Turning Pointe Dance Center opened in July of 1993 under the direction of Julie Otani. She had a life long dream to create a meaningful dance experience for all her students. The dynamic and professional faculty at TPDC are dedicated to providing a strong technique base and guiding each student towards self-confidence, while promoting a love of dance.
Turning Pointe Dance Center proudly celebrates 31 years as the area’s leader in dance education. Julie and her staff create an environment where fun, fitness, and art unite! TPDC has been a second home for thousands of students as well as a versatile and award winning studio. Whether your dancer takes one class a week or many, your child will feel a part of the TPDC family.
At TPDC, the instructors instill passion while nurturing creativity.
Thank you for choosing TPDC as your child's dance studio.
General Policies
• Remember – each class depends on all of its members! If you withdraw your child from any programs a written notice is required. After providing written notice you are not liable for the next month’s tuition.
• Insufficient registration may require a schedule change, cancellation or condensing of similar classes. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.
• Excessive Absenteeism – In fairness to all students, poor attendance may result in your ineligibility to continue with your class and/or participate in recitals.
• Please report student absences. Students may make up missed classes by taking an equivalent class. There are no refunds or credits for missed classes due to illness, injury, foul weather or vacation. Classes can be made up by taking an equivalent class.
• All children must remain in the building until transportation arrives, and must be picked up in a timely manner.
• Monthly payments are due the first of each month. Payments received after the 10th will incur a $10 late fee.
• Class change requests after October 1st will incur a $20.00 fee.
• In case of inclement weather, please check our facebook , instagram , or call 973-376-2111.
• Costume invoices will be emailed in October and all payments are due by November 10th.
• No tuition refunds for students withdrawing after November 1st.
• Image and video use is granted to TPDC for any and all photographs and videos taken and can be used for promotional purposes.
“Scientists are confirming what teachers have long suspected: Music not only touches peoples souls, it also shapes growing minds. When children sing or dance to music they become better readers, thinkers and learners. The more we discover about how the brain works, the more we recognize how crucial music is to children’s learning.”
Elizabeth Lloyd Mayer, Ph.D.
Psychoanalist/University of California, Berkley
Julie Otani
Julie is a graduate of Montclair State University where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance. She is also certified with the US Gymnastics Federation. Julie has studied at the NJ School of Ballet, Broadway Dance Center, and Dance Space. Through her extensive training and performance experience, Julie has become a highly-skilled, innovative teacher and choreographer. She enthusiastically shares her talent and knowledge with all TPDC students. Under her leadership, Turning Pointe Dance Center has developed a strong, multi-level competition team that participates in multiple regional competitions, as well as National competitions. She has mentored many dancers who have gone on to pursue dance in college and beyond, with many returning to give back to the studio they were raised in. Julie's skills and expertise have been essential in Turning Pointe's 30 years of dance excellence.
Our Instructors
Jude Cassion
Jude, is an active dancer, choreographer, and teacher in New York City. His classes and choreography focus on musicality and performance, while capturing the emotion, rhythm, and lyrics of the music. Students should expect a fun and challenging class that enhances their performance with precision by fusing hip-hop, street jazz, and modern choreography. Classes will be an outlet to enhance your natural abilities.
Ashley Carr
Ashley Carr has been dancing at Turning Pointe Dance Center since she was four years old, and danced on Turning Pointe’s competition team from 2007-2013. Ashley attended Montclair State University and graduated with a BFA in dance and minor in criminal justice in 2017. While attending college, Ashley was a part of Camille A. Brown, Martha Graham, Fredrick Earl Mosely and many more dance repertoires. Since graduating, Ashley has performed in New York Fashion Week (2019), was cast in many music videos for artists such as Rick Ross, Scott Paul, and Sweet Xo, appeared in short films, and had the opportunity to open up for artist PnB Rock. She also had the opportunity to perform for the Sugar Hill Gang, American Freestyle artist Cynthia, and others. Ashley currently works at Union High School as the director of dance. She also is the choreographer for the high school’s musicals and coach for the high school’s dance team. “Turning Pointe Dance Center is the foundation for my passion and love for dance.” - Ashley Carr
Emily Carr
Emily Camille Carr is a born and raised Jersey girl whose dance career has taken her from the tranquil seas of the Jersey Shore to the Big Apple, the City of Angels, international destinations, and more! At age two, Emily was enrolled at Turning Pointe Dance Center. It was under the gracious guidance of studio owner and artistic director, Julie Otani, where she was encouraged to explore how dance can be applied to her surrounding world and how it supports her in other aspects of life. Emily’s accomplishments during her early childhood range from regional and national competitive titles to being featured as a Child Star of Tomorrow for the Apollo Theater and becoming one of their grandfathered performers. She was also crowned Miss Dance of the United States, one of her most prestigious awards, and was a highlighted and nationally favored personality on the set of the FOX TV show, So You Think You Can Dance, Season 15. Emily is a disciplined, hardworking, empathetic, and intelligent person who loves sharing her gifts with the world. She has gained a wealth of experience from the many opportunities she’s received and continues to push herself to strive for more. Her career expands beyond dance into other realms of entertainment. Emily holds a BFA in dance from the University of Southern California’s Glorya Kaufman International School of Dance, with a focus on choreography. She has performed with artists like Keke Palmer, Chance the Rapper, Brandy, and more. She has done commercial modeling and been a brand ambassador for Discount Dance, Angelo Luzio, and other companies, and served as an assistant choreographer for FitBit premium dance classes. Emily has performed on televised industry award shows like the 2024 Oscars, and had a cameo appearance on ABC network’s Grey’s Anatomy! As the Artist in Residence at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Emily receives close guidance and direction from the renowned dancer, entertainer, and producer, Debbie Allen. She performs, choreographs, and assists Ms. Allen and the other instructors in the training of students, as well as teaches Spanish to the middle school students at the academy. Emily has an immense sense of gratitude to family, mentors, and all who have supported her in her achievements. Through her professional contacts and established network, Emily's career continues to rise. Turning Pointe is honored to have Emily Carr as a member of our staff.
Danielle Catone
Danielle Catone, Born in Buffalo, NY, she began taking dance classes at a very early age after begging to tag along with her older sister. She then attended the Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts and continued on to receive her B.F.A. in Dance from the University of the Arts, Philadelphia. While attending UARTS, Danielle cheered professionally with the Philadelphia Eagles which awarded her the opportunity to perform in the Chinese New Year Parade in Hong Kong. Upon graduation she moved to Los Angeles to further her career. In doing so she taught and performed at schools, art festivals, and dance venues throughout Southern California with the L.A. Choreographers and Dancers. Other performances Danielle was proud to be part of in Southern California include the L.A. Choreographers Carnival, Disney’s El Capitan Theatre, and the Dome with the BollyDolls, a Bollywood pop/girl group. Prior to moving to NJ with her family, Danielle had spent the last decade as a studio owner back in her hometown of Buffalo, NY, spreading her love of dance through classes ranging in all styles for all ages. She is eager to share her passion for dance with the students at TPDC!
Carly Futrick
Carly Futrick grew up in Berks County, Pennsylvania, where she studied at Dance Fusion Studios and Berks Ballet Theater. She’s trained in various styles and techniques such as ballet, jazz, acrobatics, contemporary, hip-hop, tap, lyrical and modern. In her Senior Year of Highschool, Carly was fortunate enough to intern under Kristin Pontz at Dickinson College, where she assisted and student-taught classes weekly. Currently, Carly attends the Bridge Movement training program, where she studies under world-renowned teachers and choreographers, including Stacey Tookey, Calen Kurka, Roger Vanderpool, Anthony Morregeratto, Corey Snide, Kelby Brown, Anneke Hansen & many more. Along with her intense dance training, Carly has always desired to teach and choreograph for younger artists. She wants to pass down her passion for dance and motivate her students to grow into strong artists. Her pieces have been awarded various choreography awards and recognitions at Regional and National levels. Carly is excited to continue to work with young artists and help them accomplish the things they set their minds to.
Morgan Harms
A proud TPDC Alum, Morgan is thrilled to teach the new generation of dancers! Morgan started dancing at age two, and eventually became a dedicated member of Turning Pointe’s competition team- recognized with honorable awards, scholarships, and invitations. Since childhood Morgan has studied ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, hip hop, tap, and pointe; as well as Fosse, acro, conditioning, musical theater, and choreography. “Mo” has trained with The Joffrey Ballet School, The Martha Graham School, and recently starred in the local Broad Street Players’ production of Footloose (Travis/Lyle/Featured
Dancer). Morgan graduated Cum Laude from Pace University in 2022 with a BBA in Arts & Entertainment Management. While living in NYC, Morgan worked with several performance companies such as Parsons Dance, was a Production Assistant for a dance film with Hivewild, and was a member/teacher for the school’s dance club, The Collective. In 2018, Morgan graduated as a dance major from the Academy for Performing Arts in Scotch Plains NJ, being inducted into the National Honor Society for Dance, and earning a Vocational-Technical School Certification. Morgan is also a certified kids yoga instructor, and currently working towards a certification in Reformer Pilates.
Combining their love for all art forms, Morgan hopes to create an environment where students can grow, be inspired, express themselves without judgment, and share the joy of dance.
Sydney Law
Sydney Law, born and raised in North Carolina, grew up in the convention and competition scene. After graduating high school in 2021, she moved to New Jersey to attend The Bridge Movement Program, directed by Stacey Tookey. She trains under choreographers such as Stacey Tookey, Calen Kurka, Kelby Brown, Corey Snide, Kristen Gorski, Shelly Hutchinson, and Roger Van der Poel, to name a few. Sydney recently graduated from her second year at The Bridge and joined Flight Path Dance Project in 2022. She is a dancer, as well as a dance teacher, award-winning choreographer, and model signed with Wilhelmina Models in New York City.
Lexi Lehr
Lexi Lehr grew up and trained in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada at Shelley’s Dance Company. She’s trained in various styles and techniques such as ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, hip hop, lyrical and modern. After graduating in 2021 Lexi was accepted into the Bridge Movement training program where she was able to work with teachers and choreographers such as Stacey Tookey, Calen Kurka, Kristen Gorski, Chantel Aguirre, Roger Van der Poel, Corey John Snide, Ray Leeper, Kelby Brown, Anneke Hanson and so many more. Here she was able to continue her training, explore her own creative process, be apart of choreographic residencies and use the mental tools that she learned to mold her future career. She has also had the pleasure of assisting at Camp Protègè under the direction of Stacey Tookey, as well as other choreographers including Stacey Tookey, Calen Kurka, Shelley Tookey, Sarah Dolan, Kelci Tookey, Liz Tookey, and Chantel Aguirre. Lexi is excited to continue to share all she has learned with the next generation.
Kelcey Matheny
Kelcey Matheny is a New York City based teacher, choreographer, and performer. Kelcey has taught and choreographed for Coupe Theatre Studio, The Dance Centre, Bronx Dance Theatre, Andreas Dance Studio, Serious Fun After School, Inc., Sol Dance Center, and Project Broadway at Broadway Dance Center Children and Teen Program. Kelcey has choreographed Pippin at Nanuet High School, Homeroom, the Musical for Serious Fun After School, Inc., and has been the assistant choreographer for productions of In the Heights at Gallery Players and West Side Story and Cats at New Generation Theatre. She has also choreographed for studios and dance programs in New York, Connecticut, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee. Kelcey’s performance credits include 42nd Street at Fulton Theatre, Pippin at Summer Theatre of New Canaan, and Song and Dance Men at Centenary Stage Company. Kelcey received her BFA in Dance from Southeast Missouri State University. www.kelceymatheny.com
Alexa McCaffrey
Dance has always been a profound and integral part of Alexa’s life. Her journey began with 15 years of training at TPDC, where she was mentored by Artistic Director Julie Otani and Jude Cassion. Driven by her passion for dance, Alexa pursued further studies at Montclair State University, earning a BA in Linguistics along with minors in Dance and Psychology. At MSU, she had the privilege of learning from a distinguished roster of instructors, including Elizabeth McPherson, Nancy Lushington, Linda Roberts, Laurie Abramson, Cindy Thole, Jessica DiMauro, and Joao Carvalho.
Additionally, Alexa has been choreographing for Turning Pointe’s Competition Team since 2012. Her portfolio spans a wide range of performances, from solos and duets to small and large groups, as well as lines and productions. Her inventive choreography has garnered numerous accolades over the years, with her piece “Automatic” achieving the title of Grand National Champions in 2023.
In addition to her dance career, Alexa holds a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and specializes in working with children on the Autism Spectrum. She resides in Summit, NJ, with her husband and is enthusiastic about continuing to share her dedication, passion, and creativity with her students at TPDC.
Ashley McCoy
Ashley McKoy is from Springfield, New Jersey. She started dancing at the age of three at Turning Pointe Dance Center. She danced at TPDC for 13 years, then continued training in classical ballet at Dance Theater of Harlem, Alvin Ailey, San Francisco Ballet and Atlanta ballet’s Academy. In 2023 she was promoted into the Atlanta Ballet’s second company (AB2) and she will be joining them again for a second season for 2024-2025.
Olivia Otani
Vanessa Pais
Miss Vanessa has had a passion for dance since she put on her first pair of tap shoes. For over 20 years, she has spent countless hours in dance classes, including Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Jazz, Musical Theatre, and Tap. In addition to her formal training, she attended many dance conventions and traveled to NYC learning from esteemed choreographers including Doug Caldwell, Tyce Diorio, Brian Friedman, Frank Hatchett, Laurie Johnson, Charles McGowan, Wade Robson, Gregg Russell, and Barry Youngblood. These experiences helped shape Miss Vanessa’s knowledge and appreciation of dance.
She continued her love of dance throughout college, graduating with a BFA in Dance from Montclair State University. While at Montclair State, she had the privilege of performing in works choreographed by Jessica DiMauro, Jay T. Jenkins, Earl Mosley, Twyla Tharpe, Charles Weidman, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar (Urban Bush Women).
Miss Vanessa’s competitive pieces have received numerous accolades at both Regional and National events. She is happy to be part of the Turning Pointe Family and is looking forward to another great season!
Jude Richardson
Jude Richardson embarked on his captivating dance odyssey at the tender age of 8, immersing himself in the world of movement at the esteemed Ontario School of Ballet. From the outset, Jude’s journey was marked by an unwavering commitment, an unyielding passion, and an indomitable spirit. His love for dance is immense and he wishes to start giving back to young dancers and artists, and sharing the love for this beautiful craft.
Kimmy Rubin
Kimmy Rubin has been dancing for most of her life. She has been a member of the TPDC family since she was 2 years old. She was a member of the competition team for 8 years and took classes in all genres, including ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, tap, and pointe. Kimmy attended Ithaca College where she earned a degree in Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology with a minor in Education Studies. Throughout her college career, she continued dancing and began choreographing as a member of student led organizations IC Unbound Dance Company and IC Tap Club. She is a licensed Zumba instructor for adults and children ages 3 and up and previously worked as the Dance Specialist at a local day camp. Currently, Kimmy is studying at Montclair State University working towards a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and plans to work with early intervention and preschool aged children post-graduation. Kimmy is excited to combine her two passions of dancing and working with young children!
Kelly Saverino
Kelly’s passion for dance began when she took her first A/B/T class at Turning Pointe at the age of five. Her love for dance only grew as she trained in a variety of styles over the years, including ballet, jazz, acro, contemporary, modern, pointe, hip hop, and tap. Kelly was also a member of TPDC’s competition team for seven of her thirteen years as a student at the studio, competing on the regional and national level. In college, Kelly was a member of University of Richmond’s University Dancers Company and took classes under various renowned artists, striving to broaden her knowledge of dance. While she received a B.S. in Biology concentrated in neuroscience and currently works in the clinical research field, Kelly’s love for dance never faltered. Kelly is excited to jump back into the TPDC family and share her love for dance with the studio’s young dancers!
Jolie Schaub
Jolie Schaub, a Northern New Jersey native, discovered her passion for dance at the age of two and has since immersed herself in a variety of styles. At just 10 years old, she embarked on her professional dance journey as a Knick City Kid, performing at Madison Square Garden. Alongside her performing career, she finds joy in teaching and choreographing, earning numerous awards for her work. Jolie has performed on prestigious stages such as The Al Hirschfeld Theatre (The Chita Rivera Awards) and the Guggenheim Museum. She's also appeared on notable platforms like the Today Show and PIX11 news. She has trained under the instruction of KC Castellano, Lexi Toye, Amber Perkins, Dawn LaViola Schaub, Shawnda James, Sarah Parker, Yuliya Akopyan, Alicia Monaco, Cindy Reid, Ralph Perkins, Ronnie S Bowman Jr, Christain Von howard and more. A graduate of The Hartt School with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre, Jolié continues to captivate audiences with her artistry and dedication to the craft.
Mallory Trudell
Mallory, knee deep into her teaching and choreographing career, Mallory desires to positively affect as many people as possible. She is known for her achievements as a The Bridge Movement member training under Stacey Tookey, Calen Kurka and others as well as a Dancemakers Season V Collective member and touring with renowned artists like Kathryn McCormick, Erica Sobol, Justin Giles, Seth Zibalease, and more. Having studied at professional events like The Bridge Movement, SoulEscape, The Gypsy Project, and Camp Protege, her philosophies in dance are a concoction of many sources. Mallory hopes to offer a space where one can feel safe, free and compelled to explore their internal selves through movement and their body's sensations. She encourages students to experience the work rather than just express, perform, or impress; it's all about how it feels, not necessarily how it looks.
Zina Turco
Zina has had a passion for dance since she first stepped foot into the studio. Zina was a student at Turning Pointe Dance Center for 15 years and has been dancing ever since. She took classes in all genres such as pointe, ballet, contemporary, hip hop, jazz and acro. Zina received a B.S in Exercise Science and a Minor in Dance Arts from Kean University. She received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Rutgers School of Health Professions. Zina is excited to merge what she learned from school to her students at TPDC and is eager to continue sharing her love and passion for dance!
Charlotte Wesson
Charlotte Wesson is a recent graduate of the Chicago College of Performing Arts with a BFA in musical theatre dance. She has trained very closely with the Verdon/Fosse legacy and is actively working as a professional dancer. She has performed in numerous off-broadway shows and regional productions. She has also taught dance for 5 years and is excited to share her knowledge and passion with the students!