FACULTY
Michelle Bellamy-Arndt
Principal / Executive Director
Michelle Bellamy-Arndt, founder and Director of The Dance Works, 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 Dance Works 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.
Amanda Weissman
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, 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. She has also choreographed high-scoring competition routines and worked as head choreographer for several musicals at The Georgetown Palace Theatre. Brittany has experience teaching a wide range of dance styles to students of all ages and levels. She has been teaching at The DanceWorks since 2019 and is looking forward to many more years of sharing her knowledge. Brittany is a strong believer in fostering a love of dance within her students and is excited to share her passion for the art form.
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.
Risa Ortiz
Instructor/Choreographer
Risa is passionate about educating through the art of dance. Trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop, Risa is currently a student at University of Texas at Austin working toward an education degree, specifically Early Childhood through 6th grade. She serves as dance director for Incarnate Word Academy, combining her training and love of dance with a passion for educating students in all genres. She has taught and choreographed showcase and competitive pieces for Brownsville Dance Center, and was selected to attend the Cosmopolitan Ballet Theatre 2018 summer intensive in Washington DC where she studied under Irina Vakhromeeva, Florien Rouiller, and Roman Petukov. Welcome, Risa! We are happy to have you!
Liv Hendrick
Instructor/Choreographer
Liv has trained in and taught jazz, ballet, tap, musical theatre, acrobatics, modern, lyrical, contemporary and hip hop. A member of the University of Texas Competitive Dance Team, she serves as Public Relations Chair in addition to performances and competitions. She danced for three years as an elite member of the Footlights Performing Arts Company, and eleven years as a competitive team member. Liv has been grateful to receive multiple scholarships and awards throughout her competitive career. Choreography credits include multiple shows for Stage Right Theatre Company, as well as pieces for Footlights and University of Texas Competitive Dance Team. We are thrilled to welcome her experience and energy to the Danceworks family!
Maddie Brimingham
Instructor/Choreographer
Maddie Birmingham, has been dancing since she was two. She began her love of dance at a small dance studio in her hometown of Carrollton, Texas where she fell in love with performing and competing. She formally trained and competed in ballet, commercial jazz, lyrical, musical theatre, and tap throughout her childhood. In high school, she was the 1st Lieutenant of the Troyanns Drill Team and an officer in her high school’s modern dance company.
Maddie also fell in love with teaching in High School with her first job as a teacher at a local studio in Dallas, where she worked for 2 years. Maddie is now a sophomore at UT Austin in pursuit of a BFA in Dance Education. She also competed in jazz and hip hop at NDA nationals with the UT Dance Team in 2024, and she is so grateful to be starting this new chapter at the Dance Works! Maddie strives to help her students find as much joy in dance as she did when she was growing up.
Liz Oxley
Instructor/Choreographer
Liz is originally from outside Denver, Colorado and started her dance training at Parker Dance Academy. In conjunction with her studio training, she was able to study with local companies; Cleo Parker Robinson and Kim Robards Dance. Once graduating from high school, Liz continued her dance education at Wichita State University, majoring in Dance Performance. While at school she performed and toured with Mid-America Dance Theatre, where she had the opportunity to work with Chelya Clawson, Sabrina Vasquez, Dre Dance (Andrew Palermo and Taye Diggs), Janice Garrett, Doug Varone, and Darrell Moultrie. She then moved to New York City where she had the pleasure of dancing with Descavich Choreography, Captiveflow Dance and Gotham Dance Theatre. In spring 2017, Liz presented choreography at Launch, a showcase for emerging choreographers in NYC. After relocating to Austin, Texas fall 2017, she has been teaching and choreographing for studios in the area. Liz is thrilled to be back at the DanceWorks and is always excited to create a space where dancers feel safe to express themselves, push their performance and technique, and have fun!
Bryana Cruz
Instructor/Choreographer
Bryana “Bry” Cruz began her love for dance at the age of 2 in New Jersey and hasn’t stopped since. Bry started competitively dancing at the age of 7 and her love for dance continued to grow. Bry has training in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, and lyrical. Bry continued her love for dance in college where she was on the Quinnipiac University Dance Company. Bry graduated from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut with her Bachelor of Science in Health and Science Studies. Bry then continued her education to get her masters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Bry has her Masters in Clinical Mental Counseling with a specialization in Dance/Movement Therapy. Bry is a Board-Certified Dance/Movement Therapist. Currently, Bry is a Director of Outpatient Therapy at a behavioral health facility in Austin by day, and is a dance teacher at by night! Bry’s love for dance grows more and more each and every year. Being able to share that love with patients and students keeps her going! Bry has been a dance teacher in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and now Texas. Bry is celebrating her 11th year of being a dance teacher this year and is humbled for the experiences she has had thus far. Bry also has a huge love for the competitive dance world. Bry has traveled and taught competition choreography in multiple states, and has won many accolades for her competition choreography at many dance competitions throughout the US. Bry believes that dance is about coming of your comfort zone, learning about yourself, and feeling more and more confident along the way.
GUEST FACULTY
Kendall Zwang
Instructor/Choreographer
Kendall began her dance career at the age of 10 where she trained at Masters Upper Level Dance and at Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA). Kendall also has trained with with MET Dance, DanceZone, Ad Deum Dance, Leon Dance Arts and Joffrey Ballet. Kendall has worked with many amazing instructors and choreographers including Courtney D. Jones, Charles O. Anderson, Shelia Milner, Kali Boyd, Chad McCall, Donna Shepherd, Dani Hammack, Ade Obayomi, Jess Hendricks, Travis Wall, Mandy Moore, Mia Michaels and Brian Freidman to name a few. Kendall has classical training in ballet and modern with specific training in Graham. She also has training in musical theatre, jazz, hip hop, contemporary and tap. Some of Kendall’s performance experience includes performances with Masters Upper Level, with the HSPVA dance department for biannual dance concerts, at the 2017 Regional High School Dance Festival, and with Texas Dance at various performances and regional and national competitions. Her repertory includes Appalachian Springs by Martha Graham and The Envelope by David Parsons. In addition to her dance training, Kendall has experience in graphic design, social media analytics, branding and public relations strategies.
Bennah Galvin
Instructor/Choreographer/Theatre Production
Brennah's love of all things performance was born at the DanceWorks. She began dancing at the age of 3 and continued to perform and learn through her time at Texas State University. Brennah received her degree in Dance Performance and Choreography with minors in Mass Communication and Theatre Production. Studying at Texas State allowed Brennah to travel internationally and perform throughout the UK. During her time at college Brennah fell in love with the behind the scenes of theatre, specifically Stage Management.
After a few years of working in Austin as a Stage Manager Brennah ventured off to Wales, UK to get her Masters in Stage and Event Management. She is currently pursuing a career across continents as a stage and event manager.
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.