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The Instructors

Meet our expert team at Byrd Dance, where passion meets expertise in our elementary school dance and yoga programs. Our instructors bring a wealth of knowledge and unique backgrounds to nurture a love of dance and wellness in every student. Join us to experience the difference that skilled, passionate instructors can make in fostering artistic expression, confidence, and personal growth in dance and yoga.

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Ms. Shane

Shane Gerardi started dancing at a very young age and continued to study dance throughout college. She was a professional NBA Dancer for the Nets for several years and also worked as a backup dancer for several artists. She has been a dance educator and choreographer for over 25 years. Shane has coached and choreographed for many award-winning cheer/dance teams and also brings her love of dance to teaching children of all abilities. Shane works during the day as a preschool teacher in a 4/5-year-old classroom.

Ms. Violet

Violet began her dance training at the age of fourteen at Nunnbetter Dance Theatre in Bergen County New Jersey under the direction of Leath Nunn. In 2015 she was accepted to the DeSales University Dance Program where she trained in ballet, modern and contemporary dance with faculty Tim Cowart, Trinette Singleton, and Julia Mayo. While at DeSales, Violet performed in works by Er Dong Hu, Julia Mayo, and Emily Schoen. Violet has performed and taught ballroom and Latin styles for Arthur Murray Dance, as well as completed two teaching rotations with Juntos Dance Collective as a global teacher, leading virtual workshops bilingually in Guatemala as well as San Francisco. She has studied at the Paul Taylor Summer Intensive in 2017 and 2018, and most recently the 2022 Winter Intensive, Violet is also a current scholarship student at the Taylor School Professional Division in Manhattan. Violet is now a New Jersey/ New York City-based freelance artist and current company member of Nikki Manx Dance Project, she is also a faculty member of Heart in Motion Dance in Ridgewood New Jersey, and Nunnbetter Dance in Bergenfield New Jersey.

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Ms. Julia

Julia fell in love with yoga and meditation once she realized how beneficial it was for her physical and emotional well-being. With a background in gymnastics and dance, yoga was a familiar yet challenging way to broaden her variety in movement. After practicing yoga for many years, she was ready to grow her experience on a deeper level. In April of 2022, Julia received her 200-hour RYT Training through Yoga Alliance. She plans to take continuing education courses to further her knowledge of this beautiful, soul-touching practice.​After instructing classes in the studio, Julia knew it was time to share this practice with her preschool students. After seeing the joy and calmness that yoga brought out of the children, she knew it was time to instruct more yoga classes tailored to young individuals. Through Yoga, Julia hopes to help guide and connect people with their inner self, and find a balance and harmony they can achieve off the mat.

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