Studio Dans Staff

Zoe Carr

Managing Director

Zoe began her dance training at the age of 3. She studied Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Ballroom, Hip Hop, and Pointe at Ballet Royale Institute of Maryland and Studio Dans. She was a member of the Senior Dance Company and Dance Team at Howard High School. Zoe was also a member of the Studio Dans Dance Company, providing her the opportunity to attend conventions and competions throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. After High school, she received her Associates Degrees in Dance Performance and Biology from Howard Community College. She attended Morgan State University, studying Public Health with a focus in Pre-Physical Therapy. While she enjoys working with and teaching dancers of all ages, she finds the most joy in working with the youngest dancers. During Zoe's professional career, she has had the opportunity to teach and choreograph for private studios, for after-school recreational clubs, and in the public-school setting.

In 2013, Zoe began her position as a receptionist for Studio Dans. In 2016 she was promoted to Assistant to the Directors, then became Studio Director in 2019. In the last 8 years at Studio Dans, she has had the pleasure to work under Dana Keane and Samantha Redman teaching classes, organizing and managing front desk staff and operations, ordering and altering costumes for competitions and recitals, planning end-of-year recitals, and working directly with students and families on a daily basis. She has built extensive knowlege in managing the day-to-day operations at Studio Dans and takes pride in creating standard operating procedures within the studio that promote growth and confidence in every dancer.

Brittany Tourtlotte

Artistic Director

Brittany began dancing at the young age of 3. Brittany has trained in Vaganova and Cechetti styles of Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Modern, Hip-Hop, and Rhythmic and Broadway Tap. She received her early training at the Carroll County Dance Center and spent her early summers training at Carroll County Dance Center, The Kirov Academy of Washington D.C., Butler University, and the Ballet Theatre of Maryland (BTM). She attended Butler University, graduating in May 2012 with a BA in Dance Pedagogy, with concentrations in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Character, Choreography, and Education. Upon graduation, she was hired as a Trainee with BTM, and promoted to an Apprentice in 2013. After an injury leading to retirement from dancing professionally, Brittany continued her education at Towson University where she obtained her K-12 teaching certificate in Dance Education. Prior to her start with Studio Dans and during her time with them, Brittany worked with dancers in the private studio setting and dancers in the public school setting, as both a substitute teacher and guest choreographer. Additionally, Brittany has worked with athletes seeking supplemental training.

Brittany began her career with Studio Dans in 2013. Since her start, she has had the privilege of aiding in the development & expansion of the ballet enrichment program, teaching a plethora of ages, abilities & styles, planning end-of-year recitals, choreographing and coaching for the SDDC, and serving as the SDDC co-director. In 2019, Brittany became Studio Director, while continuing her normal teaching duties. She is incredibly grateful to Sam & Dana for the opportunity to serve as owner and Artistic Director of Studio Dans, as well as the mentorship they both provided her in her roles as a teacher, choreographer, and director at Studio Dans.

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Dana Keane

Founder/Instructor
A graduate of Point Park University, Dana began her career as a professional dancer/singer/actress, performing in regional/summer theaters, industrials, Off-Broadway, Broadway workshops, and on Broadway in Me & My Girl and Cats. She was cast as a replacement in the Broadway production of Singing in the Rain, but the show closed before she could perform. Continuing her training in NYC with Finis Jhung, Nancy Bielski, Randy Skinner and Frank Hatchet, Dana began teaching dance and acting classes while choreographing for theaters across the country.

Upon arrival in Maryland, Dana taught and choreographed for high school programs and local dance studios. In 2006, she and her business partner, Samantha Redman, opened Studio Dans where she served as the Artistic Director until 2021. The dance studio, based currently in Fulton, Maryland, grew to over 600 students and operated under the tag-line “Confidence in Motion.” Studio Dans dancers have been accepted into prestigious summer programs and top dance universities (often with scholarships) including Pace, Point Park University, Marymount Manhattan, University of the Arts to name a few. Dana has received many choreography awards on the competition circuit. Her work can be seen on the Hall of Fame Dance Challenge website.

Through many years of teaching, Dana has developed methodologies that prepare and provide stepping stones to dance mastery. As a free-lance artist and educator, Dana has found her way into musical theater directing and choreography, most recently for Young Artists of America, while also teaching, coaching and choreographing for Studio Dans (the best job of all)!