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Life & Work with Stephanie Falciano of New York

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Falciano.

Hi Stephanie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I began dancing at the age of three in Massapequa, Long Island, where I grew up in a beautiful town on the water. My first teacher, Lee Facenda, introduced me to the art form that would ultimately shape my life. My mom, Shirley and dad Richard were always welcoming to anyone that needed anything.

In high school, I fell in love with dance and joined kick line and discovered the joy of performing as part of a team. That passion led me to pursue dance at the Hofstra university., I joined a ballroom performance team and began teaching and performing professionally on the side.

From there, my career took me around the world. I worked with Fred Astaire and had the opportunity to teach and perform in China and throughout Eastern Europe. I also competed in numerous NDCA competitions, continually challenging myself and growing as both an artist and athlete.

For me, dance is far more than movement—it is a way to break free from the monotony of everyday life. It has the power to transform, transport, and provide an escape from reality through complete physical and mental focus. Dance engages all of the senses, demanding discipline, creativity, and connection. It is both a challenge and a refuge, and it continues to inspire me every day.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Dance has never been a smooth ride—financially or physically—but the reward of doing what you love doesn’t always come with a comfortable life. You pursue it because it is a calling, not because it guarantees wealth. It may pay the bills, but passion, perseverance, and purpose are what truly sustain you.

Throughout my life, I have faced challenges that could have ended my career. As a child, I was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and was told that I would never dance again. Doctors warned that I would be fortunate if I could even walk comfortably in a few years. But I refused to let those predictions define me. Through determination and resilience, I overcame those limitations and continued to dance.

Years later, I faced another life-changing obstacle: breast cancer, which resulted in a double mastectomy. Once again, I chose not to let adversity take away what I loved most. Dance became both my strength and my healing.

Competing in ballroom and Latin dance presents its own challenges. The costs of coaching, costumes, travel, and competition are substantial, and funding that level of passion is never easy. I poured everything I had into my craft. In the early years, I often created my own costumes or collaborated with generous sponsors who believed in us. I would spend hours searching New York City’s garment district for fabrics, sketching ideas, and working closely with talented designers to bring my visions to life while staying within a budget.

To save money, I learned every aspect of costume creation. I purchased my own Swarovski crystals and hand-stoned each dress myself, spending countless hours sewing and collaborating on designs with ballroom professionals. Every gown represented not only artistry and elegance, but also sacrifice, creativity, and dedication.

Looking back, I realize that dance has taught me far more than technique. It has taught me resilience, resourcefulness, and the importance of fighting for what you love. The stage, the costumes, and the competitions are only part of the story. The real beauty lies in the journey—the setbacks overcome, the dreams pursued, and the unwavering belief that passion can carry you through even the most difficult chapters of life.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
What I believe sets me apart as an artist is my ability to see beyond the differences between dance styles and recognize their connections. Every form of dance has its own vocabulary and traditions, but beneath the surface there are striking similarities and universal truths.

Take ballet and modern dance, for example. One is upright, classical, and steeped in tradition, while the other is often grounded, fluid, and driven by the relationship with the floor. Yet both require balance, musicality, expression, and an understanding of movement. The same parallels exist between ballroom and Latin dance, ballet, modern, African dance, Indian dance, hip-hop, and countless other styles.

What makes dance so extraordinary is its ability to unite us through sound and movement. Regardless of style, every dancer is searching for the same things: freedom, rhythm, soul, heart, and connection. We are all learning how to find balance and recovery, how to play with timing, when to hold on and when to let go.

Dance teaches us that movement is not simply about steps—it is about energy, emotion, and the space between moments. It is about finding flight in everything you do, discovering how to suspend time, and allowing music to guide both body and spirit.

Whether I am teaching, performing, or creating, I approach movement with the belief that all dance forms are interconnected. Their differences make them beautiful, but their shared humanity is what makes them powerful. In the end, dance is a universal language—one that transcends technique, culture, and tradition, and speaks directly to the heart.

What’s next?
Looking toward the future, my mission remains clear: to continue cultivating the next generation of dancers while inspiring people of all ages to discover the joy and transformative power of movement. At our studio, students range in age from three to eighty-three, proving that dance truly has a place for everyone. Whether someone dreams of competing at the highest level or simply wants to experience the freedom and connection that dance provides, everyone deserves the opportunity to step onto the floor.

Education and mentorship are equally important to me. I believe that ballroom, Latin, and theatre arts teachers should continue to raise professional standards through examinations and certifications. Personally, I intend to continue my own studies, working toward becoming an examiner and working as an invigilator while pursuing opportunities to judge national competitions. Lifelong learning is essential, and I hope to contribute to the development and education of future teachers and professionals in our industry.

One day, I hope to organize and direct a competition of my own. In the meantime, I am committed to creating opportunities for dancers of all ages and levels to perform, practice their craft, and showcase the progress they have worked so hard to achieve. Through events and performances, I strive to give students the confidence and experience that only comes from sharing their artistry with others.

I also plan to continue hosting annual medal examinations, giving students clear goals and valuable feedback to help them progress to the next level. These examinations not only prepare dancers for competition, but they also teach discipline, perseverance, and self-awareness. Recently, I had the privilege of welcoming Lori Woods-Gay to the studio to conduct medal tests for our students. Her knowledge, encouragement, and inspiration left a lasting impression on everyone involved, and I hope to continue that tradition by bringing her back each year, as I have done in the past.

Above all, I want my legacy to be one of service, education, and inspiration. Dance has given me a lifetime of experiences, challenges, and triumphs, and I hope to spend the years ahead giving back to the art form that has shaped my life. My goal is not only to create better dancers, but to help people discover confidence, creativity, discipline, and joy—because dance is not simply something we do. It is something that has the power to transform who we are.

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Three people standing on stage in front of a black curtain, smiling, with a dance studio banner above them.

Three dancers in black costumes perform a synchronized dance with hands near their faces, in a room with a painting and seated audience.

Two people dancing and smiling, one holding a trophy, in a room with wooden floor and chairs, woman clapping.

Two people dancing indoors, one with a bandana over their face, holding hands, with a mirror and chairs in the background.

A couple dancing in a room with a wooden floor, with an audience watching through a window in the background.

A woman and a boy dance indoors, woman in colorful dress, boy in white shirt and black pants, holding hands.

Two performers, one in a suit and one in a red costume, dance on stage with a decorated table behind them.

A couple dancing on a wooden floor, with the woman in a pink dress and the man in black, in a ballroom setting.

A couple dancing on a wooden floor with spectators and judges watching in the background.

A couple dancing in a ballroom, woman in a pink dress, man in black, audience in background.

Person performing a dance move on stage with an audience and balloons in the background.

Person dancing on stage with arms outstretched, wearing a white dress and black jacket, American flag in background.

A couple dancing on a wooden floor, with a pianist and other people in the background, in a dimly lit room.

Group of people dancing in a line with hands raised, in a room with wooden floor and ceiling lights.

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