Christine Hayes began dancing like many little girls at the age of three. Growing up in the Austin area, she studied and performed with several local dance companies, including Tapestry Dance Company. Christine studied theater and dance at the University of Texas in Austin and also holds a Psychology degree from Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi. While in Corpus Christi, Christine was privileged to teach and choreograph for the Corpus Christi Ballet. Christine always had a passion to be a dance educator and has now been teaching dance for over 20 years for many different dance companies throughout Texas. Christine has developed a comprehensive dance curriculum and strongly believes in teaching sound technique in a positive and encouraging atmosphere.

Christine opened her first dance studio, Central Texas Dance Academy near Waco, Texas and served as Owner/Artistic Director. In May 2008, she sold Central Texas Dance Academy and returned to the Austin area to be near her family. Christine opened The Dance Gallery in 2009 and is dedicated to bringing the HIGHEST level of dance education to students in Round Rock and the surrounding areas. Christine continues her training by attending numerous dance conventions throughout the year where she can work with some of today’s leading professionals in the dance industry. Christine is married and is the proud mother of two grown children, Emily and Evan.

Lindsey Jo Bushn, Instructor/KADC Director

Lindsey Jo has been dancing as long as she can remember! She grew up dancing in Round Rock, studying ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, and musical theatre under Susan Babcock and Desi Ray for 14 years. As an eight year member of her studio’s competition and performance group, Lindsey Jo enjoyed performing at competitions and community events, as well attending conventions and workshops all over the state of Texas. Lindsey Jo earned a degree in Elementary Education from The University of Texas at Austin and has been teaching dance full-time since 2005. As a frequent guest on many Round Rock ISD middle and high school campuses, Lindsey Jo has the opportunity to interact with dancers all over the greater-Austin area and to share her love of dance through many avenues. This is her 15th season with The Dance Gallery!

Stephanie Staggs, Instructor

Stephanie has been dancing since the age of 5. She grew up dancing in Round Rock studying under Susan Babcock, Beth Hickman, Joni Starr, and Desi Ray. She is a member of The Texas Association of Teachers of Dancing, Inc. and received her Bachelor’s of Arts in Dance from The University of Texas in Austin in 1996. At UT, she studied under Heywood McGriff, Lathan Sanford, Yacov Sharir, Andrea Beckham, Ricardo Garcia, Densie Prasky, Lynne Grossman, Sondra Lomax, Sharon Vasquez, and Llory Wilson. She had the opportunity to take master classes from Savion Glover, Karen Herbet, Robert Christopher, Twyla Tharp Dance Company, The Merce Cunningham Dance Company, The Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane Company, The Martha Graham Dance Company and The Ghana Dance Ensemble. Stephanie is married and is a proud mother to a wonderful daughter who loves dancing and swimming. This is Stephanie’s 14th year with The Dance Gallery.

Staci Bybee, Instructor

Staci began dancing at the age of 5 in Austin. She studied and performed throughout the Austin area for many years. Staci taught for several studios in the Austin and surrounding areas before moving to North Carolina in 1998. While in North Carolina, she taught and took professional classes at North Carolina Dance Institute under the artistic director Kirstie Spadie. After moving back to Texas in 2006, Staci took some time off to go back to school and is now a Registered Nurse. One interesting side fact…Staci and Christine danced together in a ballet production many years ago when they were teens. The dance world is small indeed! Staci is the proud mom of 2 children, Cade and Emma. Staci is excited to be a part of The Dance Gallery staff for the 12th year.

Anna Harrington, Instructor/Event Coordinator

Anna has a tremendous love and passion for the performing arts. She grew up in Round Rock, traveling with a performance choir and competitive theatre company. She discovered her love of dance when she became involved in musicals through her later years. She built her love for dance through her four years with the Stony Point Tiger Dancers and discovered her new love of a team atmosphere. Through the years, Anna has continued to work on her dance background by attending conventions and dance events such as the Teachers Summit in L.A. where she trained under names such as Travis Wall, Mandy Moore and Tyce Diorio. Anna has been teaching multiple styles to numerous ages for the past 17 years and has even spread her love by teaching hip hop through the local recreation centers and to elementary schools for their after school enrichment programs. Anna also teaches 2nd grade for Round Rock ISD. This is Anna’s 14th year with The Dance Gallery.

Francis Rodriguez, Instructor

Francis is a performer, choreographer and dance educator currently based in Austin, Texas. Originally from Brownsville, Texas, her dance training included studying ballet, tap, jazz, folklórico and flamenco, and she attended multiple summer intensive programs with the American Ballet Theatre, the Texas Ballet Theatre, the American Repertory Ballet, and the Joffrey Ballet Chicago. Francis holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance from The University of Texas at Austin, and is a graduate of the UTeach Dance teacher certification program. During her time at UT Austin, she studied abroad at the Centre National de Danse Contemporaine in Angers, France, chaired the UTeach Fine Arts Student Council, and was a featured student choreographer in the Department of Theatre and Dance’s Fall for Dance in 2017. This is Francis’ 5th year with The Dance Gallery and she looks forward to another exciting season with her TDG family!

Tiffany Lynn, Instructor/Petite Team Director

Tiffany Lynn is excited to be back at The Dance Gallery! She has a deep love for dance that dates back to when she began her training at the age of 5. During her time in middle and high school, she specialized in classical ballet, pointe, jazz and tap at the Kansas Dance Academy. Tiffany received a ballet scholarship and attended the University of Oklahoma (Boomer Sooner!). While performing, her favorite dance to perform was the Dance of the Little Swans from Swan Lake. Tiffany has been teaching and choreographing ballet, pointe, tap, and jazz for over 10 years. She is also the Director of the Petite Performance Team, which she helped start to provide our younger dancers more performance opportunities. Tiffany also has a background in gymnastics and cheerleading. She lives in Round Rock where she is married, a mother of two great kids and a few pets, too. This will be her 11th year teaching at The Dance Gallery.

Amber Arnold, Instructor

Amber Arnold has been dancing since she was three years old, in and around Austin, TX. She started her career at The Dance Center and Ballet Austin where she fell in love with dance and music. She continued training as a Blue Belle at Leander High School, where she learned all things drill/dance team related as an officer for two year. She followed her bleeding maroon heart to Texas A&M where she was a member of Dance Arts Society and a founding member of Delta Eta Pi. She attended ACDFA every year to continue expand her craft and her senior year was invited to attend ADF at Duke University. Following graduation, she moved to New York City to continue her training in dance. In 2004, she returned to Texas to join the public education field as a dance director. Ms. Amber has instructed award winning 5A High School teams, Middle School teams, and Elementary Teams through her career. She continues to expand her dance knowledge through conventions, as Ms. Amber believes you should never stop learning. She is skilled in numerous genres of dance and is excited to share her passion and love with the Dance Gallery community. Ms. Amber is the proud mother of two daughter, whom both train at The Dance Gallery. This will be her 4th year teaching at The Dance Gallery.

Kaylee Cancino, Instructor/Hip Hop Crew Director

Kaylee Cancino was born in Austin Texas and grew up in Leander Texas where she started dancing at the age of 3. She danced competitively with 2 Hype Hip Hop company for 5 years under the direction of Leslie Garcia. Kaylee also danced as an officer throughout middle school and high school. She was honored to have served as the Captain her senior year with the Rouse Royals which allowed her to help with team choreography in all different styles which led her and the team to many awards. She also had the opportunity to choreograph for her high school musical her senior year alongside one of her teammates which won a choreography award at the GATSMAS. After graduating high school Kaylee married her high school sweetheart and moved to North Carolina where her husband who is in the military is stationed. After being in North Carolina for three years with her husband and two sweet pups she moved back to Texas and is continuing her dance education at Texas State and is getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance with a teachers certification. Kaylee is so excited to be a part of The Dance Gallery for her 3rd year!

Antonette McLaughlin, Instructor

Antonette began dancing in Long Island, NY with a focus in Ballet and Tap. She studied with notable instructors Jeanine Ecklund, Denise LaJoie, Phyllis Drennan and Lynda Gache. During her time as a student, Antonette was able to perform with the JC Lynn Dancers at the Tillis Center and alongside Ms. Gache. While the studio was Antonette’s first love, she found true passion in the theatre. She was titled Dance Captain in shows such as A Chorus Line, The Producers and Damn Yankees and received her first hired gig as an Assistant Choreographer for MAME starring George Hearne. In college, Antonette began directing and choreographing department productions which led her to a resident choreographer position at 2 local school districts and the community theaters. Antonette was honored to be mentored by Terpsie Toon, who offered Antonette her first teaching position. While under Ms. Toon’s guidance, Antonette was able to attend the American Ballet Theatre Teacher Certification Program. She was later the lead ballet instructor at Center Stage Dance in Plattsburgh, NY for nearly ten years building the studio with owner Heather Van Arsdel, former NYC Knicks dancer/choreographer, before moving to Texas with her family to pursue new opportunities. Antonette is excited to be with The Dance Gallery for her 3rd year!

Angelina Barba, Instructor

Angelina was born in Los Angeles, California and began her training in hip hop at the age of 8. She then soon moved to Austin, Texas to continue her training at local dance studios. She competed with 2 Hype Hip Hop Company for 5 years, under the direction of Leslie Garcia. Angelina joined the Rouse Royals drill team in high school and served as a line officer her senior year. Along with her senior year of high school, she competed with eSTREET Hip Hop Company, under the direction of Justin Streeter. Angelina has received Grand National titles and many awards and scholarships throughout her competitive dance team years. She has continued her training at an industry level, along with receiving prestigious assistant and performance opportunities by her mentors and other artists. Angelina’s found love for teaching has given her many opportunities as she now teaches at local studios and schools in the Austin area regularly. She has also held director positions of preprofessional hip hop companies such as eSTREET hip hop company and is currently the director and choreographer for REALM Hip Hop Company at The Dance Academy in Leander, TX. Angelina wishes to continue her training and growth as both a student and a teacher. As a first year instructor at The Dance Gallery, she is excited to teach and share her passion of hip hop dance with us!

Jenna Friedheim, Instructor

Jenna graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree in dance. Shortly after graduation she moved to L.A. where she was a work-study at the world famous Millennium Dance Complex. Looking for adventure Jenna moved to Seattle where she taught and had the opportunity to perform with Seattle dance companies. Jenna then moved to Chicago where she created and implemented a dance program at Chicago Athletic Clubs and performed with numerous dance companies including Chicago Review’s top rated company, Matter Dance Company. Back in Texas, Jenna performed with the dance company Woven Feet for the band Sorne at SXSW. Jenna is thrilled to be back teaching at The Dance Gallery for her 9th year!

Ashley Duncan, Instructor, Studio Assistant

Ashley began dancing at the age of five at a local area dance studio. Through the years, she continued to train in studio dance where she studied ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, tap, and musical theater. In middle school, she performed in musical theater productions such as Beauty & the Beast, Seussical, The Wizard of Oz, Annie, and Les Miserables. She attended Cedar Ridge High School where she served as a Social Officer on the Royalty varsity dance team, and served as the Dance Captain of the Musical Theater program where she performed as a featured dancer and assistant choreographer. In high school she performed in the award-winning productions of Aida, CATS, and Grease. In college, Ashley is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s of Nursing degree, and has plans of minoring in ballet at Brigham Young University in the coming years. This is Ashley’s 5th year with the Dance Gallery and she looks forward to having an amazing year with our TDG family!

Aliza Rutter, Office Manager

Aliza is from Aurora, Colorado and moved to Round Rock in 2016. Her mom put her in ballet class when she was 3 years old because she had too much energy! Her love for dance grew and she trained in all styles of dance at a multitude of studios and intensives throughout the Denver/Boulder area. She believes that dance teaches valuable life skills, like discipline and hard work. Aliza completed her bachelor’s degree in Management & Supervision in 2021 and is very excited to be graduating with an MBA in Organizational Management in October 2023! Her favorite dance memories are being Clara in the Nutcracker, and helping her friends put on false eyelashes before shows. She values working together as a team and seeing children pursue their dance goals.