DONNA CARBONE SCHAEFFER (Artistic Director) Miss Donna started dancing at the age of 6, and began teaching at 14 years old to pay for her own dance lessons. She learned from some of the best dance teachers in the world at prestigious studios, including Phil Black Dance Studio, Broadway Dance Center, and Steps on Broadway. Miss Donna studied tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, lyrical, and modern with Phil Black, Charles Kelly, David Howard, Mia Michaels, Henry LeTang, Don Farnsworth, and Suzy Taylor to name just a few. She believes in the ongoing training of her staff, enabling Dance Arts students to be exposed to the best and most current trends in the world of dance. Miss Donna is a member of Dance Educators of America and a professional member of USA Gymnastics. Her nursing background and extensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology are assets to her teaching.

Many of Miss Donna’s former students have gone on to enjoy professional dance careers: performing on Broadway, in National Tours, and in Regional Productions; starring on television shows; dancing with Twyla Tharp Dance Company and Mikhail Baryshnikov; performing in music videos, at Walt Disney World, and at the Brooklyn Academy of Music; serving on the faculty of the world-renowned Joffrey Ballet School Summer Intensive; appearing in Dance Magazine; and earning degrees in Dance and Dance Education.
 Miss Donna truly loves to dance, and has shared that passion with her teachers and thousands of students throughout the Dance Arts Community since 1977!

CARRIE DALE Miss Carrie started dancing at the age of 3 and has been part of the Dance Arts family for 40 years and is now proud to be Donna’s partner.  She has enjoyed teaching tap, jazz, lyrical, and hip hop for over 20 years and is a certified Zumba instructor.  Miss Carrie holds a BS in Occupational Therapy.   Miss Carrie truly lives for dance and for her students, and enthusiastically takes every opportunity to share her love of dance with those around her.

TAMMY VENTI Dance Arts has been a cherished second home to Miss Tammy for the past 40 years. She began dancing at the age of 3, assisting at 13, and teaching at 18. Being a part of the Dance Arts family has helped Miss Tammy become a better dancer, choreographer, teacher, and mentor. Her favorite dance styles are contemporary, lyrical, and jazz. Dance Arts has provided a healthy, positive, and productive environment where Miss Tammy feels lucky to have developed lifelong friendships; she now strives to provide that for all her students.

LINDSEY SUMMER Miss Lindsey has been dancing at Dance Arts for over 15 years, studying jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical, and ballet. She has been a teacher at Dance Arts for over 10 years. Miss Lindsey earned a Masters degree in STEM Education at Hofstra University and is currently a middle school math teacher in Brooklyn. Miss Lindsey continues her dance education at Broadway Dance Center, studying street jazz and hip hop styles with master choreographers including Derek Mitchell, Leslie Feliciano and Luam. Miss Lindsey uses these experiences in her classes, creating an innovative and challenging atmosphere where students channel the movements often seen in music videos and on America’s Best Dance Crew.

MICKEY BYRNE Miss Mickey has been with the Dance Arts family for more than 20 years, and she currently teaches ballet, pointe, jazz and lyrical. She has been fortunate to study different early forms of dance such as Baroque and Renaissance dance. These facets of dance have provided her with a unique understanding of the origins of ballet, which she enjoys sharing with her students. Miss Mickey considers Dance Arts to be a second home and is proud to be a Dance Arts teacher.

MEAGHAN TULLY Miss Meaghan has been part of the Dance Arts family since 2004 and has been teaching since 2015.  Miss Meaghan pursued both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Adelphi University and is now an English teacher.  Teaching at Dance Arts has truly been her favorite experience through the years because it has given her the opportunity to share her love of dance with her incredible students.  Miss Meaghan is also a member of the Dance Arts social media team and very much enjoys keeping the profiles fun and creative for all our families.  Most of all, Miss Meaghan adores her Dance Arts family and is extremely proud to be a teacher!