CDU Dance
2225 Wantagh Ave.
Wantagh, NY 11793
516-785-8525
Meet Our Teachers!!!
Miss Cristina Salhuana (Director)started dancing at the age of two. By the age of four she was a member of a dance company competiting in regional dance competitions held locally on Long Island and Nationals out of state. As a competition dancer she won numerous high score honors as well as many dance titles and special awards. Some of her awards she is most proud of are her National Senior Miss Dynamite 2004 Title, her Best Choreography Award at the Cape May New Jersey 2002 National Dance X Plosion Competition her “Future Star Award” given to her by Dance Spirit Magazine in 2004, the 2011 "Ultimate Choreography" award at Beyond the Stars LI, 2013 “Best Choreography” award at Dance X Plosion Queens, the 2014 “Best Choreography” award and “Ultimate Entertainment” award at Dance X Plosion Queens, her 2015 “Ultimate Choreography” award and “Creative Studio” award at Dance x Plosion Queens, 2015 “Best Choreography” award at The Power of Dance Long Island, her 2016 “Best Choreography Award” at Starstruck Dance Challenge Long Island, 2017 “Ultimate Choreography Award” at Beyond the Stars Long Island, and most recently 2019 “Top Primary Studio at Kids Artistic Revue Long Island, 2019 Studio of Excellence in Musical Theater Dance X Plosion Long Island.
Professionally Miss Cristina has been a part of two Off Broadway productions; Red Hot Broadway and Shake the Floor directed by Dan Karaty of So You Think You Can Dance. Miss Cristina studied business at Briarcliffe College and has her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management. While going to college she continued teaching and studying dance. Cristina has been trained in jazz, lyrical, modern, tap, ballet, pointe, hip-hop, and musical theater. She currently continues to study at Broadway Dance Center in Manhattan. For Miss Cristina her entire life dance has been her passion and once she started teaching that quickly became a passion of hers as well. She loves being able to give children the gift of dance. Miss Cristina is looking forward to teaching your children and is extremely excited for the dance year to begin!
Miss Melody Carter is a New York native who began dancing at the young age of four. Melody graduated with honors from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia with a BFA in Dance. She is currently a Dance teacher, performer, choreographer and Hot Pilates instructor. Since being on the CDU staff her choreography has won numerous awards including her 2017 “Best Choreography Award” at the Dance X Plosion Nationals in Wildwood, NJ. Melody thoroughly enjoys teaching all that she has learned to young dancers and loves watching their growth. She is excited to be back as part of the CDU faculty.
Miss Dana Cohen has been dancing for 25 years. She started teaching at the age of 15 and immediately fell in love with sharing the art of Dance with the next generation. After graduating high school, Dana briefly attended UAlbany and was the only freshman to make the Hip Hop team, Knemeis. Teaching mostly hip hop and Jazz, Dana tries to ensure that her students learn to speak through their dancing and become well rounded performers. She enjoys developing her pieces and has won many awards at regional competitions including "excellence in choreography" for a hip-hop number, and most recently the “Xcalibur award” for the Highest scoring 13 and over dance at Dance X Plosion Long Isalnd. Dana's other hobbies include cutting music, decorating her house and spending time with family. She is thrilled to be back this year and can't wait for the season to begin!
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