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Astoria Dance Centre has had from its inception a faculty of the highest caliber who provide a program of progressive training in all forms of dance and cultural education.
The goal of Astoria Dance Centre is to provide students with an awareness of how to use the mind and body as an instrument through movement; allow them the opportunity to express themselves creatively; provide them with valuable knowledge of theatre and the arts; and to develop the ability and appreciation to work artistically with others.
Astoria Dance Centre holds class from September through June. Year end annual performances are held in June at Queens Theatre In The Park.
Careful consideration is given to class placement and individual potential. Private Lessons may be arranged.
The Centre holds a July and August Summer Session. Included in these sessions are classes for toddlers, children, teens and adults.
The Curriculum
Classes at Astoria Dance Centre are designed to ensure correct technique and placement and each student is assigned to a class best suited to her or his age and stage of development.
Classes consist of Tap-N-Toes for 2's with Mom or Dad; Pre-School Dance (3 1/2 to 41/2 year olds), Pre-Dance (4 1/2 to 5 1/2 years); Pre-Ballet, Jazz and Tap (6 - 9 yrs.); For ages 10 through teens Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Theater Dance, Hip Hop and Modern. For Adults the Centre offers Ballet, Tap, Modern, Yoga and Salsa.
For the serious dance student, Astoria Dance Centre's specialty classes, workshops, performance team, competitions, choreography showcase and summer dance program broaden students' technique and provides them with a style and stage presence that helps prepare them for auditions and professional appearances.
Students may participate in Astoria Dance Centre's Annual Performances and more advanced students have the opportunity to perform with the School throughout the year. The purpose of ADC's community performances is to provide the public with cultural education and entertainment.
Dance Together for 2's and 3's with Mom or Dad.
This class is designed for children who are not ready to be in class on his/her own. The class is 45 minutes in length and Mom or Dad participates with the child. Music, movement and social skills are developed in this class. Activities include use of props along with fun song and dance routines.Pre-School and Pre-Dance Classes
Our popular pre-school and pre-dance classes for children ages 3 1/2 to 5 1/2 years introduces children to various forms of dance and movement. The class consists of song and dance routines, tap and balletic movement. These fun, structured classes have been taught by experienced instructors and assistants for the past 23 years. Age appropriate music is used in these classes. The classes are designed to teach children how to take direction and to cooperate in a group setting as well as develop their sense of rhythm and coordination.Boys Dance at ADC
There are many boys at Astoria Dance Centre enjoying a wide range of dance classes. Our classes are designed so that boys develop coordination and rhythm in an atmosphere that provides creativity and athleticism. Currently there are 3 male teachers on staff at ADC.
Music, Acting and Voice Lessons are also available to boys and men at Astoria Dance Centre.Ballet
A classical form of dance that is characterized by grace, precision, formal gestures, steps and poses. The study of ballet does not unfold immediately as a whole. It is developed over a long period of time through a series of repetitive exercises done at the barre, in the center and across the floor. Intensive instruction in the technique of classical ballet is the fundamental subject on which anyone entering the ballet field must concentrate. This is achieved through courses in technique, pointe, variations,, supported adagio and through workshops, rehearsals and performances. Like the study of language, every movement is learned separately, then woven into combinations of movements and finally into choreographic poems we call "ballets". The ballet levels offered at ADC are Pre-Ballet for children ages 6 through 9 and beginner through advanced levels for children, teens and adults.
The Astoria Dance Centre Performance Team
Students who show a strong desire to pursue dance as a career are hand picked to become part of the Astoria Dance Centre Performance Team. Dancers must be 10 years of age and in addition to Ballet must be enrolled in a minimum of 3 classes per week. The purpose of the ADC Performance Team is to broaden students' technique and provide them with a style and stage presence that will help to prepare them for auditions and professional appearances. Students on the Team take part in specialty classes, workshops and perform locally and at regional dance competitions throughout the year.Jazz
Classes are designed to develop technique, strength, stretch and stamina through isolations, progressions across the floor and fun combinations. There is a wide range of upbeat music in Jazz dance classes.JazzHop (also know as Hip Hop or Funk)
This class is made up of all the new dance styles. In addition to Jazz technique Hip Hop helps to build coordination and rhythm through body isolations. Learn all the new moves and dance to top 40 tunes in this fun class.Theatre Dance Class
Theatre Dance class will introduce students to many different styles of dance throughout the ages. Not only will students get to perform the Charleston and get the feel for Swing, they will also practice the work of Bob Fosse among others and dance to all of the great musical theater tunes. This educational but fun class is based on style and performance and is geared to Teens and Adults with dance experienceBroadway Bound Package
ADC's Broadway Bound package is a program designed for the student who is interested in being a triple threat -- acting, singing and dancing. This program is geared toward boys and girls ages 9 through teens. It is course of study that will introduce your child to the performing arts all in ONE convenient location. We offer 3 levels of acting Acting I, II and Scene Study; Theatre Dance, among other choices and Voice Lessons. An excellent program that will help your child discover his or her strengths and areas of interest. Our Broadway Bound Package will also help to prepare your child for auditions for performing arts high schools and colleges.
Tap
Tap class focuses on technique, rhythm and musicality. Styles of tap taught are Broadway style and Rhythm tap. Tap classes not only challenge you physically but also mentally. It is highly recommended that students take a ballet or a jazz class in addition to tap to help further develop their technical skills.
Modern Technique Class
This class contains elements of Martha Graham and Lester Horton techniques, both of which are based on the concept of free and expressive full-body dance. The class includes a variety of exercises to strengthen and stretch the body, with emphasis on proper alignment, correct breathing, and abdominal strength. The class progresses from a warm-up, with combinations both on the floor and standing, to travelling movement including jumps and turns across the floor. Throughout all exercises emphasis is placed on individual expression, musicality, and positive energy. This class is fun and exciting while giving students a strong technical base. Strongly recommended for anyone auditioning for NYC performing arts high schools!Acting Class
Acting I - Ages 10 - 12 year olds
A beginning course that helps to build confidence through improvisation, theater games and scene study.
Acting II Ages 12 - 14 1/2 year olds
Pre-requisite completion of Acting I or other acting class experience.Scene Study 15 years & up and Adults
By interview or previous experience only. Further character development and scene study.
Faculty
Astoria Dance Centre Faculty
Maureen Gelchion Corso - Ballet
Anthony Corso - Acting
Jessica Danser - Modern and Ballet
Dolores Daza -Hip Hop, JazzHop, Preschool Dance, PreDance and Tap
Adriana Liriano - Tap-N-Toes for 2's and 3's, Preschool Dance and PreDance
Lila Salhov - Tap, Jazz and Ballet
Doug Shankman - Tap and Theatre Dance
Jacqui Young - Jazz, HipHop and Theatre Dance
Independent Teachers at Astoria Dance Centre
Fintan O'Neil - Piano
Grace Pettijohn - Singing Dynamics
Jannah - Belly Dance
Yojaida Estrella - Yoga
Michelle Fei - Salsa
Daniella DelGiorno - Ballroom
Maureen Gelchion, Director
Maureen Gelchion has owned and directed Astoria Dance Centre Inc. for the past 24 years.Her early training took place at the Joffrey Ballet Center, American Ballet Theatre
School, The New York Conservatory of Dance, The Ballet Arts School at Carnegie Hall and later at Queens College. For the past 31 years she has taught ballet and continues to develop the Centre’s Pre-School Dance curriculum. Maureen truly understands her craft and has devoted her career to sharing it with students and teachers. She has been a certified member of the Dance Educators of America for the past 20 years.Maureen continues to support National Dance Week through various performance outlets for students at Astoria Dance Centre. Aside from teaching and directing the school she enjoys adjudicating dance competitions throughout the United States. She is proud of her students past and present that have gone on to successful careers performing, teaching and choreographing. Maureen is very grateful to have such a dedicated faculty, staff and assistants working with her at ADC.
Anthony Corso
Tony received his education at the State University of New York at Stony Brook where he received his BA in Theatre Arts. He also studied with Gene Frankel at the Gene Frankel Theatre Workshop in NYC. His performing credits include Wild Mushrooms (Off Broadway); Mixed Nuts Improv Troupe (Off Broadway); Dead Drunk (HBO); Godspell and the Lion In Winter (Theatre Three); Macbeth, Death of a Salesman, Equus (Arena Players Classical Theatre); The Real Inspector Hund, Heartbreak House, Chermin de Fer, The Liar (Colgate Summer Theatre); The Sound of Music, Waiting for Godot, The Wizard of Oz, Puss in Boots (Stony Brook University).
Tony has worked as an extra in many films as well as an extra and a stand in for the HBO series the Sopranos. He is currently on the Faculty of the Dancelife Teacher Conference and is a Show Manager for Worldwide Performances, Inc. In addition to co-directing Astoria Dance Centre with his wife Maureen he devotes his time to the education of the young actor at Astoria Dance Centre and at the Forest Hills Central Queens Y.
Lila Salhov
Lila Salhov has performed throughout California with the jazz group, Dance Express, tap company, Rhythm Wreckers and the Santa Clara Ballet. In May of 2004, Lila received her BFA, cum laude in dance performance from The Boston Conservatorywhere she performed the works of Martha Graham, Jose Limon and Sean Curran.
Under the direction of Jennifer Scanlon, Lila demonstrated, taught, ran rehearsals, and assisted in the restaging of several of Jose Limon’s masterworks.
In Massachusetts, Lila also danced in the opera Orpheo and Euridice under the direction of Sean Murphy. Lila performed Baroque dance with the Handel and Hayden Society and classical modern dance with the Humphrey based Windhover Dance Company.
In September of 2004, Lila moved to Astoria. Since then Lila has performed with Danette Matthews, Young and Company and Notes in Motion. Lila is currently a member of Jessica Danser’s dansfolk. Lila teaches in New York, New Jersey and California. She continues to take dance classes regularly, as well as attending teacher training seminars and workshops.
This is Lila’s third year on the teaching staff at Astoria Dance Centre. This year Lila had the honor of being Associate Director of the Astoria Dance Centre Performance Team. Lila would like to thank Maureen, Tony, her fellow ADC staff members and all of the dancers and parents for making Astoria Dance Centre such a special dance studio
Adriana Liriano
Adriana Liriano has been dancing at Astoria Dance Centre for 10 years. She has been teaching the Dance Together for 2’s Program, Pre-School Dance and Pre-Dance class for three years. She has also worked at ADC in the capacity of student assistant and receptionist. Adriana is head of the Student Assistant Mentoring Program at Astoria Dance Centre. She is currently attending Hunter College and is also working towards becoming a certified member of the Dance Educators of America.
Dolores Daza
Dolores Daza has been a part of Astoria Dance Centre for 18 wonderful years. Dolores is honored to have grown up in the dance studio. She has been through every level of dance at ADC including Pre-Dance, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Theatre Dance and Hip Hop. She graduated from Benjamin N. Cardozo High School as dance major. Dolores was a 2004 Tap City Scholarship. Becoming a teacher at Astoria Dance Centre has been a dream come true for Dolores. To further her education she attends classes on a regular basis and is a certified member of the Dance Educators of America. Dance will always be of her life as well as Astoria Dance Centre.
