Luciana Martinez
Teacher, Front Desk

Luciana Martinez was born and raised in Huntington Beach, California. She began dancing at Kindorf Dancers, performing mostly in tap dance. She continued her training in high school at the Academy of the Performing Arts, where she was able to perform in several musical theater and dance events. While at the Academy of the Performing Arts, she participated in a show choir called Surf City Singers which performed all over Southern California. She also danced in the performing tap ensemble and repertory ensemble which led to opportunities to perform across the world.

After graduating from High School, Luciana went on to dance for Akomi Dance Company, a contemporary-modern based company in Orange County. With this company, she performed over a dozen full length works, and was able to perform in Prague twice with them for the New Prague Dance Festival. The company also performed in many local festivals such as the So-Cal Dance Invitational, Cabrillo Dance Festival, and San Pedro Dance Festival. While working for Akomi Dance Company, Luciana was attending California State University, Fullerton to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance. Fullerton’s program trained her in the French Ballet method, as well as several disciplines of Modern Dance, such as Horton, Graham, Limon, Dunham, and Gaga. Later, Luciana travelled to Israel to work under Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company. After 2 months of work, her travels were cut short due to the pandemic, when she was notified in March 2020 that she had 24 hours to return to the US.

Luciana has taught a large variety of skill levels and ages. She has taught as a guest tap teacher, as well as a guest modern teacher. She also has taught beginning ballet for students from ages 4 to 70 years old. This experience came from teaching dance to ice skaters at Anaheim Ice Rink working with children who take skating as a career to adults who want to improve their recreational skills. She also returned to the Academy of the Performing Arts as a teacher and demonstrator for the advanced ballet and modern courses.

Luciana holds a deep passion for all forms of art, performance or visual, and encourages everyone to take the time to discover their artistic mediums. She hopes to continue dancing and sharing art with all people who are searching for it, or are in need of artistic expression.

How To Be Successful In Miss Lucy’s Classes

PRE-PRIMARY TAP/BALLET

Hi, Parents! You are the reason your dancers will love coming to class. Thanks so much for modeling a fantastic attitude and helping them arrive prepared! Please take your dancer to the bathroom before class, even if they say they do not have to go. Secure their hair, but leave fancy barrettes and headbands at home. (Sometimes we stand on our heads.) Hang coats and leave street shoes in the hallway. Help your dancer put on their tap shoes before class. Your dancer will line up against the wall with their second pair of dance shoes and water bottle. Belongings can be in a small dance bag if that makes it easier for them to carry, but please leave extras- like toys- home and not in the bag. Label everything you bring into the studio if you hope to get it back. 🙂 We love it if you arrive 5 minutes early to class, but not sooner. Once your dancer is lined up for class with an EDC staff member, please kiss and go quickly. Stay invisible to your dancer for the duration of class- it really helps them focus and creates the best learning environment. We will end class on time by passing out stickers. The teacher will bring in the next class BEFORE sending your dancer’s class into the hallway to avoid congestion. Help your dancer change back into their street shoes before heading back out into the world. Thanks!

BALLET

Hi, Dancers! Please arrive 5 minutes early. Hang your coat and leave your street shoes in the hallway. I will bring in the next class BEFORE dismissing the last class into the hallway to avoid congestion. Set your water bottle against the wall and begin stretching. Make sure your hair is secured! Ballet students should absolutely wear a bun. Come prepared by dressing in your black leotard and tights, with the proper shoes for your style of dance. Let’s get ready to work hard and have fun!

JAZZ

Hi, Dancers! Please arrive 5 minutes early to change into your jazz shoes. Hang your coat and leave your street shoes in the hallway. I will bring in the next class BEFORE dismissing the last class into the hallway to avoid congestion. Set your water bottle against the wall and begin stretching. Arrive prepared by dressing in a leotard and tights (convertible, stirrup or footless are best for these classes), with hair secured. Please come to class ready to work hard and sweat! 🙂

TAP

Hi, Dancers! Please arrive 5 minutes early to change into your tap shoes. Hang your coat and leave your street shoes in the hallway. I will bring in the next class BEFORE dismissing the last class into the hallway to avoid congestion. Set your water bottle against the wall and begin stretching. Arrive prepared by dressing in a black leotard and tights (convertible, stirrup or footless are best for these classes), with hair secured.