BALLET • POINTE • HIP HOP • BROADWAY JAZZ • TAP • FOSSE • WEDDING DANCES
CREATIVE DANCE • COMBO CLASSES • BALLROOM • BIRTHDAY PARTIES
• PRIVATE LESSONS •

THE DANCE LOFT was opened in 1984 by Willa Damien who studied at the School of American Ballet, the Julliard School and with Andre Eglevsky. She was a soloist with the Eglevsky Ballet Company before moving to Belgium where she appeared as a soloist with the Royal Opera of Ghent, the Ballet of Flanders of Antwerp and Bejarts Ballet of the 20th Century. Her teaching experience includes classes given at the Royal Opera of Ghent, Belgium, at her own studio in Ghent and at various schools on Long Island. Her students have continued on to the American School of Ballet, Joffrey's, Alvin Ailey and the Bolshoi School in Moscow.

FACULTY

Willa Damien - Director

Laura Margaret Casher studied at the Dance Loft, Binghampton University and the New York University Tisch School of the Arts. She has performed leading roles with the Long Beach Theatre Guild, Bayswater Players and has choreographed for the Binghampton University theatre Department as well as the Binghampton Children's Dance Theatre where she taught Jazz, Tap and Ballet. She has choreographed numerous children's musicals throughout Long Island.

Sal Canepa has studied at the Broadway Dance Center and Steps in NYC. He attended the Theater Artists' Institute and The American Musical Theater in San jose, California where he studied all aspects of Musical Theater. He has appeared in films and television such as "You've Got Mail," "Video Zone,"and "Witness to the Mob."
An expert in the Bob Fosse style of jazz, he recently coached Brooke Shields for her role in "Chicago." On Long Island he has performed, directed and choreographed for the local Theater Guilds of Long Beach, Island Park and Rockville Centre. He has also worked for the Lincoln Orens Middle School, Long Beach Catholic School, Time to Shine Theater Group, and the Wheately Theater Company.

Sylvia Murray is currently a student at Long Beach High School. She has been studying dance for the past seven years at the Dance Loft. Sylvia has been teaching classes at the Dance Loft for three years; one as a substitute and two years full time. In addition she works as the choreographer for the Long Beach High School / Middle School Girls' Gymnastics Team. She also participates in choreographing her class dance for High School Class Olympics.

Call us at (516) 889-STEP / 7837

email: danceloftlb@aol.com