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MEET OUR STAFF:

DAWN Yoga, Pilates & Dance Instructor Dawn currently teaches all levels of Yoga at the Dance Centre as well as the organizational & coordinating instructor for the Prenatal classes. The Dance Centre's mission is to expose & educate our local community to yoga, set standards, foster integrity, and uphold the teachings & safety of yoga. Dawn is certified with YogaFit(c), a leader in mind/body fitness education based on science, founded on flow, and committed to the community. YogaFit® is the only yoga teacher training program formally recognized by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and offering a Yoga Alliance approved, comprehensive 200hr teacher training. The YogaFit style tightens and tones the entire body, enhances balance, improves flexibility and builds core strength by combining traditional fitness training, focused breathing and strength building through yoga poses. The result is a mind-body workout that improves health, athletic performance and mental acuity in people of all ages and fitness levels. Dawn is certified in YogaFit® Levels I, II, III, IV, V, Anatomy & Alignment, Prenatal, Postnatal, & Senior. She is currently a Graduate Assistant at TAMU teaching yoga and lecturing on topics in health and fitness for the Physical Education Activity Program (PEAP) in the Health & Kinesiology Department. Upon application processing, she will be a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) with the Yoga Alliance®. . While at the Dance Centre, Dawn has taught Ballet, Tap, Jazz (hip hop, modern and classic). Dawn truly represents excellence in Yoga, Dance & Fitness! Dawn is also an ACE certified Group Fitness Instructor. She has a foundation of knowledge and skills necessary to teach a safe and effective group fitness class. Group fitness instructors can inspire and motivate others to change their health-and fitness-related behaviors through classes designed to bring a spirit of creativity and uniqueness to group fitness. Passing this certification test demonstrates her understanding of anatomy, kinesiology, exercise physiology and instructional techniques including class design, cueing, injury prevention and the accommodation of participants with certain health limitations. Dawn joined the teaching staff in September 2005. She has extensive certification and training with YogaFit. Yoga Certification, Level I, II, III, IV,V, Anatomy & Alignment, Prenatal, Postnatal & Senior w/YogaFit® CPR certification - current. ACE Group Fitness Instructor certification. 2003 Education: B.A./NYS Certification - Hunter College, CUNY - New York Dance Education - Magna Cum Laude Teaching experience from 1996 - 2005: Diane's Dance Center, Inc, Fashion Industries HS, Packer Collegiate Institute, Big Apple Games, Curtis High School, Dance Theater of Staten Island 2002-2005 Production and Managerial experience: Hunter College Dance Company (Audience Development Coordinator); "Oklahoma" Curtis HS (Choreographer); Curtis HS Dance Company (Artistic Director/Faculty Advisor) Additional Training: 1999 Summer Intensive Ron Brown Company - NYU and Creach Company-Doug Varone Company, NYU; 2003 MELT Movement Research - St. Mark's Church; 2004 Dance: A Blueprint for Learning Professional Development Series - Together in Dance: Zalesky & Associates, Inc.; 2005 Freedom of Dance-Spirit of Movement: National Dance Education Organization; Dance for Learning: Best Practices Professional Development Series: Together in Dance: Zalesky & Associates, Inc. Performing Experience: 2001 "Yoicks"-Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College; 2002 "And That's What's Up!", "Breath of Fresh Air", "Line Up" reconstruction of Trish Brown, "Peas in a Pod", "Rebound"; 2002 "Line Up" Reconstruction of Trisha Brown - National Dance Festival: Sharing The Legacy, Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College; 2002 "Modified Singularity" - BAAD!: Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance; 2003 "A Vision","Passing Through", "Jazz Notes" - Kay Playhouse at Hunter College Gretchen Yoga, Pilates Instructor Gretchen, highly qualified and extremely motivated, joins the Dance Centre team of yoga instructors December 2008 Gretchen is currently a graduate student in Kinesiology at TAMU expecting to graduate August 2009. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, Specializing in Motor Behavior and Minor in Psychology degree from TAMU. She is a Graduate assistant in Fitness at the TAMU Rec center since Aug 2007 and works directly with Group RecXercise, Instructional Programs, Healthy Living Lectures and other programs. She teaches all cardio class formats, yoga, pilates and specialized formats ("urban expressions"). Gretchen holds the following certifications: Emergency Medical Technician (basic); American Heart Association CPR for Healthcare Provider; Aerobics and Fitness Association (AFAA) Group Fitness Instructor; Schwinn certified Cycling Instructor; American Council on Exercise (ACE) Certified Personal Trainer; and YogaFit® I and II. She has all kinds of fitness work experiences since 2004. ANITA COUPLES INSTRUCTION: Ballroom, LATIN (Salsa), Country Western Instructor Anita began dancing in 2001 when her family physician in Uvalde prescribed exercise for fitness. Since she no longer had an interest in "exercise", she surfed the web and discovered that Meringue was terrific for a cardio workout. And her dancing fever began! We are delighted to have her share her wonderfully energetic & inspiring dancing experiences teaching our Ballroom, Country Western and Salsa classes beginning Fall 2007. 2001-2005 Arthur Murray Dance Studio, with a major in Tejano Dance, a minor in Latino Ballroom 2002-2005 Salon Mexico at Incarnate Word College. 2003-2004 San Antonio College 2009-Guest Instructor for the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History's T-Rex Roundup Dinner & Dance KATRINA Ballet, Tap & Jazz Instructor Katrina is a Graduate in Bioenvironmental Sciences from TAMU. She is now a graduate student. Spring 2007 - Katrina began teaching at the Dance Centre in the Fall of 2007. Students are crazy for her enthusiasm and teaching skills in our classes! Katrina's dance experience dates back to 1996 when she was a student/assistant for Gallery One Dance Studio taking classes in Ballet, Tap and Jazz, member of the Dance Team, and performing in the annual Fall and Spring concerts. 1997 - 2000 - She attended the Royal Academy of Fine Arts as a student/assistant while attending classes in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre, character and modern. She performed with the Clear Lake Metropolitan Dance Company and was awarded a dance tuition scholarship. She completed Graded Levels 1-8 in Tap, Jazz and Ballet. 1999-2003 - She Was a student with the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts - attending daily classes in ballet, modern, tap, jazz, pointe and musical theatre. She attended classes in Survey, Theory, History of Dance and Dance Composition. She received instruction from Alvin Ailey, ABT, Limon, Fosse and Graham dance companies. She performed in annual Fall and Spring concerts. She received a Diploma and Dance Department Certificate upon graduation. 2003-2004 - She was an instructor with Eagles Wings Dance Studio where she taught ballet, pointe and tap classes and acted as a liaison to the owner and director. 2003-2005 - Katrina was a Principal Dancer with the Benaiah Dance Company attending rehearsal during the week, performing solos in numerous concerts and choreographed numbers group and solo pieces. 2001-2005 - She was an instructor with the Bay Area Performing Arts Center teaching ballet, tap, pointe, hip-hop, and jazz classes. She functioned as a liaison to Director at performances and youth outreaches. She received a Pedagogy Certification and was awarded Best Choreography in 2003 and 2004. She also performed with the Exalt Tap, Omega Praise Team, and Day Three Hip-Hop Group. SARAH Pilates Mat/Reformer & Yoga Instructor Sarah joins the Dance Centre staff for the summer 2008. Sarah comes to Texas by way of Mississippi. While training in ballet and discovering modern at Belhaven College, Sarah first worked with Randall Flinn. After graduating, she moved to Houston to join his contemporary dance company, Ad Deum. While training and performing intensely for 4 years, Sarah gained much experience teaching all over the states and world, as well as becoming an accomplished teacher in Houston. Since leaving the company in 2007, Sarah has performed with Festival Ballet and Psohphonia Dance company. She also became certified in Mat and Reformer Pilates and was married in March 2008. 2001 Bachelor of Fine Arts (Ballet) Belhaven College, Jackson MS April 2008 Certifications Reformer 1 Module, Balanced Body Institute January 2007 Certification Continuing Education Credit , P-Fit Houston Feb 2005 Certification Pilates Mat Series, Pilates Lifestyles Houston Sept 2007 CPR/First Aid/AED, American Red Cross, Greater Houston Area 2003-2008 Dance Instructor, Houston Met Dance Center 2007-2008 LPAP Specialist, Rice University, Houston & Pilates & Group Exercise Leader, Trotter Family YMCA, Houston 2005-2007 Dance Instructor, Dufour Dance Center, Sugarland 2002-2006 Performing Artist and Instructor, Ad Deum Dance Company Houston Lauren Yoga, Pilates Instructor Lauren joins the Dance Centre teaching Yoga, May 2009 Currently a student at Texas A&M studying Sports Management. For the past couple of years she has been an Office Assistant in Fitness Development at the TAMU Student Recreation Center where she plans and schedules fitness workshops and lectures. She is also a Fitness instructor at the Rec where she choreographs and teaches six different fitness/aerobic classes. Lauren is AFAA certified as a Group Exercise Instructor and attends at least 30 hours of continuing education classes each year. She is certified by the American Heart Association for Heartsaver® AED Program. She is ACE Certified as a Personal Trainer & Pilates Specialty Training. She is also YogaFit® certified in the Teacher Training Program Level I. Lauren also received certification for Pilates Small Apparatus Specialty from SCW Fitness Education. Lauren's activities include: August 2007 - present: Recreation Center Student Advisory Council (where she acts as representative for Fitness Department); (2007) HOSTS - Help One Student To Succeed - developed reading skills in first graders behind in their reading levels and mentored students to promote the importance of education; (2006-2007) Diamond Darling - Participated in promotional activities for TAMU Baseball Team and worked in stadium during baseball games. Academically Lauren has been on the Dean's List at A&M 2006-2007-2008 and TAMU Academic Excellence Scholarship 2007-2009 and holds a 4.0 GPR KATIE Yoga I and Pilates Mat Instructor Katie joins the Dance Centre in the Summer of 2008 teaching Level I Yoga and Pilates Mat classes. She is a TAMU Meteorology Major and has been instructing Piyo classes for the past year with the University. She has AFAA Group Certification, Piyo certification and Yogafit® Level I. As a group certified instructor, she also teaches a variety of classes including indoor cycle, kickbox & weights. She is also a toddler caretaker encouraging their mental, emotional and physical development as well as communications skills - all the while being fun and engaging. Katie is an active member of TAMSCAMS (Texas A&M Students Chapter of the American Meteorological Society) and is a weather intern weekly with KBTX-TV. We are thrilled to welcome this young professional whose hometown is The Woodlands! KAYLENE Pilates Mat Instructor Kaylene joined the Dance Centre in the Fall of 2008 teaching Pilates Mat classes. Originally from San Marcos, Kaylene is a Texas A&M Student (Class of 2009 Marketing Major). She has been involved taking pilates classes for several years and received her Pilates Mat I certification Aug 2008. She is CPR certified & teaches pilates class at TAMU Rec also. VICTORIA Belly Dance Instructor Tori will began teaching Belly Dance classes at the Dance Centre in the Fall 2008. Victoria, a Biomedical Engineering student and belly dance instructor at Texas A&M University, began studying belly dance in 2006. She rapidly fell in love with the Middle Eastern movements and rhythms and began performing in College Station, Austin, Houston, and Corpus Christi. She competed in the 2007 International Belly Dance Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada and in June 2008, Victoria won 1st place at Bahaia’s Heart of Texas Belly Dance Competition in Austin, Texas. She choreographs her own performances and has developed solo and group pieces for other dancers. She has been instructed and strongly influenced by renowned teachers such as Viviane, Sadie, Virginia, Bahaia, Aziza, and Souhail Kaspar. She produces a Fall and Spring Recital Show locally in B/CS each year. 2008 - Yaa Halla Y'all People's Choice Rising Star & Bahaia's 2008 Miss Hot Texas 2009 - Texas A&M's International Week Best of Show JOE Country Western/Salsa/Swing/Ballroom Instructor Joe has been a Professional Dance Instructor since 1998 and works with the Dance Centre Since 2007 mostly on specialty projects both on and off site. His teaching background includes the areas of Ballroom, Swing, Latin, and Country & Western. His love for dancing and coaching started in 2002 when Joe and his partner won Division II couples becoming Div II Country & Western Dance Champions! Since then he has competed all over the world and has won numerous titles and awards in the ACDA & UCWDC competitive circuits. Not only was he successful at dancing in couples but also as the Coach of the Silver Spurs of Aggieland Caberet Dance Team (1999-2007). He led the Silver Spurs to a National Title in Caberet Teams in 1999 followed by many more. He has coached numerous Pro Am students and Couples to their own Champion Titles since he started in 1998.