Faculty

Hannah Perkins- Owner/Director & Instructor

Hannah has been involved in the Waxahachie dance community since she was 2 years old as a student at Tammy's Dance Center where she studied tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, and lyrical. In high school, Hannah was an officer for the Cherokee Charmer Drill Team and part of the Musical Theater department. Hannah has won many awards including but not limited to CTG Agent Award, a scholarship to Broadway Dance Center in New York, and All American from ADTS. Her love for instructing and choreography has flourished while working for studios, teams, and organizations such as Tammy’s Dance Center, Ellis County Children’s Theater, Royalty Dance Academy, Cherokee Charmer Drill Team, and Stretch-n-Grow Fitness and Dance. Choreography awards include National Champion Hip Hop for ADTS, many choreography awards, nationally ranked soloists, duets, and trios. In addition, she created curriculum used around the world through Stretch-n-Grow Dancing Stars. Hannah is excited to continue the TDC legacy with The Dance Center and build a community of passionate and fun dancers and dance families. 

Misty RasconSmith- Hip Hop, Lyrical and Jazz

Tammy's Dance Center alumni, Misty RasconSmith has been professionally working in the dance industry for more than 22 years. She has had the opportunity to work in various areas of this competitive industry including music videos, commercials, television/ live performances, and print. She is a passionate, innovative, and quirky woman who believes there's room for everyone and their unique giftings. Embracing her wild journey in the dance industry, the following credits have facilitated who she is today. She has worked with numerous recording artists such as Natasha Beddingfield, Janelle Monae, Vanessa Hudgens, Kirk Franklin, Christina Aguilera, Pink, Britney Spears, Snoop Dogg, and Daniel Powter just to name a few. You may have seen her in national commercials for Sunkist, Pepsi, Nike and Sears. She can be seen in a popular episode of CBS’s hit show “How I Met Your Mother” (Robin Sparkles episode). In addition, Misty has been a series regular dancer on networks such as Nickelodeon and ABC. She has danced for several award shows including the American Music Awards, Soul Train Awards, and the Latin Grammy’s. She is a transparent leader that speaks boldly from a heart motivated by a passion necessary for change, purpose, excellence, and acceleration. Her compassion combined with her humor continues to captivate audiences of all ages and professions. Misty is an innovator in all ways and has created her very own style “Tribal Funk”. She has developed something that many describe as a movement that impacts people through dance, music, and clothing. Her various styles of choreography and classes have been described as challenging, yet inspirational. 

Dr. Courtné Shed-Alexander - Tap & Dance Injury Prevention

Dr. Courtné Shed-Alexander, originally from San Antonio, TX, began her dance training at the age of 3 studying tap, jazz, ballet, clogging and modern.  For 11 years, she competed in numerous competitions receiving multiple awards for her tap solos. Courtné received her tap training from well known repeatable instructors, such as Nicholas Young, Jay Fagan, Darrick Grant, Acia Gray, Barbra Phillips, Terri Johnson, Joe Eckerman Dena Mabry and Lane Alexander. She continued perusing her love for dance in college as member of Classic Dance Ensemble at Prairie View A&M under the direction of Danyale Taylor, and post-college, as a member of Dallas Black Dance Theatre II under the direction of Allyne Gartrell.  She also was a member of the professional tap dance company ,Rhythmic Souls, and performed at numerous venues around Texas, including Soul 2 Sole. She currently  guest teaches for Choreo Records Youth Tap Ensemble in the DFW area under direction of Keira Leverton. 

Courtne' is a graduate of Langston University where received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy. She recently started a mobile physical therapy company called 

C the Movement which focuses on general physical therapy, dance injury prevention screenings and physical therapy for dancers. 

When not dancing, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Ian,  and super energetic son, Carsten. She continues to be active in the dance world and teaches tap to anyone who wants to learn. 


Emily Jensen- Lyrical, Jazz, Ballet

Emily Jensen is an educator, choreographer, and performer based in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area. She graduated with her MFA in Dance from Texas Woman's University in 2023, her BA in Dance Education from the same institution in 2020, and her AA in Dance from Kilgore College in 2017.  Currently, Emily serves as Assistant Coach of the Texas Woman's University Dance Team, where she was the first Dance Captain of the inaugural team. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Dance at the University of North Texas and a Veteran/Admin Staff with Danceline Productions USA.

 

Emily’s twenty years in professional movement training spans several genres including modern, jazz, tap, hip hop, contemporary, musical theater, ballet, and drill/dance team forms. She has premiered stage and video dance works within concert, competition, and festival spaces both locally and internationally. Emily also works to grow her scholarship, presenting at National Dance Education Organization’s National Conference (2023) and co-writing a chapter for The Oxford Handbook of Ballet Pedagogy (2025). Her research involves dance ecologies, exploring intersectional relationships between viewers, dancers, objects, sounds, spaces, etc. -- and how they may shift -- within her interdisciplinary work.  

 

Emily is beyond excited to return to her home studio and invest in the next generation of artists!

Anamarie Garcia- Ballet

Hello! I’m Miss Ana, and I’m so excited to be a part of the TDC faculty. Beginning my dance journey at two years old, I studied ballet for fifteen years at Tammy’s Dance Center. After graduating, I’ve continued taking adult ballet classes and gathering more knowledge of the art. I’m super passionate about ballet and am very glad to be able to share my love for it with the TDC dancers. I graduated from the University of Dallas in 2022 with a BA in Theology and a minor in Education, and I’m currently a high school teacher at Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas. Teaching is a huge part of my life, and it’s an honor that I also get to teach dance at The Dance Center. 

Danielle Koutros- Acro

Trista Eaton- Office and Jr Instructor

Hi there! I’m Miss Trista. I have been involved in dance for most of my life and have loved every minute of it! I am a former Tammy’s Dance Center dancer of 12 years and front office manager for the last 2 years. I also teach first grade in Ennis. Some of my favorite things include spending time with my family, going to the movies with friends, and anything Disney! I love seeing all of your bright and shining faces every week and I am super excited to be a part of TDC! 

Kati Arnold - Lil & Elite Wranglers

Howdy, I am Regional Director of the DFW Lil’ and Elite Wranglers. I was selected to open the first satellite location of this unique program in 2017, by the national director, Sharon Toups. While attending Texas A&M University I danced with the Aggie Wranglers. This opportunity allowed me to travel the world representing the university and spreading my love for country western dance. I have danced in multiple music videos by country music artists like Randy Rogers and Midland. 

At home I am a mom of three beautiful girls that keep me on my toes. I am a wife to my High school best friend, who encourages me to chase this dream of mine and teach country western dance to kids! We love to travel whenever possible and spend time with family and friends.

My love of kids and dance has opened up this door to direct the DFW Lil’ and Elite Wranglers. I Thank God daily that this program found me and is allowing me to impact our youth. I take pride that our program is more than a group of talented kids going on stage and regurgitating a routine I taught them. Instead it is a yearlong commitment which encourages team work, dedication, hard work, individual effort, patience with your partner, compromise, and communication. I remind these kids that their talents bring JOY to those who watch them, and it should bring them joy as they conquer the challenges we give them throughout the year. I would like to say thank you to my students, you show up weekly making my job meaningful and fulfilling. You impress me and remind me that hard work and perseverance are essential to success. Together we are the Lil’ Wranglers.


Sarah Pruitt- Yoga

Sarah Pruitt is a Waxahachie native who has been practicing yoga since 2006 and teaching yoga since 2007.  Sarah has over 1,000 hours of hands on yoga teacher training including pre-natal training, advanced assisting, and advanced anatomy & physiology and she has over 10,000 hours of teaching under the wide waist band of her yoga pants.  Sarah has a passion for community and equipping her students to love themselves and others well through joyful movement and mindful, intentionality.

Autumn Knight- Jr Instructor

Autumn is a former Company Member at Tammy's Dance Center under the direction of Tammy Feinglas and is a current Heritage Belle officer. She's assisted under the direction of Hannah Perkins.