Meet our Staff!
Amber Blezinger
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Amber Blezinger is the owner of Center Stage Dance Studio.
She has a passion for dance that she enjoys sharing and has had the rewarding experience of teaching dance since 2003 specializing in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, lyrical, and ballroom. Amber has judged many auditions and has been a guest instructor at numerous workshops including the Houston Astros Shooting Stars. She has been in various award winning dance companies. While on her high school drill team, the Bellville Brahmadora's, she was Dancer of the Week and won many dance awards including First Overall Duet. Amber continues to develop her knowledge by taking dance classes as often as possible at Reliant Stadium Texans Cheerleader Training Camp, JUMP dance convention, New York City Dance Alliance, Line Dance classes in California, Louisiana and Texas, Salsa and Ballroom classes in The Heights, Indiana and many other places. Amber's Dance Education/Experience includes: 2015 through 2019: Choreography for Houston Astros Shooting Stars 2013 and 2014 : Shooting Stars and Houston Astros Park Patrol 2012 and 2011: Houston Astros Park Patrol (Entertainment Team) and Houston Texans Grid Iron Gang 2012: Park Patrol Training Camp MVP Award for choreography 2011: Teaching certification: Early Childhood through 6th Grade Graduated Sam Houston State University, magna cum laude, with BA in Interdisciplinary Studies 2009-2012: Taught Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip-hop, Lyrical and Ballroom to all ages at Hot on Your Heels Dance Production Worked for and with Dana Sullivan (previous Houston Rockets Power Dancer and Houston Texans Cheerleader) 2009: Named to Dean's List at Sam Houston State University while studying Elementary Education and English as a Second Language 2008: Taught ballet at Center Stage Dance & Fitness 2007-2008: Attended Blinn Junior College in Brenham, TX 2002-2007: (Founding) Brahmadora member, holding positions of Line Lieutenant, Junior Lieutenant, and First Senior Lieutenant. An officer for 3 of those years. 2004-2006: Taught at both locations of Dance Unlimited, various styles of dance 2004: Began taking ballroom dance lessons 2003-2004: Taught at Dance Extreme, various styles of dance |
Amanda Planto
Amanda has a long history of national award winning dances in solos, duets, trios and group team dances receiving technique, choreography and precision awards. She has been in the industry for 25 + years leading many of her dancers to major dance organizations in countless of college dance teams in the US, Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders, Dallas Mavericks, Texans, Clutch City dancers and even on Broadway and Disney. She graduated with a BFA in dance from Sam Houston and specializes in cleaning, technique, paying attention to detail, ACRO, and pushing her students to excel.
Jessica and Eric Thayne
Jessica is the queen of the tiny tots and she leads them fearlessly! She has a long history in childcare and dance. Jessica has a huge passion for working with the littles and makes every class extra special! Jessica’s whole family is involved in making Center Stage great… her husband Eric is our prop manager and he makes sure every prop gets on stage as well as creates and maintains the props. Her daughter, Danica, is also a company dancer and assistant teacher. Together they also serve on our parade committee! The Thayne's are a huge asset to our studio and keeps things fun and creative!
Katie Koy
Katie began her dance training with the Ballet Center of Houston at 8 years old under the guidance of Gilbert Rome and Victoria Vittum. While a student, she performed with Houston Repertoire Ballet for seven years, in Sleeping Beauty, Les Sylphides, Swan Lake, La Bayadere,
Cinderella and principal roles in The Nutcracker.
Mrs. Koy, who has danced in works by Sandra Organ, Anne Polenjenko, Leeyan Neeley, Gilbert Rome and Lynn Cote, also trained at summer dance programs at the Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and The Washington Ballet.
In 2005, after her success as a student, she joined the faculty at the Ballet Center of Houston; also serving as a rehearsal assistant and ballet mistress for Houston Repertoire Ballet during those years. Mrs. Koy continued her dance training at the University of Houston where, as a Dance minor, she completed courses in Ballet, Modern and Choreography.
Katie began her dance training with the Ballet Center of Houston at 8 years old under the guidance of Gilbert Rome and Victoria Vittum. While a student, she performed with Houston Repertoire Ballet for seven years, in Sleeping Beauty, Les Sylphides, Swan Lake, La Bayadere,
Cinderella and principal roles in The Nutcracker.
Mrs. Koy, who has danced in works by Sandra Organ, Anne Polenjenko, Leeyan Neeley, Gilbert Rome and Lynn Cote, also trained at summer dance programs at the Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and The Washington Ballet.
In 2005, after her success as a student, she joined the faculty at the Ballet Center of Houston; also serving as a rehearsal assistant and ballet mistress for Houston Repertoire Ballet during those years. Mrs. Koy continued her dance training at the University of Houston where, as a Dance minor, she completed courses in Ballet, Modern and Choreography.
Katrina Allen
Katrina Allen is our Brenham performance team director, and our Hip-Hoppin' boss babe! She comes to us with 8+ years dance experience in a multitude of styles in dance and comes from both drill team and studio backgrounds where she has won many awards. Katrina started her journey with Center Stage as a recreational dancer then moved up to company, then company senior elite her senior year. She also was on the Belles, her high school drill team, all four years of high school where she had the pleasure of serving as an officer for three out of the 4 years where she received the highest rank of captain! Katrina has a strong passion for dance that she wishes to continue sharing with both drill team and studio dancers! She has a knack for cleaning routines, pushing her students to do their best, and always supporting not only her students but ALL Center Stage students!
Kiersten Hitchcock
Kiersten is our Bellville performance team director and head of our assistant teaching program! Kiersten has been dancing for 20 years. She was one of the very first dancers enrolled at Center Stage when we first opened in Bellville and has been dancing since she was 5 years old! Kiersten was on the Center Stage company dance team at a young age and continued through high school. Her favorite style of dance is pointe. She began teaching dance at age 13 to help pay for her dance classes and competitions. Highly motivated to continue to dance, Kiersten baby-sat, taught dance, and cleaned houses to earn money to support her passion! Mrs. Kiersten has been married to her amazing husband Elias for 6 years and is a homeschooling Mom to her sweet children Haven, Aiden and Elizabeth! From a young age, Kiersten wanted two things in life, to be a mom and to teach dance. She is completely living the dream!
Kiersten is our Bellville performance team director and head of our assistant teaching program! Kiersten has been dancing for 20 years. She was one of the very first dancers enrolled at Center Stage when we first opened in Bellville and has been dancing since she was 5 years old! Kiersten was on the Center Stage company dance team at a young age and continued through high school. Her favorite style of dance is pointe. She began teaching dance at age 13 to help pay for her dance classes and competitions. Highly motivated to continue to dance, Kiersten baby-sat, taught dance, and cleaned houses to earn money to support her passion! Mrs. Kiersten has been married to her amazing husband Elias for 6 years and is a homeschooling Mom to her sweet children Haven, Aiden and Elizabeth! From a young age, Kiersten wanted two things in life, to be a mom and to teach dance. She is completely living the dream!
Micayla MorenoMicayla comes to us with 10+ years of dance experience from our very own Center Stage! she danced her way from company dancer, assistant teacher to now teaching her own classes. She was also on her high school drill team as an officer and led the team as Major her senior year. Micayla has always had a heart for the littles and it brings her so much joy to see them shine on stage! She specializes in tiny tumbers & hip hop, pre to level 1 ballet and lyrical! Micayla's favorite part of being a teacher is watching her students fall in love with dance as much a she does!!!!
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Kelley Land
Denise Schroeder
Peyton Wiseman
Stephanie Cease
Samantha Lindsey
Abigail Moe
Alyson Guerrero
Brittany Guardia
Leanne Dodd
Leah Stark
Geneva Winkelman
The Lingenfelter's
Cheryl Lingenfelter
Cheryl has been a near and dear asset to centerstage for many years is. Cheryl has the ability to wear many hats, from backstage managing, behind the scenes of center stage, to office administration. She does it all while being a loving mother to 4 children, 1 of which is our newest company teacher at center stage... Kat Lingenfelter! We love and appreciate all that the Lingenfelter's do for Center Stage!
You can find Mrs. Cheryl at the desk typically in the Bellville studio assisting parents and helping the kids!
Cheryl has been a near and dear asset to centerstage for many years is. Cheryl has the ability to wear many hats, from backstage managing, behind the scenes of center stage, to office administration. She does it all while being a loving mother to 4 children, 1 of which is our newest company teacher at center stage... Kat Lingenfelter! We love and appreciate all that the Lingenfelter's do for Center Stage!
You can find Mrs. Cheryl at the desk typically in the Bellville studio assisting parents and helping the kids!
Katherine ( Kat) lingenfelter
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