Clayton Cross works nationwide as a choreographer, performer and master teacher. He recently accepted a position as Choreographer in Residence for the 2016 season with Light Opera Works in Chicago where he choreographed Guys and Dolls as well as performed in The Fantastick's (The Mute) and Damn Yankees (Ensemble). For the 2016 season at Light Opera Works Clayton will Choreograph My Fair Lady, perform and choreograph Mame as well as the Opera Die Fledermaus. Clayton also performed at Marriott Theatre in La Cage Aux Folles as a Cagelle. He served for five years as artistic advisor, board member & choreographer for Renegade Dance Architects. Clayton is a master teacher for M.A. Dance, which is a Texas based traveling convention circuit, where he has been choreographing, teaching, and judging for the last 17 years. Throughout his 20 year career as a dancer he has worked with Robert Battle, Fernando Bujones, Sherry Zunker, Paul Taylor & Anne Reinking. Clayton’s television credits include “Every Dancer Has a Story,” a PBS special on the River North Chicago Dance Company, where he was a company member for 10 seasons and toured nationally, and internationally to Germany, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. Clayton Cross is originally from Midland, TX where he received his early training from La Petite Dance Co., Coleman Academy, and the Midland Community Theatre. Clayton holds a B.F.A. in Ballet and Modern Dance from Texas Christian University.
Studio Owner/Company Director
Regan Jurick
Regan Mann
Fredericksburg, TX
Emily Shock is a teacher, studio owner and choreographer from Oklahoma. Her choreography and students have been featured on “So You Think You Can Dance”, “Live to Dance” with Paula Abdul, ESPN, web-based reality show “Step by Step with the Westmoore Jags”, “The Regis and Kelly Show”, and in the Guinness Book of World Records. Her students have been, and continue to be, nationally recognized as dancers, models and scholars. Emily has choreographed for professional companies, “Truth in Progress”, “The Sparrow Dance Company” and “Dare to be Soul”. She was a Capezio A.C.E. award finalist in 2010 and had the honor of choreographing for the “Art for Life” show in Los Angeles and “Dancing Downtown at the Joyce” in New York City for Dancers Responding to AIDS. Her choreography set on dancers from East Coast Movement won the 2009 Presentation Award at the DRA event. Emily is a master class teacher and convention teacher for many workshops, studios and conventions across the nation. Her teaching techniques have been featured in Dance Teacher Magazine. She is the director of Applause Studios in Oklahoma City and is working to bring contemporary dance into the major art scene in Oklahoma. She hopes to provide opportunities for dancers to make a living doing what they love in the place that they love.
Emily Shock
Moore, OK
Regan Jurick began studying dance at Miss Rhonda's School of Dance at the age of 2 where she trained with Leanna Sparacino, Patsy Swayze, Steven Boyd and Savion Glover. She then continued her dance education at Texas Christian University, performing with the TCU Showgirls and graduating with a BFA in Modern Dance with an emphasis in ballet. Starting in 1996, she began working as a instructor, judge and choreographer for MA Dance teaching students all over the continental United States and Hawaii. Still yearning for more dance education, Regan moved to New York City and studied dance at The Broadway Dance Center and STEPS on Broadway. She has danced in Houston on Janet Jackson's Velvet Rope Tour, performed with Contemporary Dance Fort Worth and Sparacino Company Dancers and worked as a stand in for Christina Milian in Man of the House. However, Regan’s passion lies in teaching her students. She taught dance as a high school drill team director and at numerous studios in the Houston area. In 2003, she began working for The Woodlands Dance Force, eventually taking over the studio in 2006. Under Regan's direction TWDC has earned National Championships, Top Studio awards, & numerous choreography awards. Regan’s students have gone on to join the following college dance programs and dance teams: Dallas Cowboys Rhythm & Blues Dancers, Houston Rockets Power Dancers, OKC Thunder Girls, Columbia School of the Arts in Chicago, Princeton University’s Expressions Dance & Disiac Dance Companies, University of Texas at Austin Pom Squad, Texas A&M University Pom Squad, TCU Showgirls, Texas Tech Pom Squad, LSU Tiger Girls, Cal State Fullerton Dance Team, Sam Houston State University Orange Pride, Texas State Dance Team, UNT Dance Team & more. She looks forward to adding to this list yearly. But most of all, Regan enjoys being a mom to her son, Maddox, & daughter, Meadow.
Regan Mann has been in the studio since she was born and has continued studying dance and choreography throughout her life. While attending boarding school, she studied dance and theatre at St. Stephens High School in Austin. Regan continued taking dance classes during college from The University of Texas, Tapestry, and a number of other organizations before graduating from St. Edward's University in 2005. Shortly after, Regan began working for Showstopper National Dance Competition, along with teaching for several studios in Austin, Tx including the highly acclaimed Tapestry. In 2007, she made the move back to Fredericksburg to teach full time for Ms. Rhonda's School of Dance. She has had the opportunity to study with amazing companies, teachers, and choreographers throughout her years, some of the closest being Bo Wagner, Al Gilbert, TOKYO, Acia Gray & Jason Janas, Mike Minery, & Anthony Morigerato. Regan is proud to have received the "Choreography Award" in numerous different competitions & categories for 8 years consecutively. Her choreography and students continue to win top honors and scholarships in regional and national competitions each year. In addition to being the director of Fredericksburg Dance Company and Ms. Rhonda's School of Dance, Regan also choreographs for other successful competitive Texas dance studios. Regan has a strong love and passion for dance and for her students, which is represented in every aspect of her teaching and life, and although dance is her passion, she is most proud to be the mother of an amazing little girl, Wrenna.
Caitlin Franco graduated with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Sam Houston State University with emphases in Choreography and Pedagogy. At Sam she was mentored under Andy and Dionne Noble from NobleMotion Dance, Dana Nicolay with Dana Nicolay Dance Works, and had the privilege of guest dancing for Astrid Von Ussar, Dominic Walsh, Paul Taylor II Company, and Erin Wreck. Once graduated, Caitlin relocated to San Diego where she professionally danced for 3 years. Within her 3 years, she became a soloist for Visionary Dance Theatre and worked with several companies including San Diego Dance Theater, Somebodies Dance Theater, and Blythe Barton Dance. Aside from dancing on stage, Caitlin is equally passionate for choreographing. In 2005 she began choreographing her own solos for competition, which awarded her 3 national titles. Since then she has been personally selected to represent SHSU at ACDFA in 2012 with her piece Let Me Be, and won “Best Ensemble” for her piece Distance Traveled/Distance Remaining at the San Diego Young Choreographer Showcase in 2014. She also has had great success at recent competitions as her choreography has placed in the top overalls and winning several judges awards. Since the age of 3, Caitlin has dedicated most of her life to dance and has never looked back. She trained locally at North Harris Performing Arts under Ken McCullough, Amy Cain, Dawn Dippel, and Randal Flinn. During the time she danced competitively she won several Regional and National Titles for her solos. Caitlin enjoys all aspects of dance, but the one she is most passionate about is…teaching. She loves teaching dancers of all ages and enjoys watching them grow and seeing them fall in love with the art like she has.
Bios & Pictures of more of our amazing staff COMING SOON!!!
Nicole Dominique Signoret
Kimberly Blazek
BreLynn Mellon
Cesar Gordillo
Karly Wilkins
Ballet Instructor
Melanie Hovis
Melanie Hovis began her training at Live Oak Dance Center, and later Ballet Austin Academy and Ballet Austin's Professional Division. In Austin, she had the opportunity to perform several of Stephen Mill's ballets. Her training also includes summer intensives at Ballet Austin, Texas Ballet Theater, American Ballet Theatre, and Joffrey Ballet School. While dancing in Austin Melanie was introduced to the art of educating young dancers, and found her strong passion for teaching there. She has now taught for Ballet Austin's Academy, Butler Center for Dance and Fitness, and Leaps no Bounds. Melanie recently relocated to Houston and is excited to bring her love of dance and education to the community.
Ashley Maniha graduated from Sam Houston State University, where she attained a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. Ashley danced competitively with Dancin’ Bluebonnets from 1998-2003. Ashley provided dance instruction for competitive participants ages Pre-K through 6th grade in jazz, ballet, pom, military, and lyrical, where they received national titles. Ashley then danced competitively and was a dance instructor at The Woodlands Dance Force from 2003-2006. Throughout Ashley's competitive career she received regional and national titles. After graduating from
Montgomery High School in 2006 Ashley went to Kilgore College where she was a World Famous Kilgore College Rangerette. While a Rangerette she performed in New York, Chicago, Connecticut, at the Indy 500, the Dallas Winter Senators Ball, and many more performances. After attending Kilgore College Ashley went to Sam Houston State University; where she was on the Orange Pride Dance Team. While on Orange Pride they won a National title in Daytona, Florida. Ashley has been a guest choreographer at Montgomery High School for the past six years and a private instructor. Currently
Ashley is the Director of E3 Electric.
Studio & Company Instructor
Caitlin Franco
Recent Guest Instructors:
Ashley Maniha
Studio & Company Instructor
Clayton Cross
Chicago, IL
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