Briana has enjoyed teaching since she was a teaching assistant at Detroit Windsor Dance Academy, her high school dance studio. Since then she has taught students within Washington DC Public Schools, the University of Michigan Recreation Center, the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, Morton Street Dance Center, District Dance Arts, as well as many other studios and non-profit organizations. Teaching allows her to express herself, pass on her knowledge and experiences and inspire students to develop their technique, creativity, individuality and showmanship. There is never a dull moment in Briana’s classes! Her specific classes and lesson plans are catered to specific age groups from Pre-K to adults. They consist of engaging movement activities, warm-up, and complex movement combinations. She is an energetic and patient teacher who seriously takes into account the needs and skill level of the student in preparing her lesson plans and material. Briana’s use of dance vocabulary and physical demonstrations allow her to teach the material accurately and effectively. Her positive attitude and constant words of encouragement keep students motivated and engaged in the lesson. Students will increase their knowledge and physical vocabulary of the movement style and leave each lesson a better dancer, performer and person. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Briana Ashley Stuart is a successful international dance artist, teacher, choreographer, and entrepreneur who currently lives and works in Brussels, Belgium. She attended Cass Technical High School and received her Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Michigan. After graduation, she performed and taught, nationally and internationally as an independent artist as well as with StepAfrika!, the world’s first dance company dedicated to the art form of stepping, and contemporary dance company SJEwing & Dancers. In 2015, she served as the assistant choreographer on the American Theater’s Company’s production of The Project(s) in Chicago, IL, rated 4 stars by the Chicago Tribune. She has received numerous choreographic commissions for Dance Place’s New Releases Showcase, Dance Ethos Dance Company, Joy of Motion’s Youth Dance Ensemble, the University of Michigan, Dance Ethos and the 2016 March on Washington Film Festival. Since moving to Brussels, Belgium in 2017, Briana has continued and expanded her career as a performer with ZIKIT, 4Hoog Children's Theater, Dominique Models, and as an Artist-In- Residence with Citylab Pianofabriek. She also founded her own arts organizations, S.T.U. Arts Dance whose mission is to move Belgium's communities to See. Think. Understand. the Art of Dance for personal, professional and community development. Briana’s work and story has been featured in the I Love Brussels Online Magazine, the Behind the Story Podcast, the Brussels Express, BX1 Media, and BRUZZ Media. Briana encourages students to bring writing materials to each lesson to take notes for any learned vocabulary and each lesson will follow with a recorded video of the movement for the students to refer to until the next lesson.
Teaches Beginner, Intermediate
Teaching since 2008
Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Dance
Teaches ages 5+
Speaks English, French
I'm extremely new to ballet and dance in general (for reference I'm 16). Briana was very patient and an amazing teacher! Very friendly and welcoming while still being very professional. It's great to get the exact corrections I need without feeling bad about it and yet still work on it until proper. Very happy and pleased!
My daughter had a great first session. She identified my daughters areas of weakness and began immediately to help improve them. Looking forward to our next session.
I am already worried that if I tell people how amazing Briana is that she will get too booked up for me :) She is a great instructor with a huge heart. Loved it.