Dance Texas
Dance Texas provides dancers of all ages an encouraging and positive environment where they are given the opportunity to grow and excel in their dance education. We strive to deliver the highest quality of dance training, while developing each student’s unique gift of talent and creativity. We encourage our students to reach their fullest potential by supporting them as they grow artistically and academically. So they may become well-rounded individuals who are nourished in body, mind, and spirit.
Tiffany began dancing at the age of two with her sister Brittany at Terry Clark Dance Academy. At five she started dancing for Fresno City Guys and Dolls under the direction of Veda Burton which later changed to Dance Rage Dance Studio. She started competitively dancing at the age of six. In her dance career she has performed at events including Fresno State football and basketball games, Lakers games, 49ers halftime shows and many other events. Winning numerous regional and national titles during this time. At 16 Tiffany and her sister began training in Los Angeles, California where they were signed with Commercial Talent, KSA Modeling and Bobby ball Talent Agency, later signing with Michelle Zeitlin at More Zap Productions. Tiffany took classes to continue her training at Virgo Dance, Dolce Dance Studio, Shirley Winters Ballet, The Edge Performing Arts Center, Millennium and Debbie Allen Dance Academy while auditioning for Disney and Nickelodeon Projects. Tiffany’s experience has allowed her to teach at studios in California, Texas and Kansas totaling in over 20 years. Her love and passion for dance has led her to open Dance Texas, to provide dancers with the tools and encouragement to reach their highest creative potential.
Sierra has been dancing since the age of 2. Originally from California, Sierra grew up competing for Dolce Dance Studio, where she won numerous regional, national, and international titles. She continued her dance career in college by joining the CLU Dance Team, where she became Captain her Junior and Senior years. Sierra has experience teaching jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and ballet at a variety of dance studios throughout Southern California. She can also be seen in the “FAKE” music video choreographed by Abby Lee Miller from “Dance Moms”. She recently moved to Austin to continue her education at the University of St. Augustine, where she will eventually receive a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Sierra is so excited to be a part of the Dolce family again and share her love for dance with her students!
Callie began her formal dance training at age 13 with Ballet Repertory Theatre of New Mexico, where she spent two years before joining the company as a trainee. During her time at BRT, she performed in numerous classical productions including The Nutcracker, Alice in Wonderland, Coppélia, and more.
She attended The Public Academy for Performing Arts, focusing on ballet and contemporary dance. As a sophomore, she was selected for the school’s pre-professional company, Contemporary Dance Ensemble, and toured nationally throughout the remainder of her high school years.
Callie went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Utah, where she also performed in various ballet and modern dance showcases. Following graduation, she joined Serena Webb Dance Theatre as a soloist before relocating to Texas.
Now based in Austin, Callie has performed with several local companies and is thrilled to return to teaching. She brings a deep passion for ballet and a commitment to sharing her knowledge and love for the art form with the next generation of dancers.
Melissa “Mel” was an acrobatic gymnast for 10 years in San Jose, CA. She began coaching tumbling classes at Aerial Tumbling and Acrobatics at age 14. She moved to Fresno, CA in 2009 for college where she got her Bachelors degree in Kinesiology: Exercise Science in 2014 and then her Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy in 2017. While in college, Mel coached recreational and competitive artistic gymnastics at Clovis Academy of Gymnastics and Dance.
After graduating with her Doctorate, Mel worked at a Level 1 Trauma hospital in Fresno doing acute care physical therapy for 3 years and transitioned into her position at the Director of Sport/Head Coach for the Clovis High School and Clark Intermediate School gymnastics teams. In August of 2020, Mel left her position at the hospital to follow her dream of working with kids and took a position with Clovis Unified School District as a Physical Therapist for Special Education students.
After 4 years of working in the school district, Mel’s husband got a job in Austin, so they moved the whole family to Round Rock, Texas. Mel has two daughters, ages 3 and 6, and two dogs. In her free time, Mel enjoys cooking, spending time with her family, and organizing! Mel specializes in acro/tumbling, flexibility, and strengthening, all while focusing on developing a healthy, balanced, and injury free athlete.
Madeleine D’Avila, 27, studied dance at the Austin Conservatory of the Arts for 25 years and is currently serving her 3rd year as Assistant Director of the Austin City Ballet. She studied Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Character, Modern, Ballroom, Voice, Acting and Musical Theatre.
Madeleine has performed the roles of Sugarplum Fairy, Clara, Snow Queen, Rose Queen and Arabian in the Nutcracker, Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, Peter in Peter Pan, the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Titania and Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Swanhilda in Coppelia, Gamzati in La
Bayadere, and a repertoire that includes Swan Lake, Raymonda, Paquita, Don Quixote, Cinderella, Giselle and Napoli.
Madeleine was educated in a wide variety of ballet syllabi at The Austin Conservatory of the Arts and The Austin City Ballet. She trained in the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) method and completed RAD examinations for Grades 1 through 6, all at the level of distinction or above. She also studied Vagonova, Cecchetti, Balanchine, Bournonville, and the French Method of ballet. During her time as a student she studied under Carol Feille D’Avila, Dana Lewis, Vlada Sheber, Devon Adams, Amy Benenate, Dawn Davis Loring, Cathie Sheridan, Rudy Roberson, Christopher Swaim, Cinnamon Barton, Barbara-Jo Walters, Willie Shives, Buddy Trevino, Randall Marks, Orlando Canova, Elise Meyers, Micahel Burfield, and more. Most memorably Madeleine trained under the late Terri Lynn Wright, who mentored Madeleine from the young age of 9 years old until her passing in late 2020. Madeleine also shadowed Carol Feille D’Avila in the role of Artistic Director before she was invited to become a resident choreographer and rehearsal assistant for The Austin City Ballet.
After a lifetime of dance and movement, Madeleine now looks forward to attending school to become a Physical Therapist’s Assistant. She is most importantly a mother to two beautiful children. Madeleine is most eager for her future at Dance Texas in Round Rock, Texas, directing the Preschool Program and educating young dancers for the upcoming 2024- 2025 season.