Nancy Royce Studio of Dance

Our Staff

Deanna, the Studio Director, has been dancing since age 4. After studying Dance, Theater, and English at Montclair State University, Deanna continued her dance training at Broadway Dance Center in NYC and Princeton Ballet (American Repertory Ballet). She has choreographed several musicals including Little Shop of Horrors, Guys and Dolls, and The King and I. Her performance credits include Brigadoon, Oklahoma, Godspell, and many others. Deanna specializes in Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, and Modern. She also teaches Creative Dance, Tap, and Acro, with students ranging from 2 ½ years old to Adult. Formerly a preschool teacher, Deanna uses her extensive study of early childhood education to develop a creative curriculum for the young dancer. Deanna is an active member in the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Arts Inc. She is also a trained vocalist and pianist who incorporates her knowledge of music theory into all of her dance classes.
Lisa is a 2005 Graduate of Montclair State University where she earned her BFA in Theatre Studies with Concentration in Production and Design and holds minor degrees in both Musical Theatre and Dance.  She has studied under Nancy Lushington, Lonne Morreton, Maxine Steinman, Freespace Dance founder Donna Scro Gentile and Alexdra Bellar to name a few.  During her college career she performed with the Montclair State Reparatory Dance Company and at the Kennedy Center's American College Theatre Festival in 2004 and 2005, where she also won a Regional Stage Management Award for Outstanding Stage Management both years and has performed in hte final rounds of the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition.  She has worked and performed at such venues as NJPAC's Victoria Theatre, the Count Basie, The State Theater, Algonquin Arts Theater, Alexander Kasser Theater, and several Off-Broadway venues.  Since graduation she has taken up her love for the arts by teaching, directing  and choreographing  at numerous schools across New Jersey.  Her choreography in the past four years in Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre and Modern/Lyrical Dance has won her many Gold, High Gold and Platinum Awards at top Dance Conventions such as; Dancer's Inc., Headliners, Starbound, Star Systems, Nexstar, International Dance Challenge, Cathy Roe, Dance Rave and more.  Her choreography has also won Special and Judge's Choice awards described as "Most Entertaining, Terrific Staging, Broadway Bound, Extra Enthusiasm, and Fancy Feet", and has placed as high as First Place In Category and Overall.  Lisa continues to further her dance education, studying  under top teachers in order to pass on top notch techniques and fun to her students.
Lisa is also a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer, as well as a Yoga and Zumba Fitness Instructor.  She has a passion for freedom of human movement, health and artistic expression.
Additionally, Lisa is the founder and choreographer for the Faith-inspired modern liturgical dance company Movements of Grace residing at Arts YOUniversity, which has been a long-time dream come to life.
Christina Bucco (Miss C) started dancing at Nancy Royce at the age of six.  In 2000, after graduating from DeSales University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance, she came to teach at the Studio.  While in college, Miss Christina studied with Robert Battle and David Parsons Dance Company to recreate some of hte Company's most famous works.  She has also worked with other professional choreographers including; Elizabeth Streb, Nicholas Liechter, Stephen Casey and other prominent dance figures.  In addition, Chrisitina interned at the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries in New York City with Dr. Daniel Rose, who is the orthopedic doctor of several exclusive companies, including American Ballet Theatre.  At the Studio, she teaches Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Lyrical, Modern and Contemporary techniques.  Miss C also choreographs for our competition teams.  She has coreographed Senior Modern and Jazz solos, Large group Tap and Lyrical dances as well as some small group pieces in Modern, Lyrical and Ballet.  Miss Christina also teaches dance for the Newark Public Schools full time.  In addition, Miss C is working on her Master's of Education degree in Reading.

Duane is a recent graduate of Matawan Regional High School.  During his education he took several dance classes in Ballet, Jazz and Modern.  This is when he also discovered his love of Hip-Hop.  Duane is currently taking a number of different dance classes at Brookdale College in order to further his goal of becoming a well-rounded dancer specializing in Hip-Hop. Duane finds inspiration by feeling the lyrics and the beat.  Duane's teaching style encourages his students to be "comfortable" with the dance which allows them to excel. Duane believes that Hip-Hop is a very demanding dance discipline in which hard work and practice will pay tremendous dividends.
Denise began dancing at age 7.  She is a graduate of Pace  University where she studied business and dance.  She continued her dance education throughout New York and New Jersey, and taught dance to children in southern Jersey.  She specializes in ballet, but  trained in jazz, tap, and pointe, as well as aerobics and yoga.  She loves children, and has 4 of her own, who she hopes will always have an appreciation of dance.  She believes life is short, and hopes you dance.

Nancy, the studio founder, is a graduate of Hofstra University with a BA in French and a Minor in Dance.  She initially trained with Peg O'Connor where she studied Ballet, Pointe, Tap and jazz.  Nancy became a teacher at the age of 17 while attending College.  She has performed extensively throughout the Tri-State Area including Atlantic City and on TV.  She never gave up her love of dance and in 1984 she followed her dream and became the Owner and Director of The Nancy Royce Studio of Dance.  She is dedicated to keeping the dance education experience both fun and challenging for every student.  Nancy has been involved in dance for nearly 50 years.