Stella Palumbo - "Miss Stella"
The owner and founder of Stella's Dancers' Studio, she began teaching dance at age 15 and has owned and operated her own studio since she was 19. Today, more than 300 students study ballet, tap, jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop and Modern. Additionally, she founded and directs the nationally acclaimed Illusion Dance Company, which has won countless competitions and performed at area hospitals, nursing homes and community events. Stella’s Dancers' Studio has celebrated their 20th Anniversary Recital.

While encouraging the members of the company to strive for success in competitions, Stella emphasizes having fun and Learning proper technique to instill a positive self-esteem in all her students.

Trained by the prestigious Dance Educators of America she has continued her dance education by attending master classes, conventions and studying in New York at the Broadway Dance Center. Her students are going on to professional careers, including dancing with Enrique Inglesias, Lou Bega, Deborah Cox, Puff Daddy, Siegfried and Roy, Debbie Allen, performing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Super Bowl XXIX, Disney Tokyo, Walt Disney World, cruise ships, nightclubs and local theater.

Terry Catalano
It is reasonable to say that without Miss Terry, there would be no Stella's Dancer's Studio. The mother of Stella Palumbo, Miss Terry did far more than encourage her daughter's ambitions to own a dance studio. As the studio manager, she juggles a host of detail-oriented tasks for hundreds of students and teachers. Scheduling dozens of classes per week, ordering millions of sequins worth of costumes, organizing the annual recital and baby-sitting Stella's two children are just a few of the critical jobs that fall daily on her capable shoulders. 

German Dager
German Dager studies in classical ballet jazz, and modem dance were completed at Les Grands Ballet Canadiense, Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal in Quebec, Canada and in York University in Toronto, Ontario. He also trained on full scholarship at Miami Conservatory, Magda Auñon School of Classical Ballet in Ft Lauderdale, The North Carolina School of the Arts, Washington School of Ballet, Pennsylvania School of Ballet and the Boston Ballet. German danced principal roles in Don Quixote, Les Sylphides, Coppelia, Corsair, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker and Romeo and Juliet. In 1985, at the Southeaster Regional Ballet Festival in Atlanta, Georgia, he was honored with the Dance Magazine Scholarship and sent to New York to train with the best teachers in the United States. German danced professionally with Boston Ballet II, Ballet de Montreal under the artistic direction of Eddy Toussaint, in Canada, Ballet Florida and guest dancer with Compañia Colombiana de Ballet. German has been teaching since 1986. He has taught Classical Ballet at Ballet Arts, International, Meg Segreto’s Dance Center, Many But One Performing Arts School, Ballet Elite, Distinction Dance and Talent, Magda Auñon School of Classical Ballet, and has been the Assistant Director to The Fort Lauderdale Ballet Classique.

He is a certified classical ballet teacher by examination, an active member of Florida Dance Masters and in the U.S. he holds the equivalent to Bachelor of Science in Education degree with a major in Teaching Dance.

Krysten Herrera
Miss Krysten is a native Floridian, where she received most of her dance training. Her background in dance consists of training in Classical Ballet, Jazz, Modern (Graham, Limon, Horton and Cunningham), Caribbean and African. She graduated from the University of Florida through New World School of the Arts with a Bachelor's of Fine Arts with a major in Dance. She has appeared in the following: Treasure Islands, Sirens of TI promo, Las Vegas Nevada-Travis Payne, Kenny Ortega-2003, Michael Uthoff Dance Theater-Sinfonia Danzante 2003, Media Luz-2003, Manso Dance-Original Works by Paulo Manzo de Souze, Giselle, The Nutcracker, Reunion, Gerard Ebitz, Dancing Inside/Out - Original West African Dances, Mohammed de Costa, La Corridor, Silent Voices Breath be Heard, Kristin O'Neil and many others.

She has experience teaching students from beginners to professionals and truly loves being in the classroom. She is also a personal trainer with a very strong background in anatomy, kinesiology, nutrition and physiology. She welcomes any and all questions that both students and parents have regarding ways to improve health and well-being. She is a welcome addition to our faculty.

Chris Lee
Chris Lee is an exciting and widely sought-after dance teacher and choreographer is currently enjoying his 23rd year in business. His skill and versatility in both tap and jazz/lyrical combined with a creative choreographic style have kept him both very busy and happy. He is a certified member of Dance Masters of America. His teaching credits include Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center in N.Y.C. both at the professional and children levels. He has also served as dance department chairperson at Belvoir Terrace, an internationally reputable performing arts camp in Lenox, Massachusetts. Chris also teaches master classes and judges for major dance organizations, private organizations and schools nationwide and in Canada. His students have won numerous high score awards at competitions such as
American Dance Awards, Dance Masters of America and Starquest, as well as 2 gold medals at the World Tap Dance Championships in Reisa Germany. Chris’s students have also gone on to appear in films, music videos, TV programs and on Broadway.

Kim McGuire
Miss Kim is one of our friendly receptionists. She is also in charge of accounts receivable. You will find Miss Kim to be extremely detail oriented and most helpful to all you needs. Her daughter Jessie ( a former Illusion Dance Company member) is now in college and is still dancing.

Danielle Moore
Miss Danielle has been dancing under the instruction of Stella Palumbo and her staff for over 16 years. During that time she has competed in many competitions throughout the southeastern United States with the Illusion Dance Company. At the age of 11 she performed with the Children's Ballet Theater in Cinderella and Coppelia in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with Mike Miller and Associates All American Cheer and Dance. Danielle has since continued her dance and modeling at a professional level performing in dance videos under the direction of Judy Ann Bassing (Broadway Showtunes), and Scott Benson (Smooth). She was also selected to perform in a music video with Jasmine and modeled in various jobs including the movie Random Hearts starring Harrison Ford, and the soap opera Miami Sands. She has also performed all over the world on the Norwegian Cruise lines SS Norway Farewell Tour dancing in Guy's and Dolls, Sing, Sing, Sing and Sea Legs Goes Hollywood. She is presently performing with
the local entertainment group La Mystique whom she has been working with for over 5 years. Danielle has dedicated her life to dance and hopes to have a long and successful career.

Paul Rodriguez
Paul has been dancing at Stella’s for many years and has been a member of The Illusion Dance Company. He is an award winning dancer and has received the honor of top male dancer at several local competitions. He is very artistic and helps build props as well as designing the curtain cards. Paul is currently attending McFatter Technical Institute where he is studying TV and music production. Paul is an up and coming choreographer, which the world needs to watch out for.

Stacey Scairrillo
Miss Stacey has been a receptionist at Stella’s for several years, and is also employed by the Broward Count School Board. Her sister Jamie was a member of the Illusion Dance Company and now she enjoys watching her niece Nicole dance. Stacey will be more than happy answer any questions you may have to ensure that your child has a pleasurable experience while dancing at Stella’s Dancers’ Studio.

Kathleen O’Donnell Vega
Miss Kathleen, a native New Yorker grew up a stones throw away from Manhattan, where she trained on scholarship at the Broadway Dance Center and Steps 74. Here she learned from many great teachers like Frank Hatchett, Chris Chadman, Henry Le Tang and Finis Jhung, to name a few. This is also where she began teaching at the age of 16 and started performing professionally at 17.

Since then she has worked in many aspects of the dance world such as: Performing,
Casting, Choreographing, Commercials, Cruise Ships( Royal & Norwegian) , Dinner Theater (Grease, Guys & Dolls, Anything Goes, Sweet Charity & 42nd St.), Industrials, Video, National Tours (Dirty Dancing), Judging and of course more teaching including master classes. Along the way, Kathleen has had the pleasure of working with the amazing Bob Fosse, Ben Vereen, Debbie Allen, Bill Medley and many others. Some of her past students have gone on the perform on Broadway, Radio City Music Hall, Macy's Day Parade's, Pro Bowls's dance & music videos, teaching, Las Vegas and more. Over the years, Kathleen has received numerous awards for her choreography and teaching.

She is currently celebrating five wonderful years at Stella's, while she also continues to judge competitions, cast & choreography for ADC Productions and raise her son Dylan.

Randee Workowski
Randee Workowski began her training as a dancer with A Dancer’s Place Company under the direction of Victoria leigh and James Franklin performing leading roles in several ballets including Pas de Quatre, Skylark, The Merry Widow, the “Peasant Pas” from Giselle, Paquita, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote and one of the four swans from Swan Lake. Ms Workowski studied on a full scholarship with the Houston and Milwaukee Ballet Companies as well as receiving full scholarships to Boston and San Francisco Ballet Companies. She also has attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. In 1999 Ms. Workowski was a featured guest artist of the Florida Grand Opera’s annual Music Fest Cruise to the Mediterranean, dancing to the Act II intermezzo from Carmen. Her regional professional theatre credits include roles in: Crazy for You, Cabaret, Evita, A Chorus Line, kismet, The Desert Song, Damn Yankees, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Anastasia, Vanities, Breakfast With Les & Bess, hound of the Baskervilles and Barefoot In The Park. Beginning at age 11, Ms. Workowski spent four consecutive summers as a Mouseketeer performing for Walt Disney productions. Ms. Workowski also has an extensive list of television commercials to her credit.

“Miss Randee” as she is known in the classroom has been teaching since the fall of 1993. Many of her students have gone on to accept scholarships to American Ballet theatre, Washington ballet and Boston ballet. Some former students have also accepted lucrative contracts to perform with: Walt Disney World (Orlando and Tokyo), various Cruise Lines, stunning Las Vegas shows and many music videos with some of the hottest talent in pop music.

Judy Ann Bassing
Judy Ann Bassing is an international artist in great demand as a Choreographer/Director &teacher. Recipient of six Los Angeles Drama-Logue Awards for outstanding choreography and directing and a San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Award for the production of "Sugar" presented at the Lawrence Welk Theatre. France, Germany, Switzerland, Scotland, England, Yugoslavia, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia, Czech Republic are countries where she choreographs, directs and teaches. While in Essen, Germany choreographing "Company", Judy directed and choreographed Gala for the President of Germany, She recently choreographed "Me and My Girl” at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, starring Bruce Adler, Tony nominee for “Crazy for You”. Theater credits include: “Nunsnse”, “Funny Girl”, “Cabaret”, “Sweet Charity”, “Peter Pan”, “Man of La Mancha”, starring Doug Carfare, “She Loves Me”, "Panama Game", Singing in the Rain", “The Unsinkable Molly Brown", "Promises Promises", "Oklahoma", starring Tony nominee Alice Ripley, "Hello Dolly", "Guys and Dolls", "l do, I do" starring Richard Kline of the TV series "Three's Company" and Belle Calaway, "Bells are Ringing", "Dames at Sea", "Anything Goes". Industrial credits are: Merrill Lynch, 'Dance in America”, and M & M Mars. Television: BBC '”Special on Dance", Scotland. "Production Numbers" European International Sports Competition. Judy recently choreographed "Crazy for You" in Las Vegas and was the choreographer for the opening number for the "1999 World Ski Cup Championships". Judy just returned from Prague, she was one of the guest artists invited to participate in workshops and performances celebrating American National Tap Dance

Mary Kate Felber
Mary Kate Felber is currently residing in New York City. She is one of the most sought after teachers, choreographers and adjudicators in the country. Having been a member of a dance company since the age of eleven, Mary has had the opportunity to perform all over the country and throughout Europe. Mary began performing professionally at the age of fifteen in the Equity productions of, "Funny Girl" and "Guys and Dolls". During this time she began teaching and choreographing and had her first title winner by the age of seventeen. Mary went on to perform in the Equity national tours of "Satchmo" and "Harlem Suite" with Maurice Hines and Stephanie Mills. After this Mary performed the lead role of Anita in the European tour of "West Side Story" as well as at The Downtown Bridgeport Cabaret in Connecticut. Mary received rave reviews both from the international and Connecticut press. 

Mary has performed with Tony award winner Hinton Battle and has also performed with C&C Music Factory on the Billboard Music Awards. Mary has continued to keep her roots in teaching and choreographing having taught for over fifteen dance schools throughout the country and Canada including Point Park College in Pennsylvania. She has won numerous awards for her choreography as well. Students she has worked with have won Miss Dance of America, National American Dance Awards, Dancer of the Year, Teen Miss Dance NYC, Miss Dance NYC and and Connecticut and numerous other awards. Her choreography continues to be recognized at both regional and national levels. Mary continues to coach and teach dance having worked with both Brooke Sheilds and Former Miss America Suzzette Charles.

Billy Larson

• Funky in “Tap Dogs”
• Gold medalist at the World Dance Championship in Germany
• Lead role in Mia Michael’s “3 Steps from Heaven
• Creator- Truth in Progress

Ricardo Pena
Ricardo was a student of Stella’s for eleven years and started teaching and choreographing during his last few years as a student. He won scholarships to the world renowned Gus Giordano studio in Chicago, Broadway Dance Center and the Joffrey ballet in New York City. In February 1999 he performed at the alpine Ski Championships held in Vail Colorado. In September of 1999 he moved to Las Vegas, auditioned for the Siegfried and Roy show and was hired. He had a contract with "S & R" dancing and assisting with some of the illusions for a year. On December 31, 2000 he performed at the New Year’s Eve show at the MGM Grand Hotel. Ricardo moved to Japan in February 2001 and performed at Tokyo Disneyland in the show "Once Upon a Mouse" until October 2001. He is also performing with Hardrive Productions in Orlando. He continues to teach and choreograph at Stella’s when he is town and has won several choreography awards at the recent competitions. One of his winning numbers this year is "Body Language". We are very proud to have him choreography routines and guest teach and wish him continued success!