Instructors

Director/Owner

Dana Loving Sparks

Ms. Dana Loving Sparks has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Sam Houston State University where she was on the Dance Company. She has studied dance for over 35 years starting with Miss Donna’s Studio in Houston, Miss Lisa Zane’s in humble and Greenspoint School of Dance then starting at the age of 13 she traveled to New York City to start studying with Master teachers like renowned choreographer Phil Black, Sue Samuels, Diane Laurenson and Jazz Master Frank Hatchett, Germaine Goodson, and Germaine Salsberg from Broadway Dance Center in New York City and L.A.’s finest Mr. Joe Tremaine and Doug Caldwell. Houston’s very own Steven Boyd.

Other instructors include Dana Nicolay, Cindy Gratz, Jeremy Fullam, Jason Samuels-Smith, Houston’s Delice Teamer, Glen Hunsucker, Scott Conway, and Jonathan Charles. She is the founder and Artistic Director of Arts In Motion where she directs the dance concert “Danscape” each year for different outreach programs including Ronald McDonald House of Houston, Ovarian Cancer Awareness, and in-school arts programs. Some of her choreography credits include The Houston Sammy Awards, Miss Teen Houston, Miss Teen Fort Bend Co., and working with musical theater groups such as DLP productions of The Woodlands, Creighton Theatre of Conroe, and Huntsville Community Theatre. You can also see her as a featured Country Western Dancer in the feature film, “Sgt. Bilko”, starring Steve Martin. Other film credits include “Rings”, “The Dorothy Day Story”, award-winning short film “Connect”, “Friday Night Lights, and “Lonestar”.

She continues her acting career by doing local and state-wide commercials. She has directed Dance Companies in Los Angeles and Houston, winning many awards. She has an extensive background in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Lyrical, and Pointe. She love’s taking her dance companies to perform and compete each year. Her Team is the National Award-winning Dance Company of many Competitions including MidAmerican’s Showstopper National Competition, Stage One, KAR, Star Systems, and many more. Her Dancers continue to perform outside of In-Step Dance and many have gone to College to further their careers. Being a past Miss Texas America Contestant and having the knowledge of pageantry, she has also directed The Miss Montgomery County Beauty Pageant and still continues to judge many local Miss America Regional Contests. She has groomed and coached girls for local, state, and national pageants, as well as dance contests. She performed in industrial shows and events as a dancer/singer, including Houston’s Six Flags Astroworld. She has been a studio owner for over 22 years. She resides in The Woodlands with her husband Mike Sparks of 21 years and sons, Hunter and Austin.

Instructors


Keeley Dunnam

Keeley received her B.F.A. in Dance focused in choreography and performance from the University of North Texas in 2018 where she studied with Shelly Cushman, Robin Lakes, Amiti Perry, Whitney Geldon, Karen MacIntyre, Claudia Howard-Queen, Sue Collins, and Mary Lynn Babcock. She is a candidate for her M.F.A at Sam Houston State University to be completed in 2022 where she is studying under Dionne and Andy Noble, Dana Nicolay, Jennifer Pontious, Adele Nickel, and Joshua Manculich. Keeley originally started dancing at four years old at The Dance Academy and trained in a variety of styles including ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, tap, musical theater, and hip-hip. In 2008, she danced with Lone Star Ballet and performing the roles of Spanish corps, Waltz corps, Snow corps, and Arabian corps in the Nutcracker in 2009-10. She has performed two years with AmpDance and the Odysseus Chamber Orchestra in Transfigured Night, and Appalachian Spring. Other strong influences on training Keeley danced with imPULSE Dance Project (under the artistic direction of Anastasia Waters) for two seasons from 2016-2018, and performed various works at Dallas Dance Fest, 254 Festival, and Brazos Dance Festival. Her work, “NArrow is the Way” was showcased in imPULSE Dance Project’s annual summer show in 2018. Keeley continues to focus her choreographic works towards building community by using movement as a means to communicate about social and political issues.

Lola Jordan

Since the age of 2 ½, I have been either a dancer, a gymnast, a cheerleader or a combination of all 3. I was a competitive, all-around gymnast for 7 years, cheered my way through high school, and never stopped dancing through any of it.  I was a member of Glen Hunsucker’s “Dancin’ … The Company” for several years performing in both jazz and tap prior to leaving Houston for Los Angeles, where I studied with Saundra Gerstmeyer and became the tumbling instructor at Burbank Dance Biz for 10 years.  Since arriving back home and settling in The Woodlands, I have been delighted to pick up where I left off, both in my love of dance and the enjoyment and fulfillment I get teaching dancers to enhance their performances with tumbling skills.  One of very my favorite sounds is the squeals and cheers you get when someone first gets their aerial!

Jaredd Martin

Jaredd was finally able to cultivate his long time passion for dance through his high school and DanceZone studio, and he’s taken every opportunity to dance ever since. He joined the HTE Dance staff upon graduation, and spent several years traveling and choreographing for the company. Jaredd attended Sam Houston State University where he won two NDA national championship titles and was awarded All-American with the Orange Pride Dance Team. He has enjoyed numerous opportunities such as choreographing in various states for MA Dance, teaching students of all ages at the Oriental Arts Education Center, and performed in Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl LI Halftime Show. Jaredd is a creative, engaged, and devoted artist, and is very excited to have joined the In-Step family.

Amber Thorton

Amber has been a choreographer, instructor, and dancer for over 25 years. She has studied and performed with Delia Stewart Jazz Dance Company, Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Company, Clear Lake Metropolitan Ballet (now Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre) and Euroasia Ballet. She has also studied with Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Houston Ballet Academy, Lou Conte of Hubbard Street, Broadway Dance Center and Steps in NYC.Amber performed in the 1988 Sammy Awards with Jaime Rogers and Ben Vereen and has appeared as a guest artist for various companies including Dance Explosion, in Vail, Colorado. Amber was the 1998 recipient of the Monticello Scholarship for her choreographed work, Unzipped Entropy, at the Regional Dance America Festival, where her works have been performed many times. Her choreographed work, Portraying Picasso, was selected for the National Choreographic Plan, which is supported by the National Endowment of the Arts, at RDA/SW Gala, 2002. She has been named artistic director of MECKKA DANCE CO 2018 and has been choreographing several award winning pieces. Amber has been a guest instructor and choreographer for In-Step Dance Center for the past 7 years and we are very excited to have her join the staff of In-Step Dance Center.

Scarlett Banbury
Guest Instructor

Scarlett has been teaching dance in the Houston area for over 20 years.  She is a native Houstonian and second-generation dance instructor.  She began her dance training at age 2 at Banbury School of Dance, her mother’s dance studio.  She spent many summers in New York City studying dance at such renowned studios as David Howard, Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey and “Steps” on Broadway.  Scarlett has studied with Houston Ballet’s Andrea Vodehnal, and more recently with Robert Underwood of American Ballet Theatre.  She has performed numerous times in the Houston International Festival, chosen for a part in Houston Grand Opera’s Manon, Galveston’s Dickens on the Strand and performances at Banbury School of Dance.  Scarlett was introduced to the world of competitive gymnastics when she was hired to coach Ballet for elite-level gymnasts on the Junior & Women’s USA Olympic Team and it is there she had the honor of teaching Mary Lou Retton’s daughters. Scarlett has choreographed for ANICO’s Moody Gardens Gala Celebration. Scarlett has had students compete in Youth America Grand Prix Ballet Competition. She is a member of the Texas Association of Teachers of Dancing and PhysicalMind Institute in New York City, where she was certified to instruct Pilates.  Most recently Scarlett became an American Ballet Theatre Certified instructor in Levels Primary – 5.

Evie Smith

Evie Martinez has been dancing for 18 years and teaching for 10 years. She enjoys dancing and teaching various styles including but not limited to ballet, jazz, hip hop, lyrical/contemporary, salsa, bachata, cumbia, and merengue. Evie began dancing on the high school drill team where she competed in group and solo routines. She served as Lieutenant Colonel and was honored with the Mayra Canare Spirit Award and Scholarship. Evie went to University of Houston and danced with the University Dance Theater. She has since then worked for numerous studios in the Houston area and choreographed routines for competitions, local music artists and even a submission to America’s Got Talent! Evie has also competed and performed with Salsa World Champions Eddy Deynes and Karla Blanco. She continues to train and considers herself a lifetime Student. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two precious children.

Stormie

Ms. Stormie was born and raised in Louisiana, but became a Texan in 2015. She’s a wife and mother to a beautiful little girl. She’s been dancing for 23 years. She received her BA in Communications with a minor in dance from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Since then, she has performed in BET Hip Hop Awards, numerous music videos, dance festivals, including the Houston Fringe Festival, as well as musicals at Stageworks and Queensbury Theater. She has over 10 years of experience teaching dance in styles ranging from hip hop to ballet. When she’s not dancing, Ms. Stormie loves shopping, sleeping, eating, singing, reading and spending time with friends and family.

Erica Blake

Miss Erica Blake started dancing at Marygrove College where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in performance of Fine Arts. She has studied with Penny Godboldo, Homer Bryant, Kevin Thomas and Keith Lee among others as she embarked on a journey to find her place in the dance world. She has recently relocated from NYC where she was dancing professionally with a local Ballet Company as well as Latin Dance Company whom she was able to compete in the Salsa Summit of 2020. The company she danced with placed first in the Samba category. She performed with following: Alden Moves-“Sugar Plum Fairy”, “Columbine” ● Keith Lee Dances -“Le Coiffeur et La Jeunesse” ● Collage Dance Collective-“Sweet Thing” ● American Liberty Ballet- “Chinese”, “Snowflake and Flower” ● Rumbamena-”Maureen” ● Bloodline Dance Theatre-Lead in “Feeling Good”

Marsha Merrell

Miss Marsha Merrell has been teaching children the art of Dance and creative movement for 50+ years. She loves children and has 6 children of her own.She taught dance in Brooklyn, Michigan and Naperville, Illinois. After moving to Texas, she taught at Boni’s Dance and Performing Arts Studio for 25 years.At this time, she also received her certification from “RHYTHM WORKS” which qualifies her to teach Special Needs Children of all ages. After moving to Sealy Texas, she has continued teaching children for 3 years at the Dance Warehouse, then on to Lago Vista, at the request of my own children, where I taught at the Christian Academy, Rolling Hills Community, Church, The Lago Vista Dance Studio and also my own studio. Miss Marsha is looking forward to being “HOME” again. AKA Miss Marshmello!

Kamyrn Horn


Kamyrn Horn was born in Katy, Texas, where she began dancing at the age of 3. She discovered her passion for dance early on and began dancing competitively at the age of 12. Kamyrn studied various styles such as Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, Hip-hop, and Improvisation and had the opportunity to work with many inspiring artists. Her home studio, Move Dance Family, she was given the opportunity to choreograph and teach classes. During this time, She discovered her passion for teaching and sharing the love of dance with her students. Kamryn is a recent Graduate from Sam Houston State University with a BFA in Dance She will always be excited to share the love of dance with her students!

Brittani Matos


Brittani Matos began dancing when she was three years old. She studied a variety of styles including: Ballet, Modern, Lyrical/Contemporary, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theater, Hip-Hop, and danced competitively for 15 years (10 of those being right here at In-Step!). She then decided to pursue her passion by earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Contemporary Dance from The Boston Conservatory. While at the conservatory she had the privilege of dancing in works choreographed by: Tommy Neblett, Danny Buraczeski, Bill T. Jones, Francesca Harper, and Jose’ Limón. She studied under many prestigious teachers from Joffrey Ballet, Boston Ballet and many other well known companies! Upon graduation she moved to Seattle, Wa to perform in a music video and a local concert. She has been teaching dance since she was 17 in Texas, Washington and upstate New York. Once she returned home to Texas she began teaching Dance in the public school system where she taught for the last 5 years. She is now returning to school for her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction and is looking forward to teaching dance this year at her home studio as well as being a Mom to her three beautiful children!

Dene Kiblilnger

Dene Kiblilnger is a Houston native, dancer, and instructor specializing in hip hop choreography as well as foundational street dance styles such as breaking, popping, locking, tutting, and more. He has trained under some of the biggest names in both the freestyle hip hop scene and has also had extensive training in modern, ballet, and contemporary, leading to his unique perspective and love for all dance styles. Dene currently trains, performs, and competes with the competitive hip hop team BNDTS and always looks forward to sharing everything he learns with his students to bring up the next generation of dancers.

Nathalya Carlon

Hey! My name is Nathalya Carlon and was born in Houston, Tx! I have been dancing at In-Step Dance Center since the age of 4 and have taken various dance styles including Ballet,Tap, Jazz, Hip-hop, Contemporary, Lyrical, Ballroom and many more. I have taken classes by Houston Ballet dancer, Lauren Anderson and well as taken classes in NYC at Broadway dance center. I started competing at the age of 6 and never stopped after that. I love going to Conventions and competitions. I have previously won Miss Teen 8 talent. And I was able to get 1st overall at 8 talent regionals and place 3rd at 8 talent Nationals in Margaritaville this past dance season. I have also in the past gotten a full JUMP convention scholarship as well as runner up for 24/7 convention and being a finalist at Tremaines dance convention. I love expressing my feelings every time i’m on stage. I love to inspire those around me and love to BE inspired by dancers around me as well.

Richard Tiger Woods

Born and raised in St Louis Mo Tiger has had the love for music since as far back as he can remember. Growing up in a very musical family Tiger was exposed to all kinds of music, instruments, and dance. Tiger started dancing at the young age of six. He was so intrigued the first time he watched a Michael Jackson video. From that point on Tiger knew he wanted to dance. With other influences such as movies like Breakin, and Beat Street, Tiger would just watch dance movies and videos and would practice what he saw by imitation. Tiger then grew up entering many talent shows, dancing any and everywhere he could, winning dance battles all over. Tiger booked his first dance job at age 19 where R&B singing group Naturally Smooth noticed him just dancing at a club. From there Tiger went on tour for 2 years with Naturally Smooth all over the country including the 1999 Superbowl in Atlanta Georgia and the 2002 All Star Game in Philadelphia. After touring Tiger came home and practiced and joined the dance crew “The Flyboyz” in St Louis, doing many performances all over the city. At age 29 Tiger was discovered by artistic director Ashley Tate of the Ashleyliane Dance Company (ADC) dancing in a club where she asked him to come and study under her direction. Tiger had 9 years with ADC where he studied Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Modern, and other forms of dance. He also at this time Started teaching and coaching competition teams. During his coaching Tiger would take his teams to many dance conventions all over the country such as The Pulse, Monsters of Hip Hop, Jump and many more. He also presented dance pieces in front of some of the worlds most amazing choreographers and trained up close and personal with Chris Judd, Tabitha and Napoleon D’umo, Brain Friedman, and Ian Eastwood. When Tiger is not dancing he enjoys his free time at the movies or trying new restaurants, cooking or just hanging with friends, and traveling. Tigers goals for dance are to travel the world teaching his love for hip hop, dance and life. Some of tigers achievements are 6 time grand national dance champion in 4 years, 15 choreographer awards, 3 invites to be a special performance group at the Pulse on Tour and Monsters of Hip hop. Performing with Morris Day and the Time, Raven Simon, 311, Sonique, Black Eye Peas and Kirk Franklin. Dance teachers teach more than just dance, we teach life lessons through music.

Join Our Team

Interested in becoming an instructor at In-Step Dance Center? Contact us and we’ll be in touch!

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