Welcome to the WT Dance Academy Family!
Come Dance With Us! The WT Dance Academy is committed to dance education, values our community, and invites students of all skill levels to our studio to learn dance. The Academy is a recreational dance studio that provides a safe and nurturing environment for children and teens ages 3-16 to train in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre and Hip Hop!
Under the guidance of current Dance Majors in the WT Dance Program, our academy students experience their artistic potential while achieving an appreciation for dance and individuality through class instruction, choreography and stage performance.
Registration begins on line June 21st, 2024 (see Registration Form below). Classes begin August 26, 2024!
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Classes are held at West Texas A&M University Mary Moody Northen Hall Dance Studio 154 & 155.
SUMMER DANCE CAMP
Stay tuned for summer 2025 dance camp
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wtamudanceacademy
Instagram: instagram.com/wtamu_danceacademy/
For more information contact Kaleigh De La Cruz, Children's Dance Academy Director or Lorelai Stager, Children's Dance Academy Coordinator.
Email: danceacademy@wtamu.edu
Office: 806-651-2820
Sandra Miller, WTAMU Dance Academy Advisor
Email: smiller@wtamu.edu
Office: 806-651-2858
Vision Statement of WTAMU Dance Academy
The WTAMU Dance Academy is committed to dance development through a creative, imaginative, and artistic experience while offering classes that enhance and engage in a safe and cultivating learning environment.
Staff Bios
Kaleigh De La Cruz is currently a senior in the West Texas A&M University Dance Program. This is Kaleigh’s third year teaching at Dance Academy and her second year being Children's Dance Academy Director. She was raised in Chicago, IL where she started dancing at the age of three, under Krissie Odegard Geye and Carrie Patterson. Kaleigh trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, hip hop, contemporary, and musical theater at Dance and Music Academy. At age 6 she started competing at dance competitions such as CRU Dance, Showstopper, World Class Talent Experience, and BellaMoxi Dance Convention. In 2017 she was accepted into The Chicago High School for the Arts where she began training under Ted Seymour, Maan Almodovar, Teanna Zarro, Megan Wright, Tracey Franklin, Brandon Dicriscio, and Zineb Chraibi. From 2018 through 2021 she was an intern with the Trifecta Dance Collective. She wants to go on to professionally dance in a contemporary based company, and eventually open her own studio. Kaleigh is excited to help kids find their love for dance!
Lorelai Stager is a senior in the West Texas A&M university dance program. This is Lorelai’s third year teaching with Dance Academy and second year as Dance Academy Coordinator. She grew up in Seguin, Texas and started dancing at the age of 2 at Kathy Marfin’s Dance School under Tiffany Harmon, Carrie Vicana and Hailey Strieback. She studied ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, musical theatre and modern. When she was 9 she started competing with The Leading Edge Dance Company in dance competitions such as Celebrity, Rainbow, thunderstruck and many other competitions while continuing her training at North East School of the Arts High School with Carolyn Gresham and Dena Mabry. Lorelai was accepted into the 2023-2024 season of Emergence Dance Company under Staci Hall and Kaylyn Brown. Lorelai is thrilled to be back with the academy and can’t wait to work with the kids another year!
Zarek Womack is a sophomore dance major from Christoval, Texas. Zarek with musical theatre at San Angelo Broadway Academy when he was seven eventually taking dance classes and even joining the dance team, Continuum Dance Company, which he participated in for four years. After nine years with SABA he moved to Lift Dance Studio to pursue more opportunities in school such as One Act Play and Spirit Squad. By the time he graduated high school he had pursued the arts for eleven years, taking dance classes for nine of them.
Jayden Lucas is a junior in the West Texas A&M dance program, and is currently pursuing a degree in Dance Education. Jayden started dancing at the age of 13 when she tried out for the Amarillo High Sandie Steppers where she worked with Staci Hall and Kaylee Morrison. She was an officer for the Steppers for 1 year and captain for 2 years. She was also apart of the WT Spirit Squad for 2 years, and captain of the squad for 1 year. She plans on coaching a high school dance team after college. Jayden is very excited to join the WT Dance Academy and teach such beautiful dancers!