Courtney Lopez - Director

Courtney holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre and Dance from the University of Texas.
She has trained under Yacov Sharir, David Justin, Lyn Wiltshire, Andrea Beckham, Kent De Spain, Andee Scott, and Holly Williams and has attended and participated in master classes taught by Alvin Ailey Dance Company, Delfos Contemporary Dance Company, Jose Limon Dance Company and Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Dance Company, Brian Burks & Mia Michaels.
  • Awarded "Best Choreography" &"Best Technique" (2009-2010)
  • Instructor for Focus Summer Dance Intensive for Austin’s Dance Elite Company members which helps the students find discipline, focus, and proper dance technique (2006-2007).
  • Choreographer for professional and pre-professional dance companies some to include Austin’s Dance Elite, Verge Dance Company and Millennium Dancers.
  • On staff at Alisa's Dance Academy, High Pointe Children's Academy and Debbie's Studio of Creative Motion.

Amy Mersmann-Martinez - Owner

Amy founded Cedar Park Dance Company in July of 2001 with the hope to share her passion and love of dance with the Cedar Park community.  She brings with her  20 years of dance training and over 15 years of teaching experience.  Amy received a dance team scholarship and continued her dance education at Southwest Texas State University.
  • On staff at Unique` Dance from 1988-1994
  • On staff at Columbus Dance Studio from 1996-1997
  • Owner of Liberty Hill Dance 2004-2006
  • Member of TDEA, Texas Dance Educator's Association
  • Founder and Director of the award-winning Starline Dancers.
  • Co-Director of  Liberty Hill Middle School's Dance Team 2005-2007.

Kim Clay

Kim is a 1st year Instructor at Cedar Park Dance Company and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Sam Houston State University. She is trained in Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Modern, Broadway and Tap. She will be working all ages and levels as well as Envision Dance Company. We are thrilled to have her on staff!

  • Just for Kicks “Outstanding Choreographer” Award (2009)
  • Holland America Cruise Lines Cast Member (2003)
  • Six Flags Astroworld Theme Park Dancer (2002)
  • American College Dance Festival Featured Concert Soloist (2002)
  • Marching Auxiliaries National Scholarship Soloist (2000)
  • On staff at American Dance Co.,West Linn Dance Center, University Park Community Center, Amy's All Star Dance Studio & and Brooke Lowden's School of Dance.


Corban McNeil - Guest Instructor & Choreographer

Corban holds a Bachelors in Dance Education from the University of Central Oklahoma.  She has trained under Gary Hubler, Robyn Comers, Jennifer Medina, Hui Ca Poos, Shelly Beech, Tina Harbour and Jamie Jacobson and has attended and participated in master classes taught by Mia Michaels, Mandy Moore, Rhonda Miller, Barry Youngblood, Keith Clifton and Ron K. Brown.
  • Choreographer and Dancer for American College Dance Festival Association Gala
  • Dancer for the Weird Al Yancovich Tour
  • Instructor and Choreographer for Alisa's Dance Academy and Austin's Dance Elite
  • Member and Choreographer for multiple dance companies to include Kaleidoscope Dance Company and Verge Dance Company
  • Captain of the Varsity and Jr. Varsity Bartlesville Pom Squad





Jenny Garcia

Jenny is a 10th year staff member at Cedar Park Dance Company.
  • Former member of the Trinity Valley Community College Drill Team.
  • Former member of the Blinn College Dance Team.
  • Former Leander High School Blue Belle.
  • Former dance instructor for the Round Rock Independant School District.
  • Member of the Texas Dance Educator's Association.
  • Owner of "Libery Hill Dance" 2004-2006
  • Director of the Liberty Hill Middle School Dance Team 2005-present
  • Co-Director of the Liberty Hill High School "Liberty Belles" Dance team

Heather Hardesty

Heather is a 6th year staff member at Cedar Park Dance Company. 
She began teaching at the age of 16 and has shared her love of dance to children for over 13 years.
Holds a BA degree in Public Relations and Dance from Texas Tech University.
  • On staff with Jeannie Strain @ Calico Kids in Garland, TX
  • On staff with Tracey Foster @ Struts &  Co. (now Studio 511) in McKinney, TX
  • Developed her own dance program for the YMCA of Greater Williamson Co.
  • Owner of Kinderdance of Round Rock.
  • Has trained under top dancers and choreographers in the industry:  Joe Tremaine, Doug Caldwell, Laurie Johnson, George Smallwood, Diana Moore, Germaine Dupree, Rhapsody, Gino Johnson and David Kellog
  • Performance credits include:  Ballet Lubbock's "Boots and Ballerinas" and "Nutcracker"
  • TTU's "Coppellia" and Choreographer's Showcase.
Heather will be teaching Hip-Hop, Jazz, Tap, Combos and is the co-director of the Starline Dance Teams.

Laura Laughlin - Office Assistant & Starline Choreographer

Laura has been on staff at Cedar Park Dance Company for 5 years.  She is currently working towards a Bachelors degree in Education.  Laura continues her training a workshops and conventions. 

  • 15 years of studio training.
  • Co-Director of LHS Liberty Belles Dance Team.
  • Former Leander High School Blue Belle.
  • Award-winning choreographer for the Starline Dance Team.
  • Award-winning choreographer for the Envision Dance Company

Leslie Garcia - 2 Hype Dance Company Artistic Director

With over 25 years of experience, Leslie has studied under many master instructors and choreographers in Jazz, Modern/Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop/Funk, Ballet, Tap, Breakdancing, and Cardio-Fitness. She also has 9 years experience in professional music editing for dance teams, industry performances, studios and competitions.
Working with youth to adults, Leslie is widely known her unique cutting-edge dance style and award-winning choreography with amateur and professional dance/drill teams and cheer squads across the U.S. and dance competitions nationwide. She has made a huge name for herself as an instructor and choreographer in Texas as well as her creative and entertaining music editing.  Nicknamed "The First Lady of Hip Hop and Street Jazz" by the Austin dance industry, Leslie is mostly known for her incredible musicality and creativity in Hip Hop, Street Jazz, and Jazz Funk. But she also continues to stand out of the crowd with her strong and emotional Contemporary Jazz style as well.
  • Sea World-Dancer, Choreographer
  • San Antonio Spurs Pre-Show and Halftime-Choreographer
  • Music Producer, Paul C.-Choreographer
  • Dennis Quaid Charity Weekend-Dancer, Choreographer Dennis Quaid Charity Weekend-Dancer, Choreographer
  • 96.7 KISS FM-Dancer
  • Austin Rocker's-Choreographer
  • KVUE/ABC News Austin-Dancer
  • KXAN/NBC News Austin-Dancer
  • KEYE/CBS News Austin-Dancer



FACULTY

AMY MARTINEZ: OWNER
COURTNEY LOPEZ: DIRECTOR
LAUREN CAFFEY
KIM CLAY
WILGENE DAVID
JENNY GARCIA
LESLIE GARCIA
HEATHER HARDESTY
KRISTINA HOLLAND
ADELE JONES
FAITH KORPI
LAURA LAUGHLIN
ANNA WARR
CORBAN MCNEIL: GUEST INSTRUCTOR



Lauren Caffey

Bio Coming Soon...
Kristina Holland

Kristina is a 1st year Instructor at Cedar Park Dance Company.  She has trained at The Rock School of Dance in Philadelphia, Joffery Ballet and Ballet San Antonio. She has trained with Bojan Spassoff, Stephanie Wolf Spassoff, Violette Verdy, Servy Gallardo,William Glassan, Marieli Guardiola, Clint Clouse and Laura Richards.. She has received scholarpships to The Rock School of Dance Ballet Intensives & Year Round Program. Kim will be teaching Ballet & Pointe and we are thrilled to have her on staff!!

  • Classical Repertoire includes: Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, Paquita, Coppelia, Swan Lake, Giselle, Le Corsaire, La Esmeralda and Symphony in C.
  • She has been on staff at Connally's Dance Workshop & Amy's All Star Dance Studio.
Adele Jones

Adele Jones is a 2nd year Instructor at Cedar Park Dance Company and relocated to the Austin area after received her Bachelors in Dance from Texas Woman’s University. While there she created such works as ‘Fleeting Sirens’ and ‘Seasons Rusting’ and performed with DanceLab, TWU International Folk Dance Company, Danceworks and was selected for solo work in the National Dance Association Heritage Awards Ceremony choreographed by Anne Schley Duggan.   Adele has performed in the production of Sweet Charity and was a company member at Weatherford College Southern Premiere for 2 years.  Since arriving in Austin, Adele performed with Ballet East Dance Company for 4 seasons and is currently performing with Borealis Dance Company.  She taught dance at Austin Dance Company where her competition piece ‘My Heart’ won the ‘Creative Contemporary’ Choreography award.  She specializes in educating the dancer as a whole with her belief that anyone can dance including children with special needs and toddlers.  She is well versed in the styles of tap, jazz, African, modern, contemporary, gymnastics, lyrical, improvisation, and musical theatre.  Adele loves teaching and is ecstatic to be joining Cedar Park Dance Company and inspiring young students with her love of dance.
Faith Korpi

Faith is a 1st Instructor at Cedar Park Dance Company. Faith has over 20 years of ballet training and 10 years of teaching experience. She has trained and passed all examinations for Levels A, B, I-IV for the Cecchetti method as well as trained in the Royal Academy of Dance and Vagovana.
She has coordinated ballet programs at 7 privates schools as well as a main location. She will teaching Ballet & Pointe and we are thrilled to have her on staff.

  • Original choreography in the style of Ballet/Lyrical/Creative Movement, for students ages 2 – 18.
  • On staff at Live Oak Classical School and Deborah Korpi's school of Classical Ballet.
Anna Warr

Anna is a second year instructor at Cedar Park Dance. Anna brings to us 3 years teaching experience and 7 years dance experience. Her extensive background includes hip hop, pom, kick, lyrical, jazz and combo classes for all ages. Anna has a creative "itch" for competitive dance and is thrilled to be working with Starline this year! Anna continues to further her dance education by attending teaching conventions and dance workshops. She is currently working towards finishing her degree in early childhood education.

  • Former officer of the Stony Point Tiger Dancers
  • Former member of Zachary Scott Creative Program
  • On staff with Kinderdance of Austin, Tx


Nancy Bain - Kids R Kids Program Instructor

Nancy Bain has been a dance instructor for Cedar Park Dance Co. for 4 years, developing programs at Kids-R-Kids and Primrose Pre-Schools. Ms. Bain holds a M.A. Degree in Dance Education from New York University and has taught children dance for over 35 years. She taught in N.Y. City as a licensed dance teacher in public schools (including LaGuardia High School for Performing Arts) and as a teaching artist for several arts organizations. Ms. Bain has taught pre-school through college age, including at Queensborough Community College for 9 years.
  • Dance Coordinator for the Twin Lakes YMCA, Cedar Park, since its opening.
  • Choreographer and shows her work through Austin Independent Choreographers, Leander High School drama department and Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Austin. In New York,.
  • Performed with various professional modern dance companies before running her own company, IdeaDance-Nancy & Co. Dancers, for 13 years.
  • Ms. Bain studied with legendary modern choreographer, Hanya Holm, as well as Hawkins, Graham, Limon and Horton techniques with manyfamous dancers, and spent a year studying at the Royal Ballet School in London.



Wilgene David

Bio coming soon...