Meet the Stars of STARLIGHT Dance Center!

If merely reaching for the stars is no longer enough, good news! You can come to STARLIGHT and learn from them! Meet our cast of International Stars!

STARLIGHT'S RESIDENT COACHES

GIAMPIERO GIANNICO (Italy)

• Winner of the Italian Amateur Ballroom Championships
  in 1995 & 1996
• Blackpool Finalist in the Professional Ballroom division in 2004
• World Finalist and Semifinalist at the
  United Kingdom Championship at the International

Giampiero is the Producer and the Director of the “Dance Evolution Project,” the state-of-the-art competitive training program for amateur and professional couples in residence at STARLIGHT dance center.

PAUL RICHARDSON (Australia) & OLGA RODIANOVA (Russia)

• World Finalists and Finalists at the
  United Kingdom Championship
• Finalists at the International and Asian Open
• Former United States Champions

Paul and Olga have teamed up since 2003 and currently
represent England in international competitions.

ANDREW PHILLIPS  (Belrus Former U.S.S.R.)

Andrew was born and raised in Belrus the former U.S.S.R., and started dancing at a young age.  He is trained in the Ballroom and Latin Dances. After coming to the United States 13 years ago, he competed extensivley in the International Latin division in Europe and all over the United States.  He is now dedicating his time training his students and  is very successful competing with his students on the Pro/Am circuit.

LOUIS van AMSTEL (The Netherlands)

• European (1995) and World (1994 & 1995) Latin Amateur Champion
• Professional World Showcase Champion in 1996
• United States Professional Latin Champion in 2000

Louis is the Producer and Choreographer of the Broadway show “Latinfusion.”  He is featured in the ABC television hit “Dancing with the Stars” dancing with Lisa Rinna, and he is also involved with the Road Tour of “Dancing with the Stars.”

IAN FOLKER (Germany)

• World and British Exhibition Finalist
• Eastern US Latin and Ten-Dance Champion

A celebrated teacher, Ian was runner-up for the US Top Teacher Award.  He is also and adjudicator for National and International competitions.

STARLIGHT'S INSTRUCTORS

DAMIEN STEPIEN & KAROLINA DELEKTA (Poland)

• Represent the United States in the World Championship for Formation Dancing
• Ranked 7th in the Ten-Dance Category
• Currently ranked 13th in the United States in ballroom

Karolina and Damien started dancing at a very young age and began competing at the age of 13!  They have extensive experience in teaching ballroom dancing to children as well as to adults.  They are also members of our Performing Arts Program faculty.

VERONICA CIRIGNANO (Italy)

• Winner of the Ten-Dance Italian Junior Championship
• World Representative to the United States in the Ten-Dance Division
• Winner of the United States Ten-Dance Championships

Veronica has trained extensively in both Ballroom and Latin dances.  She has traveled all over the world placing as a Finalist in all major competitions. She is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, English, and Italian.

ANTON DOMANSKY (Ukraine)

• Former U.S. Ballroom Youth Champion
• Former U.S.10 Dance Youth Champion
• Finalist of many International competitions
• 3 x U.S. representative to the World Championships

Currently training with world class coaches in preparation for upcoming competitions.

CHARLES PARAGIAN (United States of America)

• Winner of all major Rising Star competitions in the United States
• Ranked in the top 12th overall
• Finalist in the US National Championship for American Style Ballroom

Charles has studied and competed in Ten-Dance Ballroom and Latin for many years.  He also holds his license to judge and coach with I.S.T.D. and the North American Dance Teacher Association.

GALIA POURRIEUX (Argentina)

Holds a Masters in Dance Degree in Ballet, Modern, and Tango from the National University of Argentina
Certified faculty member of our Performing Arts Program

Galia shares her passion for the Argentine Tango with our students in her popular Argentine Tango classes.  She has also toured Europe with the renowned Grupo Dansa Argentina.

ELIZABETH MELENDEZ (United States of America)

Elizabeth began her teaching career in 1996.  She has studied Salsa/Mambo with the Razz M’Tazz Dance Company at New York’s Dance Manhattan and Nolas Studios, NY.  Elizabeth is known for her unique and powerful teaching style which fuses modern-day Salsa, traditional salsa, American Jazz and Hip Hop.  A very accomplished performer throughout the United States, Elizabeth also teaches a dynamic cardio-salsa class!

HAZEL ULRICH (United States of America)

Hazel is an accomplished West Coast Swing and Hustle dancer.
Most recently Hazel with her partner Tybaldt placed

• 2nd in the Tripple Threat (WCS, Hustle, Salsa) at the Big Easy Classic
• 1st in the 2005 World Hustle Chapionships
• 1st in the Classic WCS and Cabaret at the 2005  Dance America in Seattle
• 2nd in Classic WCS, Hustle and Cabaret at the 2005 MADJAM

They also tour all over the United States performing and teaching.  We are proud to have Hazel as part of our teaching staff at STARLIGHT.

BIN LI (China)

• Winner of 2nd place Amateur Standard Division in China in 1987.

Since moving to the US in 1991, Bin has established himself as one of the top Pro/Am Teachers in the United States. 

ARTHUR & AGNES BARTMAN (Poland)

Arthur and Agnes have been dancing and competing together for many years.  They are currently devoting their time to Pro/Am dancing in International Style Ballroom.  Their teaching has produced students who have ranked 1st in the country in their respective divisions.  Agnes is also known for her beautiful ball gown design and production.

GREG FIDURSKI (Poland)

• Champion of Polish Grand Prix in Ballroom
• Champion of Polish Academies in Ballroom
• Quarter Finalist in 1999 at the Dance Festival in Blackpool/England
• 6th Place at the Dutch Open in Slagharen/Netherlands

Teaches and competes successfully with his students all over the country.  He currently competes in the Ballroom division with his partner, dancing for the U.S.

TONY SCHEPPLER (United States of America)

• Finalist in the top 12 in the Open Smooth Category in 2002
• Finalist in the top 12 in the Open Rhythm Category in 1999
• US Rising Star Cabaret Champion in 1998
• Runner-up in the 1998 US Nine-Dance Championships

VLADIMIR POPOV (Russia)

• Finalist in the Russian National Championships
• Semi-finalist in the Italian Championships

Vladimir has worked in Hong-Kong, Egypt, Korea, United Arab Emirates, and many other places.  He holds a degree in Dance from the respected Moscow University of Art and Culture.

LESLIE BROWN (United States of America)

Leslie has been teaching all types of ballroom dancing, including Salsa and Hustle, for many years.  Although her dynamic character is present in all of her teaching, she specializes in the Latin dances.  Leslie has built an extensive experience working with wedding couples and with children.

ELIZABETH MELENDEZ (United States of America)

Elizabeth began her teaching career in 1996.  She has studied Salsa/Mambo with the Razz M’Tazz Dance Company at New York’s Dance Manhattan and Nolas Studios, NY.  Elizabeth is known for her unique and powerful teaching style which fuses modern-day Salsa, traditional salsa, American Jazz and Hip Hop.  A very accomplished performer throughout the United States, Elizabeth also teaches a dynamic cardio-salsa class!

KATHARINA MARKS (Germany)

• US Finalist in the American Style for many years
• Ranked in the top 24 at the United Kingdom Championships in the International Ballroom division
• Placed 7th in the Rising Star in Blackpool
• Won the Open in the World Rising Star Standard Championships in Miami

Katharina has represented the United States in Ballroom competitions in Russia, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Greece.  In 2003, she founded the STARLIGHT dance center and to whose direction and management she now devotes 100 percent of her talent and time.

STARLIGHT'S FUN & FITNESS INSTRUCTORS

JOE O’JEDA

Joe has been involved in the Fitness Industry for over 17 years.  Throughout this time, he competed extensively in Kickboxing.  He was a Fitness Director and Personal Trainer in a prominent New York City Gym.  His clients range from children to models, to celebrities.  Joe founded XCEL Fitness Studio in Nutley, NJ where he now trains his clients full-time.  He currently teaches his famous XCEL Total Body Workout class at STARLIGHT dance center.

CHRIS LIVSEY

Chris graduated from Montclair State University with a BFA in Theatre.  He studied Ballet, Jazz and Hip Hop at Broadway Dance Center in NY.  He toured nationally and internationally with many Broadway shows including “Hair” and “Best of Broadway.”  Chris has been teaching Jazz and Hip Hop for over ten years to virtually every age student at every level.  He currently teaches acting at the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre.  Chris is a faculty member of our Performing Arts Program where he teaches our adult classes.

ANNETT MIKO “CHADIA”

Chadia has been involved with belly dancing for over 15 years.  She shares her love of belly dance through teaching.  Her technique is based on the classical Egyptian style.  Chadia is well travelled and has first hand experience on the Middle Eastern culture,  which she was facinated with since she was a child.  Chadia is well known as a performer and instructor all over the Tri State area

ELIZABETH MELENDEZ

Elizabeth is teaching Cardio Salsa.  Please see her Bio above.

GALIA POURRIEUX

Galia is teaching Latin Aerobic.  Please see her Bio above.

JO-ANN WATSON

Jo-Ann has studied Kundalini & Meditation at the well-known Kundalini East Center in New York for 5 years.  She has been assisting her master for many years and has started teaching her own classes.  She is a certified Kundalini Instructor.

PERFORMING ARTS INSTRUCTORS

JIMMY TILLIS “JETT”

Jett began dancing at the age of nine, studying Ballroom and Hip Hop.  He also started training in Tae Kwon Do at seven and is a certified second degree black belt instructor – but dance remains his passion.  Jett’s professional credits include dancing with the Knicks City Kids, dancing and choreographing for the NY Liberty’s Lil’ Torches, and dancing in the popular children’s video Hip Hop for Kids.  He has performed with Ashanti, Remy Ma, and Britney Spears, and he has modeled for Reebok.  Jett is teaching Hip Hop  for Kids and Teens.

CHRIS LIVSEY

Chris is teaching Hip Hop for Kids and Teens.  Please see his Bio above.

GALIA PORRIEUX

Galia is teaching Ballet, Tap, and Jazz for Kids and Teens.  Please see her Bio above.

LORI MICHAELS

Lori began to dance at the age of two. When she was eight years old, she became one of Hatchett’s kids at Broadway Dance Center in NYC and later went on to graduate from NYU. Lori’s accomplishments include having her own dance/fitness performance class featured on the Style Network as well as having her Korean workout video featured at MSNBC’s Fitness Week. In her spare time, Lori has committed to several charitable organizations including D.A.R.E. and Care for kids.

GIANNA STEFANELLI

Gianna has studied Ballroom and Latin Dancing, Hip Hop, Tap and Jazz.  She has competed in the Latin division for many years.  Gianna has been involved in teaching children in all dance styles.  She is teaching Hip Hop for Kids of all ages.

To book private lessons with any of our instructors, please call 973.235.9835