MEET our stAff

At 3-D Dance our Dance Educators are college-educated professionals with a scope of knowledge that ranges from developmental appropriate dancer development, to effective curriculum implementation and creative classroom management strategies. You can learn more about our staff of professional dance educators below!

Suzy Simpson, Co-Founder

Suzy Simpson is a proud to be a Y.P.A.D. Certified Dance Educator, a life-long dancer and performer. Suzy has been teaching ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop since 2000.

Suzy received a Dance Scholarship from the University of North Texas, where she earned a B.S. Degree in Child Development, with a Minor in Dance. After graduating from UNT, Suzy pursued graduate studies in Performing Arts Administration at New York University in New York City, where she received unparalleled training at NYU’s Steinhardt School of Education and Stern School of Business. While living in New York City, Suzy trained at Broadway Dance Center, studied with the Martha Graham Dance Company, and enjoyed attending Broadway musicals as much as her schedule would allow.

Suzy’s drill team experience includes 2 years performing as a Tyler Junior College Apache Belle, 3 years as a high school drill team director, and 10 years instructing dance camps and judging dance competitions. She was named Outstanding Director two years in a row from American Dance/Drill Team, and was featured in the annual publication Who’s Who among American High School Teachers. Suzy has choreographed for the Apache Belle Spring Show and Apache Belle Pow Wow Dance Camp. She served on the Apache Belle Gold Alumni Board of Directors for ten years.

Suzy is excited to be on the front lines of positive change in the dance industry, starting right here in our local community. Her greatest joy has been watching our dancers grow into dynamic performers and amazing people over the years.

Michelle Finch, Co-Founder

Michelle Finch is a native of south Louisiana where she grew up enjoying dance and theater. She appeared in over 20 plays and musicals beginning with “The King and I” at age 9. She was a member of the Baton Rouge Dinner Playhouse cast of “Annie” and “The Sound of Music”. She was also part of her high school dance team, high school show choir, and a member of the “Jambalaya Singers”, a professional touring company of 8 performers representing the “Jambalaya Capital” – Gonzales, Louisiana. Performances included the Louisiana State Fair, Disney World in Orlando, and a two week tour in France with shows in 8 different French cities. After high school, Michelle attended University of Texas at Austin where she received an MBA in Finance.

She spent most of her career at American Airlines Headquarters in Fort Worth, and has held various business and financial consulting positions over the past 10 years. Her most rewarding venture to date has been her 24 year marriage to her husband John and spending time with their three wonderful daughters. She is proud to be part of the 3-D Dance family and be able to watch the next generation of performers develop and grow.

Dena Guzman, Director of Operations

Dena is a graduate from the University of North Texas with her degree in Emergency Management and Sociology. She spent twelve years working at UNT as the Assistant Director in Financial Aid. In 2018, Dena was awarded the top honor of Outstanding Employee at UNT for her work in the financial aid office. Dena enjoys getting to know all of our dance families and welcoming new families to 3-D Dance. In her free time, Dena homeschools her two children, dabbles with photography, and spending quality time with her family. She lives in Crossroads with her husband, children and three dogs.

Aminah Alvarez, Artistic Director

Aminah Alvarez is a native of Dallas, Texas. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with a Specialization in Athletic Health Care at The University of Texas at Austin. She is an alumnus of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Alvarez performed as a company member with DBDT: Encore!, and has performed multiple summers with Mary Kay Cosmetics, Annual Summer Seminar.

In 2016, Alvarez performed as a finalist at the American College Dance Association’s National Festival, at The John F. Kennedy Center. In 2018, she performed at the Fintdaz Internacional De Teatro & Danza Festival in Iquique, Chile.

Alvarez has credits with The Dallas Opera’s production of Carmen and Hansel and Gretel. You can find her in multiple commercials, notably NBC5 Winter Olympics Texas Connects Us.Alvarez is a founding company dancer of contemporary modern dance company, B. MOORE DANCE, and is currently is on faculty with The Joffrey Ballet School’s Texas Training Program and 3-D Dance. Alvarez is certified in Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (YPAD), Progressing Ballet Technique, and Acrobatic Arts.

Summer Andress, Education Coordinator

Ms. Summer is a lifelong dancers and graduate of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, in Dallas. She earned a B.F.A. of Fine Arts in Dance Education from the University of Texas in Austin and is a certified dance teacher in the State of Texas. Summer is a YPAD Certified and Acrobatic Arts Certified Dance Educator.

Ms. Summer has experience as a professional dance educator at Booker T. Washington High School, and with Dance Associates Austin where she taught dance and tumbling classes. Summer most taught dance at W.E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy and Faith Family Academy in Dallas and has been serving as Dance Development Coordinator for 3-D Dance since 2018. Summer lives in Celina with her husband and daughter.

Lauren Cummins, Administrative Assistant

Lauren was born and raised in Riverside, California and moved to Texas in 2022. Prior to starting her career as a Color Guard Instructor, she performed in Disneyland parades and was also in the Rose Parade with Martin Luther King High School Color Guard. She has 12 years of experience coaching multiple Middle School and High School Color Guard teams. That experience included managing team financials, creating show and costume designs, as well as writing flag, weapon line and dance choreography.

You can find Lauren in multiple TV Shows such as The Middle and Commercials as a Specialty Extra with companies such as Verizon. In her free time, you can catch her hanging out with friends and family. She loves sewing, arts and crafts, spending time with her daughter and husband, along with always looking for new DIY projects at home. Lauren is excited to help families experience everything 3-D Dance has to offer.

Alyssa Knapschaefer, Curriculum Coordinator

Alyssa Knapschaefer is a native of Kingwood, Texas where she started her dance training at five years old. She trained through college in ballet, pointe, tap, and modern dance. Alyssa graduated from the University of North Texas in 2021 with a BA in Dance and a BS in Kinesiology. As a UNT student, she performed in various concerts such as the Collaboration Dance Concert, the New Choreographer’s Concert, and the Faculty Dance Concert. Additionally, at UNT, Knapschaefer found interest in the individuality in one’s body's relationship to movement and how movement facilitates a creative and healthy life. Alyssa currently dances professionally with Mixtamotus, an art collective that explores movement, music, and media.

Ally Turquette, Instructor

Ally Turquette was raised in Burleson, Texas where she grew up in a competitive dance studio training in styles such as Jazz, Tap, Ballet/Pointe and Hip Hop. She served as Dance Officer on her high school drill team and performed with the Trinity Valley Community College Cardettes, where she was selected to perform for the Showgirls Competition Team.

Ally holds a Bachelor’s Degree of Arts in Dance Education from the University of North Texas where she was also a two year member of North Texas Dancers.

Ally has been on staff at 3-D Dance since 2020 and serving in many roles, including Performing Company Assistant Director. She is an Instructor and Adjudicator for Danceline USA and served as a maternity substitute for Drill Team Directors within Frisco ISD. Ally is currently in her second year as the Assistant Director of the Lewisville High School Farmerettes Drill Team.

Ms. Ally has enjoyed sharing her passion and values for dance with her students and is so excited to continue teaching with her 3-D family!

Jordana Bluitt, Instructor

Ms. Jordana is currently a student and member of the University of North Texas’ collegiate dance team-North Texas Dancers and pursuing a degree in Film and Media production. Jordana began her love for dance and entertainment at the age of five. Jordana has been trained in ballet, jazz, drill technique, lyrical, tap, and hip-hip, and ballroom. She was also awarded many national scholarships, awards, and recognitions from NYCDA, Nuvo Dance Convention, Adrenaline Dance, Crowd Pleasers, Jump Dance Convention, 24/Seven Dance Convention, Jenny Durbin, Kim McSwain, Nick Bass, Matt Alyward, and more.

In high school, Jordana was a member of and two-year Lieutenant for the Braswell Royals under the direction of Kristina Shelburne. In addition to dance, Jordana also acts, and has been casted in two short films directed by Toya Nash. To share her passion for the performing arts, Jordana volunteers at local middle and high schools dance clubs and teams to choreograph, clean routines, and lead technique classes.

Hadley Voss, Instructor

Hadley Voss is a Mississippi native who earned her Master’s Degree in Dance from Texas Woman’s University. She is also an Acrobatic Arts Certified instructor. She is a graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi with a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography and a minor in Business Administration. Hadley was a member of USM’s Dixie Darlings dance team all four years at USM.

Hadley is a life-long formally trained dancer specializing in the genres ballet, modern, tap, jazz, lyrical, and contemporary. In the summers of 2018 and 2019, she was invited to attend the prestigious Radio City Rockettes Summer Intensive in New York City, where she participated in daily technique classes as well as learned some of the Rockettes’ most famous choreography.

Hadley has been teaching dance since 2013 and is excited to share her passion with our 3-D Dance students!

Emily Jensen, Instructor

Emily Jensen recently graduated with her Master of Fine Arts in Dance from Texas Woman’s University. Emily earned her BA in Dance Education from TWU in 2020 and her AA in Dance from Kilgore College in 2017. She currently serves as Coaching Assistant for the TWU Pioneer Pride Dance Team, where she was named the first-ever Dance Captain in 2017. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Dance at the University of North Texas, as well as a Veteran Staff member with Danceline USA.

Emily works professionally as a freelance instructor, choreographer, performer, adjudicator, and presenter across the United States within a variety of dance spaces and genres. She is so thankful for 3-D Dance and loves building relationships with the 3-D Dance community!

Faith Lane, Instructor

Faith was born and raised in Pennsauken, New Jersey. She has a BFA in Modern Dance from Point Park University and she dances professionally with Zion Dance Project's second company in Dallas Texas. In addition to training in modern dance, she also loves to study House, west African, and commercial jazz.

Faith was first inspired to dance at a young age by watching the dance team worship at her church. In the beginning, she was an avid observer and learner of the dance team, then as she grew, she started to become more involved with them. When she was 12, she started taking dance lessons at her hometown studio, Halliday Dance. She started off taking a modern class only once a week from dance instructor and performer, Tony Rhodes, who approached dance holistically.

Tony gave Faith the inspiration and drive she needed to keep dancing after high school. Her journey to learning codified techniques began at 16 when she was accepted as a summer intensive trainee and second company member at “Philadanco!” During her time at Point Park University, she performed works by Jason McDole, Rennie Harris, Kiki Lucas, Pearlann Porter, Marc Spaulding, and Martha Nichols. She is excited and trusting of what God has in store for her future.

Oriana Godoy

Oriana Godoy was born in Dallas, Texas, and moved to Spain with her family at the age of 4. There, she began studying flamenco, ballet, and contemporary dance. After spending 8 years in Spain, Oriana moved to Argentina, her parents' home country. In 2015, she returned to the United States, where she continued her dance training in ballet, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary dance. She was an active member of her high school Drill Team and was honored as Jazz Dancer of the Year.

Oriana will graduate from Texas A&M University in December 2024 with an interdisciplinary degree in Dance and minors in Secondary Education and Spanish. She is currently student teaching dance and drill team at Rock Hill High School in Prosper. During her time at A&M, Oriana seized every opportunity to develop her skills in teaching, performing, and choreography. She became a member of the Dance Arts Society, where she choreographed multiple pieces that were successfully auditioned and performed each semester. In addition to her choreography work, she performed every semester at Rudder Auditorium.

Oriana is thrilled to be on staff at 3-D Dance!

Melissa Lazo

Melissa Lazo began her dance training at age 4 and specializes in Ballet and Hip Hop. Originally from San Francisco, she now resides in Celina, Texas.

Melissa is pursuing a degree in international business on a pre law track at University of North Texas, with the goal of become an international lawyer. Melissa is Mexican/Salvadorian and is trilingual, practices Brazilian Jiu jitsu, and has 3 sisters. She is excited to invest in the growth of our 3-D Dance students.

D'nasia Mitchell, Instructor

Dnasia Mitchell began her dance training at 3-D Dance in 1st grade, training for 11 years in jazz, ballet, contemporary, and hip hop. She was a member of the 3-D Dance Performing Company for 5 years and was actively involved in the 3-D Dance Teen Leadership Program where she trained in the areas of choreography, classroom management, relationship building, leadership, and communication. Dnasia was also a member of the Braswell Royals for 3 years, serving as Lieutenant her Senior year.

Dnasia is currently a student at the University of Houston, studying Human Resources. She enjoys sharing her love of dance with the next generation of 3-D Dance students and hopes to see them apply the lessons learned in dance to all other areas of life as they grow and develop.

Andrea Bellolio, Instructor

Andrea Bellolio was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Andrea has fond memories of dancing at 3-D Dance as a child. In addition to being a former 3-D Dance student, Andrea participated in drill team and hip-hop team, where she honed her skills in various dance styles.

Andrea also had numerous opportunities to assist classes and teach within the Braswell High School theater department. These experiences allowed her to develop a strong foundation in teaching and choreography. At Braswell High School, she choreographed for several musicals and a nationals-qualifying International Thespians performance.

Andrea is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting with a minor in marketing at the University of North Texas. She is dedicated to building her students’ confidence and fostering a healthy relationship with dance. Her goal is to share her love for dance and inspire the same passion in her students through engaging and supportive teaching.

Brianna Lesley, Instructor

Brianna Lesley is majoring in Dance, with a minor in psychology, at University of North Texas. She grew up in Mansfield, TX training in Ballet, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary and tap. Briana aspires to perform in various commercial dance outlets in the future. She is excited to have the opportunity to teach our amazing 3-D Dance students!

Saliyah Dunson, Instructor

Ms. Liyah was born in Santa Barbara, California, and was raised in Frisco, Texas. She was a 4-year member of the Independence Royals Drill Team, and she served as Sergeant her Senior year. Ms. Liyahs favorite dance memory was performing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. She has been working with toddlers at a Montessori school since 2020, and is in the process of getting her lead AMI Montessori certification. The combination passions for teaching and dancing is what makes Liyah so enthusiastic about working with our students at 3-D Dance. She is excited to inspire young dancers to be the best that they can be as dancers and as people!

Ethan Simpson, Instructor

Ethan Simpson started dance at 3-D Dance when he was 3 years old. He trained in Ballet, Hip Hop, Acro and Musical Theater. In High School, he served as Improv Team Captain and Publicist for Frisco High School Theatre. He is also is a professional commercial/TV/film actor appearing in multiple commercials, short films and print ads. He is a 2024 Broadway Dallas Musical Theater Award Nominee for his performance in Chicago the Musical. Ethan has had the honor of performing in many productions with FHS Theatre in the roles of The Duke of Weselton in Frozen the Broadway Musical, Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby and Randle McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. He attends the University of North Texas and performing in local community theater productions while continuing to pursue his film acting career..

Ellie Finch, Assistant

Ellie has been a 3-D Dance student since age 2. She performed on our performing Company for many years. Ellie has been a member of the Braswell High School Royals Drill Team for four years and is currently serving her second year as Head Social Officer.

Keira Oshunkentan, Assistant

Keira has been a 3-D Dance student since age 4, who performed on our performing Company for several years. Keira was on the Braswell High School Royals Drill Team for four years, serving as Captain for two years.

Eden Guzman Torres, Assistant

Eden has been a 3-D Dance student since age 3. She has been on our Performing Company since age 5, and a soloist since age 7. She is currently performing with our Emerald Performing Company.

Lexie McGee, Assistant

Lexie has been a 3-D Dance student since age 6. She is currently performing with our Emerald Performing Company and has been a soloist for 3 years.

Haven Reese, Assistant

Haven began her dance training in Arkansas and has been a 3-D Dance student since moving to Texas in 2019. She performs with our Emerald Performing Company and has been a soloist for 3 years. Haven attend Booker T Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas.

Ella Iskowitz, Assistant

Ella has been a 3-D Dance student since age 2. She has been on our Performing Company since age 5 and has been a soloist for 2 years. Ella performs on the Braswell High School Jewels Drill Team.

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Aubrey/Little Elm Location

26772 HW 380 East

Little Elm, TX

Celina Location

3260 S. Preston Rd

Celina, TX

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