Director

 

Lori Hays is a nationally recognized award winning choreographer and instructor. She has been teaching since 1982 and was certified by the Cecchetti Council of America on the professional level at the age of 15. She has received scholarships from Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma Summer Arts, The Cecchetti Council of America, The Pulse, Showstoppers. Her students have been awarded scholarships to the Pulse, Monster's of Hip Hop, Co. Dance, LA Dance Magic, New York on the Road, LA Underground, Tremaine, Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, Walnut Hill High School of Performing Arts in Boston, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Canada, Ballet Oklahoma, Texas Women's University, Millenium Dance in Los Angeles and Broadway Dance Center in New York City. She has coached her Pom Pon groups to six National Championships as well as groups in lyrical, ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and musical theater. Lori has been the director of the Dancenter for 29 years. Lori's students have performed for numerous local events as well as events in Branson, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Myrtle Beach, New York City, St. Louis and Tulsa.

 

Business Manager

 

 

Phyllis Fowler has been involved in dance for 38 years. She has worked in Business Management in the fields of medicine and software developement for 29 years and has been working in the dance world for 31 years.

 

 

 

Assistant Director

 

Amanda Wilkinson has studied dance since the age of 6 at the Dancenter and was an avid dance competitor for 18 years. Amanda participated in numberous national award winning numbers and was named Talent Winner in the Miss Del City Jr. Pageant. She has been teaching at the Dancenter for 10 years and is currently the Assistant Director. Amanda's dancers have won numerous local, regional and national awards. She is currently pursuing a degree in Elementary Education. 

 

 

 

 

Instructors

 

 

Alicia Shive has danced since the age of 4. She is a former Dancenter student and·competitor. She attended Texas Women's University, and performed with Ballet Oklahoma and the Denton Civic Ballet. At the age of 13 she performed in Balloon Boy as the lead which was originated for her at the Walnut Hill High School of Performing Arts in Boston. She was accepted to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet at the age of 16 years.

 

 

Stacy Hughes has studied dance at the Dancenter since the age of 7. She is a former member of the Del City High School Pom Sqad. She has been a Tremaine Scholarship winner and is listed in the Who's Who Among High School Students. Stacy has been teaching at the Dancenter for the past 9 years. She is a·platinum sponsor with the Dancenter Booster Club.

 

 

 

 

 

Eryka Kraft came to The Dancenter in 1996, she has been a Tremaine Scholarship winner and has been teaching with us for 6 years. Eryka is a graduate of Midwest City High School. Eryka, in addition to her dance groups,  has won awards at the local, regional and national level.

 

 

 

 

 

Angela Collie-George has been dancing since the age of 2. She was on her high school pom squad for 4 years and captain her senior year. She attended the University of Central Oklahoma where she majored in dance/performing arts and was a dancer on the UCO pom squad and national team. She has competed at regional, state and national levels throughout her dance career. She traveled across the country to judge for American Championships regional and national competitions. Angela has trained under the instruction of choreographers widely known for their active roll on the hit tv show, So you think you can dance, as well as various leaders and choreographer's in the dance industry from New York to LA. Her innovative choreography has taken several solos, duos, trios and groups to 1st place and overall titles. She continues furthering her own dance education by traveling to various cities across the US to attend master classes and conventions such as The Pulse and Tremaine Dance. 

 

 

 

 

Sunshine Dukes has been with the Dancenter from it's beginning. She returned to teach 3 years ago. Sunshine's specialty is Tap, but she is trained and well versed in ballet, jazz, hip hop and lyrical. Sunshine has over 20 years of teaching expereince to bring to her students and classes.

 

 

 

 

Karen Barbalace is an AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor, a Certified SPIN Instructor and an ACE and AFAA Certified Personal Trainer. Karen has been a personal trainer for the United StatesMarine Corps while living in Hawaii and currently for Tinker Air Force Base. She has held classes such as SPIN, Gut Cut, Muscle Conditioning and Bootcamp, as well as one on one personal training. Karen teaches Muscle Conditioning and Body Sculpting to our competition students.

 

 

 

Donavan Calvert is currently a music teacher with Mid-Del Schools. He brings to us piano and guitar instruction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kim Bays is a former student with the Dancenter and is returning as a Certified Zumba® Fitness Instructor.

 

 

 

 

 

J-Rob Hays began his dance career at The Dancenter 15 years ago. He has   studied and competed in multiple styles of dance. Ronnie has been awarded   scholarships from The Pulse, Monsters of Hip Hop, LA Dance Magic, Showstopper,   Oklahoma City University and Broadway Dance Center..J-Rob has studied with Mia Michaels, Tyce Diorio, Brian Friedman, NappyTabs, LaurieAnn Gibson and Marty   Kudulka.  He has also done intensive studies with Robert Hoffman (Step Up 2), Dave Scott (Step Up) and broadway's Andy Blankenbuehler (In the Heights).

 

 

Zarah Cobb has studied dance since the age of 5 with the Dancenter and is currently the directors female assistant. Zarah is Captain of the Midwest City High School Pom Squad and was recently named UDA Extreme All American. She is a competitive dancer and has numerous Overall Awards.

 

Tiffany Feese has been with the Dancenter for 6 years when she began her dance career. She has been competitive for the last 4 years. Tiffany teaches our Beginning Hip Hop.

 

Austin Nieves has been with the Dancenter for 10 years. Although he is an all around dancers his true love is Hip Hop. He holds numerous·overall·wins in his style of dance. He was accepted to the intensive program in New York City with The Pulse Convention Tours where he studied with Step Up choreographer Dave Scott. Austin teaches our Beginning and Intermediate levels of Hip Hop.

 

Kristen Privette has been dancing with the Dancenter since the age of 5. She is an active Senior Competition student and teaching assistant. Kristen is a member of the Carl Albert Pom Squad. Kristen is a student at Rose State College.

 

Guest Instructors

 

Leslee Smith holds the title as the first Dancenter baby. Her family has danced with the Dancenter from the beginning. She is now a Dancenter parent herself and is a studio assistant to the director. You can find Leslee in just about any classroom teaching, assisting or just making sure everything is going smooth.

 

Ryanne Tate has been dancing since the age of 6 with the Dancenter. She is a competitive dancer and holds numerous Overall Awards. She has been teaching our lower level students for 2 years. She is currently pusueing a degree in Dance Performance at Oklahoma City University.