I welcome you and your family to our 15th year of dance, and my 38th year of dance. I began in 1987 in Brownsville, Tx with Angela Cassady at Cassady Dancenter, training in classical Ballet, Pointe, Tap and Gus Giordano Jazz. Ending in 1997 as a dance assistant and learning basics on how to teach. Serving on the Pacers Dance Team from 1994 to 1996 provided me with valuable experience in a highly structured dance environment. During this time, I held the position of one of the co-Captain’s and had the opportunity to perform at the 1996 Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii. I remember going through Dance Magazine’s, College Guide and seeing my dream college, CalArts. In 1999, in San Antonio, I auditioned for Calarts, was accepted and moved to Valencia, Ca. At Calarts, I was able to learn intensive Modern dance, and Ballet technique. We were able to collaborate with multiple disciplinaries. In 2003, I received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance/Choreography, with experience in stage management, theatre production, and choreography for various performances. I pursued on how to work as a stage technician. I was able to work on, The Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund), “Actors Fund of America Gala” at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State Los Angeles. Collaborating with various actors, noting that this was a different, fast, and vibrant world. Liza Minelli was the final performer and seeing her as a historic singer, actor and dancer on stage was memorable. Being vigilant, it taught me how to run a performance and all the details needed to fully understand. I went on to being a receptionist at Ballet San Antonio Academy beginning to learn how to run a front desk and clean and maintain three large professional dance studios, and worked as a stage technician on their annual, “Nutcracker” at the Tobin Center. In 2007, I moved back to Brownsville, booked as a finale choreographer for the 2007, “Shaken Not Stirred, 007”, St Joseph Academy’s annual style show, a dance teacher/choreographer at Dance Center and a dance teacher at TSC. I then was contracted for a three-year term at Stillman MS as the dance teacher. The public school district taught me a different side of discipline and finally realized that I wanted to run my own business. In between all my dance jobs, I have also worked in retail and food, learning how each customer presents diverse needs and wants. Working for others has allowed me to grow, learn and understand multiple facets of life. In 2010, I opened and began my journey, in this journey, I have learned that success and failure go together, like partners. Throughout the years, I have created choreography, began with recitals, and progressed to performances. We have added community service and now have additional teachers!

I am a mother to Madison. She is colorful, loving and has taught me the most in life. I enjoy studying history, people, and ideas. I have traveled to Europe, backpacking by myself to Spain, Germany and France and stayed in New Zealand as well as parts of Mexico and their beaches. I recommend traveling, it gives us a sense of culture and brings you to a new part of yourself!

I believe in myself, I always have. I understand that life will rearrange itself in good and not so effective ways. This is how we learn and everything that we learn brings us to what we are supposed to become. My goal for all my students is to learn to collaborate, that we give, we fail, and we succeed. From this dance experience, that you allow yourself to let go, and open your heart to YOUR potential. The greatest is yet to come!

Clarissa Elena Becerra is a Brownsville native and was first introduced to dance at Christian Dance Arts studio at the age of two, where she learned the basic steps to ballet and experienced gymnastics. At the age of four she enrolled at Diandra Cavazos Dance Company and had her first dance recital experience on stage performing Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop and Ballet.

At the age of nine she joined her school ballroom team and enjoyed all the numerous styles that included Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Cha cha, rumba, salsa, merengue. She continued ballroom through middle school and is still part of her high school ballroom team learning other styles that included Viennese waltz, mambo, and samba. At the age of 16 she enrolled at Fred Astaire Dance Studio and participated in numerous ballroom dance competitions. She had the opportunity to compete in the United States Amateur Dance Sport Championships in Utah where she earned 1st in Youth Pre Championship Rhythm, 2nd in Youth Amateur Rhythm, and 2nd in Adult Pre Championship Rhythm. She also competed in Houston at the AAU Junior Olympic Games Dance competition where she earned five gold medals and one silver.

Kayla Cisneros began her dance education at Diandra’s Dance Studio at age 7. She is currently in her senior year at Veterans High School as a Chargerettes Dance Team Officer. She was Captain of the dance team at Stillman Middle School and has attended the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Camp. She recently earned the title of All American dancer through the National Dance Alliance. An All American Dancer is a dancer who exhibits showmanship, technique, spirit, and leadership. Her work experience includes being a dance assistant/shadow at Dance Center and a Hip Hop Teacher/Choreographer at Danzarte USA.