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.
Carly Futrick
Carly is a passionate dance educator, choreographer, performer, and mentor who brings extensive professional experience and a love for inspiring dancers of all ages and levels to her teaching at Dance Fusion Studios this year.
Carly’s professional credits include dancing and modeling at New York Fashion Week for Bloch Dance under the direction of DXO Collective. She currently tours with Starstruck Dance Challenge as a judge, convention and title class instructor, and assistant choreographer for national opening numbers. Carly has also served as a Jazz Instructor at the Dadamo Dance Convention Winter Intensive.
As a performer, Carly has danced at Barclays Center under the direction of Jessica Castro and Kendrick Samuel and was selected as a Top 100 finalist during the 2024 Knicks City Dancers auditions. Her choreography was selected for presentation at Koresh Dance Company’s Fall Showcase in 2024, and she served as a guest choreographer for the Reading Rebels Semi-Pro Dance Team during their 2023 season.
Carly is also the founder of Element Dance Collective, where she continues to share her passion for dance through choreography, education, and creative opportunities for dancers.
She is excited to share her knowledge, experience, and passion for dance with the Turning Pointe dancers this season!
Alexa Hardman
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.
Noreen Healy
Noreen Healy (she/her) is a third-year BFA dance major at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. She grew up training at Turning Pointe Dance Center, attended Union County Academy for Performing Arts in high school, and recently completed The Verdon Fosse Legacy's Professional Training Program. During her time at Mason Gross, Noreen has had the opportunity to choreograph her own pieces, as well as perform in works by Pam Tanowitz, Melanie George, Gerald Casel, Omar Román De Jesús, Evelyn Wang, and John Evans.
Sydney Law
Sydney Law, originally from North Carolina, grew up training with numerous conventions/competitions and later trained under Stacey Tookey's The Bridge Movement in New Jersey, and a concert group known as Flight Path Dance Project based in New York City. As a dancer, model and actor, she is signed with Wilhelmina Models, Bloc Talent Agency, and is part of Face Films Ensemble. Her credits include Vogue Photo, Prose Hair Care, Huug, Nicotine Dolls, Duality and You&Me (Off Broadway). Sydney has performed in The Happening's Nolita Nexus immersive show (New York City) and Stone Upon Stone (London)
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.
Zoe Dee Lento
Zoe Dee Lento is a student at Seton Hall University in the Business + Law 3+3 program. She is on her university’s dance team, The Seton Hall Sapphires, dancing in stadiums such as the Prudential Center and Madison Square Garden. In the performance industry Zoe has experience working with Champion, Doja Cat, PBS Kids, Netflix, and more! She is skilled at dancing, singing, acting, modeling, and photography. Zoe has trained in various styles for many years with companies such as Brickhouse NYC, Kozmic Edge, Paper Mill Playhouse, and Broadway Artists Alliance (BAA)! Zoe is also repped by Nouveaux Talent Management! She has played the roles of Regina George in Mean Girls, Janet Van De Graaf in The Drowsy Chaperone, Justice in Rock of Ages, Gabrielle in Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Scarlet in Clue, and Mona in Chicago! She was also a Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award nominee for Outstanding Performer in a Female-Identified Leading Role for her performance as Janet Van De Graaf!
Ashley McKoy
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) for two season, and was pursuing a BFA and Dance at Marymount Manhattan College or University.
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!
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, modern, contemporary, hip hop, tap, and pointe. Kimmy continued her dancing career throughout college and post grad, learning from a variety of individuals of different dancing backgrounds, and choreographing as a member of various student led organizations. She is also a licensed Zumba instructor for adults and children ages 3 and up. Kimmy is a Speech-Language Pathologist, currently working at Cranford Public Schools. She is excited to begin her fourth year on staff at TPDC!
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 much of her time 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. She is currently a dancer and choreographer for Extensions Dance Project, based out of Madison, NJ. Kelly is excited to continue sharing her love for dance with the studio’s 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.
Valerie Sobol
Valerie, a proud TPDC alumni, has been dancing for as long as she can remember and brings that same joy and energy into every class she teaches. Being a member of TPDC's competition team, Valerie trained in many dance styles, including ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, modern, jazz, hip-hop, tap, and pointe. Valerie received her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Quinnipiac University, which allows her to bring a unique, holistic approach to teaching that emphasizes both physical well-being and emotional connection. Valerie is the program director of TPDC's Dance for All Abilities program - an initiative close to her heart—designed to make dance accessible and empowering for everyone, regardless of ability or experience. This year, Valerie is especially excited to share the same passion for dance that TPDC once inspired in her as a young girl with all of her students!
Jenna Tempkin
Jenna started dancing at Turning Pointe in 2008, and is looking forward to teaching the next generation of TPDC dancers. She was a member of the TPDC competition team for 10 years, where she competed both regionally and nationally in modern, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, and acrobatics. She graduated from Lafayette College in 2024 with a B.A. in physics, and was a four year member, and two year captain of the Lafayette College Dance Team. While on that team she was lucky enough to choreograph and perform for sporting events, and compete at UDA College Nationals in Division 1 Pom, and Hip Hop. Jenna is excited to continue to be a part of the TPDC family!
Emily Lynn Thomas
Emily, originally from Indianapolis, IN, Emily is a professional dancer, actor, and singer based in New York City. She is a graduate of The Institute for American Musical Theatre. Some of her favorite performance credits include A Chorus Line (Argyle Theatre), Pippin, Tuck Everlasting (Vanguard Theater Co), and Oklahoma! (JH Playhouse). In addition to being a multifaceted artist, Emily is a passionate educator. With a background in competition dance, Emily has been teaching and choreographing various styles for the past 10 years. She is also a proven asset as an assistant and collaborator; she serves as an assistant and associate to Lizz Picini, and has worked on pre-production with professionals such as Denis Jones, Richard J. Hinds, and Nicholas Cunningham. Emily is excited to share her passion and expertise with her students!
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!