Deana is a graduate of DEA (Dance Educators of America). She studied with Gus Giordano, Al Gilbert, and Charles Kelly to name a few. She opened OnStage in 1995. Due to an injury Deana has passed the studio on to her former protege, Shara Ellinger. 

 Shara is proud to announce that 2018 will be OnStage’s 23rd year! In 2008, Shara took over OnStage Dance Studio to pursue her love of dance. She started dancing at a local dance studio in Syracuse, New York at the age of 5. Shara began dancing at OnStage in 1995 under Deana Chiappone-Kahle, now her mentor and close friend. Shara has been dancing for 20 + years!

 Shara received her B.A. from Niagara University’s  Deparment of Arts and Sciences in 2007. She continued her education and received her M.S. in Education from Niagara University in 2011. She takes pride in running a dance studio with a family oriented, educational learning environment.

 Shara’s work extends beyond the walls of the dance studio. In the summer of 2017, Shara coordinated her fourth cruise for dancers and famlies! Her dancers have sailed the Caribbean and have had the opportunity to perform on Royal Caribbean and Carnival cruise ships. Shara also has coordinated with the help of some wonderful “dance moms”, two large fundraisers where a portion of the proceeds benefitted Breast Cancer (2010)  and Ovarian Cancer (2011). 

 Shara has a wonderful, supportive family that you surely will see around at OnStage dance studio!  It is with their help and the help of so many wonderful OnStage families that contribute to it’s success. Shara is looking forward to another wonderful year at OnStage Dance Studio!

Taylor, a Pennsylvania native, received her early training at numerous dance studios in Pennsylvania where she studied a variety of dance forms, for sixteen years.  Taylor graduated from the University at Buffalo, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in dance, as well as her Bachelor’s degree in Business.  After many amazing performing and teaching opportunities, Taylor realized where her heart truly lied, and this was sharing her love of dance with others.  To her, being a dance teacher is the most gratifying and rewarding experience, and she cannot wait for another wonderful year with OnStage. 

Amanda began dancing at the age of 5 at a local dance studio in Clarence, NY, where she took ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop. In high school Amanda was very musically inclined. Along with dancing, she participated in wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, orchestra, theatre, and musicals. Amanda was an assistant teacher while in high school at her dance studio. After graduating, she was asked to begin teaching her own classes. Her passion along with her knowledge and understanding of music is brought out in her classes through counting and learning beats and rhythms. In 2010, Amanda worked for the Town of Amherst Recreation Department as a program supervisor for their pre-school programs where she created and implemented lessons and activities involving movement for children ages 1-5. Amanda graduated from Daemen College in 2009 with a Bachelors Degree in Childhood Education/Special Education with an extension in Early Childhood Education, and an additional extension in English Education. She received her Masters degree in Differentiated Instruction from Canisius College in December 2012, focusing on arts-integrated education. With an educational background in childhood development, Amanda’s dance classes offer children a variety of activities to strengthen their cognitive, behavioral, and social and emotional development.

Jodi began dancing in 1995 at OnStage Dance Studio! She studied all forms of dance from the age of 5 and throughout her high school career. Upon graduation in 2009,  she began teaching her own classes at the studio! Jodi graduated in 2014 from the University At Buffalo with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance. Her training extends beyond university, she has and continues to attend dance performances and teaching conventions in the Buffalo and Toronto area.  Jodi continues to participate in local performances in her free time. Jodi’s passion is teaching dance in hopes of inspiring all students. She can not wait for another amazing year at OnStage!



Jessica Levin is a senior dance major at the University at Buffalo.  She is expected to receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts from UB in May of 2018.  She is originally from Long Island, New York, but resides in Buffalo as she finishes her degree.  This is Jessica’s third year performing with the Zodiaque Dance Company.  She is also currently choreographing a piece for Emerging Choreographers Showcase that will be performed in early December.  Jessica hopes to move back to New York City post graduation where she can pursue her dreams of becoming a professional dancer.  She is beyond thrilled to join the OnStage family where she teaches two ballet classes.

Lauryn​ ​started​ ​dancing​ ​at​ ​OnStage​ ​dance​ ​studio​ ​at​ ​the​ ​age​ ​of​ ​two!​ ​She​ ​danced​ ​for​ ​16 years​, taking ​a​ v​ariety​ ​of​ ​different​ ​dance​ ​forms. ​Lauryn was​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​ ​our​ ​very​ ​first​ ​competition​ ​dance team​ ​under​ ​Shara’s​ ​direction​ ​in​ ​2016!​ ​Lauryn​ s​pent​ ​her​ ​last​ ​3​ ​years​ ​as​ ​a​ ​student​ ​at​ ​the​ ​studio as​ ​Shara’s​ ​personal/teaching​ ​assistant.​ ​Lauryn​ ​is​ ​now​ ​continuing​ ​her​ ​education​ ​in​ ​dance by​ ​attending​ ​the​ ​University​ ​at​ ​Buffalo​ ​where​ ​she​ ​is​ ​expecting​ ​to​ ​obtain​ ​both​ ​her​ ​Bachelor​ ​of Arts​ ​degree​ ​in​ ​dance,​ ​and​ ​her​ ​Bachelor​ ​of​ ​Science​ ​degree​ ​in​ ​chemistry.​ ​She​ ​also​ ​is​ ​very​ ​active in​ ​the​ ​dance​ ​community​ ​through​ ​partaking​ ​in​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​workshops​ ​and​ ​master​ ​classes​ ​across NY​ ​and​ ​Canada.​ ​Lauryn’s​ ​goal​ ​is​ ​to​ ​teach​ ​students​ ​in​ ​a​ ​multitude​ ​of​ ​different​ ​styles,​ ​while intriguing​ ​and​ ​igniting​ ​their​ ​dance​ ​curiosity​ ​and​ ​passion!​ ​After​ ​college,​ ​Lauryn​ ​hopes​ ​to​ ​become a​ ​cruise​ ​dancer/singer,​ ​traveling​ ​the​ ​world​ ​and​ ​gaining​ ​as​ ​much​ ​experience​ ​as​ ​she​ ​can​ ​before coming​ ​back​ ​to​ ​New​ ​York​ ​to​ ​continue​ ​teaching​ ​dance​ ​and​ ​researching​ ​in​ ​chemistry!



Miss Kari started dancing at the age of 3. She became one of OnStage’s first students, alongside Miss Shara, under the direction of Deana Chiaponne-Kahle. Over the years, she participated in many cruises, local performances and became an assistant teacher, which led to a teacher position in 2007. Miss Kari took some time away from the studio to begin her career as a teacher in various districts and pursue her master’s degree in literacy.  Miss Kari returned to her second home, OnStage, to help with recitals. Last year, she again joined the OnStage staff to share her love of dance and gymnastics with her students. When not at dance, you can find her coaching gymnastics at Flips, or adventuring with her son, Cole and her husband, Ray.

Dance has always been a part of Ali’s life. She started dancing at OnStage when she was three years old. During her years at OnStage, Ali took tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, modern, pointe and hip hop. She assisted with numerous classes while in middle and high school. She has performed with OnStage dancers on three different cruise ships. Ali graduated from Nazareth College this past May with a degree in Occupational Science. While in college, Ali found an interest in running! Ali has completed four half marathons and two full marathons! Ali is continuing grad classes at Nazareth to pursue a degree in Occupational Therapy. She has a strong background in human anatomy and child development. She has completed internships in pediatrics, mental health and geriatrics.She is currently completing her graduate research project with a pediatric therapy group. Ali’s educational background and passion to help others have inspired her to create a fun learning environment for students to improve their physical, social and emotional well being. She is excited to return home to her OnStage family and live her dream as a dance teacher.