Miss Sue Tubolino, Owner/Director 

Sue Tubolino began her dance education at age four with studios in the Rochester area, and danced competitively from age seven. She earned many high score awards for group, solo and duet pieces and special awards for self-choreographed work at local dance competitions. Sue began her career as a dance instructor in 1984. She and her husband directed and managed a studio for five years before she joined Performance Plus Dance in 1994. During her 25 years there, she built the recreational classes into a thriving department that she headed for over ten years. Her competitive students won various awards at regional competitions.

In 2019, Sue moved on, sharing her talents with Rochester area studios, before finding a wonderful home at Our Lady of Mercy High School for Young Women. There, she heads the growing dance department and teaches the competitive show choir there. She also choreographs for the Our Lady of Mercy's high school musicals.

Our Lady of Mercy's Black Box Theater is home to Downstage Dance Center where Sue is honored to say it has already won numerous awards in regional competitions. Sue truly loves sharing her art with her students and watching them grow as dancers and as young people.

Miss Monica Bills, Co-Director/Tech

Monica Tubolino began dancing at age 3 and immediately loved it. She spent her entire dance education until her senior year at Performance Plus Dance. During the 14 years she spent there, she became a competitive student. Her group dances won many awards at competitions, including one dance that won the entire competition. At 6 years old, Monica had the honor of performing in the Russian Nutcracker. After Monica’s senior year, she was hired by a local studio and gained experience there before opening up DDC. Monica taught there for 3 years and loved working with the children. She became a guest teacher at Mercy High School. Monica is now Co-Director at Downstage Dance Center. She teaches both competitive and recreational classes, her competitive students winning many awards.

Ashley Glover began dancing when she was 10 years old at Performance Plus Dance and partook in styles such as Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theater, and hip hop. She spent her entire dance career here until she went to college. She went to The College at Brockport where she joined the Brockport Dance Team for all four years. She graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Childhood Education and went on to obtain a Masters of Science in School Counseling. Ashley spent 3 years as a school counselor working with students in elementary and middle schools on social, emotional, personal and academic development. Working with kids and dance have always been her passions. Ashley is excited for the opportunity to combine her passions at Downstage Dance Center.