Next Step Dance Studio was founded in 1996 by Miss Terri Sinani. In 2023, sisters – Stacy Tuschl & Jamie Cook, took over ownership of Next Step Dance Studio. Stacy & Jamie come to this venture with a deep passion for the arts and a commitment to maintaining the high standards of excellence that Miss Terri Sinani has established over the years. We believe that a dance studio should be more than just a place to learn dance; it should be a hub for building lasting friendships and a strong sense of community. We are so excited to continue this journey with all of the Next Step families.
Next Step Dance Studio offers a variety of recreational classes for ages 18 months and up and competitive dance classes for ages 7 to 18. Classes include ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, lyrical and acro. Our studio at 3501 W. Ryan Road in Franklin, features three classrooms with mirrored walls and floating dance floors to protect the physical well-being of our students. Our lobby has observation windows into the classrooms and a boutique offering dance shoes, tights, leotards and other dance apparel. Our teachers have college degrees in dance and/or professional dance experience. Our goals include helping our students to become better dancers and better people. Thru dance, our students have the opportunity to build self-confidence and time management skills as they learn to work hard to reach their dance goals. We are very proud of the Next Step dancers, who have earned college scholarships based on both their dance skills and their academic achievements. Come dance with us!
Our Team
Management & Office Staff:
Jamie - Owner
Stacy - Owner
Jacq - Dance Manager
Anna - Office Manager
Elizabeth - Admin Staff
Najwa - Front Desk
Teachers:
Miss Stephanie
Miss Sonya
Miss Ellen
Miss Kristina
Miss Morghan
Miss Maya
Miss Laura
Stacy Tuschl
Owner
Despite our recent ownership transition, we are no strangers to the dance world. The Academy of Performing Arts, or APA, was founded by Miss Stacy in 2005. In 2008, our dance studio evolved into a performing arts hub, offering dance, music, and theatre. After expanding to two locations and welcoming two new additions to her family, Stacy took a step back, entrusting her sister Jamie and on-site managers to lead each department.
As her children grew older, Stacy found herself eager to continue her entrepreneurial journey. While you may not see her in the studios daily—given that she owns three—she’s not just a studio owner; she’s also a teacher and mentor to other female business owners. Stacy considers herself fortunate to pursue her passions, including the studios.
At APA & NSDS, we’re proud to boast highly qualified directors in each department. Stacy is dedicated to working with our leadership team and guiding us to create the best arts environment and student experience for our community. We strive to create great dancers, but we also strive to create great kids. The skills you learn here will last a lifetime.
Jamie Cook
Owner
Even with our recent shift in ownership, we are no strangers to the dance world. The Academy of Performing Arts, fondly known as APA, was founded by Jamie’s sister, Miss Stacy, in 2005. In 2008, Miss Jamie, joined the APA team, taking on various roles within the studio. For almost 2 decades, she has been entrusted with the operation of both APA locations under Stacy’s expert guidance.
Jamie collaborates directly with department managers on programming, recital planning, systematizing, and more, ensuring a seamless operation. What she loves most is that we provide a diverse variety of opportunities for families in our community. We do what we do because we love it! More importantly, we have the privilege of witnessing hundreds of students fall in love with themselves, their lives, and the transformative power of hard work that allows them to shine even brighter.
Anna
Office Manager
Miss Anna is the Next Step Office Manager. She has spent several years working in the world of the arts and was a dancer herself for 9 years when she was younger. She’s so excited to be on the Next Step team!
Elizabeth
Admin Staff
Miss Jacq
Dance Manager
Miss Jacq is the Dance Manager at Next Step Dance Studio! Miss Jacq started dancing when she was three years old and has loved it ever since! She received her BA in dance from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) and spent a summer in New York City attending the Dance Education Laboratory Summer Institute while continuing her training at Broadway Dance Center, Gibney Dance, and Steps on Broadway. She is also a member of the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters (CNADM). Miss Jacq loves the Next Step community and is excited to share another year with the amazing dancers and families!
Miss Sonya
Dance Teacher
Miss Sonya has a passion for dance that began when she was less than three years old. She started with ballet and tap before adding jazz to her repertoire at the age of six. The Round Lake, Illinois native spent the next decade of her life advancing through the performance arts at the city’s park district and assistant teaching program. This opportunity allowed Sonya and other gifted performers to teach dance to younger students in the district. After moving to Texas, she worked for the Texas Cheer and Dance and taught ballet, tap, hip-hop and cheer. A mother of four, including twin girls, Sonya loves helping kids and has always had dance in her heart. She is excited to work with the ballet, tap, jazz and lyrical dancers at Next Step Dance.
Miss Ellen
Dance Teacher
Miss Ellen graduated from UW-Stevens Point in 2014 with a degree in Early Childhood Education and Dance. She has lived in Racine her whole life, and spent the majority of her childhood in a dance studio. Her favorite style of dance is Ballet. She currently teaches 3k for Racine Unified so the littles definitely have a special place in my heart. Miss Ellen looks forward to meeting and getting to know everyone in the Next Step Family!
Miss Kristina
Dance Teacher
Mrs. Kristina teaches Ballet, Hip Hop, and Contemporary/Lyrical to students of all ages! She started dancing mostly jazz and ballet in high school. Then she went on to graduate from UW Milwaukee with a dance major. Other than being a dance teacher Mrs. Kristina was a preschool teacher for many years because she loves teaching children. When she is not teaching at APA Mrs. Kristina enjoys walking her dog or having movie nights with her husband and friends!
Miss Morghan
Dance Teacher
Miss Morghan began teaching in 2014, after having had several years of experience as an assistant instructor. She soon realized her passion for teaching and has continued to seek opportunities to improve her knowledge so she can better serve her students. Over the years, she has attended multiple conventions, workshops, and certification classes around the country and continues to find opportunities to improve her skills. She is currently certified to teach acrobatic dance through the Acrobatic Arts Program. She hopes to continue to inspire and pass along her knowledge and passion for dance to her students!
Miss Maya
Dance Teacher
Miss Maya graduated college with a Bachelor in Arts-Dance major at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, May 2023. She trained at her Aunt Terri Sinani’s dance studio Next Step Dance Studio from the age of 2. Maya was trained in a variety of styles including ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, pointe, lyrical and contemporary. Over the past years, she has had the opportunity to take several master classes at Dance Masters of Wisconsin and Chicago National Association of Dance Masters. She broadened her knowledge when she came to college that has offered her new styles such as modern, jump rhythm jazz, African dance, and theatre dance. She choreographed a piece for Afterimages and has been very involved in shows at UWSP. She is extremely excited to start her new chapter of her life back where it all started, here at Next Step Dance Studio!
Miss Laura
Dance Teacher
Miss Laura started her dance education at the age of 7 at Madison Professional Dance Center in Madison, WI, and continued through her senior year of high school. In addition, she was a member of her high school’s dance team. She competed in numerous competitions across the Midwest and danced in several productions in her community. Miss Laura graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a BS in Early Childhood Education. In 2020 she completed her Master’s in Education. Miss Laura currently teaches Kindergarten in Franklin Public Schools and enjoys seeing many of her students at Next Step!
Miss Stephanie
Dance Teacher
Miss Stephanie started dancing at the age of 5 at Encore Dance Studio in Cudahy, Wisconsin under the direction of Lee Burke and Amy Brinkman (Danceworks). She then transitioned to Next Step Dance. She was also a member of the Franklin High School Pom Pom team. She continued her dance training and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance from UW Milwaukee and has been teaching all styles of dance intermittently to all ages ever since. She is also certified in Pilates, a previous Zumba instructor, and a personal trainer. She has taught many classes at various local gyms, dance studios and also choreographed musicals for a local high school. She also has a bachelor of science degree in nursing and works intermittently as a registered nurse. She is thrilled to be able to share her passion for dance with her students!
Miss Najwa
Front Desk Staff
Miss Najwa joined NSDS in September 2023 as a front desk staff member. She can’t wait to meet all of the dancers and parents!