Brooklyn CenterStage Dance Studio Teachers
Our experienced staff are thrilled to open our doors to you or your child.
Current Teachers

Heidi Flanagan (owner, Director) has a degree in Dance Education from Philadelphia University of the Arts and a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Pace University. She has worked with Camp Broadway NYC teaching dance workshops and with their summer camp program. She taught Ballet and Musical Theater Jazz and Tap at Regional Center High School for the Arts in Trumbull, CT. She has taught ballet and tap locally for Brooklyn’s PS 10 after school program and The Trinity School after school program in NYC. She has toured the U.S. with a few shows such as A Chorus Line, Guys and Dolls and Sweet Charity.

Avital Asuleen is a Brooklyn based educator, choreographer, and performer. BA, Theater Arts and History, MA, Comparative History, Brandeis University. She's been tapping for over 20 years, and has trained extensively with Ray Hesselink and Randy Skinner. Avital has taught tap at Peridance Studios, Lustig Dance Theater, and at various studios across the northeast through DanceTemp.
As a performer, favorite past tapping roles include Miss Shields in the national tour of "A Christmas Story", Anytime Annie in "42nd Street", Patsy in "Crazy for You", and productions of "Sugar", "No No Nanette", and "On Your Toes". Avital had the pleasure of observing Randy Skinner on the Encores! production of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", and has also choreographed numerous productions including "Anything Goes", "Dames at Sea", and "Gypsy". Avital is also the founder of The Choreography Lab, the creator of Ephemera, and a certified xtend barre instructor. Avital is looking forward to joining the wonderful community of teaching artists at Brooklyn Center Stage! www.Asuleen.com

Davonna Batt was born and raised in New Mexico and has studied nearly every style of dance that has crossed her path, and each continue to influence her movement style to this day. She received a B.F.A. in Dance from the University of Arizona where she was privileged to study under many exceptional artists including Melissa Lowe, Amy Ernst, Robert Moses, Doug Nielsen, Loren Fletcher, and many others. Since moving to New York in 2014, she has danced in and collaborated with companies including ALMA NYC, Gotham Dance Theater, Amanda + James, of bones dance, and ACB Dance, among others. In addition, she's had the opportunity to tour with both DAMAGEDANCE and Sarah Berges Dance. Davonna discovered a love for teaching in 2015 and continues to find absolute joy in encouraging dancers to discover power, control, and expression in their bodies.

Caroline Yaksich has a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Elon University and an M. Ed in Elementary Education from Boston University. She started dancing at age 5 in her hometown, Clarksville, MD at a local studio. Caroline is trained in jazz, contemporary, modern, lyrical, tap, ballet, and pointe. She competed for many years with her studio and participated in dance conventions, including NUVO and Pulse. Caroline has taught and choreographed dance for the past 10 years and is excited to share her passion with her students at BCS!

Danielle Staropoli (M.A., Dance Education, New York University; B.A., Dance, Dean College) is a Brooklyn-based educator and choreographer. She is an ABT certified teacher in Pre-primary through Level 3 of the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum. Danielle has been a guest speaker for professional development trainings at the 92NY and a guest lecturer at New York University, Steinhardt and at William Paterson University. She founded the dance program at Bay Ridge Preparatory School in 2017, running the program for seven years, and was also the Dance Specialist for Summers at LREI. Danielle is President Elect for the New York State Dance Education Association (NYSDEA), and formerly Director of Conferences. She is also an active member of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) and has presented at several conferences. Danielle has also presented original choreography at Triskelion Arts, Manhattan Movement & Arts Center, Access Theater, 2016 DUMBO Dance Festival, and The National Theatre, Kampala, Uganda.