Kathy Dupuy started dancing seriously in high school and has continued to take classes and had the opportunity to perform through various studios in Austin. Through the years, dance has proven a great way for her to stay fit after having 4 kids and maintaining a busy lifestyle. She has successfully pioneered multiple businesses from start up to maturity including Texas’ largest household staffing service, Mom’s Best Friend, which she founded in 1994. She and her husband, Stuart, now run this together, along with the College Sitters & Tutors Barton Springs franchise. She also started and ran a residential care, assisted living home for seniors, for 10 years. Kathy has served on various boards, and her companies have been recognized for outstanding achievement, as well as a commitment to giving back to the local community. As a dancer herself and mom of 4 kids who all danced at one point or another, Kathy understands the need for a high quality studio environment catering to the needs of both adults and children, thus the creation of Balance Dance Studios in 2012. Kathy’s business expertise and entrepreneurial spirit, combined with her passion for the art of dance, create the perfect combination for her role as studio owner of Balance Dance Studios. Kathy purchased a Round Rock studio, The Dance Spot, in 2017, and now manages both locations. Kathy and her family reside in Southwest Austin and are the proud parents of Grace, Kaitlyn, and James and Jordan.
Taylor Almanza’s passion for dance came early; she started dancing when she was 2 years old, at Jo Ann Neal Dance Studio, in San Antonio (now known as Dance Infinity SA). At first, dance was an outlet for her energetic and creative personality. Upon entering high school, she realized how much she loved dancing and decided to pursue her dance career more seriously. She became the youngest member of the Warren HS Majestics Varsity Dance Team and was a member for three years, two as an officer and captain. In her time as a Majestics, she earned several group and individual awards, including 1st place at regionals for her senior year self-choreographed solo. High school is also where she began to venture into other areas of dance, including tumbling and acrobatics. She trained at Powerhouse Gymnastics, and then continued to self-train.
Taylor has been teaching dance for more than three years now and is currently studying Psychology and Sociology at UT Austin. When she entered college, she wanted to challenge herself with something new and decided to become a member of the award-winning Texas Gymnastics team. Though she missed out on competing at NAIGC (nationals) due to injuries, she was on track to compete as a level 8 in floor (her favorite), bars, and beam.
She has been awarded several dance achievements, including being awarded membership in the acclaimed Showmakers of America staff, being on Spurs Teen Elite, a junior NBA team, performing in South by Southwest for Lizzo, and choreographing competitive and recreational routines, for all genres and ages, from San Antonio to Austin.
Working with others and dance are two of her greatest passions—she aims to utilize the fusion of these passions to make a positive, lasting impact on all those around her, and especially dancers!
Mandy Anstey graduated with a BFA in Dance from the University of South Florida in 2013. Amanda has performed, choreographed and trained all over the world including Paris, France and Beijing, China. After graduation, she moved to Orlando, FL where she was the lead performer for the dance theater company VarieTEASE for 5 years under the direction of Blue Star. VarieTEASE dance company has been awarded “Top Dance Company of Orlando” for the past 5 years. In 2015, Amanda received her Yoga Teaching Certification from Asheville Yoga Center.
As an educator, Amanda has produced, choreographed and directed multiple dance concerts and musical theater productions, for all ages for the past 17 years. She created two successful dance programs at Paredes Middle School (Austin, TX) and University High School Performing Arts Magnet (Orlando, FL) from ground zero. While at University High School, her impact resulted in the school receiving the national award of “Top Magnet School” in 2021. Her career in dance education values movers of all levels and promotes character building through the vehicle of dance.
Her choreography offers a fresh outlook on life. Her show “Let Go” and “Forgotten Memoirs” performed in the Orlando Fringe Festival in 2017 and 2019, both pieces were asked by patrons to perform in venues throughout the state of Florida. In 2016, the American Association of University of Women offered Amanda a grant to create a curriculum and dance film for her show, “Let Go”. The curriculum and dance film creates awareness around self-defeat and guides the viewers to become the master of their mind.
Brooeklin Beisner Bio Coming Soon!
George Bohn started performing in California at an early age with Vernon Russell who set the foundation for much of his dance career. By age 13, George had performed on television, in an Equity Summer Stock package, and at the San Francisco Opera House with the Kirov ballet. After earning an English degree from St. Mary’s College, he toured throughout the Northwest United States and internationally performing ballets and choreographing in countries such as Mexico, Germany, and the Netherlands; eventually performing with Disney-on-Parade in South Africa before moving to New York City. George’s New York credits include Gypsy with Angela Lansbury, several Off-Off Broadway shows, The American Dance Machine, and Not So New Faces where he originated the “Flipper Dance” with choreographer Terry Rieser, While in New York, he was recruited by the esteemed choreographer Henry LeTang to travel to Las Vegas to perform in a revue of The Cotton Club coinciding with the release of the film starring Gregory Hines. Once back in New York, George joined DancEllington, a concert tap company founded by Gregory and Maurice Hines and led by Mercedes Ellington, Duke Ellington’s granddaughter. In addition to performing and touring with the company, George made his New York choreographic debut creating the Russian and Sugarplum Fairy dances in DancEllington’s premier of Cracker Jazz—Peter and the Duke, to Ellington’s famous arrangement of the Nutcracker Suite, as well as assisting Ms. Ellington in choreographing for Andre Heller’s Body and Soul which opened at the Munich Opera House and toured in Germany and Austria. George also created and performed A Simple Song with his longtime friend, Broadway actor Bob Fitch for the group Dancers Over Forty before closing a 30 year chapter on his New York career and moving to Aus9n to be closer to family. His current projects include teaching, maintaining his YouTube channel and originating the Austin Rhythm Incubator. He is working on a full-length creative project specific to Texas which will encompass many different dance forms. He is also developing a state-of-the-art tap shoe.
Christine Bourgeois Autin, a native of Baton Rouge, LA, has been teaching ballet for 25 years and most recently taught at Revolution Dance Company in Baton Rouge, LA. She implemented the first dance program at St. Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge in 2006, was Director of Dance, a Pilates instructor, and Psychology teacher at Episcopal High School of Baton Rouge from 2007-2011, as well as Co-Director and choreographer of The Bridges Project for the 2008 Young! Tanzsommer Tour in Austria and Germany. Christine was also the Production Stage Manager for Debbie Allen for her productions of “Dreams”, “Just Dance”, and “All the Right Moves”, has appeared on Mario Lopez’s “Name Your Adventure” on NBC, was a guest dancer for Luciano Pavarotti’s Concert Gala in Baton Rouge, and danced with former NBA player Glen Davis, the first year of Dancing with Big Buddy.
Christine has trained around the globe, such as the Royal Ballet in London, Joffrey II in San Antonio, Joffrey Ballet in NYC, & The Rock School in Pennsylvania. She was also accepted into the School of American Ballet in NYC, Virginia School of the Arts, North Carolina School of the Arts, and Houston Ballet School. She was a principal dancer with Louisiana Dance Theater and Mid City Dance Project, & also performed with the Delta Festival Ballet & Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre. She is certified in Kathy Corey Pilates (formerly West Coast Pilates) for Mat and small apparatus, Reformer, Wunda Chair, Spine Corrector, Cadillac, and Ladder Barrel. She is also certified in PiYo, Progressing Ballet Technique, a Merge Level I practitioner, and recently completed the Dance Teacher Training with Australian physiotherapist, Lisa Howell. She is a 200-hour RYT & member of the Yoga Alliance, a member of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS), a NASM Virtual Coaching Specialist, an AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor, a Fascial Fitness Trainer, & an Advanced Instructor & Master Trainee with Buti Yoga, certified in all 7 formats.
Being a lifelong lover of learning, Christine is currently working on the Brain Longevity Therapy Training Certification with the Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation, and will begin her 300-hour YTT & Ayurvedic Nutrition Certification this summer. Christine is excited to share her love of ballet, yoga, and fitness in and around Austin, TX, where she currently resides with her family.
Harper Burgy Bio Coming Soon!
Daniel Broxton 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!
Erin Carle began dancing at the age of 3 in Houston Texas. She attended the Fort Bend Ballet School starting at the age of 14. She then began training in the circus arts at 15 and is versed in aerial silks, trapeze, flying trapeze, triple cloud swing and contortion. Erin holds multiple state and national competitive dance solo titles both at the high school and college level, including an all American title from the National Dance Alliance (NDA) at the collegiate level. She danced with the Ballet Forte ballet company for 3 years and has done short contracts with multiple ballet companies around Texas. She has been teaching and choreographing for over 5 years. In more recent years she received her BFA from Texas State University, and she has been working with visual artists creating art pieces that include dance.
Hannah Christian, formerly Hannah Bettes, began training at The Central Florida Ballet School. She then went on to train at Next Generation Ballet in Tampa, FL, and finished her training at The Royal Ballet School in London.
She has won multiple awards, including the Gold Medal in both the Junior & Senior Division at Youth America Grand Prix, the Silver Medal two years in a row at the World Ballet Competition, the Bronze Medal at The Beijing International Dance Invitational, as well as the 2nd prize and the “Audience Choice Award” at the prestigious Prix De Lausanne.
Shortly after her arrival at the Royal Ballet School, she was chosen as the Nadia Nernia Scholar. During her time at RBS, she danced with The Royal Ballet, performed at Buckingham Palace, was choreographed by Liam Scarlett, and worked with David Dawson.
She then joined the Boston Ballet in 2014 and was promoted to Second Soloist in 2017. Her most notable roles include the Principal Pas Girl in William Forsythe’s ‘Artifact,’ Aurora in ‘Sleeping Beauty,’ Sugar Plum in Mikko Nissinen’s ‘The Nutcracker,’ Pas Girl in Jerome Robbin’s Fancy-Free, and Effy in Bournonville’s ‘La Slyphide.
Hannah stopped dancing in 2018 to pursue other avenues and attend ministry school in Dallas, TX. After completing the program at Lifestyle Christianity University, she moved to Austin in 2019 and began teaching full-time. She later received her Pilates certification on all seven apparatus through Club Pilates in 2020. She has taught Ballet at Alisa’s Dance Academy, Muv Dance & Fitness, Texas Academy of Ballet, Harmony Center for the Creative Arts in Marble Falls, and The Ballet Conservatory of South Texas in San Antonio. She is passionate about working with young dancers to build up and encourage them in their faith through dance. She has taught all over the USA, including but not limited to MA, FL, CA, AZ, & TX.
Some of her additional achievements include being on the cover of Pointe Magazine and being featured in Dance Magazine and Dance Spirit.
Krystel Conover began her journey in dance at 3 years old at a local dance studio in Laredo, Texas. She studied all types of dance from jazz to folklorico, learning at a young age that dancing always brought her joy. Krystel started recreational cheer when she was 7 and began competing at the national level when she was 12. At the age of 14, she began choreographing and coaching for local elementary schools. It’s here where she learned that she loved working with children. Krystel continued to dance, cheer and coach through high school and college. After graduating from the University of Texas, she pursued her passion and has been teaching in Del Valle ISD since 2007. While searching for a fun way to workout, Krystel found JAM Dance Fit in 2021 and fell in love with the innovative dances and the community it offers. She became an instructor in 2023 and loves combining her passions for teaching and dance and being able to share it with others. When Krystel is not teaching, she is a wife and Mom to two children.
Kira Fredericks began dancing at the age of four at Betty Jacks School of Dance in San Marcos. It quickly became a large passion for her. While there, she practiced Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Contemporary. It was very apparent to her that she truly enjoyed the art that is dance. Later she went on to join her High School Drill team. She graduated from San Marcos High School, and is currently attending Huston Tillotson University. She is very excited, and so grateful to share her passion of dance through teaching at Balance Dance Studios.
Sydney Gladden My name is Sydney Gladden. I am a freshman at the University of Texas studying dance. I have been dancing for about 15 years. I grew up dancing at The Dance Spot and was a member of my high school drill team as well. I have a huge passion for dance and I love getting to share it with others.
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.
Kirsten Kemp is a Professional Ballet Dancer, Classical Ballet Instructor, and High-Performance Mindset Coach for ballet dancers, specializing in helping dancers release the mental and emotional blocks that hold them back from peak performance and well-being. As a dancer, Kirsten grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, and has trained and performed with the Houston Ballet, graduated from the University of Utah with a B.F.A. in Ballet and Minor in Business Administration, danced professionally with Oklahoma City Ballet, and is the creator of The Confident Dancer on YouTube and Instagram, an online community of over 20,000 created to empower dancers with tools to build confidence in themselves and on the stage.
In addition to coaching top pre-professional and professional dancers from all over the world to help them achieve peak performance and well-being through mindset work, Kirsten is an International Professional Speaker and Master Ballet Instructor. Institutions Kirsten has had the pleasure of being invited to speak at include Miami City Ballet, the Estonian National Ballet, Texas Ballet Theater, the University of Utah, Point Park University, and many more. Between dancing, teaching, coaching, and speaking, Kirsten is grateful to have the opportunity to spend her days sharing her love of dance and helping other dancers experience true joy, empowerment, and well-being in their dance journey.
Anna Kerwin began dancing when she was 6. When she was 13, she decided to take her dance training to the next level and joined various competitive teams at her studio. Anna then switched to Balance Dance Studios for her senior year in order to further her artistic training by joining Ignite and AYCB. Anna is currently attending Texas State University for Exercise Sports Science and Dance. Anna has always enjoyed teaching/assisting and can’t wait to help your children learn about dance!
Monica Landois Meet Monica Landois, a Mompreneneur of two boys who inspires others to live passionately and find a fun way to move their bodies. She has been leading unique group fitness classes in Austin for over 12 years. Her fitness classes are designed to uplift you in a positive community that leaves you wanting more. She is passionate about helping others build confidence through dance and movement. It’s an extremely powerful experience that changes people’s lives all around. She facilitates a healing space through movement that empowers you. Monica is the creator of all her dance fitness routines and choreographies. She programs all her fitness classes in her own distinctive way. You have a fun experience in each class she teaches.
Monica is an Austinite and first generation here as her family originates from Monterrey, Mexico. She is bilingual and didn’t learn English until grade school. This was a challenge for her growing up. She loves encouraging others from different cultural backgrounds to create space for themselves confidently.
Monica is a true jack of all trades when it comes to Dance and Fitness. She can adapt her creative work for anything. She collaborates with other local artists, High School Dance Teams, and Businesses.
Stacey Lizette has been studying belly dance for twenty years. (Woah, how did that happen?) She is one of five dancers currently Level 5 certified in the internationally recognized Suhaila Salimpour format and hosts annual Suhaila workshops in Austin. Besides being a dance instructor, Stacey has taken on many roles and projects as part of the belly dance community, including: performer, choreographer, costume designer, artistic director of Tekatek Dance Ensemble, (former) producer of the annual Austin Belly Dance Convention, teaching assistant to Suhaila Salimpour, workshop sponsor, and show producer. Stacey’s style of teaching is patient yet challenging to guide students safely beyond their comfort zones and into personal growth. Belly dance will grow your brain, move your body and feed your soul!
Andi Loo began her dance journey at a young age, through high school and college! She continued studying Latin Fusion and Hip Hop classes at local studios in Los Angeles. While in L.A., Andi worked for a local newspaper while studying dance at local studios. However, she found her passion in teaching dance fitness classes at a local big box gym, which influenced her decision to create her own brand – the very popular JAM Dance Fit certification program, which under her direction, has now grown nationwide to over 3 states with six instructors! If you’re looking for a super fun way to have un and get fit, drop into a JAM Dance Fit class at the studio today!
Kyrie Lloyd began her dance training in Philadelphia, PA where she studied classical ballet, modern, jazz, and tap. Upon graduating high school, she attended Palm Beach Atlantic University earning a degree in dance. While at PBA, she had the opportunity to study under Demetrius Klein of Demetrius Klein Dance Company, Jin Young Lee from NYCB, and Eileen Hebron from ABT. She also performed and choreographed original work for the university’s dance ensemble. Since graduating college, she has been teaching at dance studios teaching all levels of dance, with an emphasis on ballet and modern dance. She also teaches barre fitness classes for teens and adults. She has performed for various South Florida dance companies and artists including Demetrius Klein Dance Company, REACH; A Dance Theater Collective, and Florida Grand Ballet. In addition, she has worked with MUSE Theater Company and has performed works such as CHICAGO and A Chorus Line.
Natalia Maravi was born to dance. From dancing on the bleachers of a football game at 5 years old, to choreographing a dance performance for her and her friends for their 5th grade class talent show, to tearing it up on the dance floor of many clubs as an adult. However, it wasn’t until she was 26 years old that she took her first dance class and started her training. She fell in love immediately and got to work. She’s taken a ton of hip hop classes and heels classes and has traveled to LA to train with Brinn Nicole and Tevyn Cole. Her passion for dance and teaching runs very deep and she is grateful for every opportunity to shake her hips and flip her hair.
Kate McCann fell in love with dance at an early age. The way that movement and music creates its own unique form of artistry has had an unparalleled impact on her life, both in and outside of the studio. She has been working with children since the age of 14, and has found that one of her greatest joys is being able to share her passions with a younger generation. Because Kate didn’t start her formal dance training until high school she is a huge proponent of self discipline, and regards dance as the medium which taught her that all things are achievable through hard work and diligence. It was at Balance Dance Studios she cultivated this understanding, as she is one of our very own Push Dance Company alumni. Kate looks forward to teaching, training, and exploring movement with you!
Chantel Mead is a seasoned vocalist, performer, recording artist, and voice educator. While she loves the stage & studio, she is also passionate about helping others more fully understand their voice, fall in love with their own unique sound, and feel truly confident with their voice in the world.
Chantel has a BFA in Musical Theater, Minor in Classical Voice, graduate work in Vocal Pedagogy, over 20 years of experience, both as a performer & educator, and is continually attending trainings to stay up to date on the most current vocal science available.
Chantel grew up in the hill country, but found herself happily tucked away in Boulder, CO after college where she lived, performed and taught for over 12 years. During her time in Boulder she was the Children’s Choir Director at Sacred Heart of Mary for 5 years, directed multiple youth musicals with multiple local performance companies, and founded her own teaching studio.
In 2010, she and her husband moved to NYC where she took a full time position as the Music Teacher and Performing Arts Director at the Stephen Gaynor School. 2013 brought the blessing of their daughter, and they decided to move back to the hill country to raise her close to Grandma & Grandpa!
Here in Austin, Chantel homeschools her daughter, runs her own voice studio (private lessons, audition & performance coaching, voice related masterclasses, & singing camps), is in her 9th year of directing the musical at the Austin Jewish Academy, and is the Youth Choir director at the First UU Church of Austin.
Clay Moore Originally from Houston, Clay Moore grew up as a competitive dancer. After graduating, he trained in Los Angeles and New York City where he has trained and worked with the Edge Performing Arts, Mark Morris Dance, Terrill Mitchel, and Dorrell Martin before relocating to Austin Tx. Now an Austin based choreographer and performer, he is a current company member with Blue Lapis Light where he trains and performs in aerial apparatus. He has been featured in works with ARCOS Dance, BLiPSWiTCH, Jennifer Sherburn, Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company, and many more. Clay has been featured in local ATX musicians music videos Including Tomar & the FCs. Clay shares his passion for movement by teaching and choreography with non-profit groups and schools in the AISD and LISD and non-profit groups. He is excited to be back with the CTDC family where he’ll be working the admin desk and hopping in to sub classes from time to time.
Selena Offenberg is originally from Munich, Gemany, and enjoyed a 14-year professional career; Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden and Nuremberg City Ballet, Germany; Paul Henry Dance Company, London; Concert Dance Theater, Munich; Michael Mao Dance and Dance Imprints, NYC.
Selena worked with choreographers Royston Maldoom of the Scottish Ballet and Mauricio Wainroth of Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal. She also trained with Batsheva Dance Company in Tel Aviv; Ballet Rambert and Michael Clark in London; David Parsons and Alvin Ailey School in NYC.
In the fashion industry, Selena was a dance model in fashion shows with Nike, Reebok, Goldwell, Wella, and Mercedes Benz. Selena also worked as a personal trainer with members of the HBO Fitness Center, NYC, and in Miami. From 2007 to 2013, Selena was ballet mistress, instructor (all ages) and administrative director with the New Mexico Dance Theater School and Performance Company.
Kelsey Oliver, an Austin native, is a freelance choreographer, performer, and artist in the digs for ridiculously experimental theatre, video, and dance. As she has taught a wide swath of styles, commercial/competitive dance forms, as well as experiential post-modern explorations, Kelsey has more recently fallen in love with Momentum + Floorwork, her squirrelly take on contemporary movement. Routinely in scrappy, maximalist, humor-struck collaborations, Kelsey has worked with Frank Wo/Men Collective, Rude Mechanicals, Salvage Vanguard Theatre, Magdalena Jarkowiec, Heloise Gold, Thee Gay Agenda, Body Shift, + more. Kelsey 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. She has also been an adjudicator, choreographer, and dance instructor for studios and teams throughout Texas.
Darby Perkins grew up dancing many different styles and has always had a passion for dance. As an adult, after having three boys, she started going to dance classes again, and her love and appreciation for dance grew. She loves trying new classes and learning new skills, including Bungee Fitness, which has led her to teach those skills to adults of all ages. For her, dance isn’t only a way to stay active, it’s a fun way to build community and to improve all aspects of personal health.
Her appreciation of dance and all it has to offer, along with her involvement in the dance community, has led her to become the Adult Programs Director at Balance Dance Studios. In this role, she is committed to creating a supportive and inspiring environment where adult dancers of all levels can thrive and grow.
Beyond dance, her professional journey has been equally enriching. She started her career as a Speech-Language Pathologist, where she developed skills in communication and empathy that continue to serve her in all aspects of her life. Later, she transitioned to becoming a Birth Doula, supporting families during the transformative journey of childbirth.
When she’s not at the dance studio, Darby loves hanging out with friends around town, hiking with her Boston Terrier pup, and spending time with her husband and three teen boys.
Brooke Reynolds was introduced to dance at the young age of 3 and immediately fell in love with the art. Growing up in her local dance studio, she found joy in participating on their competition teams. While she enjoyed all styles of dance, hip-hop became her pride and joy. She rediscovered her passion for hip-hop when she joined UGK for two years, and she realized that sharing the greatness of this art form would be a fulfilling experience.
Brooke values nurturing the minds of young dancers and hopes to recreate for them the joy she experienced at their age. She fondly remembers her first teacher and is excited about the opportunity to be that memorable teacher for another child.
Jak Michael Ryan was born in Melbourne, Australia. Given his parents were Austral-asian champions and his aunties and uncles: world semi finalists. All of which owned a dance studio together….there was clearly no escaping a pair of Cuban heels and a lifetime in the Ballroom/ Latin world.
Jak’s career began being coached by his family. Jak’s dedication earned him many titles in Australia, all whilst honing his teaching skills in the family studio and schools around Australia. Teaching was always just as important as learning for Jak. At the age of 18 , ever hungry, Jak decided to venture to the United States to form relationships and gain knowledge from some of his favorite dancers and the top coaches in the business. From then on, Jak continued to absorb and pass on information from some of the best dancing minds of all time. Jak has dedicated his entire life to the purity and authenticity of Latin American dance. Jak takes great pride in entertaining, educating and empowering. His mission, with his own dancing or his students has always been to create dancing you can feel instead of just see.
Dani Simmons, CPT, FMT is a wellness professional that focuses solely on dancers health, fitness, and performance. A native Texan, Dani grew up dancing in the DFW area from a young age. She was heavily involved in her dance studio as a student teacher and was captain of her drill team. She then went on to study dance in college until her early twenties when hip injuries pushed her in another direction. This is where her passion for training and educating dancers about their bodies began.
She then graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science at Texas State University, where she specialized in dancer’s strength training. Years of dance coupled with a formal education in kinesiology and physiology allow Dani to help dancers keep their bodies safe and reduce injuries so they can continue their passion for a lifetime. She has worked in fitness boutiques and dance studios across Texas as a faculty member and masterclass teacher with a focus on teaching and advocating for healthy physical, mental and emotional development of dancers.
Dani is a professional member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science as well as the National Dance Education Organization. She has contributed to many different organizations by writing articles and publications centered around dancers injury prevention training and development.
You can find Dani teaching youth classes for CTDC north and south locations as well as adult FUSE bungee fitness classes and private training sessions. When not teaching, she is hiking with her pups, taking yoga classes, or traveling the country.
Krista Scott Krista is a former advertising executive with experience in New York and Austin who left the industry in 2020. Her passion for health and fitness began in 2005, leading her to become a certified yoga instructor in 2009. Although she preferred home workouts, Krista discovered JAM Dance Fit at Balance in 2015 and fell in love with its format and sense of community. After eight years and hundreds of classes, she became a certified JAM Dance Fit instructor herself, finding joy in teaching, choreographing routines, and continuing to stay mentally and physically healthy through dance. Krista is also a wife to an amazing Scotsman and mother of two teenage children.
Haley Sikes is a dancer, performer, choreographer, and teacher based out of the Austin area. She started dancing at the age of three, training in many different styles, with a focus on hip hop and contemporary. Haley has been teaching dance for the past five years, and her resume includes working for Prestige Dance Convention, choreographing for many Hip Hop crews all over Texas, and being a background dancer for local artists. She has a fresh new view that she uses to spark creativity among other young artists.
Ms. Haley is also the Director of the award-winning UGK Hip Hop Crew!
Hannah Strieber grew up in Austin, Tx where she began dancing at Balance Dance Studios in high school. She was a part of multiple companies including Ignite Dance Company and Elevate Performance Company. Along with this, she took many different classes covering a variety of styles. Because she discovered her love for dance in her teens, she understands the hard work and dedication it takes to develop skills, technique, and self-discipline. In 2019 she moved to Chicago to pursue her BFA in Film and Television with a concentration in Production Design. Alongside her work in film, televisions, and photoshoots, she was a gymnastics coach for ages 3-12 for multiple years in Chicago while also continuing her dance education. Hannah is extremely excited to be back home in Texas where she can use her creative skills to help the next generation develop a passion for the arts.
Paradise Taylor‘s love of fitness and movement brought her to her yoga mat over 15 years ago. Her practice began in the Ashtanga lineage under the guidance of Sharon Moon. It didn’t take long for her to discover that the practice was not only good for lengthening and strengthening the muscular system but also provided a sense of balance and calm throughout her life. After years of reaping the benefits of yoga Paradise felt the desire to give back and to share yoga with others through teaching. Now a registered 500-hour Yoga Alliance instructor, Paradise combines energetic forms of yoga such as Flow and Vinyasa with quieter practices of Yin and Restorative, for a well-rounded class. In whatever style she is teaching she brings a warm, welcoming aura that empowers her students to grow in the practice by fostering a challenging and nurturing environment. She encourages playfulness, honesty, and enjoyment as each student explores and creates their individual practice and experience. Paradise believes passionately in yoga’s ability to unite oneself and those around you in a positive environment of personal growth.
Amanda Thompson Bio Coming Soon!
Quincy Tresemer Quincy’s dance story started in Norman, Oklahoma, when she was just 2 years old, and she hasn’t stopped moving since. With nearly three decades of experience in ballet, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, modern, and pom, her love for dance has only grown stronger over the years.
She was a member of the Norman North Pom squad for 4 years and later danced her way onto the OU Pom squad. After earning her entrepreneurship degree from the University of Oklahoma, Quincy combined her business savvy with her passion for dance to help launch and manage a dance company for six successful years.
As a teacher, Quincy has choreographed competition pieces all around Oklahoma and crafted shows for Sooner Theatre. She’s taught at various studios across the OKC metro area and founded Momentum Dance, offering an array of one off open classes for all ages and skill levels to participate, as well as private lessons for students not limited to technique and first dances for couples on their wedding day.
Recently, Quincy packed up her talents and made the move to Austin, TX, where she’s excited to continue growing as a teacher and choreographer. Her dance journey is all about sharing her love for the art form and inspiring others to find joy in movement.
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.