Downstage Center Dance Studio

Dani Tucci-Juraga, Owner/Director

Levels I-IV & Adult Tap, Adult Jazz & Zumba

Dani is a member of the Dance Educators of America, SAG-AFTRA, Actors Equity & SDC (Stage Directors/Choreographers)

Dani has enjoyed a professional dance career as Principal Dancer, and Swing for; (Broadway) Sesame Street Live, Camp Broadway Thanksgiving Day Parades, (Tours) Sesame Street Live-USA/Asia, The Magic School Bus, Disney Cruise Lines. (Film) 'Silver Linings Playbook’ under the direction of David O. Russell and choreography by Mandy Moore.

(TV Choreography) NBC’s Hairspray LIVE Viewing Party at the Kimmel Center, Phila. (National Tour Choreography) Playhouse Production’s ‘Waist Watchers' The Musical ; (Regional Choreography) Bucks County Playhouse’s ‘Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big Playhouse Christmas Show’ and Youth Company; Delaware Theater Company ‘Plaid Tidings’ (Theme Park Choreography) Sesame Place San Diego ‘Welcome to Our Street’ with director John Tartaglia. (Concert Choreography) Texas Christian University’s 150’s Anniversary Celebration starring singer/songwriter Kelsea Ballerini. (Awards Ceremony Staging) Horatio Algers Awards starring Loren Allred, (Choreographer) Johns Hopkins University Alumni Sesquicentennial.

Dani is a teaching artist at the Bucks County Playhouse and Adjunct Professor at Rider University for the Musical Theater & Dance Departments and TCNJ Visual Performing Arts Department and Choreographer for the Lyric Theater. Her specialties are: Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Zumba and “Hot” Power Yoga. 

She is the author of the published and award winning children’s book “Belinda and the ‘Boring’ Ballet Class” Dorrance Publishing. DaniTucciJuraga.com

Choreography Reel

Luke Profy

Contemporary, Jazz IV

Luke Profy started dancing when he was six, taking classes in ballet and jazz. He quickly fell in love with all aspects of dance and branched out into all genres and musical theater. Luke has a Master’s of Education from Villanova University and a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh having received his Bachelor’s in Science in Mathematics and a minor in Dance under the direction of Susan Gillis-Kruman. During his time at Pitt, he served on the Board of Directors for the Pitt Dance Ensemble and was a resident choreographer for the group. He has performed professionally with the Pittsburgh dance company The Blanket in their presentation of Christopher Williams’ St. Ursula and the 10,000 Virgins and worked on their production of Beth Gill’s Yolk & Grove. He has competed at various different regional and national dance competitions, such as Beyond the Stars, Starpower, Dancer’s Inc, and Headliners, placing in the top overalls for his solos and winning numerous regional title awards. Luke has been teaching dance for the past 10 years and has choreographed top overall pieces for all ages and styles of dance that have won multiple special awards and distinctions at the regional and national level. Luke currently teaches High School mathematics and statistics at Holy Ghost Prep in Bensalem, PA where he choreographs their musicals, most recently Urinetown, which won Best Dance Ensemble Award in 2024, and Something Rotten which won Best Musical in 2023 at the Philadelphia Independence Awards. 

Kim Pearson

Pre-Dance I & II

Kim has a teaching degree from Kutztown University in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. She's been teaching pre-dance since 2002 and at Downstage Center since 2007. She has always wanted to spark a love and passion for dance in young children and she is so grateful she has the continued opportunity to do so!

Kim has been performing since the age of 5 in all areas of dance, theatre and vocal performance. She has choreographed for Kutztown University's Dance and Theatre companies as well as produced and choreographed shows at Sesame Place. Kim has also performed professionally at Sesame Place and can be seen on the stage at Kelsey Theatre where she has appeared in many musical productions such as: Beauty and the Beast, Something Rotten!, Dogfight, Miss Saigon, City of Angels, Shrek, Les Miserables, Urinetown, Suessical, The Wedding Singer, and The Wiz. Other theatre credits include: Snoopy – The Musical, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, The Wizard of Oz, The Music Man, Once Upon a Mattress, The Boyfriend, Lucky Stiff, Irene and Anything Goes. Of all the roles she has played throughout life, her most favorite and memorable one is being a mom to her son, Parker!

Lydia Miller

Ballet IV, Lyrical II

Lydia Miller started dancing at age 4, she began her pre-professional ballet career at The School of Pennsylvania Ballet..  During her two-year tenure, she performed in 23 shows of Pennsylvania Ballet’s Balanchine Nutcracker.  In addition, she proudly represented the school at the Philly Youth Dance Fest. 

Under the direction of Pamela Levy and Douglas Martin, Lydia was asked to join the American Repertory Ballet as a Trainee on a merit scholarship.  She performed the roles of Snow and Flowers in ARB’s Nutcracker and danced The Waltz of the Hours in Coppelia. Lydia worked with acclaimed choreographers Mary Barton and Kirk Peterson and was honored to dance in Scarlet Sonata and Beauty and the Beast.  

In recent years, Lydia began working with Mark and Melissa Roxey, founders of Roxey Ballet and continued with the company for three seasons.  Lydia performed with the company in their adaptations of Dracula, Nutcracker and Carmen.  She danced multiple roles as a soloist including the Dewdrop Fairy in Roxey Ballet’s Made for Television Nutcracker 2020.     

Brenna Bajor-Strine

Ballet I, ‘Everybody Dance’

Dancing since age 4, Brenna is a DSC Alumnus and teacher, trained in all areas of dance. She was Downstage Center’s first student back in 2001. Brenna studied at West Chester and DeSales Universities for dance, graduating with her bachelors in psychology and masters degree in counseling. Brenna works full time as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and lives in Bucks County with her husband Alex, their kids Liam , Charlotte and Sam.

Anna Chandless

Hip Hop III & IV & Adult

Anna Chandless is a proud Alumnus of Downstage Center, where she trained in all areas of dance since a very young age. She recently graduated from Temple University with an Acting Major and Dance Minor achieving Summa Cum Laude honors. Her most recent performances at Temple are:  8, Ivanov, Top Girls and Brides of the Moon. Additionally, Anna enjoyed a professional dance career at Sesame Place for many years dancing in the Entertainment Department with our favorite furry friends. Now, she is now currently a working actress based out of NYC, doing television and commercial work. For the past three years, Anna has returned to DSC recitals as a special guest artist and is now enjoying her time with DSC dancers sharing her love of Hip Hop.

Jordan Hayes

Modern I/II & III/IV, Ballet II, Adult Workshops

Jordan Hayes (she/her) graduated from Temple University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. She is a Philadelphia actor, dancer, singer, choreographer, director and teaching artist. Some of her favorite credits include Sweet Charity (featured dancer; the Candlelight Theater), Tuck Everlasting (director/choreographer; Barrack Hebrew Academy), Godspell (choreographer; Neshaminy High School), and Head Over Heels (assistant choreographer; Temple University). Other experiences include being a featured vocalist for the Philly Pops Orchestra in Hamlisch- With Love, as well as a dancer and choreography intern for the Hairspray Live! Viewing Party with NBC Studios and the Kimmel Center.

Along with teaching Modern Dance and Ballet at Downstage Center this year, Jordan is a teaching artist, private instructor, director and choreographer for Wolf Performing Arts Center classes and productions.

Ashlyn Hale

Jazz II & III

Ashlyn has been teaching and choreographing dance all over the world for 10+ years. Growing up she trained in all styles of dance at Downstage Center Dance Studio. Here she assisted all styles of dance and taught Jazz Pop 1 & 2. She continued her love of performing and started her professional career as a Character performer at Sesame Place Philadelphia in 2017. Most recently she performed on Virgin Voyages Cruise Line as “The Flare” where she hosted events and danced in shows. While still performing regularly, currently she is the Dance Captain and Entertainment Supervisor at Sesame Place where she manages rehearsals and contributes to shows with choreography as well as manages the department on operational park days. She is very grateful for all the love and support from her family and friends and is thrilled to be back at the studio she grew up dancing and teaching at!

Destiny Gardner

Jazz Pop I & Hip Hop II

Destiny is a Senior Entrepreneurial studies major and Dance minor at Rider University.   She has been dancing since she was five years old and hopes to pursue dance for the rest of her life. Destiny is the President of the Rider Dance Team and has been for two years now. She’s been teaching dance for four years and loves to teach dancers new ways to express themselves and have fun through dance. Her favorite styles are lyrical/contemporary and hip hop!! She can’t wait to begin her journey at Downstage Dance Center!! 

Becca Smith-Kingston

Ballet III & Pointe

Becca's passion for ballet began in her hometown, training at the Viktor Yeliohin International Ballet Academy and York Ballet under Gretchen Patchell. She performed in various roles in The Nutcracker alongside the Donetsk Ballet Company, and was part of the corps de ballet in Swan Lake at Skidmore College. 

Becca graduated from Temple University with a minor in dance with a focus on ballet and pointe. She also supported summer programs at The Belmont Theatre as both a choreographer and co-director. She taught intermediate ballet and pointe in York, and brought a beginner dance class to the students at her elementary school, where she currently teaches second grade. 

In her free time, she enjoys performing and has been a featured dancer in The Addams Family, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Grease, and The King and I at The Belmont Theatre. Becca is so excited to bring her passion for ballet to Downstage Center Dance!  

Remy Van Collen

Musical Theater I & II

Remy has been dancing since age 7 in all styles of dance. They are a director, choreographer, performer, educator and Downstage Center Alum!

A graduate of Wagner College, they have directed and choreographed at Paper Mill Playhouse, Wagner, The University of Pennsylvania, and Elon University. They currently work as a teaching artist with Paper Mill, Bucks County Playhouse, and are a member of the Disney Theatricals Teaching Artist Ensemble in New York City.

They’ve performed across the country in productions of A Chorus Line, Crazy For You, and Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding and are so excited to be back with DSC teaching Musical Theatre!

Colleen Nay

Office Manager

Colleen began tap dancing at an early age, eventually joining the competition team (two performances in Disney World) and quickly added more styles of dance classes to her weekly schedule.  Colleen was excited to find Downstage Center through bring-a-friend week in 2012 so that she could continue her love of dance. She enjoys watching all of the dancers both new and returning find their love of dance. 

Colleen earned her Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she was part of the Dance Explosion dance team and the Equestrian team. During the day she is an Educator with the Morrisville School District. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her dog, Bailey.