Dance Instructors
Juliana Elliott
Annie DiStefano
Founder & Director, Garden Street School of the Performing Arts
Ballet · Pointe · Modern · Contemporary · Lyrical · Jazz · Tap · Hip Hop
Competition Choreographer · Musical Theatre Director · Industry Mentor
Annie DiStefano is the powerhouse behind Garden Street — a dynamic force in the dance and theatre world with a passion for performance, precision, and launching careers. As the Founder and Director of Garden Street School of the Performing Arts, Annie doesn’t just teach — she transforms potential into power and gives her students the tools to stand out in the most competitive arenas in the industry.
A classically trained dancer and choreographer, Annie began her journey on Long Island and in NYC, training at the most elite programs including The Cultural Arts Center (now LIHSA), USDAN, Joffrey, Peridance, Steps on Broadway, and Broadway Dance Center. She studied under some of the industry’s greatest minds — Joe Lanteri, Mia Michaels, Anne Reinking, Joe Istre — and quickly established herself as a young choreographic talent, working professionally by the age of 17.
Her choreography has been featured at SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY Fredonia, Columbia University, and University of the Arts, among others. She has received numerous awards and scholarships for both her dance and musical theatre work, but what truly sets her apart is her ability to recognize, shape, and launch young talent.
Annie built Garden Street from the ground up while raising two sons — both of whom are now professional actors working in Broadway, film, and TV. She knows exactly what it takes to balance training, auditions, contracts, and childhood. She’s not just an educator — she’s a true industry insider, helping families navigate the professional world of entertainment with clarity, confidence, and heart.
Her students have landed roles in School of Rock, On Your Feet, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Inner Voices Off-Broadway, and more. She helped launch the careers of Michael Cascetta and Nirvaan Pal (School of Rock Broadway) and continues to mentor the next generation of stars with fierce loyalty and unmatched expertise.
Annie’s son Finn Douglas made history as the youngest performer to star in a solo Off-Broadway musical and has appeared in House of Cards, After Forever, and Riley’s Unforgettable School Project. Her son Jack Casey is a recurring role in Amazon Prime's Harlan Coben’s Shelter, has appeared in Law & Order: SVU, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and made his Broadway debut in Ragtime’s 25th Anniversary Concert. He was also in the original cast and cast album of Knoxville by Ahrens & Flaherty.
Currently, Annie is producing Broadway OG’s, a major theatrical project starring Broadway icons like Hannah Elless, Chip Zien, Anita Gillette, Michele Pawk, and Natalie Toro.
At Garden Street, Annie’s not just running a program — she’s building a legacy. With her eye for talent, deep network of industry connections, and unstoppable drive, she’s helping young artists turn their dreams into careers.
If your child has a dream — Annie knows how to get them there.
Annie DiStefano
Joanna Barry
Joanna Barry
Irish Dance Master Instructor, Tap, Jazz, Ballet
Joanna Barry is a founding member of Garden Street School of the Performing Arts, as the first instructor to teach at the studio in 2011 during our first season. She has developed our Irish Step program and Tap program to be award winning companies throughout the Tri-State Area. She has won Best Choreographer, regionally and Nationally and holds the 2023 title for Best Choreographer in the country from Access Broadway. Her knowledge and expertise as a performer and dance educator make her classes some of the most popular at the studio. She works with our youngest beginners, and our more advanced dancers. All of her students leave her classes energized, excited, and looking forward to the next class.
Joanna Barry was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and began her lifelong career in dance at the age of three. Trained in Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Irish Step Dancing, she has a well rounded approach to the art of dance performance, technique and instruction.
Joanna became a professional dancer at the age of sixteen, while living in Ireland. It was at this age that she also began assisting in training and teaching beginners in tap, jazz and Irish step dancing. Her theater credits in Ireland as a dancer and assistant choreographer include musical variety seasons in The Gaiety, The Olympia and The Point. Joanna was lucky enough to be a part of many Irish productions that gave her the opportunity to perform on R.T.E (National Television Station) on numerous occasions.
Annamaria Diamant
Annamaria Diamant
Modern Contemporary Lyrical, Grown Up + Me, Early Childhood Dance Specialist
Annamaria hails from Florida. She graduated from the University of South Florida where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts. Following graduation she became a company member of Sarasota Contemporary Dance Company (formerly Fusion Dance Artists). She has worked with MA Dance company of Dallas, TX as a dance educator, instructor and camp director throughout the country. She is a former Capital One Bowl Half Time Show dance instructor. Annamaria made the move to New York in 2013. Since then she has performed in contemporary works by Julia Ehrstrand and Jennifer Archibald and presented her own choreography for CBGDance Empathy Series, Sans Limites Dance, Your Move: New Jersey Modern Dance Festival and J CHEN Project’s TRANSLATE 2018. In 2016 she was named as one of Sarasota Contemporary’s "Emerging Choreographers" and in 2018 returned as a SCDC Artist in Residence. Annamaria loves to share her passion for movement, she is a teaching artist with Williamsburg Movement and Art Center and Shooting Stars Dance Company and currently working towards her graduate degree in Arts Administration at Baruch College.
Michael Williams
Emily Derrick
Michael Williams
Competition Choreographer/Adult Ballet
Michael Williams began his dance training at The Studio of Dance in Georgetown, SC. Michael also attended the University of the Arts, in Philadelphia for four years and received a BFA in dance with emphasis on ballet. He is a performer, choreographer, teacher, and mentor. Michael recently closed Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Broadway and is currently the Dance Captain, and Swing in My Fair Lady at Lincoln Center. He was part of the revival of “On the Town” a musical comedy, as well as the Broadway production of “Wicked” the musical. He has trained with Columbia City Ballet, the Alvin Ailey American dance school, Brandywine Ballet company, Scott Jovovich, and Twyla Tharp. His classes focus more on the technical aspect of dance as well as being able to move and create outside of the box. With the fusion of his ballet background into the jazz and modern styles of dance, Michael's classes will further develop a relationship with the music as well as each individuals growth as a dancer and human being. Michael is married to Broadway's Anne Brummel, and is the proud father of their adorable son, who can be seen taking Grown Up and Me classes at Garden Street.
Emily Derrick
Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Musical Theater, Early Child Dance and Music Specialist
Some of you may have seen Emily singing and dancing her way through Disney in one of their magical shows! She has toured the US performing in the most amazing productions, and has performed all over the world!
As a true triple threat Emily Derrick began training with Atlanta Dance Theater, under the direction of Jonnie Kelly. She furthered her training at The Atlanta Ballet and was selected to study with the Georgia Governor's Honors program. Emily got her BFA in Dance Performance from OCU and was a student of tap legend, Robert Reed.
She was a founding member of the dance company, Street Beatz. She danced with TapLife, American Tap Dance Foundation. Emily danced in Disney productions: Celebrate the Season and and Block Party Bash, where she was awarded for Outstanding Performance.
Some of Emily's favorite regional musical performances include Elf, Wizard of Oz, Oklahoma and the world premiere of Rewind.
Emily was the head of the dance and drama department for Shanghai China's UOutlook. She has taught students of all ages throughout the Tri-state area, and has developed fun and engaging dance programs for young dancers.
With all of this incredible experience and training, Emily brings her love and joy for the performing arts to young children. Emily specializes in working with young aspiring performers of all ages and levels - especially our youngest students. We believe all children should have the opportunity to experience the performing arts at any age, and we are delighted to bring Emily's expertise to our youngest students at Garden Street!