Gianna Tucker

​Dance Instructor

A Summa cum laude graduate of Montclair State University's esteemed Dance Department, Tucker holds a B.A. in Dance Education and a certification in Dance of All Styles, bestowed by the New Jersey Department of Education.  Tucker is the Director of the Buzz Aldrin Middle School Dance Department in Upper Montclair, NJ.
Tucker earned the distinction of being named the #1 Top Student Teacher Intern across Montclair State University awarded by the New Jersey Department of Education and the MSU Center of Pedagogy. She was also among the top 15 student teacher interns across the entire state, as declared by the NJDOE.  Tucker is also recognized as an accredited NY Educator and a distinguished member of the Jody Arnhold Fellowship, a prestigious program granted by the Dance Education Laboratory—an affiliate of the NYCDOE.  
Gianna's choreographic talents have earned esteemed accolades, including a SDA Choreography of the Year nomination in 2022, numerous regional choreography awards, and most recently, a National Choreography Award at Revolution Talent Nationals (2023.)  She has set work for many public school dance organizations, including Montclair & Teaneck Public Schools, and the Ramapo College of NJ.
Her extensive academic dance record at Montclair State University includes deeply refining her skills in all styles under the close guidance of Bradley Shelver, (Joffrey Ballet School Concert Director) Stefanie Batten Bland, (Director of Company SBB) Donna Scro Samori, (Director of FreeSpace Dance Company) Karen Gayle, (Principal Faculty at Steps on Broadway, NYC.) Christian Von Howard, and more.  She was also a prominent performer in various MSU Concert pieces, including "Aire" by Christian Von Howard and "Welcome" by Stefanie Batten Bland.
Gianna's dance history expands beyond both competitive and college industries, as she has performed with Daniel Padierna’s Padierna Dance Project in 2018, Taylor Wickham's NiTROGEN the Company in 2019, KristiLee Maiella’s KM Dance Collective in 2022, and Chad Eastman's Anthology work in 2024.  Gianna is currently teaching, training in all styles and auditioning professionally in the NY/NJ area, and internationally judging dance competitions for Headliners National Championships.