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.

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

Mica Carson

Mica began her dance training near Austin, TX at the age of 8, training and performing as a member of a competitive dance company. Her instructing career began at age 15 as she assisted special needs dancers of the program 2dance2dream. She continued her dance training at Hope College, earning a BA in Dance Performance & Choreography. While attending she was in H2 Dance Company and toured the Midwest, performing modern and afro-fusion works by Matt Farmer and Crystal Frazier. Her favorite performances include tapping in Chicago Tap Theatre’s holiday show and also showcasing her choreography at the Centre Du Danse De Marias in Paris, France. Mica choreographed and danced for Outlet Dance Company In Chicago and instructed dancers both in studios and as a faculty member for Activate Your Artistry Dance Convention. Now an Austin resident, she looks forward to teaching to her home community! Click HERE for Ms. Mica’s schedule!

 

Erika Doyle

Erika Doyle is a recent graduate of Sam Houston State University where she received her BFA in dance. She is proficient in ballet, modern, contemporary, and jazz. Erika grew up in Austin, Texas where she began her professional training with Chamacos Dance Company. Erika has had the opportunity to work with Aletha Alexander, Adele Nickel, Aurelio Planes, Andrew Noble, and numerous other talented choreographers and dancers.

Rebecca Griffith

Rebecca originally began barre classes as a way to become a stronger dancer. Active in the Austin Belly Dance community for years she wanted to take her dance to another level.  She quickly fell in love with the challenging workouts and found her barre tribe at a local studio. After a few physical setbacks in dancing, she discovered that she could keep moving with barre and the love grew even deeper. When the chance to teach arose, she quickly jumped on the opportunity. Rebecca completed her certification to teach with Barre Intensity in early 2019 and has been teaching ever since.  She became a nutrition and wellness coach in early 2020 and loves helping clients reach their health and fitness goals. She brings her sense of humor, belly dance background, and love a good workout to her challenging classes. Rebecca enjoys reading, hiking, painting, and cooking when she’s not at the barre.

Click HERE for Ms. Rebecca’s schedule!

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!

Evelyn Joy Hoelscher

Originally from Texas, Evelyn Joy Hoelscher was a New York based contemporary dancer and choreographer. She graduated magna cum laude from Texas A&M University with a Dance Kinesiology and Psychology degree, where she was awarded 3 consecutive performance scholarships and presented choreography at the Southwest American College Dance Festival. As Founder and Artistic Director for Spaces of Fontana, her choreography has performed in theaters across New York City, Queens, Brooklyn, North Carolina, and Texas. In 2016 her duet “Connected Roots” performed for a Manhattan TV Station on a segment on Marital Love. 

After teaching dance for 7 years all across the state of Texas, Evelyn completed choreographic residencies at Long Island Performing Arts High School and taught Modern at Eliot Feld’s Ballet Tech in New York. In 2014, Evelyn traveled to Ethiopia teaching dance to orphans and street kids. She continued this mission through teaching yoga and dance at a midtown homeless shelter. With her love for all things movement, Evelyn also taught Pilates, yoga and meditation to residential and corporate buildings in NYC.

As a dancer, she has performed freelance and company work with many choreographers, including Jane Weiner, Mark Dendy, Rod Rodgers Dance Company, Monica Hogan Dance Works, Lydia Hance, Dina Denis, Jee Uhn Ahn and Isadora Duncan in theaters such as the HERE Theater, Judson Memorial, New York Live Arts and Dixon Place. She also performed with Smashworks Dance Collective and was in the original cast of the Off-Broadway show ‘SHE: a choreoplay’ by Jinah Parker. Click HERE for Ms. Evelyn’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!

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!

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!

Lisa Schreck

Lisa Schreck has always had a lifetime love of learning and dance! This started for her in her hometown of Cedar Falls, IA and led her to Ball State University where she graduated with her BFA in Dance. During her time at Ball State, she had the opportunity to perform across multiple genres in shows such as; Swing! The MusicalA Chorus Line (Bebe u/s, Dance Captain), modern dance concerts, and collaboratively in student led grant projects. In 2017 she worked closely with Sidra Bell on the project i2i: impact to innovation, an immersive evening length concert. After graduating, Lisa moved to Indianapolis, IN where she performed in the annual IPL Yuletide Celebration, The Fringe Festival, and Flourish: A Modern Dance Showcase; a recurring concert at the White Rabbit Cabaret. In addition to performing, Lisa taught dance to students from ages 2 to adult. She is so excited to be in Austin and share her love of dance! Click HERE for Ms. Lisa’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!

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!