Welcome to the Next Level Dance Family.
We are so happy you are here!
OUR STORY
Next Level Dance was created from owner Linda LoPresti’s desire to take the dance studio experience to the “Next Level.” As a former dancer and a mom, Linda wanted to create a new dance environment not only for her children, but for all children. From the highly qualified teachers and state-of-the-art facilities to warm, efficient customer service, every aspect of our studio was thoughtfully planned.
Next Level Dance is family owned and operated. We are an inclusive school where all dancers are welcome. Your dancer is our number one priority!
our Facility
2 Large studios 50x25 with one way windows
To protect the growth and safety of our dancers, a Dancer and Pediatric Orthopedist was consulted for best practices in building out the studio. This includes superior fully sprung flooring.
Student lounge and multiple restrooms
OUR BELIEFS
It is important to us at Next Level Dance that all members share in our vision, purpose, and philosophy. These beliefs give direction to everything we do both in and out of our classes. This is a vision that is shared and brought to life by the Owner, Directors, Teachers and all staff members at our studio. It is the driving force behind every interaction we have with our students and their families.
Next Level Dance is a place where kids with their amazing and unique qualities can come together to learn how to dance and perform. We take pride in being a studio where creativity, individuality and self-expression are encouraged, nurtured, and celebrated. We are a community that is passionate about the performing arts.
Our goal is to create a PASSIONATE, FUN, and a QUALITY experience for all who come through our doors. We strive to nurture and develop talent, inspire a love and appreciation for all styles of dance and the arts. Most of all we love celebrating the achievements of our students! We are committed to providing a SAFE and POSITIVE environment in which all students can feel EMPOWERED, COMFORTABLE and FREE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES.
OUR VALUES
We are committed to providing a Positive environment for our students.
We will only provide Quality Dance taught by educated, and experienced teachers.
We are filled with Gratitude for our students, their families and the community that supports us.
We will never compromise our integrity as it is the foundation in which our studio is built on.
OUR promise
We promise to bring the entire dance experience to the Next Level! We love to teach, dance, and work hard here but we also love having fun and making great memories! We want the time that your child spends at dance to be the best part of their week.
faculty
Christopher Marinelli Artistic Director
Christopher Marinelli is a professional dancer, teacher and choreographer from Staten Island, New York. He grew up training in a local studio, competing in national dance competitions from 8 to 18 years old, where he has won numerous awards consisting of not just overall placements, platinums, perfect platinums and elites but special judges and student choreography awards as well.
Then he chose continued his training as an adult at the professional level all around NYC, dancing under choreographers such as Luam, Candace Brown, Miguel Zarate and Miles Keeney at Broadway Dance Center, Brickhouse NYC and Peridance Capezio Center. He has a diverse repertoire being trained in almost every style of dance from Hip Hop to Ballet, including Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary and Musical Theatre. To this day you can find Mr. Chris continuing to train, to adapt with the ever changing dance industry and ensure his training is always relevant to the culture of right now.
Mr. Chris has performed all over the tristate area including Six Flags Great Adventure, Richmond County Fair, Hudson Terrace, and Somy Hall just to name a few. You can find him featured in some pop star music videos as well, including Todrick Hall. While teaching is his priority he still finds time to perform and you can find him performing in a Lady Gaga Tribute Show for New Hampshire Pride this Fall.
He has taught students across the tristate as well including the prominent Mark Morris Dance Group and Brooklyn College's Children/Teen Dance Program. His choreography is designed to challenge a student enabling them to grow while also storytelling and entertaining an audience. Mr. Chris brings a vibrant energy and intense passion to every class he teaches and loves creating a lasting impact on students who he believes are the next generation of dance.
mia lopresti
Assistant Director
Mia LoPresti is a junior at Marist College with a love and passion for both teaching and working with children. While attending college, Mia continues to teach dance, works with the competition team as a choreographer, and is the Assistant Director at Next Level Dance. She has been trained in jazz, acro, contemporary, hip-hop, ballet, pointe, musical theatre, and tap throughout her dance career. She began dancing at a very young age and is still continuing her dance education to this day. Mia was a competitive dancer for 9 years before continuing her dance career at Fordham University and Marist College. Mia has experience in teaching and choreographing for ages 2 - adult. Mia’s solo, duet, and group choreography has placed first, and has been recognized among many dance competitions.
Mia brings passion and joy into every class, and loves to teach in an individualized manner giving attention and care to each student. Mia prioritizes building strong relationships with her students so that Next Level Dance may be their home away from home.
Julia Benevento
Ballet
Julia, originally from White Plains, New York, grew up dancing all around Westchester. Started her training at New York Dance and then went on to train under Hoshia Aaron Thao and Valentina Kozlova. In her early years, she danced for the 2012 Olympics in London and performed at Lincoln Center. She also attended summer intensives such as Bolshoi Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. She began her professional career as an apprentice for Hudson Ballet Theatre then later moved on to be a company member. She’s performed in ballets such as Sleeping beauty, Cinderella, Mid Summer Nights Dream, Alice in Wonderland, Nutcracker, and was on tour with the company to perform “Diaspora”. While her main focus was ballet, she also enjoyed dancing jazz, tap and contemporary. She loves that she now gets the chance to share the passion she has for dance with her students.
allyson peter
Musical Theatre, tap
Allyson Peter (Miss Ally) is a NYC-based dancer, singer, actor, adjudicator, and teacher. Originally from the greater Philadelphia area, she began dancing at age 3 and never looked back! She earned a B.A. in Communications with a Dance Minor from Marymount Manhattan College, graduating summa cum laude. A dedicated member of the NYC dance and theatre communities, Miss Ally’s artistic journey has been deeply enriched by the choreographers and performers of New York City. She regularly trains with Al Blackstone, Ray Hesselink, Billy Griffin, Katie Drablos, Sara Brians, Chip Abbott, and Dre Torres, among others, at renowned NYC studios such as Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center.
Some favorite theatre credits include: A Christmas Story (Arts Center of Coastal Carolina), White Christmas (Arizona Broadway Theatre), On The Town (Arizona Broadway Theatre), A Chorus Line (North Coast Theater Festival), and Footloose (North Coast Theater Festival). Miss Ally has also performed on video and live in NYC for Ray Hesselink, Elyn Collier, Juan Rodriguez, Zoey Lytle, and alongside EdW & Dancers.
Miss Ally finds great fulfillment in sharing her knowledge and passion for dance with the next generation. She choreographs and teaches at dance studios throughout the NYC area and adjudicates during the dance competition season. Specializing in musical theatre, tap, jazz, lyrical, creative movement, and ballet, she strives to create a safe and inclusive classroom environment where dancers feel challenged and motivated. Her choreography focuses on storytelling and musicality, inviting audiences on journeys of discovery and connection. She is passionate about helping young dancers develop their artistic voices and encouraging them to take risks, with the most rewarding part being watching her students grow and flourish as performers, technicians, and individuals!
Miss Ally loves to go hiking, bake for friends whenever she has the chance, and as a self-proclaimed ice cream connoisseur, if she’s not in dance class, you can probably find her seeking out New York City’s finest ice cream!
Gianna Perani
Acro
Gianna Perani, originally from Staten Island, New York, started her dance training at six years old, attending her local dance studio. She became a dancer in the Bedazzle Dance Company performing in various styles in the tristate area including, Acro, Jazz, Contemporary, Tap and Hip Hop. She went on to win overall awards, technical achievements, special judges awards and more under Bedazzle Dance Studio. After graduating high school, she went on to continue her academic studies at Stony Brook University, where she joined the Division 1 Stony Brook Dance Team. As part of the Stony Brook Dance Team, she trained in multiple styles of dance while competing at competitions in Jazz and Pom; attending Universal Dance Association (UDA) national competitions. Her dance journey is far from over- she has now found a love for teaching and sharing her passion with the future generations of dance. Gianna specializes in cleaning routines of all styles and specifically working with children looking to build their acrobatic repertoire. She is so excited to join the Next Level Dance team and bring the best out of every student she receives the honor to teach!
KAYLA CARDILLO
Lyrical
Kayla Cardillo, originally from Bronx, New York, is a dance teacher and choreographer now based in Westchester County. She grew up as a competitive dancer from a young age where she has won many overall awards, scholarships and student choreography awards. She was a master class assistant/demonstrator at many national dance conventions and national competitions. Kayla has been teaching and choreographing for all ages and levels for over five years. She has choreographed many award winning solos, duos/trios, and group dances that have also been recognized for outstanding choreography and concepts at many dance competitions including Nexstar and KAR.
Kayla's style of teaching has been designed to challenge every student and push them to their fullest potential. She is very excited to become a new member of the Next Level Dance family and cannot wait to share her passion with her students!