Our Staff
Melanie Vaughan
Director/Teacher
Ms Mel has been at Pat's for over 30 years! How is that possible? She danced here at the age of 3 and NEVER left. At the age of 18, Ms. Mel started teaching dance. She then became the assistant director under Ms. Pat before she took over as director in 2018.Along with her training at Pat’s, Ms. Mel has gone through extensive dance training at conventions and professional studios such as Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center. Throughout her experiences, she has studied with legendary Jazz dancer/ Choreographer Frank Hatchett, Wade Robson (MTV Wade Robson project), Brian Friedman (STYCD, Brittany Spears’ Choreographer), Mandy More (SYTYCD), Dave Scott (SYTYCD), and Brandon Maurice Curry (Director Eegleskvy Ballet). She also had multiple childhood Rockette experiences on top of Macy’s “Tap O Mania.” Now, Ms. Mel has two adorable sons and a husband, known as “Mr Andrew” around the studio, who fixes and helps with anything we need. Ms. Mel has such a passion for Pat’s and always goes above and beyond for OUR kids. “Training under Ms. Pat for many years gave me the opportunity to witness what a family run studio should be like. She taught me that every child is welcomed for who they are. Not what mold you’re trying to put them in.
Family is everything”
AnnMarie Famularo
Artistic Director
Yesenia Cruz
Office Director
Yesenia graduated from LIU Post with a BFA in theatre. Shortly after graduating she began working as a teaching artist and assistant program manager at Enact Inc, a company that specializes in using drama to promote social and emotional learning. She has also worked with Counseling In Schools as a professional development facilitator. She has been teaching with an international Drama Company since 2016 and became a proud mama to her Mel in 2019. She is grateful to be part of the Pat’s family!
Christie Janeic
Accounts Secretary
Miss Christie is a graduate of Hofstra University with Bachelors of Science in Dance Education. She began her dance training, teaching, and reception skills in Pennsylvania at Levels Dance Studio. She has trained in various styles of dance such as ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, pointe, modern, contemporary, step dancing, and much more. Miss Christie hopes to be able to open her own dance studio and also teach dance in New York school districts one day. Miss Christie is thrilled to be back at Pat’s for another season!
Stefania Caruana
Secretary/ Teacher
Miss Stefania is so excited to be teaching at Pat’s! Last year she was a Pats secretary on Friday nights, a student teacher, and a substitute teacher! She started dancing at Pats when she was 6 years old and graduated from Baldwin High School this past year. This year she is continuing at Nassau Community College for her second year and wants to continue her education afterwards. In high school, Miss Stefania used her passion and knowledge of dance to come up with routines for Baldwin High School's annual Intramural night and Sportsnite. This past year she even helped lead her team to victory as blue team captain! Miss Stefania is thrilled to have the opportunity to come back and continue to dance at Pat's!
Sadie Stadler
Secretary/ Teacher
Miss Sadie, a Pat’s alumni, is thrilled to be back at the studio! She has been dancing since she was 4 and began dancing at Pat’s at the age of 7. Pat’s soon became her second home and she hasn’t been able to leave since! Dance led her to become involved in musical theater and other performing arts as well. Miss Sadie graduated from Oceanside High School in 2021 and is currently at SUNY Geneseo with hopes to become a pediatric Physician Assistant. Outside of the studio, she has worked with children with special needs at camps as a one-on-one aid and school programs such as Best Buddies. Miss Sadie can’t wait to see all of the amazing Pat’s students and families when she is home on school breaks, whether she is at the desk or in the classroom!
Sara Dominguez
Secreetary/ Teacher
Miss Sara is thrilled to be back at Pat’s, she’s was a dancer at pats since she was 6! She graduated from College of Mount Saint with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and is currently studying at Hofstra University to get her Masters in Mental Health counseling. Sara’s passionate about working with kids and has worked with children in counseling groups and other school activities. She has the goal of creating a loving and safe environment where all can feel creative. Throughout her time in college she lead the oldest team on campus and learned how much she loves to choreography and how have fun teaching is. Her favorite styles of dance are Ballet, Modern, Jazz, and Hip-Hop. Sara can’t wait to see familiar faces and meet new friends back to her second home.
Jaria Morris
Teacher
Miss Jaria dances to share the energy, excitement, joy and communal relief that dance brings. She began dancing when she was 3 to help regulate her juvenile diabetes. Pat’s Dance became her home away from home. When she was 13 she started choreographing at Baldwin High school (where she eventually graduated from) for the African and Hispanic cultural clubs. Her favorite dance styles include Modern, Afro-house and Ballet! After graduating from Nassau community college with a degree in Liberal Arts, she joined Carnyval Dancers. Jaria also completed courses at Queens College in dance Performing arts, dance therapy and dance administration. Miss Jaria has a strong heart. She works with the autistic community in a day Hab with small classroom sized individuals. Pat’s is so Blessed to have her in our Family.
Karlee Yanantuono
Teacher
Miss Karlee is so excited to be teaching at Pat’s! She started dancing here when she was just 3 years old. After graduating from Baldwin High School, she went on to get a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Music. She was a member of the Molloy college dance team and The Molloy Performing Arts Club. She participated in a number of musicals including Grease, Catch me if you can, and Legally Blonde! She has a Masters in Science in Early Childhood and Childhood Education. Miss Karlee is extremely excited to have the opportunity to combine her passions of performing and teaching back where it all began at Pat’s Dance!
Isabella Rosatone
Teacher
Miss Isabella aka “Miss Izzy” is a graduate of Hofstra University with Bachelors of Arts degrees in both Dance Performance and Psychology. She began her dance training in Massachusetts at the North Reading School of Ballet where she trained and competed in ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, and tap. She has also received musical theatre dance training from the Boston Conservatory Summer Intensive, and contemporary/jazz training from the Joffrey School Summer Intensive. Isabella currently lives in Brooklyn and works as a mental health counselor in a psychiatric rehabilitation center, after receiving her Masters of Science in 2022. Isabella has loved continuing her passion for dance through teaching and choreographing over the past 3 years.
Carly Manza
Teacher
Miss Carly is thrilled to be teaching at Pats! She started here as a substitute teacher and taught in our summer program. She graduated from Malverne High School and Long Island High School for the Arts. She also earned her AA in Dance at Nassau Community College and will continue her dance studies at Hunter College. Some of you also may recognize her from Steele Schools 5th Grade zoom Dance party with Pat’s in the past! Fun facts about Miss Carly with a “C”: Her favorite animal is the Florida Manatee and has even got to swim with them twice! She also loves the Harry Potter movies! If Miss Carly could visit any place in the world it would be the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt! We are so thrilled to have her in our Pat’s family!
Donovan Molinaro
Teacher
Mr. Donovan is delighted to be sharing his passion for theatre and dance with his students at Pat’s! He graduated from Lynbrook Senior High School and is currently a student at Farmingdale State College. Donovan has been preforming since the third grade and loves sharing his knowledge of theatre. Along with preforming, Donovan also has a great eye for the design aspects of theatre (costumes, set design, and prop design). When he is not dancing his heart out, Donovan loves working as a veterinarian assistant and is in school to one day become a veterinarian! Donovan loves his German Shepherds, Martha and Jack. He can’t wait to see what these upcoming years have to offer here at Pat’s!
Lauren Rupsis
Teacher
Miss Lauren is currently a senior at Hofstra University working towards Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Dance Performance and English Literature. She began her dance training in Connecticut at Lights, Camera, Dance Studio where she trained and competed in ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, hip hop, and musical theater since the age of three! She is very excited for her first year teaching and choreographing at Pats! Welcome Miss Lauren!