​La Luna Dance Studio
Teens & Tots Dance Program
Faculty & Staff
Sonya Elmore, Owner
​Sonya immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of 14 where soon began training in competitive International Ballroom Dance. She found solace in her ability to express herself fully through dancing and gained confidence and strength in her natural ability. Sonya excelled in the Latin dances and through dedicated training and generous sponsorships appreciated a marvelous amateur career. In 1999, after years of successful competition, Sonya decided to move on from ballroom dancing to explore her new found passion, Salsa. Sonya has been featured on several television programs including NBC 10 Philadelphia News, and FOX29 Good Day Philadelphia. Sonya's latest accomplishment includes placing 5th in ESPN World Salsa Championships (Cabaret division) in December 2006. Sonya has created Philadelphia's most comprehensive dance program for all ages including American Ballroom, Argentine Tango, Swing, Salsa & Street Latin, Hip Hop, Belly Dancing, and La Luna's Teens & Tots children's which encompasses Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, and more. Sonya now enjoys spending her time with her husband and 3 beautiful children.
Shannon Anderson, General Manager & Program Director
​Shannon studied ballet extensively throughout childhood and continued her studies at Rider University and The Princeton Ballet School under the direction of Douglas Martin, Mary Barton, and Dr. Kim Chandler Vaccaro. At Rider, she earned her Bachelor's in Business Management while minoring in Dance. While a student at Rider, Shannon performed in numerous original modern dance works and contemporary ballet pieces. Upon graduation, Shannon joined the faculty at New Jersey's leading dance company, American Repertory Ballet, for the company's Outreach and Educational Program, teaching dance to elementary school students in New Brunswick, NJ Public Schools. Shannon joined La Luna Dance Studio in 2005, and not long after, joined La Luna's semi-pro Ladies Salsa dance team, Las Estrellas. She has been teaching Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, and Pre-School Dance classes and serving as Director for the TNT Dance Program for the past 19 years. Miss Shannon has also served as the Director of our Jr. and Sr. Ballet Companies and choreographs and coaches solo routines for our annual recitals and dance competitions. Shannon also received a certification as a Pilates Mat Instructor back in 2006. Her most recent accomplishment in 2017 was receiving her certification as a PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique) instructor, and she is very excited to be able to share this technique with her students. When she's not teaching, Shannon enjoys taking Ballet and Barre Workout classes and volunteering and fostering dogs and puppies with her husband for a local Animal Rescue organization.
Josie Abruzzi
Josie began studying dance at the age of 3 and has trained in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Lyrical. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in both Dance Studies and Elementary Education from Rider University. While at Rider, she served as Dance Mentor Coordinator and Mentor for the School of Fine & Performing Arts and was also awarded the Mildred C. Hawkins Fine Arts Endowed Scholarship. Previously, Josie was a dancer/performer with Sesame Place from 2015-2020, and has also choreographed musicals for Villa Joseph Marie High School. We are thrilled to have Miss Josie join us for the 2024-2025 dance season and beyond!
Elizabeth Bickel
Elizabeth has been dancing since the age of four, studying many different styles of dance, including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and modern. While pursuing her education degree at Neumann University, she also participated in and taught for the dance team on campus for four years. She loves to dance and perform, as well as to teach. Elizabeth currently teaches Kindergarten in Philadelphia and loves working with her students and watching them learn. She is thrilled to be joining La Luna Dance Studio this year!
Sharon Cruz
Sharon has been Salsa & Bachata dancing throughout the Philadelphia area for over 15 years. Previously, Sharon was a member of La Luna's Dance Studio's own Semi-Pro Salsa team, Calle Luna, and she currently teaches adult Salsa & Bachata lessons for La Luna's adult dance program. We are super excited to announce that Miss Sharon will be joining our Teens & Tots teaching faculty for the upcoming 2024-2025 season, offering Salsa Classes for children ages 7 - 18!
Kira Long
Kira has been dancing since childhood at local suburban studios, school dance teams, and performed at local shows/events in the Tri-State area. As she moved onto adulthood, she continued to attend adult hip hop dance classes and heels workshops in northeast Philadelphia. During her college years, she spent two seasons choreographing and performing for the Holy Family University Dance Team. During her senior year she became the HFU Dance Team President, Chair of Choreography, and was the founder of the newly established Choreography Committee. In that same year, she contributed to the creation of the team’s first annual showcase. Also, Kira has currently completed her third year of coaching the Pennsbury High School Dance Team. As a dance coach, she specializes in the organization of halftime performances, annual showcases, and occasionally provide the team with halftime styled choreography. One of Kira’s leading accolades with the PHS Dance Team is the booking of their holiday performance at the Christmas Village in Center City, Philadelphia. Kira began teaching hip hop dance classes shortly after graduating high school. She began her career as a dance teacher when she started the hip hop program at Strength & Grace Dance Academy. She has been a hip hop dance teacher for 5 years in the Bucks County and Greater Philadelphia areas. Kira is excited to join the La Luna family this Fall!
Ragan Yates
We are excited to welcome Miss Ragan to our teaching staff for the 2024-205 season!
