Commack Native Brings Dance Convention to Hauppauge

A Commack native is coming back to Long Island to share her passion for dance and teaching with Long Island dance students.

Courtney Galiano, an alumnus of "So You Think You Can Dance All-Stars," "Shake it Up" and "Glee Live in 3D" will be bringing The Beat, an event featuring two-days of dance classes with celebrates to the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Hauppauge from Jan. 21 to Jan. 22.

"Dance professionals who have inspired me are uniting with The Beat to work with dancers young and old who share our passion," Galiano said. "A weekend at The Beat will be filled with love and gratitude for dance. I grew up in a studio where my teacher made us feel like we were home; that's exactly what I want to create."

Galiano said she began dancing at age 3. She took classes while she was growing up at North East Dance Academy in Commack on Jericho Turnpike.

After graduating high school, Galiano said she was working at a Knicks City Dancer while studying to become a special education and elementary school teacher. She became a huge fan of "So You Think You Can Dance" and tried out for the show, making it to the season finale during the All-Stars and finishing in fourth place.

Since the show, Galiano has continued as a professional dancer appearing in Disney's Camp Rock 2, Shake It Up and Glee Live in 3D. She will go back to her teaching roots to instruct a jazz class on Saturday.

"This incorporates two things I'm passion about teaching and dancing," Galiano said.

Local dance students can sign up to take two days worth of classes in different styles of dance including jazz, contemporary, hip-hop and more. On Saturday night, Jeff Thacker, co-executive product of "So You Think You Can Dance" will be holding a special audition class with mock audition to teach young dancers who to tryout for roles and television shows.

Other celebrity teachers will including Stephen Twitch Boss from season 4 of "So You Think You Can Dance" and Stomp the Yard; Allison Holker from "So You Think You Can Dance" season 2 and High School musical and others.

"Just come ready to dance and be open to different styles. Be ready to have fun," Galiano said. "Dancers will walk away learning something they didn't know to begin with."

The classes will be separated by ages, with children ages 7 to 12 in one room, age 13 and up in a different room.

Galiano said approximately 165 students were pre-registered as of Wednesday, but registration will remain open through the morning of the even. Price of attending ranges from $35 to $220 depending on age, role and how many days of attendance.

This Long Island appearance kicks off a national tour as the dance conference will travel to Orlando, Fla. in February and Dallas in March.

To learn more or pre-register for The Beat, you can visit its website. There is also a complete schedule of events online.