Dance Action Team
Carol McFarlane
Director
Carol is a graduate of American Sentinel University with a BSN. She has been a Registered Nurse for 34 years. Ms. Carol started dancing at an early age, training at Henrique’s, Footlights, and Bucks County Dance Academy. She has been a dance instructor for over 25 years. Ms. Carol has taught all forms of dance to students from ages 3 to adult. Ms. Carol’s dream of owning a dance studio became a reality in 2010. As the studio enters its 15th year you can see Ms. Carol’s passion and love for dance through the student’s achievements and all the student’s smiles. Her motto is “Dance is fun” and she hopes to continue to bring happiness and love to students for many years to come.
Samantha McFarlane Scarborough
Samantha trained at Kay’s Footlights, Newtown School of Dance and Wissahicken Dance Academy. She was a member of the University Dance Company at West Chester University and an instructor at Newtown School of Dance. She is a graduate at West Chester University. Samantha is a member of the United States Air Force Reserves. Samantha has danced at many venues and benefits around the state including the Fringe festival. She has staged and choreographed multiple functions at West Chester University.
Ms. Sam has won multiple awards for her choreography. Samantha has a passion for telling life stories through her choreography and helping her students stretch their imaginations.
Colleen Cunnius-Buckley
Ms. Colleen is teacher for the Centennial School District. She graduated from West Chester University. She trained at The Dance Academy and had been an instructor at the Newtown School of dance for many years.
Colleen has danced since the age of 2, studying all forms of dance. During one period Colleen focused on traditional Irish Step dancing which excelled her to compete at regional and national levels. She has danced at Carnegie Hall and in Dublin Ireland. Colleen has performed with several Philadelphia and New York based dance companies.
Colleen is a wonderful teacher who strives to always bring out the best in her students. Colleen is so proud of her students for their dedication and hard work.
Alana Hardison-Stokes
Ms. Alana graduated Cum Laude from The Ohio State University with a B.F.A. in Dance. Ms. Alana grew up dancing all over Bucks County and Philadelphia. She is a former member of Circle in the Village African Dance Company and Tap Team Two Junior Company. She enjoys choreographing the Bensalem High School musicals and Bensalem’s Parks and Rec summer musical. Ms. Alana has won awards for her choreography and challenges her students to be the best they can be.
Outside of dance, Ms. Alana enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 beautiful children,
Ms. Alana is thrilled to be a part of the Dance Action family for so many years!
Julie Gould
Ms. Julie began her dance career at age 3. She trained at Stewart-Johnson Dance Academy in Hamilton NJ where she danced primarily in tap, jazz, ballet, and point. She also competed in various dance competitions. Once she began college at Bloomsburg University, Ms. Julie continued dancing for the Bloomsburg Dance Ensemble. She was a member of the tap, modern, and musical theater classes. She later became the teacher of the Ensemble’s tap class, and she was also appointed president of the entire dance organization during her senior year of college. Today, Ms. Julie continues to share her love of dance with the children she teaches. She has been awarded numerous high score and first place awards for her choreography. Ms. Julie hopes to not only improve the technique of the students she teaches, but also allow them to have fun and enjoy their time in class!
Outside of dance, Ms. Julie has received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and English. She is currently the Managing Editor of a health care publication and website. She hopes to one day publish young adult novels.
Amanda Hangeland
Ms. Amanda graduated from Bloomsburg University in 2016 with a degree in Psychology. She graduated from Drexel University with her masters in Applied Behavior Analysis and currently works as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with children and young adults with Autism.
Amanda started her dance career at the age of 4 and has danced at several studios throughout the years, ending her high school dance career at Dance Action. In college, Amanda continued dancing in the Bloomsburg Dance Ensemble, teaching the ballet class for 3 years, as well as, participating in other classes.
Amanda was very excited to be offered the opportunity to teach dance with the people who taught her and continue sharing her love for it with her students.
Sarah Richter
Ms. Sarah is currently majoring in psychology at the College of New Jersey and hopes to earn her doctorate in clinical psychology with a concentration in child psychology. She is also a comprehensively trained pilates teacher and uses this knowledge to improve her students strength, flexibility, and technique.
Ms. Sarah’s dance journey began when she was three years old. Since then she has taken ballet, jazz, tap, modern, contemporary, hip hop, and aerial ballet. She danced at studios across the country, and performed in the nutcracker with the Moscow ballet when she was eight. Miss Sarah graduated from Dance Action where she won many awards at competitions including the title of Miss. True Talent for her solo.
Ms. Sarah has a huge passion for teaching dance. Her favorite thing about teaching is the strong bonds she creates with her students. She truly believes that Dance Action of Newtown is her second home and one big family.
Felicia Victoria Cruz-Sharpe
Felicia started her dance training at the early age of three in Allentown, Pa. At the Dolly Haltzman Dance Academy, she studied under the watchful eye of Dolores Haltzman, Jennifer Haltzman-Tracy, Gloria Govrin, and Maurice Brandon Curry. She continued her training on scholarship at the Richmond Ballet of VA, and the Rock School of Philadelphia summer intensive programs. After high school in 2002, Felicia accepted an internship to study at Steps on Broadway in NYC. It was there she met Jay-T Jenkins and toured with his company, Jete’ Performance Co. Later returning to her hometown, Felicia took a contract performing with Repertory Dance Theatre under the direction of Trinette Singleton and Jennifer Haltzman-Tracy. In 2010, she received her BFA in ballet performance from the University of the Arts. Since then, she has accepted contracts to perform with Meredith Rainey’s Carbon Dance Theater and with Jim Bunting in Jim Bunting Dance Co.
As a guest and freelance artist she has performed many leading roles in ballets such as Dracula, The Nutcracker, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Sleeping Beauty, and Carmina Burana. Along with some collaborative work in Fringe festivals, film, and commercials, Felicia is a founding member of DanceSpora, a contemporary ballet company established in 2008. She was promoted to Assistant Director in 2011. As resident choreographer, she has had the opportunity to create many original works, some of which have been performed in places such as Jacob’s Pillow summer series.
Julia Roth
Julia grew up dancing at The Dance Academy in Holland, PA as a competitive dancer. She trained in many genres of dance including ballet, jazz, and lytical, but her favorite style of dance is tap, where she feels the most joy and passion. Julia has been
working at Dance Action as a substitute instructor for 2 years and is excited to become a permanent member of the staff. When she is not teaching dance classes, Julia is a school-based speech-language pathologist who enjoys spending time with family and friends and traveling.
Emma Klaus
Emma Klaus is a recent graduate from Muhlenberg College with a BA in Dance and Creative Writing.
She began her dance training with Dance Action taking Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Modern Lyrical classes and she was an award-winning competition team member.
At Muhlenberg, she studied extensively in dance improvisation and choreography with world-renowned choreographers and was a part of every dance performance in her time there.
Ms. Emma is excited to be back at Dance Action, but this time as an instructor!