Faculty and Staff

A master teacher, specializing in Modern dance, Improvisation, Choreography and Partnering technique, Rebecca has been a guest teacher at New York City Ballet’s Choreographic Institute, a professor at Naugatuck Valley Community College, The Hopkins School, Connecticut Ballet, Weslyen (Dance Masters Weekend), ADF, Main Street Ballet, Lincoln Center Institute and has taught master classes from Dartmouth to Poland. She was commissioned to create a piece for the first physically integrated dance company, Dancing Wheels and toured with them.

Starting her 15th season with Studio D, Shannon has taught every style of dance at the studio.  While away from the studio, she works in Web Product Management at Waterworks in Danbury, CT. Shannon McLean has a B.S. in Business Administration. Throughout her life, she has studied dance at various dance studios and was lucky enough to have the opportunity to train at Enloe High School in Raleigh, NC, focused on Vagonava Ballet and Graham-Modern technique. She was a member of the Meredith Dance Ensemble in 1994. She began teaching dance in 2003 at Taps n Toes in Brewster, NY, where she taught and staged pieces in Ballet, Contemporary Jazz, Theater Jazz, and Modern. She was a Choreographer and Production Manager for the Prelude Ballet Ensemble from 2005-2009, where she choreographed and staged “Peter and the Wolf”, “The Toy Box” an original story ballet, and several contemporary ballet pieces such as “TUTU”, “Simple Gifts”, and “Kaleidoscope”. She began working at Studio D in New Milford, CT, in 2009 and was delighted to begin a Contemporary Jazz class program in 2011.  Shannon’s classroom philosophy is for everyone in the classroom to work hard on improving their technique while finding their love and fun in the art of dance.

Annette Carlo is a Graduate of the University of the Arts and has been dancing since age 7. Her initial training began when she enrolled at Janet Rehban Nassif Dance Academy and at the age of 15 she became one of their instructors. She attended and taught there until she graduated from Danbury High School in 1989.  She then went to Philadelphia to study at The University of the Arts, where in 1993 she obtained her BFA in Dance Education with a Major in Modern and a Minor in Jazz. She has had the opportunity to study under various instructors, including: Janet Rehban Nassif, Faye Snow, Milton Myers, Wayne St. David and Ruth Andrien. While in Philadelphia she taught at the Franklin Learning Center and the Society Hill Playhouse.  Upon returning to Connecticut she taught at the Professional Dance Center in Sandy Hook for 3 years and she then became an instructor at Dancer’s Gallery in New Haven for the following 5 years. Her Choreography for competitions in 1998 brought her Trio “Fly” a Duo/Trio High Score Award.  In March 1999 she performed a self-choreographed solo at The University of the Arts Alumni Dance Concert in Philadelphia. She then joined the Planet Dance staff in 2001.  Where she has choreographed for the Eclipse Dance Company and the Planet Dance Choreography Project. She became the Owner/Director of Planet Dance in 2008.  She has continued her education by attending Dance Teacher Magazine’s Summer Conference and DanceLife Teacher Conference. She looks forward to sharing her love of dance with all her students.

Katie is from Connecticut, where she trained under instructor Peter O’Brien. She graduated cum laude from Marymount Manhattan College earning a B.F.A. in dance where she received both dance and academic scholarships. Katie is a freelance dancer, performing with numerous companies, as well as a member of Dzul Dance in New York. She teaches many styles of dance from Parent & Me classes for the youngest dancers all the way to seniors in high school/adult classes at many studios across Connecticut and New York. In addition, she is the founder and director of Royal Czyr Dance Company, a contemporary-based dance company.

Abby was a 13year student of Studio D. She has taken lyrical, tap, jazz, modern, hip hip, ballet and pointe. She has assisted with multiple ballet/tap classes as well as creative movement. You may have seen her as Grimsby in The Little  Mermaid or as Lumiere in Tales of the Forest. Abby is a senior at New Milford High School. She loves spending time with family and friends, playing with her dogs, traveling and dancing.

Katie Lukens was a student at Studio D for 15 years of dance experience, training in styles like jazz, contemporary, hip hop, ballet, and more.  In high school, she was a member of the dance team, performing at games, competitions, and school events. In college, she continued her dance journey, helping to recreate the dance team. She later became president of the university’s dance team- leading rehearsals, choreographing routines, and organizing performances. Outside of dance, Katie is a preschool teacher who brings that same creativity, patience, and joy into her classroom.

Carrie Allen has served as Office Manager at Studio D for three years while working as a Math Coach at K-5 schools in New Milford for seven years, with 18 years of teaching experience. Her work with children began early, progressing through roles as a Junior CIT, CIT, Counselor, Lifeguard, and Water Safety Instructor at her local town camp. She continues this commitment as a Unit Leader at a local Girl Scout camp and as a leader for both of her daughters’ troops. Carrie also worked seasonally as a ski instructor through high school and college. She holds a BS in Biology and an MS in Elementary Education. During her studies, she taught after-school science classes at Mad Science, music and tumbling at Kids U, and served as Birthday Party Director.  Her passion for music and education has driven her to pursue her dream of becoming a dancer at Studio D!!!!

Bio coming soon.

Bio coming soon.

Bio coming soon.

Bio coming soon.