MEET OUR INSTRUCTORS
Chelsy D'Antono
Owner &
Artistic Director
Chelsy began her dance career at a very young age, as she began taking classes at the tender age of two. Her love for performing on stage and her passion for dance helped her to excel as she began her pointe and jazz classes soon after. Her classical dance training helped her not only excel on the dance floor, but also as a successful competitive gymnast, as well as a member of the Minisink Valley competitive cheerleading team. Chelsy continued her gymnastics career at SUNY Cortland, where she also was a member of the Danceworks competitive dance team.
Whether it was performing at the football game or in college dance competitions, Chelsy loved the various aspects of dance competition and became a teacher at YMCA gymnastics camps. She also began choreographing floor routines for gymnasts as well as competitive dancers and has enjoyed doing it ever since.
Chelsy has been active in the competitive dance scene in Orange County for over 10 years, and has been a studio owner now for 8 years. DDA has competed in various regional and national competitions over the last 8 years, earning numerous top 3 finishes for solo, duo, trio, small group, and large group numbers, as well as a national championship dance in the 2021 competitive season. Whether a dancer aspires to some day make it to Broadway, win competitions while in school, or take classes recreationally, Chelsy hopes to share her passion and love of dance with every student.
After graduating from Dean College with a BA in dance, Danielle was accepted into Broadway Dance Center’s professional semester. While there, she studied and performed with professional choreographers and teachers from throughout the country. Danielle worked professionally in dance theater productions and a ballet/contemporary company in Boston and New York City . Realizing how important it is for students to have a quality education in this art form , Danielle decided to teach and share her passion and knowledge with students at D'Antono dance academy and is an intricate part of their education recreationally and competitively. Danielle has been a part of DDA as an instructor and choreographer for 5 years and loves to inspire our dancers to pursue their love of dance in every way.
Danielle Alifano
Instructor & Competition Choreographer
Daryn’s love for dance began at age two when she was enrolled in kinderdance. The following year she took her first ballet class and has had a passion for dance ever since. She studied ballet, pointe, tap and jazz at a local studio for fifteen years. Daryn graduated from SUNY New Paltz where she was a member of the New Paltz Dance Team for four years. During her junior and senior year, she had the privilege of being the Dance Team’s co-captain. She choreographed numerous jazz and lyrical dances throughout the year for campus events, basketball games and the team’s annual performance.
Daryn is thrilled to have been teaching at DDA for the past 7 years and to share her love of dance with her students. As a teacher, she encourages technique, creativity and most of all, a positive environment. A successful class is one where her students leave smiling and feeling good about themselves and their progress.
Daryn Arielle
Instructor & Competition Choreographer
Anushka began dancing at the age of two and continued to develop her love of dance throughout high school and college. It became a constant in life that brought so much joy and provided an outlet for her creativity. Anushka was trained in all genres of dance and was a member of her Senior Competition Team in 2014. She grew to love competing as a dancer and felt like it really pushed her to become more outwardly confident in and out of the studio. Anushka took that confidence and passion with her to Sacred Heart University where she expanded her knowledge and love of dance as a member of the SHU Dance Ensemble, Hip Hop Crew, and theater productions as a dancer. with seasoned choreographers like Maria Cherniske and Simone DePaolo. Anushka has been an instructor at DDA for the past 3 years as well as administrative manager and absolutely loves working with our dance families. As a teacher, Anushka emphasizes technique and performance for all ages and loves creating a safe and fun environment for the kids to learn and push them to be the best version of themselves they can be.
Anushka Chowdhuri
Instructor
Kaylie Osborne
Instructor
Kay Ozzy found her passion for dance at four years old, training at The Dance Loft and Tribe Body. There, she trained in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre, lyrical, hip hop and contemporary. She furthered perusing her passion by attending SUNY Brockport, earning her BFA in dance. In college, she discovered her love for modern dance, teaching and choreographing. She was a teaching assistant for Professor James Hansen her senior year, as well as participating in many performances, including having her own choreographic work showcased. Her most notable work is her co-choreographed/performed piece with Jessica Karcz, “It Takes Two,” which was nominated and performed at the ACDA Mid-Atlantic North Conference. After graduation she completed the Broadway Dance Center Professional Semester, where her passion for performing, contemporary dance and choreography rekindled. Since then she has been teaching and choreographing for recreational and competition dance of all ages. Her goal is to always create a safe space for the dancers she teaches as well as give them artistic freedom through improv and within her choreography.
Nicole Gatto
Instructor
Nicole started dancing at two years old and fell in love with being on the stage and putting on performances for an audience. At the age of five she began making up her own routines and designing costumes for performances, friends, and family. This led her to dive into acting and modeling with a bright spirit. She attended the Academy of performing acts in NYC. Nicole danced at the same dance studio as the owner of DDA from kindergarten thru 8th grade. While dancing, Nicole also attended Hudson Valley Conservatory, she was coached in acting by Sam Wright (the voice of Sebastian in the Little Mermaid + Mufasa in the Lion King on Broadway). At the Conservatory Nicole also shared her passion for dancing, choreography, and acting with the younger generation. She volunteered at summer camps, teaching ballet, tap, jazz and acting techniques to the younger children. Nicole is currently a mother of boy/girl twins; her daughter attends this studio alongside all the other amazing children. Nicole will have the honor of sharing her love of the arts with your Children and the team at DDA.