Kathy Dupuy - Owner

Kathy 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.

George Bohn

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

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. Click HERE for Ms. Christine’s schedule.

Melissa Best

Melissa began dancing at age 2 and has studied dance across the world from New York City to Germany.  Her dance career has been very active in the local Austin community since 1999, teaching in numerous dance studios and Drill Teams in around the country. She is certified as a pre-school teacher where she is educated and trained in early childhood development and has spent the most of her adult life inspiring a love of life and dance in her students.  From 2013-2020, she co-owned Evolution Dance Center and created a nurturing home for professional seeking dancers with the award winning EVOLVE Dance Company. Melissa is passionate about cultivating an environment that is safe and explorative for her dancers, challenging them to set goals, take risks, and make change. Under her direction, her dancers have received regional and national recognition and her choreography been nationally recognized and awarded.   Melissa brings a fresh and exciting energy into her classroom, instilling confidence and creativity in her students.  As a military wife, she is ready for anything life throws at her, and is passionate about cultivating a future of leaders that are confident, powerful, fearless, and creative. Melissa’s goal is to provide a customized dance experience for each dancer based on their own personal needs and goals and to provide a safe space to explore their growth and lead us in the future. Click HERE for Ms. Melissa’s schedule!

 

Melissa Introduction Video

Kim Cabe Farnsworth

Kim was born with the love of dance and the love of children. Teaching and working with children began in High School and grew to be her passion. During this time, Kim choreographed solos and team routines, competed locally and nationally and was repeatedly recognized as an All-American Dancer.
Kim continued to dance on a scholarship to Blinn College Treasures Dance Team, traveling and competing nationally. Her education continued at Texas State University, in San Marcos, where she obtained a Bachelors of Science in Dance. During her studies of dance, she landed a teaching position at Hermann and Sons School of Dance, in New Braunfels, where she later became the studio’s director. Further training was obtained while assisting dance directors at Bailey Middle School, in Austin, and San Marcos High School, teaching conventions and master classes prepping dancers for auditions.
In 2006, Kim’s the youth director and mini company director for another local studio company, where she later became the coordinator for Blast Dance Convention and the office manager. Three years later in 2009, Kim opened her own business, where she was able to share the love of dance with preschool children all over the Austin and surrounding areas. Her passion continued while working at yet another local studio, where she became the office manager and director of their youth program.
In 2018, Kim moved to another local studio, where she was an office administrator and instructor for all ages; she later added the title of Mini/Petite Company Director. No Matter where Kim calls her dance home, she continues to share her love of dance with as many children as she can and will keep doing so in her years to come.

Gina Fiume

Ms. Fiume began her ballet training at Ballet Pacifica in Laguna Beach, Ca. at the age of 6. There she received the highest level of training in the classical Vaganova and Cecchetti methods under Lila Zali. She has also trained in all styles of dance. She started performing with Ballet Pacifica right away and was dancing with the company in all productions by age 13. Within Gina’s training, she attended Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet summer intensives. With Ballet Pacific she annually attended and performed in the Pacific Regional Ballet Festivals. She also received further training in a more contemporary style when Molly Lynch took over Ballet Pacifica and turned the company to a contemporary ballet company. She was trained and worked with well known teachers including David Allan, Alaine Haubert, Janek Schurgen, Lynn Cox, Charles Maple and Robert Sund. Also with many well-known choreographers including Lynn Taylor-Corbett, Ann-Marie DeAngelo, Rick McCullough, Paul Vasterling, Peter Pucci and Stephen Mills among others. Many of the roles she performed throughout her career were created on her and she has been recognized for her precise technique, strength and flexibility. With a request from others for Gina to start teaching, she has continually and carefully honed her teaching skills through study, observation, and her own dancing experience and continued education. Gina has taken the ABT® National Teachers Training Curriculum at ABT-NY and is a certified instructor for levels Pre-Primary to level 5. Her teaching career that has now spanned well over 25 years, her knowledge and instruction of classical ballet technique has proven to develop strength and fluidity of movement that is necessary for today’s dancer. She strives to instill the importance of a strong foundation of technique as a means to freedom of movement. Her experience includes the instruction of all levels and abilities including beginning to professional and adults. Gina is also a certified Pilates instructor which she has been teaching just as long. Gina’s own professional dance career was spent not only as a 20 year company member of Ballet Pacifica but also guesting for other local companies, theater productions and studios. During her time with Ballet Pacifica, she was very close to both the company and academy directors and was transitioning to become Ballet Mistress or future Director. Gina knew choreography to not only all ballets within the companies repertoire, but also the well renowned Ballets for Children. During several years of teaching at Ballet Pacifica and their summer intensives, she had a chance to re-stage several classical ballets including Les Sylphides, Don Quixote, La Sylphide (excerpts), Swan Lake (Act II), Paquita, Giselle, the Nutcracker(exerpts), and many female and male variations required in the training of young dancers. She has also choreographed, produced, and directed a full length classical Nutcracker Suite as well as several other classical and contemporary choreography. Ms. Fiume’s had owned her own very successful studio and many of her students have been accepted to and attended well known summer intensive programs and year around schools such as Royal Ballet, ABT, SAB, PNB, SFB, OBT, North Carolina School of the Arts, National Ballet of Canada, Ballet Austin, Julliard, Harid Conservatory, Boston Conservatory, Bolshoi Academy, and Kirov Academy among others. She had trained/coached many for ballet competitions like Youth American Grand Prix and Spotlight. And many have gone on to achieve professional dance careers with such companies as listed. Gina has held annual winter and summer intensives for more than 15 years that she has solely taught. Gina looks forward to motivating all dancers to become their best, healthiest and strongest selves!

Jeannine Freeman

Jeannine has been dancing since the age of six. She trained in San Antonio at the Turning Point Dance Center and competed with Visions Dance Troupe her entire youth. For the last few years of high school she was in the prestige youth tap group RPM under the direction of Barbara Ryan Phillips.

She began her teaching career at the age of 15 and has had a passion for it ever since. After graduating high school she continued to teach, choreograph and perform all forms of dance. She joined the musical theatre world in 2017 with the Wonder Theatre Academy teaching Tap and Musical Theatre Dance and was most recently the Lead Choreographer for The Wonder Academy’s youth performance group, Premier.

Outside of dance, Jeannine works in events with a non-profit association supporting educators in the use of technology in the classroom. She most enjoys spending time with her family, especially her four nieces and nephews.

Avery Hampton

Avery, originally from Savannah, GA, began her dance journey at the age of 3. She’s studied a variety of movement styles, including tap, jazz, acro, ballet, modern and contemporary. She graduated from Emory University in the spring of 2021 with degrees in neuroscience and dance movement studies. There she gained a deep appreciation of dance as a link between mind and body communication. Now, Avery looks forward to helping others discover their own creative voice using movement as a means for self-expression. Click HERE for Ms. Avery’s schedule!

Kyrie Lloyd

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. Click HERE for Ms. Kyrie’s schedule!

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

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. Click HERE for Ms. Selena’s schedule!

Kelsey Oliver

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.  Click HERE for Ms. Kelsey’s schedule!

Brooke Reynolds

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

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 Sanders
Dani, CPT, FMT is a wellness professional who 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 from Texas State University, where she specialized in dancers’ 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 the 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. 

Click HERE for Ms. Dani’s schedule.

Cassie Saylor Pluim

Cassie’s Bio

Click HERE for Ms. Cassie’s schedule!

Haley Sikes

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. Click HERE for Ms. Haley’s schedule!

Hannah Strieber

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.

Amanda Thompson

Bio Coming Soon

Quincy Tresemer

Quincy Tresemer’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.

Brie Underwood

Brie Underwood is a passionate and dedicated dance instructor, choreographer, director, judge, and former studio owner. Beginning her training at age 9, she has been very fortunate to learn from and to compete under some of the best in the industry. Her educators and mentors include Cheryl Copeland, Quinton Weathers, Heather O’Hara, Alexa Moffett, Erica Sobol, and many more – not to mention her own dance students whom Brie learns from and hones her skills with every day.

Brie was the owner of Evolution Dance Collective and the Director of EVOLVE Dance Company located in Leander, Texas from 2013-2020 with Melissa Best and was the the Director of North Austin Dance Artists at The Dance Academy 2021-2023.

Her students are known for a high level of professionalism, creativity beyond their years, and technique to support it all. Brie strives to individualize each of her dancers’ training and company experience to best fit their personality and goals. Parents have come to be able to count on Brie to build their dancer’s technique and artistry while also preserving individualism and innocence. You can find many of Brie’s students currently teaching dance in studios and on conventions, choreographing around the world, and becoming change makers in the dance community and beyond.

When not training dancers at TDS, you can find Brie enjoying family life with her 3 year old son, husband, and Italian Greyhound. Brie strives to keep up to date on new training trends/techniques and is constantly surrounding herself with discourse on how to best support this generation of dancers to become the best humans they can be.

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.

Click HERE for Ms. Alex’s schedule!