the faculty Most Dancers Workshop faculty members are CPR certified. Dawn Weiss - Owner & Studio Director Dawn Weiss has been the Owner of Dancers Workshop for 35 years. She was the Texas Association Teachers of Dance, Inc. President from 2001-2003, TATD board member for 18 years and a 27 year member. Dawn has a BA from the University of Texas in Elementary and Special Education. She was the founder and director of Third Coast Jazz. Dawn was also Director of the motivational program Something’s Afoot and the Artistic Director of Believe In Me from 1992-1996. Katie Beglau Katie Beglau has been a part of Dancers Workshop for 20 years, first as a student and now as a member of the teaching staff.  Katie grew up in Austin and received her training at Dancers Workshop.  She was trained by Kelly Morgan, Kristi Stere, Tammy Ely, Inga Loujerinko, Suzanne Taylor, and Allyson Wegehoft. Katie was a member of Austin Dance Works for 7 years, as well as a dance major in McCallum High School’s Fine Arts Academy. In 2004, Katie received the Merit Scholarship from Texas Association Teachers of Dancing (TATD).            To further her dance training, Katie attended numerous dance conventions such as LADF, TATD, LA Dance Magic, Pulse, and Tremaine, and spent several summers training at Edge Performing Arts Center in LA, California.  These opportunities allowed Katie to receive training from many dance teachers including  Adam Parson, Scott Hislop, Mandy Moore, Leslie Scott, Dante, Edie Garcia, Maylaya, and many more.             After graduating from high school Katie continued her dance training at California State University, Long Beach, as a dance major. While training at CSULB, she studied with the amazing faculty, including Keith Johnson, Andy Vaca, Sharon Kenny, Lorin Johnson, Sophie Monat, Susan McClain, and Karen Clipppinger. While at CSULB, Katie was honorned by the dance department with  the Gloria Newman Scholorship.             After studying at CSULB, Katie returned home to be with her family at Dancers Workshop. She has spent the past two years working with and choreographing for ADW and Vision, as well as teaching all levels and styles of dance. Katie has been honored to choreograph for several middle schools and high schools in Ausin and surrounding areas. She has also taught master classes for local high schools including Leander High School, McCallum High School Fine Arts Academy, and Westwood High School.             Katie assisted Leslie Scott at the TATD convention in 2009, and she continues to expand her training in dance by attending conventions and taking classes.  Her passion is to dance, and she believes the most important part of being a good teacher is to remain teachable herself! Tammy Ely Tammy is a talented teacher and choreographer with expertise in several styles of dance. She is a graduate of the University of North Texas where she studied modern dance and ballet. This is her 12th year on the Dancers Workshop faculty, where she is co-director and choreographer for Austin Dance Works. Tammy has danced professionally with Ariel Dance Theater, Planet Funk Austin, and Third Coast Jazz, and has been a guest teacher at the American College Dance Festival and TATD as well as local dance workshops and clinics. Tammy is a member of Texas Association Teachers of Dance, Inc. She is very proud of her past achievements with “Something’s Afoot”, a motivational arts program in public schools that utilized dance as a tool to teach excellence. Libby Lovejoy Ms. Lovejoy holds a BFA and MFA in Dance from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. She has a diverse background of study in many dance idioms including classical ballet, jazz, modern, tap, character, musical theatre, ethnic, period movement, effort/shape techniques and Labanotation. Libby’s many years of classical ballet include study at the American Ballet Theatre School and the Royal Academy of Dancing in London. She grew up in southwest Louisiana where she trained with Lady Leah Hathaway and was a charter member of the Lake Civic Ballet. Ms. Lovejoy has taught on the dance faculties of many universities as well as private studios and professional academies. Her convention teaching includes Regional Dance America (southwest region), Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, Oklahoma Dance Masers Association, Texas Association Teachers of Dancing, Inc., State of the Art, and American College Dance Festival. With an avid interest in dance medicine, Libby is a member of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science. She is a former Miss Louisiana and was 4th Runner-up to Miss America. Libby teaches full time for Dancers Workshop in Austin where she has been a faculty member of the teaching staff for 13 years. Inga Lujerenko Ms. Lujerenko is originally from the Ukraine and trained at the State Classical Ballet School of Byelorussia. She was a soloist with Donetsk’s State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet in the Ukraine, where she toured nationally and internationally. In 1991, Ms. Lujerenko performed at the Nervi International Festival in Italy with the Stars of Russian Ballet company. In 1992, she was a principal guest artist with New Jersey Ballet and in the fall of that year, joined Ballet Austin as a principal dancer. In 1994, she performed at the Cyprian International Festival of the Arts with Ballet Austin. Her repertoire includes over 50 principal and soloist roles in various ballets choreographed by Petipa, Fokine, Gorski, Vaganova, Balanchine, Lambrou and Mills. Awards: 1976-85 State’s Scholarship for excellence in academic achievements. In 2000 and 2006 she was named Best Female Dancer of the Year by Austin Critics Table. She has been a ballet instructor since 1989 and Ms. Lujerenko has been a faculty member of Dancers Workshop since 1993. Kelly Morgan Kelly has been an instructor at Dancers Workshop for the past 18 years. She grew up in Austin receiving her ballet training from Alexandra Nadal and Eugene Slavin. She was a member of Ballet Austin’s junior academy performing in many productions including The Nutcracker for 3 years. Kelly’s jazz training came from Dawn Weiss at Dancers Workshop. After graduating high school, she attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. After graduating, she went on to continue to dance professionally performing in such productions as West Side Story with Bebe Newirth, and the National tours of A Chorus Line and Sugar Babies. Kelly has been a performer, choreographer, and instructor for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Aloha Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii. She has served on the board of the Texas Association Teachers of Dance, Inc., and is an artistic director of Austin Dance Works. The greatest joys in her life are her husband Greg and her 6 year old son Joshua. Lori Murillo Lori is originally from the Dallas area, where she grew up in the dance world with the joint experience of being trained in the studio as well as being a “drill team” girl. Not quite finished with her drill team experience, she went to Kilgore College after graduating from high school, where she became a member of the Kilgore College Rangerettes. Some of the more exciting events from those two years as a Rangerette are serving as Captain her sophomore year, being a featured performer in the 1994 World Cup halftime show, and performing in the famous “Festival of Lights” in Nice, France. After Kilgore, Lori moved to Austin to begin a career of studio teaching, dance team directing, and freelance choreography all over the nation. She was a Senior Instructor for Starmakers Dance and Drill Team Performance Company for 12 years and a charter instructor for Sheer Dance Conventions under Starmakers. From 2000-2007, Lori was Co-Choreographer for the Mike Miller and Associates Dance Company in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. She was also the Co-Choreographer for the AT&T Cotton Bowl Halftime Classic performance on New Year’s Day from 2002-2007. Lori first came to Dancers Workshop in 1997 and she fell in love! That year, she began teaching for Dawn Weiss both as a studio instructor and an instructor for Believe In Me, a character education and performance program where Dawn was Artistic Director. After 4 years with this program, Lori followed Dawn and became an instructor of Something’s Afoot, Dawn’s new children’s program at Pillow Elementary School. In 1999, Lori joined Marla Valk at Westwood High School as a dance instructor, a charter instructor of the RRISD Fine Arts Academy housed at Westwood, and Assistant Director of the Sun Dancers. In 2003, she left Austin for a new directing opportunity in the Dallas area. She returned to her alma mater, South Garland High School, alongside Allyson Wegehoft , and together they created a new dance program, directed the JV program, and were Co-Directors of the Southern Belles. But, after three years, they missed Austin and were blessed to be able to return to home! During that time that immediately followed coming home, Lori was a 2006 TDEA Convention dance instructor and returned the following year to the convention as a Co-Choreographer for the 2007 All-State production. For Lori, coming back to Austin meant coming back to Dancers Workshop as a full-time dance instructor! In the past three years, she has been teaching a range of classes here at the Workshop, is a choreographer/instructor for ADW, and the Director of Vision Competition Dance Company. In her “free time”, she does freelance choreography, master class teaching, motivational and leadership workshops, and adjudicates various dance contests all over the nation, as well as a three-year staff member for Encore Creative Productions. Lori is also a dancer for Restoration Dance, a Christian dance company directed by Monica Schraeder, and a mom to a beautiful Labrador, Laguna! Traci Sanderson Traci Sanderson began dancing at the age of 2 years old. She has studied ballet, tap, jazz and pointe. Traci grew up dancing in a small studio in northwest Oklahoma. She continued to study dance during her years at Oklahoma State University. Upon her marriage and move to Austin, Traci worked teaching aerobics and as a Biologist for a local environmental engineering firm, utilizing her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Upon the birth of her first child, she left the traditional work force to stay at home with her children. Since then, Traci has run an in-home daycare, taught preschool, and taught dance. She has been delighted to return to her love of dance and children. Traci’s favorite subject is tap. She continuously trains all year at workshops, conventions, master classes, and weekly tap classes. Traci became a member of Texas Association Teachers of Dance, Inc. in 2005. Laurel Seymour Laurel has established herself as an instructor at Dancers Workshop as well as a freelance choreographer and guest teacher for dance teams, companies and conventions across Texas.  She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where she attained a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance and a Minor in Business Foundations.  While earning her degree she was a member of Image Dance Explosion, the Texas Pom Squad and the Roustabouts Dance Company when they competed to secure the National Collegiate Champions title at UNT Nationals.  She has studied tap, hip hop, modern and musical theatre and has extensive training in ballet, contemporary, lyrical and jazz.  Having studied and performed in not only the great state of Texas, but also New York, California and Florida, Laurel’s experiences and training are reflected in her technical proficiency and diverse choreography.  TV & film appearances include:  Sony Pictures “Man of the House“, NBC Today Show, ESPN College Gameday, CBS Sports, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, & New Year’s Day Cotton Bowl half time. Kristi Stere Originally from California, Miss Stere studied extensively in North Carolina, and was accepted to training programs at the North Carolina School of the Arts, Atlanta Ballet, and Ballet Austin, where she received a full merit scholarship. She was a member of the Raleigh Dance Theatre, the founding company that is today’s Carolina Ballet. While there, under the encouragement and guidance of director Ann Vorus, she began teaching at the Raleigh School of Ballet. She has performed with many Austin artists, including world premiers of “Surrender” by Stephen Mills with Kinesis Dance theater and “Primitive” by Adam Parson with Third Coast Jazz. She most recently danced the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy as a guest artist with the Mesquite Repertory Ballet. She is currently a director of The Academy of Classical Ballet at Dancers Workshop where she has been teaching for 11 years. A six year member of Texas Association Teachers of Dancing, Inc., she is currently serving on its board of directors. Shannon Orosco Shannon’s dance education began at the age of 4 under Jackie Nutting-Ramon at the Academy of Dance Arts in Greenville, Texas.  As a performing member of the North East Texas Dance Company, she danced competitively throughout her childhood, attended intensives, conventions and summer workshops.  She is a former scholarship recipient at the Los Angeles Dance Force (LADF) and Dance Co. Conventions.   Shannon graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2006 with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance.  While at UT she trained under Yakov Sharir, David Justin, Lyn Wiltshire, Andrea Beckham, Kent De Spain, Andee Scott and Holly Williams.  Her technical training includes Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern, Pilates, Pedagogy and Improvisation.  Through college she attended master classes taught by Alvin Alley Dance Company, Delfus Contemporary Dance Company, Jose Limon Dance Company and Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and Mia Michaels.  Shannon has traveled to perform at American College Dance Festival to feature in the Gala.  She has judged and adjudicated at dance competitions, drill team, and cheerleading auditions throughout Central Texas.  She continues to enhance her knowledge in the ever-changing dance world by attending annual conventions and traveling to Los Angeles, CA to study.  Shannon is currently an active member of the Texas Association of Teachers of Dancing, Inc.   After teaching for several studios, Shannon found a home at Dancers Workshop.  Since 2007 she has been the director of Children’s Programming; developing curriculum for the 2 yrs – 2nd grade classes.  As a 3 year staff member for Vision Competition Dance Company, (Dancers Workshop’s Competitive Dance Company) she has choreographed for competitions and performances throughout Austin.  This fall Shannon is entering her 7th consecutive year on staff at Dancers Workshop and is excited about working as the Studio Director for such an incredible dance facility. Lauren Wilson Lauren has been dancing since the age of 3. She began at Shirley McPhail’s School of Dance. She was a part of their company for 3 years and performed at many local events and competitions. In high school, she began taking class at Dancers Workshop and became a Sun Dancer at Westwood High School. She was a jazz company member for all 3 years, Lieutenant her junior year, and Major her senior year. Throughout her years of training, she attended many different dance conventions with prestigious dance instructors from all over the world and continues to do so. After high school, she was a member of ADW and Third Coast Jazz at Dancers Workshop. In 2001 she began teaching ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop, became a member of Texas Association Teachers of Dance, Inc. and began setting choreography on drill teams, Great Hills Baptist Christmas Pageant, Austin Dance Works and various other groups. Guest Faculty Scott Hislop Scott Hislop has been dancing since the age of 11. At 18 he relocated to Los Angeles from his hometown of Reno, Nevada to study on scholarship at EDGE Performing Arts Center. He has enjoyed a thriving career ever since. Some notable jobs on his long list of credits are: commercials for Sony Plasma TV, Cadillac Escalade and Wendy’s. Industrials for McDonalds, Acura, Honda and Disney. He has been featured in 15 films, some of which are: Not Another Teen Movie, She’s All That, Titanic, Jackass II, Charlie’s Angels, and The Wedding Planner. A huge highlight of his career thus far was working for Rob Marshall in last years TV special Tony Bennett, An American Classic. Scott fills most of his time now with studying acting, the desired field of where he’s heading. He’s recently had the honor of working alongside Tobey Maguire in the upcoming Spiderman 3 and the incomparable Cate Blanchett in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button as her dance partner. These are both very high profile films that are slated to be released the summer of 2007 and winter of 2008, respectively. Now armed with experience and something to say, he is committed to teaching at EDGE, on convention with LA Dance Force, and master classes all around the world. His unique method of reaching students is posed through questions and motives that force you not to only use your technical training but your own life experience as well. Scott tries wholeheartedly to convey the importance of keeping the body in shape through vigorous training and making authentic choices that color your dancing and sets you apart. Kasper Kasper was recently featured on the first season of the FOX smash hit "So You Think You Can Dance."  He was asked to appear on MTV's "The Wade Robson Project," and performed on "Dance Fever" on the ABC Family Channel.  Kasper teaches and choreographs for many different dance teams, high schools, colleges, and universities throughout the U.S.  His credits include dancing for Bad Boy Bill at the B96 Summer Bash taking the stage right after Shakira, and just before P. Diddy.  He's danced for Nike (Culture Shock Chicago), Dance 2XS Chicago, and just recently started his own hip hop company based out of Chicago, Dance 3D.  Kasper loves, and continues to spread his knowledge of dance throughout the country, inspiring students where ever he goes. Kevin Maher Kevin Maher was born and raised in West Covina California. He graduated from Don Bosco technical institute where he studied in architecture and design. At the age of 19, Kevin moved to New York City where began training at Broadway dance center. He further trained with "culture shock N.Y." (a non profit hip-hop co.) and "la Santa Luz" (founded by "drown world's" Anthony Rodriguez.) he landed his first gig with Michael Rooney and Fatboy Slim for the MTV VMAs. Since then Kevin has appeared in such film and television shows as the Grammy's, American music awards, TRL, 106th & park, Good Morning America, MTV VMAs, Regis & Kelly, SNL, Dr Pepper commercials and "you got served." He has since performed with such artists as Nelly Furtado, Missy Elliot, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Omarion, Paulina Rubio, Eve, Whitney Houston, MYA, Alicia keys, and more. Recent choreography projects include Kelis MV, the feature film "bring it on, all or nothing", Natalie & Frankie j, promo, Machi MV, Jolin MV, Mariah Carey promo & world tour, Basemnet Jaxx MV and George Michael MV. Kevin currently resides in North Hollywood, California where he teaches hip-hop/ jazzfunk at the edge performing arts center and Debbie Reynolds dance studio. He can also be found touring the U.S. with NYCDA and monsters of hip-hop. Adam Parson Adam Parson studied in New York at Broadway Dance Center, Boston at Adrienne Hawkins Dance, Jeanette Neill Dance Center and the Boston Ballet before moving to Los Angeles to continue his studies. While in Los Angeles he received a summer scholarship at Moro Landis, and the coveted dance scholarship at EDGE Performing Arts Center. He has also studied Pilates and Body Awareness at the Center for Physical Health in Beverly Hills, CA. Adam has traveled all over the world and is currently teaching at EDGE. Credits: Performed worldwide as a Power Ranger; television and commercials include 3rd Rock From The Sun, and Pepsi; music videos for Monica and Tafkap; dance company founder, director and choreographer for C. Dance Company touring United States, and China in 2005; choreography for Alice In Wonderland in Korea.  Adam teaches with LADF International Workshop, Competition and Showcase. Leslie Scott Leslie Scott currently lives in Hollywood, California and is proudly represented by MSA. Leslie stands behind numerous television, film, and commercial credits including projects with major networks such as VH1, MTV, FOX, HBO, UPN, TNN and the WB. This past year she has choreographed up and coming artist Sinful Blush for RMI records, Choreographed and Performed at the Bay Area Bash Concert featuring E-40, Mistah Fab and Federation. She has choreographed for films such as Hyde Park and has worked with recording artists Beyonce, Ee-De, Angel, Latin Froz on camera and in live performances, just to name a few. She has been featured 8 times at Hollywood’s Carnival Choreographer’s Ball and was invited to choreograph for the prestigious anniversary shows from 2004 thru 2007. She has performed at the Billboard Music Awards and the Radio Music Awards. She is a faculty member of the EDGE Performing Arts Center and Millennium Dance Complex and tours with L.A. Dance Force.  Leslie's style is in demand on a global level as well. She has recently taught in New Zealand, Korea, Brazil, Mexico and Canada. Leslie is well known not only for her talents but her unwavering work ethic. She is well respected, she is real and she always brings dedication, heart and a smile to all that she does. Misty RasconSmith Misty RasconSmith is a passionate performer. Her ability has allowed her to appear in over fifteen music video’s with such artist as Christina Aguilera and Ricky Martin. She recently performed as a principle dancer in a Sunkist commercial and has appeared in television spots like Britney Spears Pepsi commercial, Nickelodeon’s Tiana, and the Nikki Cox show. Her powerful style of choreography and vast understanding in the arts has inspired many dancers internationally and domestically. You can also catch her teaching at the EDGE in Hollywood as well as performing in many venues with Word In Motion Dance Company. Aury Reitz Choreography for the film The Dancer (20th Century Fox), the 1st Annual Christian Film Awards, the opening acts for the N'Sync and Britney Spears tours; co-choreographer for Moesha and The Right Connection on television; video and television performances with Dru Hill, Shanice and The Drew Carey Show. (Please see below for further information.) Tymme Reitz Tymme Reitz has worked in the entertainment industry with such artists as: Missy Elliot, Madonna, Will Smith, and The Backstreet Boys. He also has extensive TV credits that include dancing for The Grammy Awards, MTV Movie and Music Awards, Billboard Awards, and the European Brit Awards. he is featured in commercials for Ruffles and Carl's Jr., and he was the dance double for Chris Kattan in the feature film, A Night At The Roxbury. Tymme and his wife Aury have choreographed for Souljahz who received "Urban Group of the Year" at the Dove Awards and for P.Y.T., Corbetta, and Sally Colon. Aury and Tymme are the directors and creators of Cross Connection Dance Workshop which tours throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico. They are also working on establishing a theatre program that will include producing live "Broadway level" shows on the west coast. Also through their church, they are building a School of the Arts that will be focusing on training artists in acting, dancing, writing directing and producing. Gelsey Weiss Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Gelsey Weiss is currently performing in her 5th season as a Radio City Rockette at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. When she’s not performing on the Great Stage, Gelsey enjoys living in Los Angeles where she works commercially as a professional dancer in film and television. Her film credits include features Starsky and Hutch, Looney Tunes Back in Action, A Time For Dancing, Thank Heaven! and Angels, Baby. Television credits include Young and the Restless, Boston Public, MTV Movie Awards, and TV Land Awards. Her stage credits include the Finding Nemo Stage Show at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood, Disney’s Steps in Time at the Hyperion Theater, and Pulse and Edge Time Stories at the LA Theater Center. She has appeared in commercials for ESPN, Pace Picante Sauce, and Cricket Cellular and in industrials for Disney, Microsoft, 7-Up, and the WNBA to name a few. Gelsey spent the past 7 years choreographing and teaching artists at Mosaic, a community of faith in Los Angeles and is thrilled to be a member of Word In Motion Dance Company. One of Gelsey’s greatest joys is being able to give back to her community through teaching master classes and encouraging dancers to pursue excellence in their lives.