ABOUT US
Launched in July 2019, we offer a wide array of dance and movement classes for both children and adults. Classes include Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Lyrical, Acro, Pilates, and more! Our space is also available for rental on a daily basis with accommodations for rehearsals, private lessons, fitness and wellness classes.
Our mission is to provide a space and outlet for growth, creativity, exploration, and expression to all members of the New York community. We are dedicated to offering quality programs that reflect the rich cultural heritage of New York City. We strive to build a community that will enable artists of all ages to feel welcomed, comfortable, and at home in our space.
ALANNA CHAN
OWNER / STUDIO DIRECTOR
Alanna Chan is a New York based actress and dancer with over 25 years of experience. She grew up training in Chinese Folk Dance, ballet, jazz, and hip hop at her local studio on Long Island, NY and furthered her training at the Joffrey Ballet School’s prestigious Jazz and Contemporary Program. At the age of 4, she booked her first national commercial for Tyson Chicken and it didn't stop there! Alanna is a member of SAG-AFTRA and can be seen on numerous advertisements, music videos, and television appearances. She has had the privilege of performing on the stages at Lincoln Center, Metropolitan Museum of Art and in New York regional theaters.
As a dance educator, Alanna has had the honor of instructing at many studios throughout New York City and the tri-state area. Her approach to dance education has always set her apart from others. She personalizes each of her classes to the needs and goals of her students. Her individualized approach to teaching allows for personal growth and for each student to reach their full creative potential. Alanna focuses on developing a strong technical foundation but always encourages exploration of movement and freedom of expression. Alanna is excited to share her passion for performance and dance education to the Tribeca community!
Through her own dance journey, Alanna realized that many established NYC studios lack diversity and individuality in their dance programs. Alanna wanted to break the traditional mold, and opened Luna Performing Arts in the Summer of 2019 in TriBeCa. Luna is derived from Alanna’s Chinese name and is representative of Luna Performing Arts' mission to create a space that combines culture, technique, and passion for dance in a truly unique way.
ALISHA KHATWANI
TEACHING ARTIST
Alisha Khatwani is a passionate dancer and educator who brings over nine years of ballet and contemporary teaching experience to Luna Performing Arts. She earned her BFA in Dance with a minor in Digital Art and Design from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and is certified in the ABT® National Training Curriculum, Pre-Primary through Level 3—a program that combines high-quality artistic training with child development best practices. Alisha has taught through organizations such as Notes in Motion and Four Corners Creative, and she also served as a teaching assistant at American Ballet Theatre’s JKO School. As a performer, she has appeared in repertories by Gallim and Kyle Abraham, including at Radio City Music Hall, and studied internationally at Berlin’s B12 program. She is also the Co-Founder of AGORA, a community-driven arts initiative supporting emerging artists. Alisha believes in creating a joyful, disciplined, and creative environment for her students, helping them build confidence, artistry, and a lifelong love of dance.
AVA MCLARAND
TEACHING ARTIST
Ava Mclarand is a dancer and teaching artist originally from Southern California and currently based in New York City. Growing up, Ava trained in a variety of dance styles before focusing more extensively on classical ballet and pointe. Throughout her training, she had the opportunity to train and perform with American Ballet Theatre, State Street Ballet, and Joffrey Ballet. Some of her favorite performance experiences include American Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, and Harlequinade. Ava continued her dance education at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she earned B.A. degrees in both Dance and History. During her time at UCSB, she continued to expand her training and performance experience while developing her artistry and love for teaching. Ava has several years of experience teaching children and teens of varying ages and skill levels and loves helping her students grow both as dancers and individuals. She strives to create a positive and encouraging class environment where students can build confidence, develop strong technique, and most importantly, find their own love for dance. Ava is so excited to be a part of the Luna Performing Arts family and to share her passion for dance with her students!
BRIANA'BB' STONE
TEACHING ARTIST
Briana 'BB' Stone is an NYC based dancer, singer, actor and choreographer. She is a graduate of the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment at Oklahoma City University with a Bachelor’s of Performing Arts in Dance Performance. BB grew up dancing at On Stage School of Dance from the age of two, and attended William Penn-Alfred J Griffin School for the Arts for middle and high school. BB attended training programs at the Governor’s School of North Carolina, UNCSA, and Broadway Workshop. Instead of having a traditional senior year of high school, BB had the opportunity of a lifetime to attend the Joffrey Ballet School’s Jazz and Contemporary Trainee Program in NYC where she had the privilege of meeting Alanna Chan! BB has been a featured performer in the American Spirit Dance Company at OCU, and has performed professionally at regional theaters in across the country. Recent credits include Disney's Newsies (The Gateway), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Maltz Jupiter Theatre) and The Cher Show (Ogunquit Playhouse). When BB is not at Luna or performing, she works as the Associate Choreographer to Tuan Malinowski; they most recently choreographed for I Put A Spell On You Broadway's Biggest Halloween Event at Sony Hall. BB is thrilled to be apart of the Luna Performing Arts family and share her passion for dance with the next generation!
EMMA VANCE
TEACHING ARTIST
Emma Vance is a NYC based performer and choreographer and recent graduate from Elon University, earning her BFA in musical theatre! Originally a California native, Emma has performed and taught all over the country. Some professional highlights include All Shook Up (Ensemble/ Natalie u/s) and South Pacific (Ensemble) at Flat Rock Playhouse; The Music Man (Zaneeta), La Cage Aux Folles (Babette/Cagelle), and The Murder Room (Susan) at Woodstock Playhouse; A Little Princess (Becky), and A Christmas Carol (Ms. Fezziwig, Ensemble) at Sacramento Theatre Company; and Cabaret (Fraulein Kost), Damn Yankees (Gloria), School for Wives (Agnes), and Hello, Dolly! (Ensemble) at Elon. Emma is also trained in Social Emotional Learning and a certified yoga instructor. She is so excited to dance with you and be a part of the Luna Performing Arts family!
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LAUREN HORGAN
TEACHING ARTIST
Lauren Horgan is an NYC based actress, choreographer, and teaching artist. A Miami native, Lauren earned her BA in Theatre Performance from Florida International University. From the age of 4, Lauren began her dance journey focusing in Ballroom, Musical Theatre, Jazz, and Lyrical. She is a certified professional Ballroom teacher through the National Dance Council of America. Lauren was last seen on the 2nd National Tour of On Your Feet and is currently a background singer for Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine. Favorite credits include Diana Morales in A Chorus Line (LPAC), On Your Feet! (Actors' Playhouse), Rent (Theatre Aspen), Cabaret (Zoetic Stage). Alongside performing, Lauren has two associate choreography credits for Fiddler on The Roof (Zoetic Stage) and The Bodyguard (Slow Burn Theatre). Lauren is delighted to be a part of the dance family at Luna and can't wait to share her passion for dance, creativity, and art with her students.
MATT SCHOUTEN
TEACHING ARTIST
Mr. Matt is a Southern California native who has always found a second home on the stage and in the classroom. Based in New York City, he is a performer, teacher, and choreographer who aspires to share his love of dance with future generations. Matt started dancing at a young age at his parents’ dance studio in Southern California. He went on to train at Oklahoma City University’s Ann Lacy School of Dance and Entertainment, earning a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance Performance. While at OCU, he took performance courses in multiple disciplines, as well as extensive classes in pedagogy. He has performed all around the world with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as well regionally throughout the US in various musicals and dance projects. He is currently on faculty for Beyond the Stars Dance Conventions, and also serves as a dance competition adjudicator for One Beat dance brands.
MILAN FURTADO
TEACHING ARTIST | COMPANY DIRECTOR
Milan Furtado is a dancer and choreographer currently based in NYC. She currently attends New York University where she is pursuing a 3-year BFA dance program. She is originally from Los Angeles where she grew up competing with studios: The Royal Underground and Project21. In addition to her competitive training, Milan attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA), where she was exposed to a rigorous modern and post-modern dance curriculum. Milan has attended Joffrey West, Alonzo King’s Lines, and Berlin’s B-12 Summer intensives where she has continued her training in ballet, jazz and contemporary. Milan is very excited to join the Luna Performing Arts family!
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NINA LIMONGELLI
TEACHING ARTIST
Nina Limongelli is a dancer, actress and journalist currently based in NYC. Originally from the Philly area, she received a theater degree from Bucknell University where she performed in productions such as Almost Maine (Marvalyn), Crazy for You (Patsy/Tess u/s), Antigone (Ismene), and Cabaret (Sally Bowles). With over 15 years of dance experience, Nina grew up training in jazz, ballet, tap, and hip hop – her training in college allowed her to focus more on modern and contemporary styles of dance and gave her the opportunity to work with acclaimed choreographers from all over the world. She is a current member of DanceWorks New York City and celebrated her fifth season with the company in 2025. Nina is so proud to be a part of the Luna Performing Arts family and is forever grateful for the ability to share her passions with such talented and hardworking students.
SAM LOBEL
TEACHING ARTIST
Sam Lobel is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer based in New York City. She has presented her work at the Young Choreographer’s Festival, On 1 Condition, NYC Choreographer’s Forum, APEX, Sybarite Love is Love, PMT Fall Dance Series, Think Tank the Showcase, DoubleTake Dance Gala and more. Sam is a Think Tank rising choreographer and she is a substitute jazz faculty member at PMT House of Dance. She is an assistant at Broadway Dance Center’s Children and Teen Program, and she teaches open classes for the Ballet Company at NYU and at studios around the city. She recently was the associate choreographer for Nicholas Palmquist for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Gala, the Steps Professional Performance Workshop, and the Peridance Certificate Program. Sam creates a fun and engaging environment for kids of all ages to move! She focuses on coordination, balance, flexibility, learning and retaining choreography. She loves to teach and share her passion with others!
ROSE SUTTON
ASSISTANT STUDIO ADMIN
Rose Sutton is a Brooklyn-based filmmaker specializing in directing, producing, and photography. A recent graduate of NYU Tisch’s Film & Television program and a Tisch Scholarship recipient, her work explores emotional complexity through stories that blur the boundaries between lived experience and imagination, often following artists as they navigate periods of personal and creative transformation. Her dance film Exchange of Fire was recently selected for the ZEBRA Poetry Film Festival and featured in The Berliner. Her upcoming feature, The Music Coma, follows a dancer grappling with hearing loss, and has received support from NYU’s Clive Davis Institute toward its feature-length completion. As a photographer, Rose has shot for several dance companies throughout New York City including Gallim Dance, Project Tag, Tisch Dance, AbunDance, and most recently, Time Lapse Dance. She is excited to join the vibrant community at Luna Dance and looks forward to welcoming artists of all ages into the space!