The staff of Joy’s School of Dance consists of highly qualified group of instructors whose primary concern is education, enjoyment and enrichment of their students. Their specialties include Classical Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Musical Theater, Modern and Hip Hop.
Natalie George
Owner/Director, Dance Company Director; Ballet, Tap, Lyrical and Jazz Instructor for all levels; TATD Board Member; Member Teacher and Guest Faculty Teacher; BA Public Relations Baylor University; Former JSOD Dance Company Member; Baylor University Faculty HHPR Dance Professor; Baylor Dance Company Advisor; More than 20 years of teaching experience
Amanda McKethan
Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Hip Hop Instructor; Miriam’s Army Director; TATD Board Member; Member Teacher and Guest Faculty; BS Elementary Education Baylor University; Former JSOD Dance Company Member; 10 years of teaching experience
Alanna Annick
Tap, Jazz, and Hip Hop Instructor, Baylor University student studying Speech Pathology, Footlights Dance Studio Ballet, Tap, Jazz Contemporary and Modern competitive companies and instructor, 4 years of teaching experience
Amara Annick
Hip Hop, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Tap Instructor, Baylor University student studying Interior Design, Footlights Dance Studio’s Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Modern Competitive companies, Former FMHS Pop Show Dance Captain
Nicci Arentsen
My name is Nicci Arentsen and I am a jazz, contemporary, ballet, and tap teacher, studying Public Relations and minoring in Business at Baylor University, Baylor Songleader, about 4 years of teaching experience
Brooklynn Bearden
Kindergarten, Ballet, Tap, and Jazz Instructor, Baylor University student majoring in Speech Pathology, Judith McCarty School of Dancing Texarkana, 8 years assistant dance teacher
Eliza Bearden
Ballet and tap instructor, front desk assistant. Registered nurse in the BSW ER, graduated from UMHB. 20 years of studio experience, dance captain for musical theater and marching band for 3 years, and 6 years teaching experience
Ellinor Bearden
Ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and drill team prep instructor. Baylor student majoring in health, kinesiology, and leisure studies on the pre- physical therapy track. Previous Waxahachie High Cherokee Charmer Captain
Emmeline Bearden
Ballet, Tap and Jazz Instructor, Baylor University student majoring in Professional Writing and Political Science, Danceworks Waxahachie, Dance Captain Waxahachie Musical Theatre Department,5 years teaching experience
Avyn Brown
Tap, Jazz, Ballet and Hip Hop Instructor, Baylor University Student majoring in Health, Kinesiology, and Leisure Studies with a minor in Dance, Baylor Dance Company member, Southwest Christian School Dance Team, Our Mother of Mercy Dance Studio
Karsen Burns
Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet, Tap and Hip Hop instructor, Baylor University student majoring in Kinesiology and Leisure Studies and minoring in Dance, Baylor Songleaders Captain, MCC Dance Company Alumni, 4 years of teaching experience
Megan Condon
Jazz, Hip Hop, and Musical Theater instructor, graduated with a minor in Dance from Texas A&M, Waco Civic Theatre Choreographer, five years of teaching experience
Mikayla Del Rio
Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary and Drill Team Instructor, Baylor University student majoring in Health Kinesiology and Leisure students with a minor in Dance, 6 years of competitive dance, 14 years of training at Deborah Case Dance Academy, Showtime International Kick Club member, 5 years of teaching experience
Emma Ethridge
Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop and Drill Team Prep Assistant/Instructor. Student at Baylor University studying Public Relations with a minor in Business and Religion. Trained at Dancer’s Workshop, 2 years of teaching experience
Sloane Guthrie
Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Hip Hop and Musical Theater Instructor, Baylor University student majoring in Elementary Education, Baylor Dance Company Vice President, Miss Rhonda’s School of Dance, 5 years of teaching experience
Emma Kate Graham
Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Dance/Drill Team Instructor, Baylor University student majoring in Business Fellows, former Midway Goal Tender 1st Lieutenant, JSOD Alumni, and performed at Disneyland and in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Anna Hansen
Ballet, Tap, and Jazz Instructor, Baylor University student majoring in Elementary Education, JSOD Company Alumni
Olivia Hansen
Ballet, Tap, and Jazz Instructor, Baylor University student, JSOD Company Alumni
Claire Harris
Ballet, Pointe and Contemporary Instructor, Ballet Magnificat! Company Artist, Baylor University student majoring in Biochemistry, 8 years teaching experience
Addie Hintz
Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz and Tap Instructor, Baylor University student majoring in Business, Baylor Songleader
Elizabeth Hooten
Ballet, Tap, and Jazz Instructor, JSOD Alumni
Sydney Johns
Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary Instructor, Baylor University student majoring in Psychology, minoring in Dance, Ann Carroll School of Dance Company Member, Liturgical Dance Program Co-founder and Instructor at local church, 3 years of teaching experience
Katy Jones
Ballet, Tap. Jazz and Hip Hop Instructor, Baylor University student majoring in Viola Performance, JSOD Alumni
Kristen Knapp
Hip Hop and Dance Company Instructor, BA in Psychology Baylor University, Dallas Mavericks Dancer, Texas Legends Dancer, Baylor Songleader, Baylor Dance Company, MCC Dance Team, Former JSOD Dance Company Member, more than 15 years of teaching experience
Rachel Koerner
Ballet Instructor, Baylor University student majoring in Data Science with a double minor in Studio Art and Film & Digital Media, Former Houston Ballet Academy Professional, Baylor Dance Company Chaplain
Leelee Nelson
Ballet, Tap, Jazz. Dance Team Prep, and Hip hop Instructor, Junior Company Instructor, BBA Human Resources Management Baylor University, Baylor University Admissions Counselor, Dance minor, 8 years of teaching experience
Destiny Owens
Ballet, Tap, and Jazz Instructor, MCC student, JSOD Alumni
Hannah Requa
Ballet, Pointe, and Modern Instructor, Principal Soloist with the Corpus Christi Ballet, BFA Ballet and Modern Dance from Texas Christian University, Baylor Adjunct Dance Faculty, 10 year of teaching experience
Abbie Schaible
Tap, Jazz, and Ballet Instructor, Baylor University student majoring in Middle Grades Education, Minoring in Dance, Baylor Dance Company member, Boni’s Dance and Performing Arts Studio, 3 years of teaching experience
Sarah Schaffer
Preschool and Mommy and Me Instructor, MBA Tarleton State University Management Concentration, BBA Harding University in Marketing, Over 15years of teaching experience
Kirsten Schatz
Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Mommy & Me Instructor, Baylor University student majoring in Biology with a double minor in dance and religion, Baylor Dance Company Treasurer
Mina Shuda
Ballet, Tap, and Jazz Instructor, Truett Seminary student pursing a Master of Divinity and Mast of Social Work degree, BS in Biochemistry from Baylor University, Former Baylor Dance Company member, Footlights Dance Studio’s Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop and Modern Competitive companies, 4 years of teaching experience
Lizzie Smith
Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, Tap, and Contemporary instructor, Baylor University student majoring in Elementary Education, Baylor Dance Company Internal Communications, former HBP Dance Extreme company member under Huggy Ford, 2 years teaching experience
Lydia Spano
Advanced Ballet/Pointe Instructor, Ballet Magnificat Omega Company Member, Assistant to the Artistic Director, Master Teacher in USA, Belize, Honduras, Czech Republic, and Prague, Ballet Austin Company Member, Northwest Pacific Ballet, More than 15 years of teaching experience
Lasalette Sumbe
Jazz and Hip Hop Instructor, Baylor University student majoring in Interior Design
Savannah Streenz
Ballet, Tap, and Jazz Instructor, Baylor University student majoring in business with a minor in dance and member of Baylor Dance Company. 16 years of dance training in all styles with 9 years of competitive performance. Formerly a dancer at All Out Dance Academy on the performance company. 3 years of assisting experience followed by 3 years of teaching experience
Manning Thrower
Jazz, Contemporary, and Modern Instructor; Baylor University student majoring in Sociology, minor in Child and Family Studies, 9 year os competitive dance, former student at International Ballet of Houston, former Tomball Memorial High School Silver Stars Lieutenant and First Lieutenant, current Crowd Pleasers Dance Teaching Staff, 5 years of teaching experience
Jules Vogel
Preschool, Tap, and Ballet Instructor, former Americana Sign Language teacher and Assistant Director for the Elk Strutters Drill Team at Burleson High School, former teacher at Dance Concepts
Joy Burkhart
Student Assistants 2020-2021
Lindsay Barker, Emery Black, Cadence Bever, Sophia Brooks, Caroline Carter, Katie Chakmakjian, Rylee Coleman, Megan Daily, Katherine Day, LilyBeth Dossey, Hallie Echols, Eryn Flood, Elise Fuselier, Ava Hanson, Olivia Hanson, Kaitlyn Helona, Alyssa Hernandez, Elizabeth Hooten, Louisa Hooten, Tennyson Ivy, Ainsley Kennedy, Cadence Kubacak, Miriam Odle, Destiny Owens, Elizabeth Reinhardt, Kendyl Rhymer, McKenna Selman, Emma Smith, Hayley Ward, Madison Wingert