dancer since he was 19 years old when he started to teach ballroom dance in Boston. Daniel expanded his dance studies in San Francisco and Los Angeles to include a wide variety of disciplines including Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Modern and Afro-Caribbean. In addition to an impressive teaching resume; he has performed throughout the country in nightclubs, musical theatre, radio, commercials, television, opera, industrial showcases and dinner theatre.

He has studied dance at the - Joy of Movement Center (Boston), Pacific Ballet (San Francisco), Joe Tremaine Dance Center (Los Angeles), Stanley Holden School of Ballet (Los Angeles), Debbie Reynolds Studios (Los Angeles).

He has taught dance at -The Strasberg Institute (Los Angeles), Bob Dean’s Dance (San Francisco), San Francisco City College, North Carolina Dance Theatre (Charlotte), Spirit Square Center for Arts (Charlotte), Union County Regional School Systems (Monroe, NC). He has choreographed productions ranging from high school musicals to professional operas including - MTV Video – Larry Elgart and Orchestra (Los Angeles), American Film Market 5th Anniversary Special (Los Angeles), Johnson C. Smith College Annual Pageant and Showcase (Charlotte), Daughter of the Regiment (Opera Carolina – Charlotte), and Rigoletto (Opera Carolina – Charlotte).

Dante Sciarra

Dante Sciarra is an exciting performer, choreographer and dance instructor. Dante started his training with Elaine Colaneri at The Modern Jazz Dance Company-Center of the Arts in Providence. He has trained extensively at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center and New Dance Group with teachers such as John Medeiros, Ann Reinking, Jose Meier, Chris Chadman, Tony Stevens, Chet Walker and Henry LeTang as well as many others, with special training in Matt Mattox technique.

He has taught numerous master classes throughout New England and New York including the Dance Teacher's Club Of Boston, Inc., DMA of Connecticut, Chapter 18 and DMA of New York City-Dance Educators Of America and has judged many national dance competitions for Celebrity Dance Competitions, StarQuest, BravO!, StarPower and KAR Productions.

Dante stresses warming up the whole body beginning with center work, isolations, stretching, lay-out combination, and progressions across the floor and exciting dance combinations utilizing Mattox, Fosse, funk and/or lyrical techniques to encourage adaptability to various movement and musical styles. He focuses attention on the individual and the chance to develop skills while getting a great workout, utilizing diverse music selections, having fun and reinforcing how great it feels to dance!

He performed on Broadway in Chicago starring Jennifer Holliday. Throughout the U.S. and Europe he has been with several National Tours of Chicago with stars such as Sandy Duncan and Patti Labelle, Sunset Boulevard with Petula Clark and Hello Dolly with Michele Lee.

Dante performed at many prestigious regional theatres such as, Goodspeed Opera House, Paper Mill Playhouse, Walnut Street Theatre, North Shore Music Theatre, Pittsburgh CLO and Kansas City Starlight as well as in The Radio City Christmas Spectacular at the Fabulous Fox in Detroit, MI.

He appeared in many shows at Theatre-By-The Sea in Matunuck, Rhode Island. Jim Seavor of the Providence Journal said the following when Dante appeared in TBTS's production of Oklahoma, "Jasmine Kirby and Dante Sciarra make a top-flight Dream Laurey and Dream Curly."

He has served as the Dance Captain and Fight Captain for several regional productions as well as Assistant Choreographer for Walnut Street Theatre's production of Rags.

Dante was the head of the jazz portion of Stephens College Summer Dance Intensive in the summer of 2007.

His television and film credits include, Outside Providence with Alec Baldwin, The Sopranos and America's Millennium with choreography by Rob Marshall for The Discovery Channel.

Dante is also ECITS/ECA World Fitness certified as a Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor.

Master Classes

Dante is available to teach choreography, master and private classes. You can contact him at Dancinman1@aol.com.

Dante stresses warming up the whole body beginning with center work, isolations, stretching, lay-out combination, and progressions across the floor and an exciting dance combination utilizing Mattox, Fosse, funk and/or lyrical techniques to encourage adaptability to various movement and musical styles.

He focuses attention on the individual and the chance to develop skills while getting a great workout, utilizing diverse music selections,having fun and reinforcing how great it feels to dance!

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