Daniel Broxton Daniel started dancing in high school, participating on a crew his freshman year that turned into a team his sophomore year. He started pursuing dance more and training more seriously throughout his high school years. He now directs a high school hip hop dance team, teaches workshops, and choreographs for music videos, musicals, events, and performances. Daniel is excited to bring his background and experience, as well as his excitement for hip hop, to dancers at Balance!

Daniel Introduction Video

Dane Burch  Dane grew up in Oregon, where he started training in dance at the age of 10. He quickly fell in love with movement and the expressiveness of it. He moved to Los Angeles, when he was 18, with a scholarship to EDGE Performing Arts Center. After completing his training, he continued to dance and perform. He worked with Tremaine Dance Convention for 5 years. He also worked for Move Dance Competitions, where he judged and taught master classes all around the U.S. In 2008, Dane moved to Austin. He works for numerous studios and high schools all around Texas. He loves sharing his knowledge and love for dance with all.

Dane Introduction Video

Maranda Creamer  Maranda Creamer loves living a fit, healthy and active lifestyle. She has over a decade of cheerleading and gymnastics experience. Maranda began tumbling at age 9, and then cheered from middle school to college. After graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications from Texas State University, she moved to Austin where she now resides. Maranda is a licensed Zumba and Zumba Toning instructor, and also holds certifications in CPR/AED and First Aid, as well as AFAA Group Exercise. She is excited to bring her own spin to Zumba classes and provide fun, safe and effective dance cardio workouts. She brings a balance of various international music styles and rhythms to her classes, and strives to make each class different so that her students are constantly challenged.

Micki Fields Since the first dance class at 5 until now, dance has been a constant in Micki’s life. From cheerleading, drill team and baton twirling, to dancing on stage in community theater, to a life long love of cardio dance classes, a passion has grown and blossomed into the incredible opportunity of becoming an instructor at Balance Dance Studios.

Kim Frueh  I have been practicing yoga for 7 years and teaching for almost 3 years. Yoga came into my life while I was working at a very difficult and mentally exhaustive job. I was looking for a way to find peace and balance in my life, while continuing to work on my physical self. Being a dancer my whole life, yoga seemed a very natural fit, with it’s graceful and strong postures. I love the practice of yoga because it is challenging and introspective and a great way to turn off the busy outside world. I received my teacher training with Malia Scott and Chrispy Bhaghat Singh at Say Om Yoga through the e3 Vinyasa 200 hour teacher training. My goal is to share this incredible practice of yoga, meeting students where they are, with challenges and support, hoping they find the same joy, emotional freedom and personal strength. Namaste.

Kenah Fuller   Starting at the age of 3, Kenah has pursued her love for dance. Kenah was classically trained in Ballet and has danced on pointe for over 5 years. Along with her dance background, Kenah is an avid gymnast who is strong in power tumbling. Throughout her training she pursued a variety of genres of dance and competed in multiple styles including acro, modern, contemporary, jazz, musical theatre and hip hop as well. She began student teaching at 17 and is adamant to continue to share her love for the arts with students.

Kenah Introduction Video

Taylor Harbin   Taylor Noel Harbin was born and raised in Dayton, OH where she began dancing in a creative movement class at the Jeraldine School of Dance. From there she attended Stivers School of the Performing Arts studying dance and choir. In addition to dancing in her school Taylor trained with form Dayton Ballet principal dancer Barbara Pontecorvo at Pontecorvo Studios later joining their pre-professional company Gem City Ballet. Upon graduating from High School Taylor initially attended Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA where she studied for a year and was able to perform a Martha Graham original piece ‘Heretic’. Later Transferring to University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music where she studied ballet and performed in Giselle, original pieces set by her professors, and fellow classmates.During her junior and senior year of school Taylor joined the Louisville Ballet as a Corps de Ballet dancer. Later retiring at Ballet Austin. 

Shawna Hesketh Shawna Hesketh started dancing at an early age, at her one-room studio, in her small central Texas hometown. Her love of dance continued to grow, and she went on to join her high school’s drill/dance team, and then began teaching dance at the age of 16. She attended Sam Houston State University, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, in Photography and Dance. While at SHSU, she was in several performances, including a graduate thesis, and also worked in the costume department for their Nutcracker production. After moving to Austin, she got back into dance full-time, diving into ballroom dancing. Shawna then joined Balance Dance Studios, in the fall of 2012, in its inaugural year. Since then, she has created a home and family with Balance, and now gets to share this journey with her two children, as she watches them dance and grow.

Shawna Introduction Video

Taylor Keeley Taylor Keeley grew up in Austin, TX and began dancing just as soon as she was able to walk. She was one of the original Rise Dance Company members under the direction of Quinton Weathers. After graduating Chapman University with a BFA in Dance Performance she moved to LA to pursue a professional career. She has received several performance and choreography awards from Chapman University, NUVO, JUMP along with other competitions. After teaching in LA, she brought to Sydney, Australia to teach at a competition studio as well. Her all time favorite thing is to create and help young growing dancers reach their potential.

Taylor Introduction Video

Kirsten Kemp  Kirsten Kemp is a former professional dancer, classical ballet instructor, creator of TwinTalksBallet on YouTube, and a Mindset Coach for dancers. A native of Corpus Christi, TX, Kirsten grew up dancing alongside her twin sister, Kelsey. At 13, their passion for ballet grew into a drive to pursue ballet professionally, which lead to training during the summers at programs such as San Francisco Ballet, Houston Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. Kirsten went on to train year-round in the top levels of the Houston Ballet Academy for two years, after which she went to study on full scholarship and perform numerous lead roles in the Department of Ballet at the University of Utah. She graduated from “the U” within three years with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Ballet and a Minor in Business Administration with top honors. Kirsten then danced professionally with Oklahoma City Ballet, where she performed in the corps de ballet of productions such as George Balanchine’s Serenade and Robert Mill’s A Midsummer Nights Dream. As a Company Apprentice, she was also chosen to perform with the company on their annual tour to Colorado Springs. After making the decision to step away from the professional realm due to a persistent knee injury, Kirsten now finds great joy and purpose in performing as a guest artist while supporting the next generation of dancers through her work as a ballet instructor and Mindset Coach for dance.

Kirsten Introduction Video 

Kelsy Leyendecker  Kelsy Leyendecker is our assistant director of Elevate and PUSH Dand Company’s Opal director. She began dancing at the age of 3 and has been teaching since the age of 16 years old. She began her studies and competitive years at Irvine Dance Academy but went on to receive training at some of the best studios in the country in the styles of ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, cheer, tumbling, and musical theatre. She has had the opportunity to study under legends such Joe Tremaine, Doug Caldwell, Molly Lynch, Christine Baltes, Jerome Robins, and Susan Stroman. In addition to them, she credits much of her growth and passion to her mentor, Monie Adamson who is a 3 time Emmy nominee and 2004 American Choreography Award winner. While still in school, she began choreographing young for her high school show choir and other local area theatre and children’s programs. As a diverse and performer, Kelsy danced as an extra on a couple TV shows, strutted the parade routes and stages of Disneyland as well as toured parts of the US as a member of the company, “Dance N’ ETC” and the “Concordia professional Chamber Choir”. She quickly found her passion in musical theatre and was cast in multiple theatre company ensembles such as “Guys and Dolls”, “Cabaret” and “Oklahoma” as well as lead roles such as Penny in “Swingtime” and Carol in “South Pacific”. She is proud to be a part of the Austin dance community and loves teaching all her students of all ages at Balance Dance Studios.

AnnaMarie Li AnnaMarie started training at Texas Ballet Theater at the age of 8, and was featured in many company productions including Ben Stevenson’s The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Dracula, and Romeo and Juliet. She began studying Kinesiology at the University of Texas at Arlington to pursue a career in physical therapy, and recently graduated this year. While in her senior year of school, she was offered a position at Coastal City Ballet in Vancouver BC, and decided to pursue dance while continuing with her degree. While there, she was featured in productions such as Swan Lake, Raymonda, and other acclaimed works.

Andi Loo  Native to Texas, Andi Loo graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in Spanish and quickly jumped on the earliest flight to Los Angeles. While in L.A., Andi worked for a local newspaper while studying dance at local venues. She recalls pre-Zumba days in L.A. being filled with healthy doses of “Latin Hip Hop” and “Salsa-esque” aerobics. Needless to say, her love and commitment to dancing grew quickly and after 3 children and a move back to Texas, she found her passion in teaching dance fitness classes.

Emily Lofton  Emily Lofton is a Texas native who enjoys yoga and pilates, walking long trails with her husband and consuming all types of art. She graduated with the class of 2020 from the University of Oklahoma’s Ballet Pedagogy program with a minor in Psychology and special focus in childhood development. While attending OU, Emily worked closely with Nilas Martins and performed Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, a standout in her educational experience. Emily worked with Jan Fugit and Rebecca Herrin on further developing her voice as a teacher, and is grateful to join Balance Dance Studios and The Dance Spot beginning June of 2020.

Emily Introduction Video

Mark Moy  A veteran instructor and choreographer with over 20 years of teaching experience, Mark has a passion for teaching the love of dance. Beginner and advance students alike benefit from his warm, enthusiastic, and patient style. Mark’s greatest joy is watching his students have the “lightbulb” moment. Mark tries various approaches for presenting concepts until that happens for each and every student.

Giving back to the Austin community and participation and local charitable events is important to Mark. In 2011 and 2012, he was a featured dance professional in the Lake Travis Dancing with the Stars event to benefit the Lake Travis Community Library, and in 2011 & 2016, he was a featured professional in the Dancing with the Stars Austin, benefiting the Center for Child Protection. He served on the Board of Directors of the prestigious Mayfair Dance Club from 2011 – 2013 and served as Membership Chair of the organization in 2014.

Kelsey Oliver Kelsey Oliver, an Austin native, is a freelance choreographer and performer in the digs for ridiculously experimental theatre, film, and concert dance. She is currently Artistic Director of physical theatre troupe Frank Wo/Men Collective and has been developing her Momentum + Floorwork class (a.k.a. Squirreling) since 2018. Kelsey has also been an adjudicator, choreographer, and dance instructor for studios and teams throughout Texas. She received a B.F.A. in Dance in 2015, studying at the University of Texas at Austin and Le Centre National de Danse Contemporaine in Angers, France. (Kelsey-Oliver.com)

Kelsey Introduction Video

Quinton Weathers  Quinton Weathers started dancing at the age of eight, at Joyce Willett School of Dance in Austin, TX. He studied in jazz, tap, ballet, hip-hop, lyrical, musical theater, gymnastics and also performed with Body Talk Dance Company. He won numerous scholarships from L.A. Dance Force, Urban Jamm, West Coast Dance Explosion and New York City Dance Alliance. At twelve he started training at the Edge in Los Angeles, where he trained with Bill Prudich, Mandy Moore, Adam Parsons, Doug Caldwell, Malaya, Tabitha & Napoleon, Marty Kudelka, and Roger Lee to name a few. Quinton’s fresh choreography and outgoing attitude has made him a sought after teacher and choreographer. He has taught master classes all over the United States, Canada, Korea and Japan. Quinton has judged and taught for Break the Floor Productions, V.I.P, Flow 40 and Hall of Fame Dance Challenge. For five years he taught lyrical, jazz and hip-hop at Simi Dance Center in Simi Valley, California. His students won numerous scholarships and awards and have gone on to work as professional dancers. He has also had the opportunity to assist award-winning choreographer Mandy Moore in Seoul, Korea at the International Jazz Festival and at the Edge. Quinton lived in Los Angeles for five years and is still represented by Bloc Talent Agency. He has worked with the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Angie Stone, Snoop Dogg, Salt & Pepa, Kylie Minogue, Anastasia, Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, Solange Knowles, Yasmeen, Parker Posey and Chris Katan. His T.V. and film credits include Nickelodeon’s “All That” and “Taina,” “2002 Olympics,” “Soul Train”, “Trading Spaces,” “Varsity Blues,” “Honey,” “Adam and Steve” and “Dreamgirls”. He has done commercials and industrials for “So You Think You Can Dance,” I-pod, Motorola, Smashbox Cosmetics, Nintendo, Diesel and Levi Jeans, Nike, 7-up and Pepsi. Quinton was also a dancer on the American Idol 2 Tour and traveled around the U.S. and Canada.

Quinton Introduction Video

Alex Wood  Alex Wood is a dancer and artist, originally from Michigan. He studied dance at Marymount Manhattan College, with a concentration in choreography. Since college, he has worked with several dance companies & performance art groups, including Ann Liv Young Dance Company, as well as creating independent works.

Alex Introduction Video