OnStage celebrates it's 25th year in 2020!

In 2008, Shara took over OnStage Dance Studio to pursue her love of dance. She started dancing at a dance studio in Syracuse, New York at the age of 5. In 1995, Shara began dancing at OnStage under Deana Chiappone-Kahle,  former owner, now her mentor and close friend . 

 Shara received her B.A. from Niagara University’s  Deparment of Arts and Sciences in 2007. She quickly realized that in order to give her students a quality education in dance she had to further her education.  She received her M.S. in Education from Niagara University in 2011. She takes pride in running a dance studio that is a family centered, safe 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 families! She is currently coordinating another cruise to set sail in 2021! Her dancers have sailed the Caribbean and have had the opportunity to perform on Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines along with taking a number of Master Classes during their travels. Shara 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 rested, 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!

From Buffalo, NY, Brittany Hill took classes at Stages Dance Academy and Classical Ballet of WNY where she was trained in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, modern, and contemporary. In her high school years, she was a teacher’s assistant for Stages Dance Academy, as well as a member of the studios competitive company which competed around the Western  New York area. After graduating from Clarence High School in 2013, Brittany continued dancing at the University at Buffalo, where she trained under master teachers, such as Tom Ralabate, John Lehrer, and Kerry Ring. She also performed as part of Emerging Choreographers Showcase, Zodiaque Dance Ensemble, and Zodiaque Dance Company, and choreographed for Dancer’s Workshop. She graduated from UB in May of 2017 with a BFA in Dance. Brittany is a recipient of the Amanda C. Occhino Endowment Scholarship, the Koresh School of Dance Summer Intensive Scholarship, and the Rioult Winter Intensive Scholarship. This will be her 8th year as a dance teacher and when she is not teaching at the studio, she enjoys reading, spending time with family, and cooking. 

Lauryn​ ​started​ ​dancing​ ​at​ ​OnStage​ ​dance​ ​studio​ ​at​ ​the​ ​age​ ​of​ ​two!​ ​She​ ​danced​ ​for​ ​16 years​, taking ​a​ variety​ ​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 the country, 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 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 with a degree in Occupational Science. and a Masters 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. 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.

Cassidy has been dancing since the age of three at OnStage Dance Studio! She has taken many forms of dance instruction such as tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, pointe, modern, and lyrical. Cassidy has performed on many cruise ships under the direction of Shara Ellinger-Venesky. She has had the privilege of taking various workshops from numerous dance professionals during her travels.Cassidy is a NYS certified early childhood & childhood education teacher. She earned her degree from Niagara University in 2018 and is currently working on pursuing her Master’s degree in Special Education. Working with children is a passion of Cassidy’s! She enjoys instilling the love of learning, confidence, and musical expression to her students. Cassidy has a love for theatre, dance and music! She has participated in many local productions in the Lockport area. OnStage Dance Studio has gifted Cassidy lifelong true friendships, an extended family and instilled a passion for dance.  She takes pride in creating a fun, energetic enviroment while sharing her passion and education of dance with her students.