INSPIRE. INNOVATE. ACHIEVE.
Directors & Instructors
Carol Ann Maggioto
Owner, Artistic Director
Carol Ann Maggiotto holds a BA from Southern Methodist University, MA from TWU, and has over 40 years teaching experience. Carol Ann began her dance training at Ballet Academy of Tyler. She was an Apache Belle and show choir member at Tyler Junior College. After moving to Dallas & graduating from SMU, she continued her studio dance training with ballet from Joyce Seabourne-Bader, jazz with Lyndette Bader and tap with Terry Wolter and Buster Cooper. Carol Ann’s love of musical theatre came from working with NYC choreographers Utah Ground and Al Gilliam at TJC. The highlight was dancing and singing back up to Sandy Duncan for an ABC movie of the week. She has served as Dance Captain in numerous musicals in the Dallas area with her favorite roles being Dream Laurie from Oklahoma and Louise from Carousel. She studied with legends Joe Tremaine, Gus Giordano, David Howard, and Mia Michaels. She danced professionally with the Kesheth Company and the Pieces Ensemble.
Carol Ann is a member of the Dallas Dance Council, Dance Studio Owners Association, and Dallas Dance Network. Carol Ann gave back to the community by serving as Chair of Rowlett's Arts and Humanities Commission for 7 years, Community Entertainment Coordinator for Rowlett’s Pecan Fest and Festival of Freedom for 5 years. Even though being diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2016, Carol Ann continues to stay on top of the latest dance trends by attending multiple dance conventions every year. “My job is to make sure our students have strong technical roots and then give them the wings to soar to their dreams. I love that no matter how far they go in those pursuits and achievements, when in town they always come home to take class.”
Tiffany Hester
Assistant Studio Director
Ballet Company Director
Ballet Department Head
Tiffany graduated from University of Maryland with a degree in Dance Education. She received her dance training from Steps on Broadway, New Jersey Ballet, Princeton Repertory Ballet, Garden State Ballet, and Broadway Dance Center in NYC. Tiffany has taught and choreographed all forms of dance for over 15 years. Classically trained in ballet, Tiffany has performed lead roles in many. Her favorites are the leads in Nutcracker and Coppelia. She has choreographed and directed productions of Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Coppelia and Don Quixote. She has been a Judge for both Starpower Nationals and Power of Dance Nationals dance competitions. Her company dancers have won national titles and her alumni students have continued their dance careers on Broadway and in professional dance companies. With an eye for detail and an emphasis on technique, Tiffany enjoys creating unique pieces and helping dancers achieve their potential.
Kyra McCarty
Assistant Studio Director
Performance Company Director
Kyra McCarty is a May 2010 graduate of the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, Alabama, receiving her diploma with a concentration in dance. In May 2014, she graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas with dual degrees in Dance (BFA) and Mathematics (BS). Throughout her dance career, she has received scholarships to train with Tremaine Dance Convention, Hubbard Street Dance/Lou Conte Dance Studio, Bates Dance Festival, and Dallas Black Dance Theatre. Additionally, she has had the opportunity to train at various summer and winter intensives including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, International Ballet Competition, Ballet West, Ballet Memphis, and the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD). Ms. McCarty has numerous years of teaching experience with Dallas Black Dance Academy, Oxford Ballet School, and the Deborah Kaye School of Dance both in Oxford, Mississippi. Currently, Ms. McCarty performs and is rehearsal director for 8&1 Dance Company, in addition to serving as dance instructor and company director for Rowlett Dance Academy. She loves working with and inspiring students by nurturing their passions and helping them reach their full potential.
Nick Leos
Instructor
Nick Leos is a theatre director and choreographer originally from Mesquite, Texas. He recently returned to Dallas from London, where he received an MFA in Theatre Directing from East 15 Acting School, founded by Margaret Walker and based on the work of Joan Littlewood’s famed Theatre Workshop. DIRECTING: small hours by Lucy Kirkwood and Ed Hime (US Premiere, FIT2019), The Skin of Our Teeth (Mountain View College), Macbeth (Company of Rowlett Performers), Antony & Cleopatra (Stockwell Playhouse, Off-West-End), Free Solo: A New Musical by Jack Godfrey and Celine Snippe (World Premiere, Drayton Arms Theatre, Off-West-End), In the Continuum by Danai Gurira and Nikkole Salter (Bread & Roses Theatre). CHOREOGRAPHY: The Drowsy Chaperone, Mame, Damn Yankees, The Wedding Singer, Curtains, High School Musical, The Pajama Game, and more. He currently teaches in the theatre departments at Eastfield College and Mountain View College, teaches theatre dance at Rowlett Dance Academy, is a company member of Danielle Georgoiu Dance Group, and runs Leos Ensemble—a theatre group focused on plays with international themes. www.nickleos.com
Michello Moyo
Instructor
Michelle is an instructor at Rowlett Dance Academy, teaching Hip Hop, Drill Team Prep, and Adult Hip Hop. She was the Team Captain for the Award Winning Royse City High School Golden Debs for 2 years, a Division I Soloist, and a TDEA All State Dancer in 2020!
Michelle has choreographed numerous Hip Hop and Jazz Funk routines for studio 7, Providance PAC, and the Golden Debs. Hip Hop choreography she designed and developed for the Golden Debs has been showcased and performed during numerous performances for the Royse City Community. She was a Semi-Finalist for the try-outs of the Dallas Cowboys Rhythm & Blues Choreography Competition, and she has had soloists that have made college and high school teams! Michelle has also had the privilege to be a guest teacher at Acrotex Gymnastics in Austin, TX teaching Hip Hop dance. She is well known for her crazy facials and love for hip hop dance.
This year Michelle will be taking a hip hop crew to World of Dance nationals in California!
Michelle has had the opportunity to dance with and learn from many top dancers and teachers from around the world! She has danced with Fikshun (from NBC’s World of Dance), Teddy Forance (a Co-Founder of CLI Studios who has performed with numerous top musical artist such as Madonna and Janet Jackson, and also performed on the Oscars, Emmys, Dancing with the stars, Ellen, Good Morning America, and with Cirque Du Soleil), Angel Roberts (a Nationally recognized choreographer, dancer, teacher, and award-winning costume designer), Hayley Mac Cooper, Gev Manoukian, Mary Ann Lamb, and several other professional dancers, teachers, and choreographers such as Octavia Ellison, Terrill Mitchell, and Harry Feril. She brings so much knowledge, talent, artistic style, joy, and expression wherever she dances!
Caitlyn Steele
Instructor
Caitlyn Steele comes to us from California where she grew up as a studio competitive dancer. She studied on scholarship with both the Rockettes Summer Intensive and the Joffrey Ballet Summer Intensive. She was then admitted into and graduated from the Joffrey Ballet Professional Training Program. Caitlyn currently dances professionally with the Ballet North Texas.
Elyse Guadagno
Instructor
Elyse has been dancing for 15 years! She has participated in ballet, tap, contemporary, and musical theatre. Her favorite memories of dance are in the yearly productions of The Nutcracker at RDA. She has loved being able to play different roles and dance with her friends! Elyse has also participated in choir and acappella singing for many years. Elyse will be attending Rutgers University in the fall of 2023 with a place in the Honors College this fall to study biochemistry with a minor in music.
Amanda Love Muniz
Instructor
Ms. Amanda, soon to be "Mrs.", is 25 years old and has been dancing since age 9 and teaching since age 21. She has made roots in Dallas, TX, and teaches dance full-time. She specializes in Jazz, Contemporary/Modern & Drill and is passionate about encouraging her dancers to challenge themselves & exploring dance as a way to increase their confidence and express their creativity. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, hiking, thrifting, going to musicals & concerts & spending time with her family & friends.
Kristal Torres
Instructor
Kristal Torres found dance at the age of 9. She continued to study dance and attended DuPont Manual Youth Performing Arts High School while dancing with Louisville Ballet Civic Company throughout high school. Shortly thereafter Kristal attended Marymount Manhattan College to study Fine Arts. While traveling with her family Kristal began teaching dance and has continued for over ten years. The majority of her teaching career has taken place in the great state of Texas (El Paso and Killeen), however, she has also had the privilege of teaching overseas in Bamberg, Germany. Kristal is a former dancer for Walt Disney World and has performed in the famous show Festival of the Lion King at Animal Kingdom and The Disney Channel Rocks Show, Monster U at Hollywood Studios.