Staff
Elaine Orsini: Director
Elaine has been the director of All That Jazz since its opening in 1991. She has been dancing for over 45 years. She has trained in all genres of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop and musical theater since the age of 7. She has trained throughout the years with many master teachers and choreographers all over the country. Elaine also studied in NYC at Broadway Dance Center and Steps as well as other studios in Manhattan and continues to do so when she can.
Growing up, Elaine has achieved success in many competitions, winning high awards, including Dance Masters of America, Junior Miss Dance of Connecticut and Miss Dance of Connecticut. She has also performed in many local shows and theater productions as well as dancing in the opening act for singer CeCe Peniston.
Elaine began teaching at the age of 19 at many local dance studios until she decided to open ATJ in 1991. During that time, she also choreographed for many school theater productions in the New Haven area. In 2015, she began a competition team with her students and has won many special awards. Her routines have been the top scorers in a variety of categories, been named regional champions as well as received invitations to complete at the World Dance Showcase. Many of her students have received scholarships to dance conventions and invitations to special dance programs. She has earned many choreography awards for her tap routines since entering her students in competition. Elaine's students have also moved on to dancing on cruise lines, and dancing professionally in regional and national touring companies. Some of her students have become successful dance teachers and have been a part of prestigious college dance teams. Elaine has also been a judge for dance team competitions.
Along with dancing, she has coached cheerleading and choreographed for many cheer squads from youth, high school and college level for over 20 years. She has helped many teams move on to regional and national competitions. She currently is still involved in the community with Branford Youth Cheer as their choreographer.
Elaine’s passion and dedication of dance is something she loves to share and pass down to her students. She loves teaching and watching her students achieve their goals and progress in technique and skills that they will use on and off the stage.
Carissa Orsini and Oriana Orsini
Aside from dance, they have both done cheerleading since the age of 7. Carissa decided to only pursue her love for dance once she got into high school, concentrating on technique and all her classes. She currently teaches ballet, jazz, pointe, lyrical and contemporary classes. Carissa has been recognized at regional competitions with awards for both choreography and entertainment. While dancing and taking classes, Oriana continued with cheerleading and tumbling classes throughout her high school years and became a captain in her senior year. She attended many UCA camps each summer, winning All American awards, as well as receiving an invitation to join the UCA staff. She was also awarded All SCC. Oriana also was in the Dance Ensemble at Sacred Heart University and was chosen to choreograph routines for their performances. She continues to coach youth cheer as well. Most recently, Oriana's D14 youth team was invited to compete at Nationals in Orlando Florida. Oriana teaches our hip hop classes at the studio.
They both work along side their mother with the competition team and choreography and continue to put their hearts into teaching and choreographing and are very dedicated to their classes and their students.
Courtenay Cooper
Courtenay Cooper has been teaching acrobatics at All That Jazz Dance Studio for 30 years! She has trained in gymnastics since the age of 3 and continued throughout her high school years. She has also done cheerleading in all four years of high school and became captain in her senior year. Court has also coached cheerleading for middle school. She teaches all levels of acrobatics and believes strongly in safety first. She enjoys watching her students grow as they learn new tricks and continues to push them towards their goals.