About Us

Downstage Dance is a space for young people of all levels to develop artistry and build self confidence through movement. Dance is a vibrant and enriching art form that we believe should be taught and experienced as such. This educational foundation is the heart of our school. Our program is designed for both the recreational and serious dancer, led by compassionate and accomplished professionals.

Downstage Dance has quickly become the leading studio to gain solid ballet and contemporary technique for aspiring dancers. Our emphasis on classical technique as a necessity for any future dance career sets us apart from the rest. Strong technique is only learned through practice, perseverance and good teaching, and we are fully equipped to confidently prepare dancers for a bright future in the arts. Downstage Dance offers excellent training and performance opportunities without the pressure and financial burden of competitions.

We are proud to offer a variety of classes for both children and adults. Most importantly, we look forward to providing our students with a fun and disciplined atmosphere where great memories are made.

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Who We Are

Heather Bulone-Umhafer
(Co-owner/Director, Jazz, Hip-Hop)

Heather Bulone-Umhafer has been teaching dance for the last 21 years. She has an extensive background in choreography, teaching dance to children and adults, creating successful dance performances, and has 16 years experience in managing the business side of a dance studio.  Heather worked for several years at Long Island's top radio station WALK 97.5-FM as an Executive Assistant.  Her prior dance experience and employment includes Double G Productions, one of Long Island's premiere DJ companies, as a dancer/entertainer.  Heather earned her Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Mass Communications from Quinnipiac University, and is the proud mother of 3 children.  

Kristen Collins-Lee  
(Co-owner/Director, Modern, Ballet, Yoga)

Kristen Collins-Lee is a teacher, choreographer, and certified yoga instructor with a B.A. in Dance Performance from Hofstra University. While at Hofstra, Kristen performed in works by Robin Becker, Rachel List, Larry Keigwin, Karla Wolfangle, Giada Ferrone, and Curt Haworth. Kristen's choreography has been presented at Hofstra University, The Art House (NJ), Sullivan Hall, Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, Movement Research, Heckscher Park, Peridance and various colleges and festivals. Most recently, Kristen returned to Hofstra University to set original choreography for Issac Rathbone’s “100 Years in 500 Days” under the direction of Cindy Rosenthal. In addition to her own work, Kristen has performed with Kamrdance, Cynthia Berkshire, Vanessa Walters, and with filmmaker Geoff Bailey.

As a teacher, Kristen has served on the faculty of the Eglevsky Ballet School as a Modern Technique teacher, and helped direct and implement their successful Educational Outreach Program. She has also been a guest teacher at the American College Dance Festival, Birch Theater Residency, and several dance and yoga studios on Long Island.

Kristen currently serves on the board of the Hofstra Dance Alumni Association as Vice President and is an Adjunct Professor of Dance at Nassau Community College.

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Faculty 2020-2021

​Victoria Fowler - -(Ballet, Modern, Hip-Hop)
Victoria Fowler is a professional dancer based in New York City. Upon graduating from Hofstra University with a BA in Dance, she was accepted into the prestigious Professional Semester at Broadway Dance Center. During her program, she was able to train under world-renowned faculty. The choreographers she has worked with include, but are not limited to, Richard Hinds, Cat Cogliandro, Mike Esperanza, Derek Mitchell and Jared Jenkins. She has also performed with Catastrophe!Dance, KaKe Dance Company, Of Bones||Hollye Bynum, Robin Becker Dance Company, and Sosa Dance Company. Victoria has performed across New York in shows such as, NU Dance Festival, TRANLSLATE, Good Afternoon American (featuring Liza Minnelli), The Moving Beauty Series, Raw Dance Festival, Jared Grimes Feel, NYC Dance Parade, The Hatch and a featured section in ABC’s Columbus Day Parade. She was also a guest performer at the Young Choreographer’s Festival and the Pulse on Tour Showcase. Throughout her career, she has performed at some iconic venues, including the Riverside Church, Symphony Space, the 92nd Street Y, Dixon Place, BB King’s, The Secret Theather, The Tank, The Cutting Room NYC, Manhattan Movement and Arts Center, Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater and Peridance Capezio Center.

Chazz Fenner-McBride - (Boys Class, Ballet)
Chazz Fenner-McBride is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. He began his training at The Peabody Conservatory, The Washington Ballet and The Baltimore School for the Arts. He received his BA in dance from Hofstra University in May 2010. While at Hofstra, he had the opportunity to perform works by Trisha Brown, Giada Ferrone, Nathan Trice and Maxine Steinman. Since then, he has showcased his work at Dixon Place and Jersey City's, "Your Move". In 2014, he attended Northwest Dance Projects "Launch" in Portland, Oregon. Mr. Fenner-McBride has performed for Iyun Harrison, Robin Becker Dance, and Amy Marshall Dance Company. In the Summer or 2015, he worked with 10 Hairy Legs. He is currently dancing with Lydia Johnson Dance.

Caitlin Sheppard - (Ballet, Modern, Musical Theater)
Caitlin Sheppard, a northern Chicago native, went on to study Dance and Management at Hofstra University where she performed in works by Sean Curran, Amy Marshall, Doug Varone, Karla Wolfangle, and many other choreographers from the New York area. Sheppard’s choreography “Catch and Release” and “[under cover] of darkness” were chosen by Hofstra Dance faculty to be performed in the 2012 and 2013 American College Dance Festival, where they were both chosen by adjudicators to be performed in the galas at the end of the festival. Her choreographic work “Tunnel” premiered in Florence Dance Festival in Summer 2012. While in school Sheppard performed at ACDF, Florence Dance Festival, and Giada Ferrone’s Contemporary Nutcracker. Since graduating, Sheppard performed with The Moveshop, Histerika Dance Company, Keigwin Company, and is a company member with Amy Marshall Dance Company (AMDC) and a company member/artistic associate for of bones|hollye bynum. Sheppard's regional musical theater credits include a national tour for “Chuggington Live! The Great Rescue Adventure” and two productions at The Fireside; "Peter Pan" (lost boy) and "A Fireside Christmas" (featured dancer). Caitlin recently starred as Elmo in the Sesame Street Live - Make Your Magic Tour presented by Feld Entertainment.

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Linda Fitzpatrick - ​(Cheer Dance, Ballet/Tap Combo)
Linda has been dancing since the age of three and has been educating young dancers since 2005. She danced professionally for a New York based NFL team and performed in front of 80,000 fans at every home game. During her 5 year career, Linda performed along side with the Broadway casts of American Idiot and Rock of Ages as well as the rock band Lifehouse and Lenny Kravitz. Linda was a featured model in 2 NFL swimsuit calendars and was selected to be one of the 26 cheerleaders for the 2008 Pro Bowl in Hawaii. She performed numerous times on several live television morning shows, and was featured in the Samsung/NFL "That's How I See It” tv commercial. Linda has a B.A in Fine Arts from the Fashion Institute of Technology and is a proud mother of 2 daughters.

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Kaitlin Fehling - (Musical Theater)
Kaitlin received her B.A. in Dance at Hofstra University, where she performed in works by David Parker and Larry Keigwin. She has spent the past three summers studying with the Rockettes, participating in their Summer Intensive Program where she learned choreography from their Christmas and Spring Spectaculars. Kaitlin has experience teaching and assisting classes for the past six years and is looking forward to sharing her ideas and energy at Downstage Dance. Kaitlin is very excited to be apart of such an amazing staff!
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Guest Faculty

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Alexis Robbins
Alexis Robbins, a native of Wakefield, RI, is a graduate of Hofstra University with a B.A. in Dance and B.S. in Exercise Science. She has performed in works by Rachel List, Anita Feldman, David Parker, Sean Curran, Heather Waldon, Amy Marshall, Hillary-Marie Michael, and has appeared on Good Day New York with Aaron Tolson. Robbins was awarded the Sosonoff Outstanding Junior Dance Major scholarship in 2014, the Citation of Merit Award in 2015, and was the president and co-founder of the tap club RHYTHMiX at Hofstra University. Her emerging tap and modern dance company, kamrDANCE, was founded in August 2015 after she choreographed and produced a full length show with the same name. Since then the company has performed at many venues in NYC and Massachusetts including the Woods Hole Community Hall, Arlington Center for the Arts, Peridance's Salvatore Capezio Theater, Hudson Guild Theater, Triskelion Arts, Actors Fund Arts Center, Dixon Place, and more. Robbins has also performed many times as a soloist as well as with her sister Sarah, who is a vocalist, for the Creator’s Collective at various venues in Brooklyn. In the spring of 2017 kamrDANCE premiered “Catch 22” at Dixon Place, a 32 minute installment that will be extended and performed again in 2018. She was also invited back to Hofstra University as an alumni choreographer for Danceworks Productions. Robbins is a rising choreographer who enjoys fusing tap and modern dance with humor and intricacy to create unique voices and investigate the necessity of supportive relationships. Alongside choreographing, Robbins is a Certified Personal Trainer through ACSM and teaches tap and contemporary at two studios on Long Island.

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Allison Rezza
Allison Peters-Rezza received her early dance training with the Joffrey Ballet School (NYC) and furthered her training through summers spent dancing with The Hartford Ballet School. She received her Bachelors in Fine Arts in Dance Performance from the University of Akron (OH) and her Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Dowling College (NY). Allison has performed and taught dance across the United States. Some performance credits include: Repertory Project (OH), Repertory Dance Company (OH), Cleveland San Jose Ballet (Performance with the Choreographers Showcase), and the Bare Bones Dance Project (NYC). Some teaching experiences include: Nassau BOCES Cultural Arts Center, Southern Dance Masters, The Dance Institute (NSAD), and Coventry Performing Arts High School. Allison has also taught numerous master classes in New York and Ohio.

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Dr. Joseph Conger, PT, DPT.
A native of Seaford, Dr. Conger grew up dancing and performing with the Downstage Dance staff family and has had the pleasure of being a dance educator with them for many years. Joseph is a graduate of the Long Island High School of Performing Arts and continued on to receive his BFA in Dance Performance from the prestigious Southern Methodist University. After performing with over a dozen modern and ballet companies nationally, Joseph returned home to LI to attend the School of Health Technology at Stony Brook University earning his Doctorate in Physical Therapy.
Dr. Conger, is the co-owner of Silver Spring Wellness in NYC and is a physical therapist who specializes in dance medicine and the performing arts. He is currently working on the Broadway hit War Paint. Additional PT Broadway credits include Sweat, The Price, Fiddler on the Roof, American Psycho, Kinky Boots, Finding Neverland, and Pippin, Additionally, Dr. Conger provides PT for The Paul Taylor Dance Company. Dr. Conger is a certified Pilates Instructor and a frequent guest teacher.