With over 25 years of experience in dance, Marialana is the Artistic Director and Founder of The Dance Axis, bringing a deep passion for movement, education, and artistic growth to dancers of all ages and levels. Beginning her journey as a competitive dancer and continuing her training through college, she developed a strong technical foundation across all dance styles, which has shaped her well-rounded and thoughtful approach to dance training.

She has spent more than 15 years teaching, working with students from early childhood through advanced and pre-professional levels. Throughout her career, she has earned numerous choreography and technique awards, reflecting her expertise in both recreational and competitive training. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes strong technique, artistry, confidence, and age-appropriate progression, creating a positive and motivating environment where dancers can thrive.

Marialana holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Business, with a concentration in Media and Arts Management, blending artistic excellence with strong leadership and organizational expertise. She is also certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) and Acrobatic Arts, allowing her to incorporate safe, effective strength-building and conditioning practices into her instruction.

As Director of The Dance Axis, Marialana is dedicated to providing high-quality training, fostering creativity, and supporting each dancer’s individual journey — whether they are dancing for fun, confidence, or performance excellence.

Luka Gabriel Appelbaum is a New York–based dance artist and choreographer. He holds a BFA in Dance with dual concentrations in Choreography and Modern, along with a minor in Arts Management from Marymount Manhattan College. In March, The Young Choreographers Festival will be presenting Luka’s Choreographic work at The Joyce Theater. Multiple pieces of his choreography have also been presented at Marymount Manhattan College.

Luka has performed works by esteemed choreographers including Andrea Miller, Bill T. Jones, Martha Graham, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Pedro Ruiz, Donterreo Culp, Karen Gayle, and others. He has danced at iconic venues such as Chelsea Factory, Playwrights Horizons, and The Joyce Theater, where he was a part of the centennial season with the Martha Graham Dance Company and the NYCDA Foundation’s Destiny Rising. Outside of Marymount, Luka received tutelage from Gallim School of Movement, American Repertory Ballet, and Koin & Co. Luka brings curiosity and conviction into every space he enters, all while somehow maintaining a chaotic sense of humor and proper alignment.

Jasmin Cicchino is a multidisciplinary performing artist, certified dance educator, and aerialist based in the Tri-State Area. She received her formal classical ballet training through the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus, earning her Advanced Diploma and currently she is completing the final stage of the prestigious Certificate in Dance Teaching with the RAD. As a certified and diplomed ballet educator, Jasmin has developed a strong pedagogical foundation rooted in the RAD methodology, combining technical precision, musicality, and safe, progressive training practices.

Alongside her performance career, Jasmin teaches ballet and pointe at several dance studios across New Jersey. Her teaching reflects both her rigorous classical background and her commitment to developing confident, technically strong dancers.

In 2021, Jasmin graduated from MTS Musical The School in Milan, where she expanded her versatility studying jazz, modern, and Vaganova-method ballet. In the same year she obtained the ALCM diploma in “Music Theater” with the University of West London.

She performed classical repertoire such as Don Quixote and The Sleeping Beauty with Style Dance Company, refining her artistry and stage presence.

After relocating to the United States, she became an active member of the Philadelphia dance community, performing with KCBC (Klassic Contemporary Ballet Company ) and she is currently a dancer for Anne-Marie Mulgrew and Dancers Company.

In addition to dance, Jasmin is a certified aerialist and instructor. She earned her teaching diploma with CSEN (Italy) in 2022 and was awarded a Gold Medal in the Lyra category at the 2023 Aerialympics. She continues to work as a freelance performer and has collaborated for the past four years with Incanto’s Productions in New York City, performing as both a dancer and aerialist.

Jillian Acevedo has been dancing for over 20 years and grew up a decorated competitive dancer. She also received special recognition awards across her time. She served as captain of her high school dance team and later held a leading role on her college dance team, contributing extensive choreography.

Her choreography has earned recognition at competitions, with both her soloists and group pieces receiving top adjudications and overall placements. Jillian also performed professionally as a dancer for the New England Patriots after college where she also spent time expanding on her teachings to the next generation of dancers.

She is passionate about teaching and finds fulfillment in sharing her love of dance while helping students grow in confidence, technique, and artistry. She strives to create a positive, disciplined, and inspiring classroom environment where dancers feel supported, challenged, and empowered to reach their fullest potential both on and off the stage.

Alice is a dancer and dance educator based in New Jersey and NYC. She has a background as a competitive dancer and currently continues her training regularly in NYC.

She teaches a wide range of styles including jazz, lyrical, contemporary, technique, and creative movement. Alice works with both recreational and competitive dancers of all ages, including teaching her own NYC classes for adults. Apart from teaching, she remains actively involved in the competitive dance world by touring on staff with dance competitions across the U.S.

In addition to her dance background, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and minors in psychology and business administration from William Paterson University. She is also certified proficient in Russian, among other certifications.

With her dance training and extensive experience working with children, Alice brings a supportive yet structured approach to teaching young dancers as they progress in their training at The Dance Axis.

Allison Goskowsky has been dancing all her life and continues to explore movement. She began her main training at Starz Dance Studio where she discovered her love for dance. After high school, she danced with a company in Long Island, New York for two to three seasons, gaining valuable performance and repertory experience.

Following her time with the company, she immersed herself in Gaga, the movement language created by Ohad Naharin, studying it for three years (and continuing to this day). In April 2024, she trained in Italy with Nuova X/Nod, working with numerous choreographers including Lea Ved, Moritz Ostruschnjak, Olivia Ancona, Ella Rothschild, Matan David, Pau Aran Gimeno, and many more.

Alongside performing, Allison has cultivated a choreographic practice for the past five years, often blending dance with visual art and photography to explore movement as both expression and image. Back in New York, she continues to study with choreographers she has strong artistic connections with, such as Ben Green and Ohad Mazor, while creating independent works. Allison remains dedicated to dancing and choreographing, exploring new collaborations, and deepening her practice at the intersection of dance, art, and personal voice. Allison looks forward to teaching the younger generation to be passionate about dance and finding their personal voice in movement.

Emily LaRuffa began dancing at just three years old, training in tap, jazz, and ballet before expanding into lyrical and hip hop as a competitive dancer. She competed nationally for many years, developing the versatility, discipline, and performance quality that would become the foundation of her artistic voice.

At 22, Emily moved to New York City to pursue a professional dance career. She appeared in music videos for globally recognized artists and performed in regional productions. She was also a company member of DoubleTake Dance Company, performing in respected venues including the iconic Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

While performing professionally, Emily trained at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway, studying under renowned educators including Ginger Cox, Sheila Barker, and Derek Mitchell. There, she continued refining her technique, musicality, and artistry at the highest professional level. Known for her expressive performance quality and deep connection to music, her work spans tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, and contemporary dance.

Following a knee injury, Emily stepped away from dance and built a successful corporate leadership career in New York City’s hospitality industry while becoming a mother of two. Those years strengthened her leadership, empathy, and discipline—perspective she now brings into the studio. When she returned to dance, it felt less like a restart and more like a homecoming, blending professional training with the life experience that defines her approach as an educator.

Emily has taught throughout New York City and Long Island. Her teaching centers on connection—to the music, the story, and each other—while building strong technical foundations and confident, expressive dancers. She believes dance is a space for discipline, courage, and joy, and strives for every student to leave class stronger, empowered, and inspired.