ABOUT US
Launched in July 2019, we offer a wide array of dance and movement classes for both children and adults. Classes include Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Lyrical, Acro, Pilates, and more! Our space is also available for rental on a daily basis with accommodations for rehearsals, private lessons, fitness and wellness classes.
Our mission is to provide a space and outlet for growth, creativity, exploration, and expression to all members of the New York community. We are dedicated to offering quality programs that reflect the rich cultural heritage of New York City. We strive to build a community that will enable artists of all ages to feel welcomed, comfortable, and at home in our space.
ALANNA CHAN
OWNER / STUDIO DIRECTOR
Alanna Chan is a New York based actress and dancer with over 25 years of experience. She grew up training in Chinese Folk Dance, ballet, jazz, and hip hop at her local studio on Long Island, NY and furthered her training at the Joffrey Ballet School’s prestigious Jazz and Contemporary Program. At the age of 4, she booked her first national commercial for Tyson Chicken and it didn't stop there! Alanna is a member of SAG-AFTRA and can be seen on numerous advertisements, music videos, and television appearances. She has had the privilege of performing on the stages at Lincoln Center, Metropolitan Museum of Art and in New York regional theaters.
​
As a dance educator, Alanna has had the honor of instructing at many studios throughout New York City and the tri-state area. Her approach to dance education has always set her apart from others. She personalizes each of her classes to the needs and goals of her students. Her individualized approach to teaching allows for personal growth and for each student to reach their full creative potential. Alanna focuses on developing a strong technical foundation but always encourages exploration of movement and freedom of expression. Alanna is excited to share her passion for performance and dance education to the Tribeca community!
​
Through her own dance journey, Alanna realized that many established NYC studios lack diversity and individuality in their dance programs. Alanna wanted to break the traditional mold, and opened Luna Performing Arts in the Summer of 2019 in TriBeCa. Luna is derived from Alanna’s Chinese name and is representative of Luna Performing Arts' mission to create a space that combines culture, technique, and passion for dance in a truly unique way.
ALYSSA ISHIHARA
TEACHING ARTIST
Alyssa Ishihara is a New York based performer originally from Hawai'i. She began dancing at Island Dance Academy at the age of 3 and made her professional debut at the age of 8 in ODC Dance's touring production of The Velveteen Rabbit. While still in Hawai'i, Alyssa was also a competitive gymnast for 4 years with Pantheon School of Gymnastics before becoming one of the youngest certified USA Gymnastics judges in the country at the age of 16. She moved to New York to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy where she earned a Dance Theatre Certificate and since graduating has performed professionally at regional theaters across the country. Favorite theatre credits include The Cher Show (Ogunquit Playhouse, The Gateway), Gypsy (The Wick), Mamma Mia! (Arts Center of Coastal Carolina), Chicago and An American In Paris (Arizona Broadway Theatre), and West Side Story (Midtown Arts Center). Alyssa has also worked creatively as an Assistant Choreographer for Molloy College/CAP 21 as well as assisting multiple cruise ship installations for RWS Entertainment. Alyssa is thrilled to be a part of the team at Luna Performing Arts and can't wait to combine her passion for dance with her love for teaching the next generation!
BRIANA'BB' STONE
TEACHING ARTIST
Briana 'BB' Stone is an NYC based dancer, singer, actor and choreographer. She is a graduate of the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment at Oklahoma City University with a Bachelor’s of Performing Arts in Dance Performance. BB grew up dancing at On Stage School of Dance from the age of two, and attended William Penn-Alfred J Griffin School for the Arts for middle and high school. BB attended training programs at the Governor’s School of North Carolina, UNCSA, and Broadway Workshop. Instead of having a traditional senior year of high school, BB had the opportunity of a lifetime to attend the Joffrey Ballet School’s Jazz and Contemporary Trainee Program in NYC where she had the privilege of meeting Alanna Chan! BB has been a featured performer in the American Spirit Dance Company at OCU, and has performed professionally at regional theaters in across the country. Recent credits include Disney's Newsies (The Gateway), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Maltz Jupiter Theatre) and The Cher Show (Ogunquit Playhouse). When BB is not at Luna or performing, she works as the Associate Choreographer to Tuan Malinowski; they most recently choreographed for I Put A Spell On You Broadway's Biggest Halloween Event at Sony Hall. BB is thrilled to be apart of the Luna Performing Arts family and share her passion for dance with the next generation!
CAITLYN MINUTO
TEACHING ARTIST
Caitlyn Minuto is a New York City based Dancer, Performer, and Instructor. Originally a Texas girl, she has been dancing since the age of 4 and hasn’t stopped since! In May of 2019 Caitlyn graduated from Shenandoah Conservatory with her BFA in Dance Performance. She had the opportunity to train under some of the most incredible instructors in her time at Shenandoah, as well as participating in some amazing intensives such as:
The Rockette, Broadway Dance Center, and Gus Giordano Intensives. She has traveled to different choreography festivals and continues to take class at BDC as well as Steps On Broadway. Post graduation, Caitlyn was ecstatic to kick-start her professional career as a dancer at Busch Gardens for their Howl-O-Scream and Christmas Town seasons. She then made the big move to NYC to continue training and pursuing her professional dance career. Additionally, Caitlyn recently became an AFAA certified Group Fitness Instructor. She has been teaching dance to kids of all ages at various studios across the country for the past 7 years, and is so passionate about sharing her love for dance with her students. Caitlyn is thrilled to be a part of the fabulous team of teaching artists at Luna Performing Arts!
CHANDLER BEAMAN
TEACHING ARTIST
Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Chandler Brooke Beaman is a New York City based dancer, singer, actor, and choreographer. At the age of six, Chandler began dancing and completely fell in love with the art form. She graduated high school from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). She then went on to graduate from the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment at Oklahoma City University with a degree in Dance Performance. There, Chander toured and performed as a member of the American Spirit Dance Company. Chandler has also had the honor of performing works by Josie Walsh at the Valley Performing Arts Center (Los Angeles) and Jennifer Archibald at the Freda Lupin Theatre (New Orleans). Chandler's mission in life is to simply live up to the meaning of her name: maker of light. She is thrilled to put her mission into motion with Luna Performing Arts!
EMMA VANCE
TEACHING ARTIST
Emma Vance is a NYC based performer and choreographer and recent graduate from Elon University, earning her BFA in musical theatre! Originally a California native, Emma has performed and taught all over the country. Some professional highlights include All Shook Up (Ensemble/ Natalie u/s) and South Pacific (Ensemble) at Flat Rock Playhouse; The Music Man (Zaneeta), La Cage Aux Folles (Babette/Cagelle), and The Murder Room (Susan) at Woodstock Playhouse; A Little Princess (Becky), and A Christmas Carol (Ms. Fezziwig, Ensemble) at Sacramento Theatre Company; and Cabaret (Fraulein Kost), Damn Yankees (Gloria), School for Wives (Agnes), and Hello, Dolly! (Ensemble) at Elon. Emma is also trained in Social Emotional Learning and a certified yoga instructor. She is so excited to dance with you and be a part of the Luna Performing Arts family!
KATELYN HAMILTON
TEACHING ARTIST
Katelyn, originally from Atlanta, GA, began her dance training at a variety of dance studios in the Metro-Atlanta area. She recently moved to NYC in the fall to pursue a career in dance after receiving her BFA in Dance from Florida State University in 2021. During her time at Florida State, she had the opportunity to perform works by artists’ such as Ann Carlson, Dan Wagoner, and Francisco Graciano. She was able to further develop her training at dance intensives such as Paul Taylor American Modern Dance, Perry-Mansfield, and the José Limón Dance Foundation. Katelyn is excited to share her passion and love for dance with the next generation of dancers!
LOUIS HANSEN
TEACHING ARTIST
Louis Hansen is a recent college graduate with a BFA in musical theatre from Lindenwood University. There he had the opportunities to choreograph and perform in their main stage shows and dance concerts. A few of his favorite credits include Bert in Mary Poppins and Brad in The Rocky Horror Show. Louis has also performed regionally at Flat Rock Playhouse where he was in the ensemble of South Pacific and All Shook Up. Theatre, dance and choreography are his passions and he looks forward to sharing these arts through Luna Performing Arts.
SAM LOBEL
TEACHING ARTIST | PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Sam Lobel is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer based in New York City. She has presented her work at the Young Choreographer’s Festival, On 1 Condition, NYC Choreographer’s Forum, APEX, Sybarite Love is Love, PMT Fall Dance Series, Think Tank the Showcase, DoubleTake Dance Gala and more. Sam is a Think Tank rising choreographer and she is a substitute jazz faculty member at PMT House of Dance. She is an assistant at Broadway Dance Center’s Children and Teen Program, and she teaches open classes for the Ballet Company at NYU and at studios around the city. She recently was the associate choreographer for Nicholas Palmquist for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Gala, the Steps Professional Performance Workshop, and the Peridance Certificate Program. Sam creates a fun and engaging environment for kids of all ages to move! She focuses on coordination, balance, flexibility, learning and retaining choreography. She loves to teach and share her passion with others!
SHAUNA SLOMS
TEACHING ARTIST
Shauna Sloms is a NYC based professional artist, dancer, and creator focused on choreographing, performing, and teaching. She has worked in the concert and commercial realms of dance and is currently expanding internationally. Shauna Sloms started dancing at the age of 3 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania under Marilyn Budzynski performing in classical shows such as the Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella & more; working closely with Pennsylvania Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and BalletX founders in both contemporary and ballet. Shauna attended The School of Pennsylvania Ballet under the instruction of Aranxa Ochoa and danced in George Balanchine’s, Serenade. Shauna received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from University of South Florida and attended University North Carolina School of the Arts and performed in multiple pieces and works over the course of the years - studying intensely in dance, movement education, and performance. Shauna had the experience of performing in the Spoleto Festival USA in the Opera, Eugene Onegin, in Charleston, South Carolina. Shauna has attended many summer programs such as Pennsylvania Ballet, American Ballet Theater Collegiate Intensive, Complexions Ballet and Peridance BluePrint Intensive working closely with many prestigious artists. Shauna had the privilege of being a guest artist for two seasons with the Tampa City Ballet performing in the premier of “After Image, It’s Happening Anyway, and 7th Ave Ybor” directed by Paula Nunez.
MILAN FURTADO
TEACHING ARTIST
Milan Furtado is a dancer and choreographer currently based in NYC. She currently attends New York University where she is pursuing a 3-year BFA dance program. She is originally from Los Angeles where she grew up competing with studios: The Royal Underground and Project21. In addition to her competitive training, Milan attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA), where she was exposed to a rigorous modern and post-modern dance curriculum. Milan has attended Joffrey West, Alonzo King’s Lines, and Berlin’s B-12 Summer intensives where she has continued her training in ballet, jazz and contemporary. Milan is very excited to join the Luna Performing Arts family!
JENNIFER BUONAMIA
TEACHING ARTIST
Jennifer Buonamia is a dancer and instructor based in New York City. Originally from Atlanta, GA, Jennifer grew up dancing at Gwinnett Ballet Theatre. In 2016, she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Dance Pedagogy from Butler University. While at Butler, Jennifer toured Eastern Europe with the butler Ballet Chamber Ensemble, traveling through Poland, Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic in Eastern Europe. She dance professionally with Kentucky Ballet following graduation. In 2017, Jennifer relocated to New York City to further pursue her dance career. She has performed with the Kennedy Dancers Repertory Co. and completed installations with Heidi Latsky Dance. Currently, Jennifer dances for Cold Spring Contemporary Dance Company and tours with Ballets With a Twist. Jennifer specializes in ballet, while also instructing tap, modern. and high energy dance classes.