FACULTY
Michelle Bellamy-Arndt
Principal / Executive Director
Michelle Bellamy-Arndt, founder and Director of The DanceWorks, has been dancing thru life from the moment she put on her first pair of tap shoes. Michelle began her dance training at an early age concentrating on ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical styles of dance. She attended the University of Nebraska, and Creighton University where she studied business management and dance.
Michelle has over 30 years of teaching and directing experience, and has had the pleasure of studying with renowned teachers such as Gus Giordano, Brenda Buffalino, Frank Hatchett, Diane Walker and Luigi. Michelle is grateful to all of the masters of the dance art form in which she has had the opportunity to study with or simply be influenced by. Michelle continues to be a student of dance by attending seminars, regional and national conventions and teacher workshops.
Michelle has owned and operated dance studios in Iowa, Colorado, and Virginia before opening The DanceWorks in Round Rock, Texas in 1998. Michelle believes The Dance Works is a vehicle for her dancers in bringing them together not only with the talents of a professional staff and quality facilities, but giving them true community and opportunity as both dancers and young leaders. Whether their goals are recreational, regional success or professional, Michelle wants her students to come away with impeccable technique, responsible discipline and a positive character that goes with them throughout their lifetime.
Tracey Hill Lowe
Co-Studio Director
Director of TheatreWorks
Primary Levels, and Body Drop: Instructor/Choreographer
Tracey has been part of The DanceWorks family since 2003, and opened The TheatreWorks as Director in 2014. She is a current member of the Texas Educational Theatre Association, and a three year veteran and yearly attendee of the Broadway Teachers Workshop in New York City.
Tracey has studied dance (tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, contemporary, and musical theater) in Utah, Missouri, Washington, and Texas. As a dancer/actor, Tracey has appeared in television and print ads, and performed in numerous shows and reviews. Favorites include How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, No, No, Nannette, Wizard of Oz, Oklahoma!, Can Can, and Carnival, among others. She has been blessed to learn from and study with many of her dance and theatre heroes, including Ann Reinking and Megan Hilty.
As an instructor, director, and choreographer, Tracey has taught various levels of tap, jazz, ballet, and musical theater for the last 18 years. She is also a certified group fitness instructor and currently teaches a hip hop cardio format that she absolutely loves. She is grateful to have been recognized with entertainment and choreography awards over the years, and especially proud of the DanceWorks Elite Team winning the Encore 2016 National Championship title with their hilarious and spirited performance of “Stepsisters Lament”.
Ms. Tracey has added writing to her list of interests, and after several skits, one-acts, and songs over the years, her first musical was completed and opened TheatreWorks second season. It is currently under copyright and set to be published later this year.
Liv Hendrick
Assistant Studio Director
Instructor/Choreographer
Liv Hendrick grew up dancing in the DFW area, training for 15 years—13 of them as a competitive dancer across Texas—and is now celebrating her 20th year of dancing. Her performances in Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, and Lyrical earned her numerous scholarships and awards. In 2021, she moved to Austin to study Radio, Television, and Film at the University of Texas at Austin, where she graduated with honors. During her time there, she was a member of the University of Texas Competitive Team and served as public relations officer for her dance organization.
Liv joined The DanceWorks faculty four years ago, working with competitive teams for the past two years and now entering her third. She has also assisted five TheatreWorks productions and is currently involved in a sixth. Recently promoted to Studio Assistant Director, Liv treasures the dancers and the vibrant community she gets to be a part of at The DanceWorks!
Amanda Moitoza
Artistic Company Director
Instructor/Choreographer
Amanda is an experienced dancer, choreographer and leader and is thrilled to be a part of the DanceWorks family.
She grew up training in Boston, MA and began competing around the country in high school. With extensive training in acrobatics, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, ballet, hip hop, and tap, she comes well prepared to share her expertise and love of dance with our students.
Throughout college, Amanda was the president and head choreographer of her collegiate dance company, where her pieces won many regional and national titles. As a teacher/choreographer, her students have also received numerous choreography and technique awards. Amanda spent two years as the coach and choreographer for a high school hip hop and jazz team, and loved building relationships with the dancers and traveling for games and competitions. She has enjoyed her time in both private studio and school settings, and is grateful for the perspective and experience she has gained as a teacher and instructor.
In addition to her dance background, Amanda holds a Master of Education and currently teaches students with visual impairments and multiple disabilities.
Brittany Johnson
Instructor/Choreographer
Brittany earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Minor in Management from Sam Houston State University (SHSU). Brittany began dancing at the age of three in Austin, TX. She has advanced training in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Drill, Improvisation, Partnering, and Pilates.
Brittany has performed for notable artists such as Andy Noble, Dionne Sparkman Noble, Dana Nicolay, Evelyn Toh, and Vincent Calleros. She performed at The Vortex Theatre as a part of The Austin Tap Ensemble and danced professionally for Nicolay Dance Works in “A Wynne Home Alice.” Brittany also performed in two works at the American College Dance Association (ACDA) South-Central Conference, both of which were chosen for the ACDA Gala Concert.
In addition to performing, Brittany presented her own choreography in several shows at SHSU, and set work at McNeil High School on both the McNeil Majestics and the McNeil Sapphire Dancers.
Brittany has also choreographed award-winning competition routines and received special recognition for her choreography. Additionally, she has worked as head choreographer for several musicals at The Georgetown Palace Theatre.
Brittany has been teaching at The DanceWorks since 2019. She has experience teaching a wide range of dance styles to students of all ages and levels. Brittany is a strong believer in fostering a love of dance within her students and is excited to continue sharing her passion for the art form through teaching.
Bethany Priest
Instructor/Choreographer
Bethany first fell in love with dance at the age of 8 when she saw a children’s performance of the Nutcracker. At 10 she enrolled in ballet classes at Ballet San Antonio Academy (formerly known as Mayra Worthen Ballet). She spent the next several years in intensive classical ballet training before dancing pre-professionally with San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet and finally joining the professional company, Ballet San Antonio. She has performed roles in the Nutcracker, Cinderella, A Midsummer Nights Dream, and other dance pieces by various choreographers. Additional training includes open classes, workshops, conventions, and summer intensives with Ballet Magnificat!, Ballet Austin, Joffrey Ballet, and Houston Ballet among others. After several years performing with Ballet San Antonio, she retired to finish her Bachelors of Science in Nutrition from Texas State University. After having two children of her own she felt called to combine her two of her biggest passions: Dance and teaching children! She has been sharing her love for the arts ever since.
Lauren Prince
Instructor/Choreographer
Lauren has been part of The DanceWorks family since 2008 and has been teaching since 2018. She is trained in ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, and hip-hop, and danced competitively for over 10 years. Throughout her career, Lauren has had the opportunity to train with many respected artists at various conventions, competitions, and workshops.
In addition to her dance background, Lauren holds certifications in Prenatal and Postnatal Fitness Foundations, and Barre. Lauren is excited to be back at The DanceWorks, sharing her love of dance with the community!
Maddie Brimingham
Instructor/Choreographer
Maddie Birmingham is a dance educator from Carrollton, Texas. She has trained in a studio environment since age two and fell in love with competition dance from a young age, performing in ballet, tap, jazz, and contemporary works. She was an officer on her high school‘s modern dance company as well as The first Lieutenant on the Smith TroyAnns drill team, and she fell in love with teaching at collective arts center in Carrollton, where she taught her senior year of high school. She also entered at the firehouse theater in farmers branch, Texas, where she received musical theater, vocal, and acting training. Maddie is now a third year dance education major at UT Austin, where she has had the opportunity to train in ballet and modern and perform with renowned international choreographers. She is also going into her second season working on staff with crowdpleasers dance and elevation on tour. This is Maddie‘s second season with the dance works and she is so excited to continue teaching and sharing her love for dance with her students!
Jason Rhodes
Instructor/Choreographer
Jason Rhodes is a dance educator and choreographer based in Austin, Texas. He grew up training at The DanceWorks before going on to teach at multiple studios throughout the area. He now serves as Co-Director of New Genesis, an exhibition dance company in Austin.
An award-winning choreographer, Jason has performed for local artists, appeared at SXSW, danced for Old Navy, and taken on a wide variety of performance opportunities both in and outside of Austin.
Now entering his 10th year of teaching, Jason is passionate about bringing out the best in every dancer. He incorporates the techniques and skills he has gained throughout his career to inspire, challenge, and develop his students into strong, confident performers.
Abbi Kennedy
Instructor/Choreographer
Abbi Kennedy grew up dancing at The DanceWorks, training in a variety of styles for 15 years, 11 of which she spent on the DanceWorks competition team. Currently, she is a sophomore studying Digital Media Innovation at Texas State University. There, she is also furthering her dance training with a minor in Dance and a role as Assistant Director of one of her school’s dance organizations.
Melinda Norris
Instructor/Choreographer
Melinda Norris has been teaching dance in Texas public schools since 2007. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Texas State University in 2006 and her master’s in educational leadership and policy from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2020. From 2013 to 2022, Melinda taught dance at Round Rock High School, Grisham Middle School, and Cedar Valley Middle School in Round Rock ISD. She currently serves as an administrator within the district. Melinda’s teaching philosophy centers on inspiring students to discover a lifelong passion for dance through the exploration of diverse styles and creative experiences.
Guest Instructor / Choreographer
Rachel Oberle
Instructor/Choreographer
Rachel grew up dancing at a pre-professional ballet studio in Edinburg, TX, and graduated high school as a dance major at North East School of the Arts in San Antonio, TX. Throughout her time at both of these programs, she performed as a principal dancer in several productions such as the Nutcracker, Giselle, and Paquita. In addition, she competed individually and as a team member at Showtime International and Showstopper competitions. In college, she was a 4-year member of the competitive dance team at the University of Texas (hook ‘em). There, she competed all 4 years in the team’s jazz and hip hop routines at ATDS regionals and NDA nationals. Rachel taught ballet at the DanceWorks from 2018-2021, took a year off, and is back to hang out with her favorite kids! She is passionate about the importance of ballet, the history of dance as an art, and creating a studio culture that is accepting, uplifting, and kind.