Teachers

Donna Carbone Schaeffer (Artistic Director/Owner)

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 (Owner)

Miss Carrie started dancing at the age of 3. She has been part of the Dance Arts family since 1978 and is honored to help continue the Dance Arts legacy built by Miss Donna. Miss Carrie holds a BS in Occupational Therapy and is a certified in Zumba and La Blast fitness. She has enjoyed teaching tap, jazz, lyrical, and hip hop for over 30 years. 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.  With the creation of Dance Art's Inclusion Dance Program, Carrie has been able to combine her two career passions.  It has been a true blessing for her to see the growth of these programs and the joy in the faces of the students who have participated.  She looks forward to continuing to grow and expand this program and creating a place where everyone can dance!

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.

Mickey Closs

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. Outside of dance, she earned both her Bachelor’s degree in English and Master’s Degree in education at Adelphi University. Teaching at Dance Arts has been one of the most meaningful experiences of her life because it has given her the opportunity to share her love of dance with her incredible students. Her favorite thing of all is being able to be so many little ballerinas’ first dance teacher. 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 family and is extremely proud to be both a student and teacher at Dance Arts!

Caragh Baierlein

Miss Caragh has been dancing since the age of 3, studying tap, jazz, hip hop, ballet and lyrical. She has been a member of the Dance Arts family for over 20 years, teaching since 2016. Teaching has been one of her favorite pastimes, as it allows her to express her creativity and work with the most amazing students. Miss Caragh started the Dance Arts social media profiles while in college and continues to work as a member of the social media team to keep our students and families up to date and entertained! Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok!

Caroline Murphy

Miss Caroline has been a part of the Dance Arts family since 2002 and has studied every subject offered. She currently teaches as an pre-kindergarten teacher, certified in both special and general education. Miss Caroline enjoys working with children because she loves to watch them grow and create a positive atmosphere in the classroom for every student to feel confident! She is also a member of the Dance Arts social media team, where she loves to collaborate and develop new and fun ideas to bring to the studio. Miss Caroline is so proud to be a Dance Arts teacher and part of an amazing family!

Lauren Bristoll

Miss Lauren has been a part of the Dance Arts family since 2002. Throughout her 20+ years at Dance Arts, she has studied every style of dance and has made countless memories and lifelong friendships along the way. She began teaching in 2015 before taking time away while attending college, and returned to teaching in 2021. Outside of the studio, Miss Lauren is a civil engineer, but Dance Arts has always remained an important creative outlet in her life. She especially loves teaching and choreographing, where she has the opportunity to be creative while sharing her love of dance with her students. Miss Lauren is grateful to have grown up at Dance Arts and now loves being able to create the same special memories and experiences for the next generation of dancers.

Olivia Sibley

Miss Olivia has been a part of Dance Arts since the age of five, developing her expertise in tap, jazz, ballet, and lyrical.
She holds a Master’s degree in Adolescence Education with a minor in Special Education from Molloy University. Grateful for the lasting friendships and experiences she gained at Dance Arts, Miss Olivia is now excited to embark on her career as a dance instructor, sharing her passion for dance with the next generation.