Galaxy Dance School - Galaxy Instructors

		Amae Amani, with almost ten years of experience under her hip-scarf, found a profound love, as well as immense talent, in the ancient art of bellydance. Aside from bellydance itself, bel has gained a varied knowledge of different styles of dance over the years. From her childhood training in ballet and jazz, to Indian, Salsa, African, and burlesque, Amae has a genuine appreciation for dance education and performance art. Amae quickly found a natural ability as an entertainer, steadily gaining recognition in New Orleans. Her incorporation of techniques from around the world, including Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and India, showcases the improvisational and fluid nature of bellydance. Her main niche, in which she both teaches and performs, is Egyptian Fusion, a combination of Classical and Cabaret Egyptian dance.
		Amara is one of the most versatile dancers in the United States as her repertory includes traditional and experimental improvisations and choreographies. She has trained in numerous dance and movement forms, including belly dance, various Middle Eastern folk dances, Modern improvisation, Post-modern dance, Pilates, Yoga, Tango, Bharata Natyam, and Ballet. Amara has been the head dancer at many nightclubs and restaurants in Las Vegas and Los Angeles and has been featured in over 16 commercial Middle Eastern dance videos. She has taught accredited courses at UCLA, UCR, and Cal Poly Pomona and currently teaches on-going Beginning through Professional level Middle Eastern dance classes. In addition to teaching, Amara is the Director of Ya Helewa! Dance Company, Producer of EEMED shows, and Co-Producer of X-MED workshops. She holds a degree in Ethnomusicology (FSU) and worked towards an MA and MFA in Dance (UCLA). Currently, Amara is a doctoral candidate in Dance History and Theory (UCR).
		The native Gabriel Mendez aka ‘Blitz’ has taught through numerous studios from L.A. to Texas and showcased on-going spectacular performances for The Harlem Globe Trotters, Mentos, Nike, Rock Steady Crew and the Wu-Tang clan. He is self taught and has danced since the age of 8 as a street break dancer, which progressed to an outlet of many other culture styles such as Hip Hop, House, African, Salsa and many more to be named. Twenty years of experience has inspired this man's dream to pass the knowledge and techniques to loved ones that enjoy the culture of urban dance. Be sure not to miss out on his classes! It's an energetic cardio world of listening and doing because without these words, "Live, love, life" there would be no way to express dance freedom.
		Cesar Vargas has been dancing as long as he can remember, but his true love (some say “obsession”) of dance started back in high school when he started a Cumbia dance team. From there, he just kept dancing and won many Latin dance contests in local clubs. His passion and unique style are unmistakable, but performing wasn’t enough. He wanted others to have just as much fun, so teaching was inevitable.
		Although Chelsea's training began in classical and modern dance, she soon moved on to more eclectic styles including: contact improvisation, Alexander technique, Cirque-style Aerials, and of course, the martial dance form known as Capoiera (Cap-oh-where-ah) Angola. She received her teacher training at the Birimbau Academy of Capoiera, where she also served on the board of diretors and where this eclectic fitness class was first created. Chelsea enjoys incorporating her knowledge of body structure and Alexander technique into her static and aerobic training expertise.
		Coco Lectric has been gracing stages all over Texas and the southwest with the Jigglewatts Burlesque for three years. She utilizes her classic dance training, love for the exotic, and her cutting wit to astound audiences across the globe. She has performed in Austin at La Zona Rosa, Antone's, Stubb's, and Continental Club, and the historic Texas Theatre in Dallas, among many others. Coco trained for 15 years in ballet, tap, and jazz, and more recently in modern and hip-hop, Polynesian, bellydance, Afro-Carribean, and Latin dance styles. She began her professional dance career in Austin performing as a featured dancer with such bands as The Scabs, Dahebejeebees, and Vallejo. Honors include: Texas Bikini Team Best Dance Performance Award, and the Audience Choice Award at the Texas Burlesque Festival 2009. She currently tours nationally performing burlesque and go-go with psychobilly band Johnny Hootrock.
		A tango teacher, performer and choreographer, Daniela Arcuri grew up in the heart of Buenos Aires, where she absorbed the English, French, Spanish and mostly Italian influences that define the cosmopolitan "porteño" culture of this port city. At age thirteen, Daniela began training in ballet, modern dance, music, acting, jazz, argentinian folk dancing, and gymnastics and began teaching, choreographing, and performing tango for modern dance at the age of fifteen. She is a graduate of the prestigious Escuela National de Danzas and Instituto Nacional de Gimnasia in Buenos Aires and former competitive athlete on the Argentinian National Rythmic Gymnastics team. She began her tango performing career in her early twenties in a production in Toronto, Canada with legendary tango dancers Juan Carlos Copes, Maria Nieves, and Pepito Avellaneda. Later, at the age of twenty-four she began to teach and choreograph tango in Eduardo Arquimbau's tango academy in Buenos Aires and developed a passion for the drama of the latin dances and cultures, recognizing that the Tango was her own artistic vocabulary.
		DJ SYKO has been DJ'ing for over 24 years and also has a dance background. Nominated as the #1 Mash-up Dj in Texas at the Tonyc Awards held in San Antonio in 2008. Austin Celebrity's and millionaire's introduce Syko as the best-kept secret to the masses when they hired Syko to DJ their Birthday party's and Company Events From 2004. He then became the most in demand DJ for Hollywood Style A-Listers. This in turn led to DJ SYKO being the most popular and in demand DJ of current times, with brands and corporate sponsors out bidding one another to have him at their parties and events. Incorporating creative video and music SYKO feels a crowd and gives them what they want, whether its mixing hip hop with rock or 80’s with Videos from (The Notorious B.I.G., B.e.p.,Guns & Roses, Michael Jackson, Beyonce & Led Zeppelin) the crowd will have a good time and leave wanting more.
		Instructor Frances Mohler loves to teach dance! Before coming to Galaxy, Frances taught in New York for the American Youth Dance Theater and the Center for Dance and Body in Manhattan and the Albee Dance School in Brooklyn. She earned her Bachelor's degree in 2005 from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, studying Musical Theater and Dance. Frances had the honor of learning from amazing instructors such as Marilyn D'Honau, Mike Minnery, Lloyd Culbreath, Jermaine Brown and Tony Stevens. She danced and sang on many stages, including Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. Frances hails originally from Waco, Texas, where she trained with Lezley Farmer, Jerry McLaughlin, Lauris Gibson and Lise Uhl. Frances also teaches in North Austin for Austin Dance Theater.
		Jennifer grew up studying all kinds of dance including ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop and lyrical. She was very involved in musical theater and loved performing on stage. While pursuing a degree in theatre at Texas State University, she gained certification as an AFAA group exercise instructor and became very involved with the group exercise program there. She has since taught at several gyms teaching a variety of classes including step, hi/lo, kickboxing, cycle, bootcamp, sculpting, and both latin and dance aerobics. She loves inspiring people to live a healthier life through dance and aerobics.
		Kaitlyn is a full-time student in pursuit of a communication studies degree and business minor at the University of Texas. Fitness however, has been an intregal part of her life since a very young age- she remembers her first gym experience at the age of 10 with her father teaching basic and proper form. Her passion for Pilates began at the age of 18. Power Pilates and CPR certified, she began her fitness career at Gold’s Gym and evolved into teaching private lessons and substituting at other independent studios in Austin. Kaitlyn loves the symbiotic positive energy that is created by group exercise when teaching Pilates. Her mood and those of her clientele is always lifted after a Jam-Lates class. She believes fitness is a key factor to happiness and that one must discover what type of fitness brings them joy.
		Kathleen received her BS in Elementary Education at the University of Texas in 1971. Since then, she has taught as an elementary teacher for over 30 years, an aerobic dance instructor for Jacki Sorensen's Aerobic Dancing for 15 years, has been an ACE certified Personal Trainer and a Ballroom Dance instructor since 2004. Kathleen has won numerous awards for her work on the dancefloor, including: UCWDC Newcomer World Champion (99), UCWDC Silver Advanced 2nd place Champion (08), and ACDA National Champion (01, 03). In 2008 she received her Zumba Basic 1, Basic 2, Gold and Zumba Toning certifications, followed by Aqua Zumba and Zumbatonics (kids) certifications in 2009. She is very excited to share her knowledge and expertise with Galaxy's family of dancers!
		Kathy Brooks has outstanding credentials as a top level competitor as well as highly successful and qualified instructor. Over the last 15 years as a professional, Kathy has won First Place Overall, many, many times in Country Western Dance. Kathy has won a UCWDC World Championship and ACDA National Championship twice with her husband and dance partner Chuck. Kathy has also accumulated a long list of First Place Awards with several partners in Swing Dance.
		Montserrat Gonzalez is an enthusiastic instructor who loves to encourage people to enjoy exercise! As a Pilates teacher I believe in mindful exercise and with Zumba, I believe in the organic flow of movement. My classes combine to create a fun atmosphere with my most important and only rule always being implemented: "To Smile and have FUN!" Montserrat teaches in other dance studios as well.
		Lindsey Taylor graduated from the University of Texas in 2004 with a BFA in Dance. She has danced professionally for ten years with such companies as Blue Lapis Light, Spank Dancers, Martha Bowers (NYC), and Elsewhere Dance Theatre. She is also founder and director of her own company Little Stolen Moments. She has been teaching dance for six years.
		Louise Martin has been an avid student, practitioner and international teacher of movement techniques for the past twenty years. In addition she has studied, trained and worked as a performer for the past twenty five years. Her work as a performer led her to an in depth exploration and curiosity of how the body functions and moves. Her foundation in body exploration began with the study of Yoga moving on to training in the Martial Arts in the Mkeka-do system, a combination of traditional Japanese style karate and kickboxing. She also trained in "Body Dynamics", a system based on bio-energetic and vibrational healing techniques. Louise is a Black Belt Nia Instructor and certified Yoga Teacher from Yogaworks.
		Maestro has been studying, and practicing various styles of movement since the age of 14. By 17 he began teaching a class at the high school he was currently attending. After awakening to his love for teaching he has continued to progress in his teaching styles and methods for the past 6 years. Maestro can work with any age group and adapt to each individuals learning style and has become geared toward the spreading of the tools that aid in self expression such as freestyle Dancing, Vocal work, Percussion, and a large variety of other art forms. Other accomplishments are: Touring with the Harlem Globetrotters, recording/performing with the world famous Govinda, and opening for big names such as Method Man, Deltron, and Sub Swara.
		Born and raised in Anaconda Montana, Maranda Lampe ventured out and received her Bachelor's of Arts with an emphasis in Dance from the University of Montana. The Dance department at the University of Montana is where she was introduced to many different yet wonderful techniques of contemporary dance. Having a strong fascination for theater she further explored the allure of the spectacle of Musical and Cabaret theater post university studies. She has choreographed musicals such as Rocky Horror Show, Reefer Madness, Chicago and Urinetown:the Musical and has choreographed and performed in countless dance and cabaret shows. She has taught a diverse range of classes to a wide variety of ages, the youngest age being two and the oldest being forty five. She has taught baby ballet, pre ballet tap, beginning and intermediate ballet, beginning intermediate/advanced jazz, hip hop, street jazz, contemporary, turns and tricks, cardio gogo, ballet fusion, hip hop fusion, lyrical, as well as a variety of dance workshops, camps and was the Head coaching the University of Montana Dance Team. She is excited to be part of this studios endeavors.
		Mia moved to Austin this year from New York City and loves being in Texas. She grew up in the New York City area starting with ballet and modern dance as a child but in the past ten years has danced jazz, hip hop and now Zumba! She has been a lifetime athlete from tennis, volleyball, skiing and surfing but got hooked on the Latin Inspired Cardio Dance Fitness of Zumba to keep her motivated and physically challenged. Her hope is to make your workout seem fun and less of a chore than other workouts. Music is what brought Mia to Austin and what also brought Mia to Zumba and she will vary up the tunes to keep you on your toes. She likes to travel and has actually lived in Bogota Colombia for a stint, which is the birthplace of Zumba.
		Shivani Gupta Shivani is a full-time student at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in biomedical engineering. All of her free time, however, is devoted to dancing. She owes her beginnings as a dancer entirely to Texas Ballroom, the student organization at UT devoted to ballroom dancing, and currently serves as its president. Her passion started with salsa and west coast swing, social dances that allow her to express her creativity, musicality, and rhythm while still dancing with a partner. She has since learned many of the standard/smooth and latin/rhythm ballroom dances, along with several country dances. Shivani has competed at the Austin Open, and performed around the campus for students and alumni. She is very excited to share her enthusiasm for dance with everyone!
		Ursula Parks brings to her Nia classes over twenty years of dance and expressive movement experience. Her Nia practice began in 1999 and she has been teaching Nia for eight years; she currently is a certified Brown Belt. She has trained directly with Carlos AyaRosas and Debbie Rosas Stewart, co-creators of the Nia Technique, as well as with Liz Ganz and other Nia practitioners. Ursula practices Nia’s movement-based path to physical, mental, and emotional vitality. Her greatest joy as a teacher is to provide a path for students to return to the simple pleasure of being alive in their bodies; she creates a safe space for all students to reconnect with the joyful human impulse to dance. Her classes are athletic, soulful, lively and funky, spiked both with humor and silence.