Co-Studio Owner

Maria Coppola is incredibly thankful to be a part of the Take The Leap Dance Studio family! Maria is a recent graduate of the SUNY New Paltz Theatre Arts program, and spends her free time performing in local theatre companies where she continues to grow as a dancer and performer. A Brooklyn native, Maria studied everything from ballet to hip-hop at Triple Essence Dance Studio. She is a proud teacher and choreographer in the Hudson Valley and has choreographed for Wallkill Senior High School, From Stage to Screen Acting Studio, and the Performing Arts Institute at Dutchess Community College. At Take The Leap Dance Studio, Maria continues to teach a variety of styles and levels including Hip Hop, Tap, Lyrical and Jazz. Maria is thrilled to be living her childhood dream as a dance teacher and studio owner!

(Photo by Eye Spy Photography)

Co-Studio Owner

Miss Haley began dancing at the age of 8 and quickly discovered it was her passion. Combining her love of children and dance, she began teaching for Got Rhythm? Dance Studio at the age of 15. She has continued teaching jazz, tap, ballet, and lyrical ranging in ages 3-17. She also teaches swing dance at the Gardiner Library to people of all ages. After graduating from SUNY New Paltz with a BA in Performing Arts Education and Management Haley continues her education in dance at Broadway Dance Center in NYC as well as weekend conferences such as Artists Simply Human. She also has been very involved in musical theater choreography opportunities at SUNY New Paltz including theater groups and students showcases. She has performed in as well as choreographed for Cinderella, Legally Blonde, Footloose, and Cabaret. Haley is excited to move forward as a co-owner of Take The Leap Dance Studio!

(Photo by Eye Spy Photography)

Senior Teacher

Diane Traver Krayewski was born in Cornwall, NY where she began her dance studies at the age of four. She danced throughout her childhood with Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz and Modern at DeMayo’s Dance School in Cornwall, NY and Powers Dance Art Center in New Windsor, NY, being a member of the Orange County Ballet Theatre for 3 years. With having many years an styles of dance, her first love has always been Tap.

She graduated from Cornwall Central High School in 1981 where she choreographed many tap routines for choral concerts. She attended SUNY Brockport as a Dance Major and was co-captain /routine choreographer for the Brockport State Golden Eagle Color Guard/Dance Squad. She participated in a work/study programs as an assistant secretary for the Dance Dept and Assistant Teacher for Tap 1 under the direction of Mr. Santo Giglio.

In Diane‘s early adult years she was an Aerobic Instructor at Bucci’s Gymnastics in Newburgh, NY and continued Tap dancing at New Life Dance Studio in Marlboro, NY 1990-1991 and New Paltz School of Ballet under Suzanne Clark where she became a Tap teacher for 5-6 year olds and adults from 1992-1994.

After being a Medical Secretary for 16 years, married raising two sons, she found herself back to her first love of Tap. She has been teaching the Adult Tap classes, privates and intermittently Tap 1, 2 and 3 at Got Rhythm? Dance Studio from 2006-2017.

She will now continue the journey teaching tap with Take The Leap Dance Studio. Her style of Tap in traditional with fundamental basics and rhythmic patterns. She hopes to bring her passion for tap to all who want to learn.

Senior Teacher

At Just 3 years old Miss Anya began her dancing career at a local studio in a small town in Upstate New York. Quickly she found herself dancing competitively in jazz, contemporary and lyrical, but had a special affinity for tap. Around the age of 12 she began intense pre-professional ballet training with Madame Phyllis Latin and David Otto. She furthered her dance education by studying in NYC at Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Ballet, Broadway Artist Alliance,and Broadway Dance Center. In addition she spent a summer in Florida at Sarasota Ballet. She has an International Baccalaureate Diploma from Ballston Spa High School where she performed and choreographed musicals such as Newsies, The Addams Family and Hello Dolly. She now attends SUNY New Paltz pursuing a double major in Visual Arts and Psychology, with plans to pursue her masters in Social Work. Miss Anya loves to work with children of all ages, and looks forward to helping them develop skills far beyond just dance technique. Alongside an incredibly talented and caring staff Miss Anya is honored to be sharing and teaching her passion at Take the Leap Dance Studio.

Senior Teacher

Amy Dinoff has had a passion for dancing ever since she was two years old. Her training and experiences include a variety of styles such as hip-hop, jazz, lyrical, musical theater, kickline and competitive dancing. She attended SUNY New Paltz for both her bachelors and masters degrees in education. While she was in college, she was captain of a dance team, vice president of the dance association, and she choreographed musicals. The year between her bachelors and masters programs she was a character performer in Walt Disney World and loved every minute of it. She is currently an elementary ENL teacher in Kingston and is inspired everyday by the drive and dedication of her students to learn English as a new language. In her free time, Amy loves to listen to music, immerse herself in nature, cuddle up with a good book, and travel. She believes that dancing for her whole life has helped to shape who she is today and she is extremely grateful for the experiences she’s had and friends she’s made along the way.

Miss Caitlyn started dancing at a local dance studio at four years old. She quickly developed a love for dance and trained in a variety of styles such as ballet, lyrical, jazz, pointe, acro, and hip hop. She danced competitively for most of her life and through competitions was recognized as an Elite Senior Soloist at Starbound Dance Competition, was a part of All American Talent Dance Competition’s “All Star Dancers” in 2019, and danced for The Royal Dance Competition’s national dance team “The Reign”. She has taught dance for five years and has choreographed for recitals, showcases, and dance competitions. She participated in and received a special judges award from the Young Choreographers Challenge; attended dance workshops in NYC; and trained at local studios, SUNY Fredonia, and Broadway Dance Center. Miss Caitlyn is Acrobatic Arts certified and is passionate about teaching children of all ages the art of dance. She is currently majoring in Early Childhood Education at SUNY New Paltz and hopes to continue teaching dance and become an elementary school teacher.

(Photo by Amanda Rein Photography)