Dance Dynamics prides itself on its staff of instructors. Most of our staff members have been teaching with us from five to ten years! Our teachers share the same teaching philosophy and implement a strong work ethic within our program.

Melanie Newell - Melanie, co-owner of Dance Dynamics, has been dancing most of her life, starting with her first dance recital at the age of 2! She trained for 17 years with the late Almyra “Mikie” Jackson, who was a June Taylor dancer in New York. She studied her Broadway style of tap and jazz, along with classical ballet. Melanie trained as a gymnast most of her growing up years. As a young adult, she began classes with the Jackson Ballet and studied jazz with Ballet Mississippi. As a dance major at Hinds Jr. College in Jackson, Mississippi, she was a member of the nationally acclaimed “Hinds Highsteppers” collegiate dance team and was also a basketball cheerleader. She has instructed dance, tumbling, and gymnastics for over 27 years. Melanie started Dance Dynamics in 1997 and has coached her K-3 team to the title of “National Champion”, also receiving many awards for choreography in Pom, Novelty, and Hip Hop. She also directs solos who have consistently finaled and won regionally, as well as winning the title of MA “State Champion”.

Lauren Martin - This season will be Lauren’s 9th year as a Director and Co-Owner of Dance Dynamics. While a student, she danced as an officer and a soloist on Dance Dynamics for five years. She was an accomplished soloist, being a solo finalist and solo winner at numerous contests throughout her dance career. Upon graduation, she went on to be on staff with American Dance/Drill Team. Over the years, she coached her teams to numerous “Best in Class” awards, as well as top honors for choreography with American Dance/Drill Team, Marching Auxiliaries, Crowd Pleasers and Miss Drill Team Texas. In addition to teams, she has directed several National Champion Soloists. Lauren continues her dance education by taking annual trips to NYC and taking classes at the famous Broadway Dance Center.

Christine Malczewskyj - Christine is going on her 13th year with Dance Dynamics. She has been teaching since her days as the Co-Captain of the award-winning Orange Pride Dance Team at Sam Houston State University. Christine has been educated in the field of dance by numerous instructors for over 24 years. Christine has been instructed by choreographers of Janet Jackson, Brittany Spears, and N Sync, to name a few. She was also a Houston Texans Cheerleader for 2 years, where she got the opportunity to dance for performers such as Kid Rock, Chingy, Clay Walker, and Toby Keith. Christine specializes in lyrical, hip hop, contemporary, and jazz choreography. Throughout the many competition seasons, her routines have won countless awards and she has coached many solos to National Championship titles.

Jenny Allen - Jenny is in her 10th year as a Director for Dance Dynamics. Jenny danced for Klein Forest High School for 4 years and upon graduation, started work for Showmakers of America teaching summer dance camps. Throughout her college years, she danced for the Orange Pride Dance Team at Sam Houston State University, 2 of which they won 1st and 2nd place at UDA nationals competitions. Before starting with Dance Dynamics, she Directed another private team called “Intense Energy”. Jenny has always had a passion for dancing and choreographing and she attributes her success and accomplishments to all the hard work of the girls on the Dance Dynamics teams. All of Jenny’s routines have had tremendous success at competition, winning numerous Judges and Choreography awards for top ranking routines.

Ashley Cotter - Ashley has danced for over 23 years with various top name instructors, such as Wade Robson, Marty Kudelka, and many other famous L.A. choreographers. She graduated with a dance degree from Sam Houston State University. She was a Houston Texans Cheerleader for 3 years. Ashley has been with Dance Dynamics for 7 years, specializing in contemporary, jazz and hip hop routines. Her choreography has received many awards at contests and her solos have been very successful, placing and winning in solo finals.

Melissa Powell - Melissa began dance in Lafayette, Louisiana at the age of three at Gerami's School of Dance. She studied ballet, jazz, and tap. While growing up in Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia, Melissa was a member of the Oak Ridge Liberty Babes, Comeaux High School Flares Dance Team, National Champion Magic Moods Showchoir, and Esprit Showchoir. In college, Melissa took dance classes, but majored in education. She started a college dance team at North Georgia College. Melissa held leadership/officer positions in her performing groups which ultimately led to her passion for choreography. Melissa has been teaching show choir, drill team/dance team, flag/band drills, and aerobics for almost 20 years. She has coached cheerleading at Hudson and The Woodlands High School. Melissa is a Special Education teacher at The Woodlands High School and runs Powell's Pizazz on the side for her show choir choreography. This will be Melissa's 5th year with Dance Dynamics. She enjoys sharing her love of music and dance with the dancers at Dance Dynamics.

Brittany Kowalick - Brittany has been dancing since the age of three at numerous studios in the Houston area, including being an officer and winning solo awards for Dance Dynamics competitive teams for 5 years. Throughout this time she took regular trips to New York to take classes at The New York Broadway Dance Center. After graduating she moved to California where she took classes at well renowned Los Angeles and San Diego dance studios such as The Edge Performing Arts, Millenium Dance Complex, and Culture Shock. She also attended MiraCosta College and took jazz, yoga, and pilates classes from choreographer Dave Massey. She is currently furthering her dance education at the collegiate level. We are excited to have Brittany back to share her knowledge of dance with the students at Dance Dynamics.

Whitney Newell - Whitney started dancing at the age of 6, and grew up dancing at Dance Dynamics. Whitney has an extensive background in dance, gymnastics and tumbling. She won numerous titles, the most prestigious being that of National champion soloist at the ADTS Nationals in Denton, Texas held at the University of North Texas. Whitney was a competitive gymnast, winning all of the 1999 Texas regional competitions, the 1999 Texas South State competition. and finally that same year in 1999, going on to win the title of Texas State Champion. Whitney was a cheerleader from 7th through 12th (varsity) at The Woodlands High School. She has studied dance under the masters such as Frank Hatchett in New York, Steven Boyd, and hip hop choreographer Rhapsody at the Broadway Dance Centre in New York.

Chris Stafford - Chris has taught gymnastics, tumbling, and cheerleading for 18 years. He was blessed to begin his coaching career with Bela Karolyi, where he was an instructor to Dominique Moceanu at the age of five years old. After Karolyis, he taught at Flips Gymnastics from 1990 to 1996. He became the boys program director leading them to a total of 10 state championships, 6 regional championships and 2 national championships. From Flips he moved on to Bannons and then quickly to All American Cheerleading and Gymnastics where he became the program director of gymnastics. The next move was back to Bannons to take over the boys program, where 3 more state championships were taken by the young men that he coached. He is extremely excited to be in his 4th year with Dance Dynamics and really enjoys watching athletes develop their tumbling skills.

Eric Vaughn - Eric Vaughn began his dance career at Rowland's School of Ballet. He quickly moved into the pre-professional performing ballet company, The Kingwood Dance Theatre where he performed in many ballet's choreographed specifically for him. Eric has received further training with The Washington School of Ballet, and Texas Ballet Theatre. In the summer of 2008 he performed in the Young! Tanzsommer tour through Austria and Germany with Kingwood Dance Theatre. For the 2008-2009 season he danced professionally with the Oklahoma City Ballet, where he performed many works of choreography. Eric is thrilled to begin his 2nd year at Dance Dynamics.

Noa Tumpkin - Noa received his formal dance training at Grand Valley State University receiving his BA in Dance Performance. Noa has performed with companies such as The Detroit Shock and Automotion Dance teams, Columbia City Ballet, Lexington Ballet, Washington Reflections Dance Company and Lucy Bowen McCauley Dance Company. He is currently a professional member of the highly acclaimed Houston Metropolitan Dance Company where he continues his training in ballet, contemporary, hip hop, jazz, and tap. Noa's expertise in these styles will enhance the dance education for the students of Dance Dynamics!

Cece White - A gifted and talented teacher and choreographer. Cece White's experience and extensive training in all dance styles is an asset to her students. She has taught jazz, tap, lyrical, and ballet in the Klein/Spring area for 17 years. Winner of numerous choreography awards including Showstoppers, Dance Olympus, L.A. Underground and L.A. Dance Force. Her many credits include work with Walt Disney's "Donald Duck's Birthday Celebration" in Houston, the Galveston Festival on the Strand, the Houston Festival, Woodlands Renaissance activities, and numerous Klein High School drama productions just to name a few. Ms. White is probably best known as the force behind our American Jazz Dance Company. She is a certified CEC instructor, a member of the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Council on Education, and the Aerobic and Fitness Association of America.

Lisa Wolff - Lisa Wolff (formerly Tschopp) is a native Oklahoman but is thrilled to be in Texas. She is a company member at the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company where she continues to train as well as perform and tour. Lisa grew up dancing competitively and was awarded Miss Dance of Oklahoma from Dance Masters of America in 2003. She also received scholarship awards through Dance Masters of America, Tremaine, and Company Dance Conventions. She was the captain of the Sapulpa Drill Team which she was a part of throughout her high school career. Lisa earned her Bachelor's Degree from Oklahoma City University in Performing Arts as well as toured with the American Spirit Dance Company around Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Taiwan. She has also performed multiple seasons at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, and toured with them to Las Vegas to perform at the National AARP Convention. Lisa performed around the Eastern Caribbean while sailing on a Holland America Cruise Ship. She has been teaching for the last 6 years and her students have been awarded overall placement as well as one student receiving "The Edge" Scholarship from Tremaine.

Melanie Davis - Melanie Davis is from Allen, Texas. She graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a minor in accounting. Melanie was a SHSU dance scholarship recipient for the 2004-2008 school years. She also spent the summer of 2006 in Chicago dancing on scholarship at Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago. She is currently a member of the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company where she continues to train and perform in various styles of dance.

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