FACULTY

Originally from the Island of Guam, "Miss Kristan" has been teaching and choreographing for over 25 years.  After moving to Texas in 1999, she became the director of a local dance studio’s competitive team in The Woodlands, repeatedly winning top recognition at national competitions for her choreography. Miss Kristan was trained on Guam with SKIP, Guam’s most elite dance company, by faculty from the Philippines, Japan, and the Mainland U.S., and also over several years under industry notables such as Ray Leeper (of NUVO), Tina D’ Amato-Sidoni, and more.  In the summers, she competed all over the United States, and performed at major venues such as the Jazz World Congress in D.C.  She attended the University of Hawaii on a dance scholarship, danced professionally in Hawaii and New York City, and has choreographed and taught for several local performing arts troupes, drill teams, high schools, as well as SHSU.  She also directed the casting and choreography for country singer Clay Walker's concerts. In addition to Miss Kristan's love of art in dance, she also loves art in words, which is why she not only holds degrees  from the University of Hawaii and SHSU, but also a Ph.D in literature from The University of Houston. She and her husband Sam Ballard officially opened TADA in 2014, and with gratitude have seen it expand and thrive thanks to TADA's incredible faculty, dancers, and families.  They live in The Woodlands with their two children Addison and Bailey. 

Stephanie Graff has been the Administrative Director since TADA's inception in 2014, and also played a key role in researching and establishing its  Customer Service Management System and database.   Stephanie has a BA in Psychology from Tulane University.  She is originally from Dallas but has been in Houston and The Woodlands area for 25 years.  She has two daughters, one a Junior in college and one a Junior at College Park High School, both previous Team TADA dancers.  Stephanie has recently pursued a career in real estate - visit her for info!  If you have billing or account questions you can contact her at administrative@dancetada.com. 

  Jessica Norwood is the Executive Director of TADA. Jessica grew up in Houston, where she trained with North Harris Performing Arts, an icon in the community for excellence in dance, eventually becoming a teacher and a partner/owner in the NHPA facility.  She became a member of the performing arts company REVOLVE, where she had the opportunity to work with an array of prominent dance figures such as Wes Veldink and Mia Michaels of NYC, Randal Flinn of Dance Ad Deum, as well as Houston Ballet's Barbara Bears, Fred Stroble, and Naomi Glass. In 2009 she became a Houston Texans Cheerleader, eventually becoming a captain and choreographer; she currently continues to give the cheerleaders technique classes.   She has performed at venues and outreach programs all over the world and is exemplary in an array of disciplines.  Miss  Jessica was the first teacher hired at TADA in 2014.  In addition to being a teacher she was also first TADA's recreational program director, later TADA's competitive team director for many successful years, and now is the Executive Director of TADA. She has two beautiful girls, Parker and Jaden!    You may email her at TADA@dancetada.com

  Amy Leonards is Director of TADA's Ballet Program and holds a BA in the Performing Arts.   Originally from Louisiana, Amy is classically trained in ballet, tap, and jazz, with a specialization in teaching Vaganova, Cecchetti, and RAD ballet methods.   Miss Amy developed and implemented ballet curriculum as ballet director over several years for two performing arts schools in Los Angeles and San Franciso before joining us at TADA, while also pursuing a professional career in theater. She is a proud member of the Actors' Equity Association, and some of her favorite roles include Hope in Anything Goes, Rose in Enchanted April (World Premiere), Marian in The Music Man, Maggie in A Chorus Line, and Jellylorum in Cats, to name a few. Amy also has international, national, and regional commercial and print credits, including Ford, Legal Zoom, LeapFrog, and Salesforce.  We are honored and proud to acquire her as Ballet Director in 2021!   

View more about Miss Amy on her website at https://www.amyfranklinleonards.com/

You may email her at ballet@dancetada.com 

 Robyn Hinojosa is TADA's Administrative Director for the competitive program - for both Team TADA and Showstoppers.  She has been an instructor in the local area for over 25 years.   Originally from Conroe, Miss Robyn has been teaching and choreographing award-winning dances for TADA's competitive dance team for many years. In addition to her love of teaching, she is also CPR Certified and OSHA trained, and was a Pediatric Dental Assistant for 25 years.  Robyn is the proud mom of two recent graduates.  Her senior Abi danced on the Elite team at TADA, and is now majoring in the Performing Arts at Oklahoma City University.  Miss Robyn is outstanding in creativity and professionalism, and we are grateful to have her on staff! Her email address is team@dancetada.com 

Elizabeth Troxler is a NYC based director & choreographer with a passion to create stories full of emotion and heart.  She has performed principal roles in ballets such as Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Les Sylphide & Don Quioxte with the Nacional Ballet de Panama and other classical companies.  Elizabeth has performed in national tours and regional theater productions of Brigadoon, Sweet Charity, Beauty & the Beast, Mame and many more.  Elizabeth has directed and choreographed new works (Daughter of Society, The Emily Dickinson Project - On This Wondrous Sea), many musicals (Cabaret, Bright Star, Matilda), various ballets (The Snow Queen, The Nutcracker, The Goose That Laid The Golden Egg), and a recent (COVID safely filmed) dance production entitled (Dancing Through…) in conjunction with The Tank & many NYC, regional & Broadway choreographers & performers.  She is a certified teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance and guest teaches and coaches students around the world.  As a master teacher, she seeks to empower dancers of all levels to create a multifaceted versatility and strength of character that spans not only various dance styles, but also seeps into life.

Email her at ybc@dancetada.com

 Evelyn Toh is Team TADA's Artistic Director and lead for the Pre-Professional Collegiate Program.  Evelyn is a Visiting Assistant Professor at SHSU, a Company Member for Noblemotion Dance, and she holds not only a B.F.A in Dance from The Boston Conservatory, but also an MFA in Dance from SHSU.  She also holds an Advanced 2 RAD Certification with Distinction.  In addition to teaching master classes locally and abroad, Evelyn has also taught ballet and modern at Singapore's School of the Arts and at Sam Houston State University.  She was recently recognized by SHSU for Outstanding Teaching.  Evelyn has performed with the John Mead Dance Company, Ballet Rox, Nimbus Dance Works, Transitory Sound and Movement Collective, Joshua Manculich’s Whirlwind, MOMIX, and more, and has performed all across the world in Europe and Asia.  Evelyn’s choreographic work has been presented at Barnstorm Dance Festival (TX), T.H.E Dance Company’s New Vision (Singapore), ACDA South-Central Gala, and Dance Gallery Festival (TX).  Evelyn was a company member with Noblemotion Dance for many years.  You may email her at TeamAD@dancetada.com

Jenette Anzalone holds a BA in Ballet and Contemporary dance from the La Salle-SIA College of the Arts.  A veteran teacher of over 20 years and the owner of Dance Circle Studios in Singapore, she has taught jazz, contemporary, hip hop, ballroom, and ballet at various international schools, including La Salle-SIA and the National University of Singapore.  She has choreographed and performed in several major productions including Broadway Our Way, Tune In and Turn Out, Sunrise, Sunset, among others, and was the lead dancer in Mercury Rising, the Musical and That’s Kit.  She also starred in John Meade Dance Company’s production ofIcons.  Throughout her career she received numerous accolades, including honors of distinction at the UK Royal Academy of Dance and the highest awards at The Dance Excellence International Dance Festival in Los Angeles.  Jenette has an incredibly passionate and enthusiastic style of teaching all of her students, toddlers through adults!  She has been teaching at TADA since 2015, and is currently TADA's Showstoppers Program Artistic Director.  Email her at showstoppers@dancetada.com

Douchane is a native Houstonian and has been dancing for 16 years. He found the love for dance in 5th grade where he then joined a dance company named, “FLY KIDS” they performed at Dance Houston, MA Dance, World of Dance, and many Houston events. He then wanted to take his dancing further and joined Soreal Dance Studio. Since dancing at Soreal he has had the opportunity to train in many genres of hip hop dance and compete in many competitions such as Body Rock and World of Dance. He also was a director for University of Texas at San Antonio’s Filipino Student Association modern dance team. Now he is resident teacher at Soreal. Douchane’s main goal for his students is for them to have a space where they can just be free and be their authentic self, and most importantly have fun!

 ​Ana Acevedo comes to us from El Salvador, where she received her training at the National School of Dance, Morena Celarie.  She was a member of the prestigious Teatro de Danza Contemporanea  (contemporary ballet company based in El Salvador) for many years, dancing to sold-out performances throughout El Salvador and the United States.  She was honored to appear as a soloist in several performances including Paquita, Don Quixote, and Swan Lake among others.  In 2005 she received her certification at the Royal Ballet Academy in London to teach the most advanced levels of ballet and pointe, and to submit students for testers for the RAD Global Examination.  She has directed and choreographed numerous ballets, including The Nutcracker, Cats, and A Midsummer Night's Dream, and was the Director of Ballet at HFAC in Houston.   

Rebecca Bryan, originally from Charlotte, NC, has been teaching dance to students of all ages for over 30

years. She has been a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance since 1996 and been a mentor to other teachers studying for their certification. She continues to enter students for

examinations in the Grades and Vocational levels consistently earning high marks, ranging from Merit to High Distinction. Ms. Bryan is an accomplished choreographer. Her original and staged repertoire includes Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Nutcracker, Of Kingdoms and Fairies, The Snow Child and many more. She has also choreographed overall award-winning pieces and coached students to compete at leading competitive organizations such as, YAGP, Revel, NYCDA, Groove, Nexstar, Platinum, In10sity and others. In 2017 she choreographed the opera “Vanessa” with the Sarasota Opera. Currently Ms. Bryan owns Sarasota Dance Academy in Sarasota, FL. She oversees all their programs and competitive teams. She is also working on certifications in Progressing Ballet Technique, Acrobatic Arts, and Adult safe practice of dance in “Silver Swans” of the RAD. Ms. Bryan enjoys passing on the love of ballet and all forms of dance to future generations of dancers. She also loves working with dancers one on one, coaching solos and ballet variations, building technique, and dance conditioning/flexibility training. She is very excited to bring her passion of dance and unique teaching style to TADA, where she hopes to inspire her students,  small to tall, and nurture their love of dance.

Davis Stumberg graduated from the University of North Texas with his BA in Dance in 2014.   Davis' areas of specialty include modern, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, aerial arts, and acrobatics.  His teaching style is one of a kind, energetic and uplifting, and he often incorporates elements of balance, strength, and flexibility into his teaching method.  He is often requested at TADA, as his love of teaching and care for his students is truly magnetic.  Aside from his dance training he was a collegiate and competitive cheerleader, and has taught gymnastics and cheerleading for many years.   He has been a guest artist for Noble Motion, and performed in the Houston Grand Opera’s productions Rusalka and Faust. He has performed professionally with Open Dance Project and FRAME dance, and performs frequently at various venues locally and nationally.  

Courtney Meier grew up dancing at Boni’s Dance and Performing Arts studio in The Woodlands, Tx. She took her love for dance and performing with her to college at Whitworth University in Washington. After spending three years in Washington, Courtney ended up at Dallas Powerhouse of Dance. It was here where Courtney discovered her love for teaching kids. She was Assistant Director of the Power Squad performing team, Power House Mini competitive team and taught many of the recreational classes. Since moving back home, Courtney has taught at many area studios and has worked with numerous students to strengthen their technique and competition choreography. She is excited to call TADA home and looks forward to working with the kids. 

Wesley Cordova started dancing at the age of eight, and was instructed in various forms of dance at North Harris Performing Arts. While teaching at N.H.P.A Wesley became a member of Revolve Dance Company where he worked with Amy Cain and Dawn Dippel. Additionally, he was a cast member of Gothic South Production's, Revolve on Camera; a series of several dance films, directed by Benjamin Epps. He also performed in several East meets West productions, performed along side the Houston Symphony Orchestra, and has worked under Wes Veldink, the creative director of the Wes Veldink Movement in NYC. While acquiring his B.F.A. in dance at Sam Houston State University, he became a member of Noble Motion Dance and performed with the company for three years.  Most recently he was a performer and dance captain for two Houston Grand Opera productions. He has studied under; Lindsey McGill, Randall Flinn, Elijah Alhaji Gibson, Andy Noble, Dionne Noble, Manuel Vigoulle, Amy Cain, and Dawn Dippel.

Lidice Nuñez was born in Havana, Cuba. She studied and graduated from the National School of Art and the Superior Institute of Art of Cuba (where she was also a Professor) with Honors and became a first dancer and principal choreographer at the Contemporary Dance Company of Cuba. She studied choreography in Paris under the auspices of the Brownstone Foundation and has the Ulpam Emshej Diploma Certification from the Hebrew University. She was a guest choreographer for the Mexico City Ballet Company, which was nominated for the Lunas Awards of the National Auditorium in 2017. She is also a member of the International Dance Council CID UNESCO.  Ms. Lidice has performed worldwide, most significantly at The International Dance Festivals in Sintra, Portugal, Northwestfalia and NRW, Germany, and Padua, Italy, the II Dance Bienal, LE FENICE in Venice, Italy, the International Dance Season at the Harbourtfront Center -

Toronto & Ottawa, Canada, the Festival Les Meridiannes Toulouse, France, the International Dance Festival "Itálica" in Sevilla, Spain, the Netherlands Dance Festival in The Hague, Holland, the  Festival de danse Cannes, France, and  the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès.

Ms. Lidice was a professor at the Superior Institute of Art and at the National School of Dance in Cuba, and is a member of the National Council of Performing Arts  and also a member of the National Union of Cuban Writers and Artists.  She has received numerous awards, including the high distinction awarded by the Ministry of Culture of Cuba: Distinction for National Culture, in addition to the First award for choreography and interpretation awarded by the Art Criticism. Her work as a choreographer is registered in the Book of Honor of the Great Theater of Havana, awarded by a jury that was chaired by the famous Alicia Alonso.  Ms. Lídice was awarded the Outstanding Choreographer award at the International Ballet Dance Competition Open America 2022, Miami, Florida. Her choreography for Feijóo Ballet School, were also awarded many accolades and high level Diamond acheeivements.

Ms. Lidice was recently invited to teach at the Feijoo Ballet School, and  choreograph at the Award Gala at the Dance Open America 2023 international contest in Puerto Rico.  Her students include dancers such as Matthew Rushing- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater ; Miguel Altunaga-Rambert dance Company; Victor Alexander artistic director of the Ruth Page Center; Cervilio Amador-National Ballet of Cuba-Cincinnati Ballet, and many others.

Meghan Sinclair is a versatile creative artist, educator and choreographer. Her formative training included classical ballet, jazz, contemporary and tap. She trained under master teachers, including Rebecca Bryan RAD RTS, Gillian Davis ARAD RTS, Delise Teamer RAD RTS, and Catriona Steel RAD RTS. She studied with Phillip Burnham while training for her Vocational RAD exams. Over the years she performed a multitude of variations, contemporary and jazz works.  Meghan has 20 years experience teaching ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary and tap to students of all levels.  Not only have her ballet students earned several Merits of Distinction and solo placement awards with RAD exams, her students have also earned top awards, overall placements, and workshop scholarships from conventions and competitions including: Youth America Grand Prix, NYCDA, 24Seven, Jump, Revel, Radix, and Dance Educators of America, to name a few.  She is Acrobatic Arts certified, a founding IDEA member, and studio owner of Sarasota Academy of Dance.  Meghan has encompassed the passion of discipline, love of performance and the heart and patience for teaching. 

  Ms. Moy brings a depth of knowledge, insight, joy and inspiration to her teaching that is matched only by her unwavering quest to find the best for her students. An acclaimed dancer of extraordinary versatility, Ms. Moy’s career has taken her around the world. With the Boston Ballet Company, under the Direction of Founder E. Virginia Williams she has danced the works of: Petipa, Balanchine, Agnes de Mille, Paul Taylor, Merce Cunningham, and others. She has also danced for Ohio Ballet, Spokane Ballet, Rhode Island Festival Ballet, Ballet Theater of Boston, and the Boston Dance Company. The New York Times wrote of her featured performance as Amour, in Rudolf Nureyev’s “Don Quixote”, “.. Stephanie Moy’s great success as the Cupid figure, A more darting, mischievous and totally alive in the classical spirit, was well deserved!”. These are qualities her students might well recognize in her classes. She has taught at the Boston School of Ballet, Boston Conservatory, Ballet Theater of Boston, Ohio Ballet & Festival Ballet of RI. In addition, she was the director of the American Academy of Dance in Mansfield MA from 2001 to 2014. Ms. Moy’s charisma is matched by her professionalism, making her classes inspiring for all who study with her. 

Lisa Toups received her initial dance training from dance pioneer, Gertrude

LeBlanc, in Louisiana. At age 18, she opened her first dance studio in

Lafayette, L’école De Danse. In 1986, she opened a second studio in

Broussard, La., Morgan Street Dance Company, which is now owned and

operated by her sister.

In 1996, she and her husband, Billy, moved to Marietta, Georgia, where she

became owner and Artistic Director of Ruth Mitchell Dance Studio, now

Georgia Dance Conservatory.

Lisa's students have been finalists of YAGP and DMDA's National Miss and

Mister Dance competitions; and have performed with professional ballet and

contemporary companies, on Broadway and in touring shows.

After 45 years of owning and operating dance studios, she and her husband

retired to the North Georgia Mountains. In 2021, they moved to Tomball Texas

to be near the oldest of their three sons and two of their seven grandchildren.

 Zoe Boyd has studied and taken classes in tap, jazz, ballet, musical theater, lyrical, jazz funk, and contemporary for 15 years. She has, also, been able to perform works choreographed by several artists such as Mia Michaels, Mary Grace McNally, Eoghan Dillon, Easton Blake, and more. Zoe has had the opportunity to teach various styles in ages ranging from 5-18 at Texas Academy of Dance Arts since 2020. In December of 2023, she will receive her Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts in Dance with a minor in General Business from Sam Houston State University. She cannot wait to work with your amazing dancers!

 Ella Anzalone has been dancing since she was just two years old. Originally from Singapore, she trained in many disciplines including ballet, flamenco, jazz, contemporary and more. Ella joined TADA in 2014 and quickly moved up the ranks in group and individual competitive dance. She has taken training from leading industry choreographers Brian Friedman, Eoghan Dillon, Mia Michaels, Rudy Abreu, and more, and inspiration from TADA faculty including her mother, Jenette. Along with being awarded Dancer of the Year at Streetz Nationals 2019, Ella has toured the US extensively with Streetz dance convention and others, Ella has performed professionally at industry events including Formality Live in Los Angeles, CA and national events. Since then, Ella has been honored to be TADA’s first student-faculty member and is now teaching and creating choreographed dances for TADAs competitive teams.  
 

  Beth Benjamin was born in Philadelphia, but is now a Texan at heart! She started her ballet training at age 10 after performing professionally in the role of Nagana in the musical South Pacific. It was there she first saw professional dancers who inspired her to want to dance!

She was directed to train at the now Central Pa. Youth Ballet in Carlisle ,Pa. She trained with Marcia Dale Weary ,Vaganova method ,from age 11-17 dancing many roles from various Ballets including the  Nutcracker,  Les Syphides , Coppelia to Balanchine ballets such as Ramonda variations.
From there she was asked to join the Pa. Ballet Company as an apprentice and danced the role of Clara in the Nutcracker for next 2 years. She was under contract her second year and danced in ballets such as Symphony in C, The 4 Temperaments and Les Syphides.
     The third year she broke both feet and thus ended her short lived ballet career. After that, Beth turned to teaching ballet . She has taught classical Ballet for over 30 years. During that time she taught classes for CPYB summer courses, Harrisburg Ballet, Campbelltown school of Ballet- owning that for a year-, Sarita’s School of Dance and Fitness America.
      After having her children ,she discovered Pilates! Getting her first certification in Mat Pilates in 2008 ,Beth has trained extensively with Stott Pilates on all Pilates equipment and has specialties in pre and post natal Pilates and works with rehab to athletic conditioning.
She has certifications in Modern Pilates and Total Barre. She had instructed at various fitness Centers, Barre and Pilates studios before becoming the Pilates and Barre instructor at The Wellness Center on the ExxonMobil Campus where she instructed from 2015-2023, just retiring this past January.
Beth is excited to be teaching adult ballet again and mat Pilates class  for TADA ! 

Natasha Wakim graduated from Oklahoma City University with a Bachelor of Science in American Dance Pedagogy and is an RWID Certified Instructor. She is currently pursuing her Master of Fine Arts at Sam Houston State University. Natasha’s areas of interest include (in no particular order) Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Creative Movement, and Youth Acro. She creates a positive welcoming environment for all students she has the opportunity to teach and enables an experience that fosters a love and appreciation of dance. Most recently, Natasha has performed professionally in Grand Carnivale at Worlds of Fun, Kansas City and TEXAS! Outdoor Musical in Palo Duro Canyon. She is thrilled to be a part of the TADA faculty and can’t wait to meet your dancer!

Abi Hinojosa has been dancing for 17 years and is currently a junior at Oklahoma City University studying American Dance Pedagogy. She was a member of TADA’s competitive company for 5 years and worked with choreographers such as Mia Michaels, Blake McGrath, Rudy Abreu, etc. During her time on the company, Abi was a team captain and assisted several classes. Since being in college, she has been professionally training in ballet, jazz, and tap and has performed in 5 shows, as well as performing hip-hop routines with the Pep dancers team. Abi has learned so much through her pedagogy and choreography classes at OKCU and is excited to put her education to use!