About Us
OUR MISSION
We’re here to guide and support you on your dance journey. Every dancer, every level, every style – we nurture potential, celebrate individuality, and cultivate a passion for dance.
A group of passionate, professional, and dedicated individuals who are committed to creating a positive and nurturing environment at The Dance Barre HTX.
From world-class dance instructors to our supportive administrative staff, each team member plays a vital role in ensuring you have an exceptional experience with us.
OUR TEAM
Chantell
Owner
Chantell Preston is the owner of The Dance Barre HTX, a community-centered studio where she empowers young dancers to build confidence, discipline, and self-expression. With over 25 years as a healthcare executive, entrepreneur, and growth strategist, she brings a unique leadership perspective to everything she does. Chantell is also the CEO of Preston Partners, a certified mental performance coach, keynote speaker, and host of the Get Real, Get Results podcast. Whether she’s at the dance studio or in the boardroom, Chantell is passionate about authenticity, mental resilience, and helping others—especially women and girls—embrace their strengths and lead with purpose.
Michelle Maldanado
Artistic Director
Michelle is a dynamic dancer, choreographer, and Artistic Director of The Dance Barre HTX. Trained in multiple styles, she holds a BFA in Dance from Sam Houston State University, where she won three NDA National Championships with the Orange Pride Dance Team. A certified educator with Dance Educators of America, she has earned numerous titles and choreography awards. Passionate about pushing dance as an art form, Michelle mentors and inspires the next generation of performers, fostering creativity and excellence in competitive dance.
Natia & Viktor
Ballroom Instructors
Natia Kuprava & Viktor Shumylo, International Latin Ballroom Champions, are ranked 3rd in the World Dance for International Latin Rising Stars. With multiple global titles, Viktor is a three-time Ukrainian Champion and WDSF Worlds Top 3 finisher, while Natia placed Top 10 at Blackpool and is a U.S. National Finalist. Originally from Ukraine, they moved to the U.S. to pursue their dance careers. Now based in Houston, they share their passion by mentoring students, who continue to achieve success nationally and internationally.
Aidan Kohles-Wolf
CLassical Instructor
Aidan is a professional dancer, choreographer, and educator who began training at age three in Colorado before studying with Colorado Ballet Academy and the Joffrey Ballet. She went on to perform and tour internationally with Arch Ballet and Complexions Contemporary Ballet, later performing with Queer The Ballet, Zikr Dance Ensemble, and Vitacca Ballet. Aidan has created award-winning choreography presented at YAGP and ADC/IBC and currently serves as Artist Development Director at The Dance Barre and Co-Founder, Co-Artistic Director, dancer, and choreographer of KODA Contemporary Ballet.
Sarah Kohles-Wolf
CLassical INSTRUCTOR
Sarah began her career as a competition dancer with Essex Dance Academy before continuing her training at The Dance Academy of North Jersey and the Joffrey Ballet School’s Contemporary & Jazz Pre-Professional Program. In 2022, she launched her professional career with Complexions Contemporary Ballet and later performed with Queer the Ballet at the Joyce Theater. Alongside performing, Sarah is dedicated to dance education and mentorship, serving as the former Director of the Vitacca Artists Performance Company and creating choreography presented at YAGP and ADC/IBC. She currently serves as Co-Founder, Co-Artistic Director, and Company Artist of KODA Contemporary Ballet.
Layla Hassan
Commercial Instructor
Layla is a dedicated dance instructor based in Houston, Texas with 15 years of training in jazz, hip hop, contemporary, and many more styles. She has competed regionally, performed on a high school drill team, and danced at the collegiate level. Layla is currently studying Nursing at the University of Houston while continuing to pursue opportunities with professional dance teams. Layla is committed to creating an energetic, supportive learning environment that encourages strong technique, confidence, and growth in every dancer.
Jasmine Herrera
Commercial INSTRUCTOR
Jasmine is a Houston-based dancer, choreographer, and instructor with a BFA in Dance from Sam Houston State University, where she trained in ballet, modern, jazz, and contemporary. With over a decade of experience, she has performed at venues and events including the Gaertner Performing Arts Center, American College Dance Association, Mind The Gap, and Barnstorm Dance Festival, while her original choreography has been featured in undergraduate concerts. Jasmine is also a dedicated educator, specializing in jazz, contemporary, and commercial dance, and currently teaches with 67ATE Dance Intensive and The Movement Xperience of Lake Houston.
Saaya Pikula Mason
Classical Instructor
Saaya began her dance training in Niigata, Japan, before continuing her studies in the United States with Southern Ballet Theater, Central Florida Ballet, Russian Ballet of Orlando, and The Rock School of Dance Education. She launched her professional career with Teatrul de Balet Sibiu in Romania and later performed as a principal dancer with Columbia Classical Ballet and Virginia National Ballet, where she also served as a ballet instructor and Assistant Ballet Master. Her repertoire includes numerous principal and soloist roles, including Cinderella, Carmen, Snow White, Aida, Juliet, Lilac Fairy, and Sugar Plum Fairy, as well as multiple world premieres. Saaya is now based in Houston, Texas, where she performs as a guest artist and teaches ballet.
Kensey Williams
Commercial INSTRUCTOR
Kensey is a professional dancer and instructor based in Houston, Texas, currently performing as an NBA dancer and bringing high-energy performance experience to game days and community appearances. She trained competitively at The Edge Amarillo, earning multiple awards and a scholarship to AMDA, before serving as Lieutenant and Captain of the Texas State University Strutters and performing at major events and international showcases. With training in ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, tap, and acro, Kensey combines strong technical foundations with dynamic stage presence. She is also an experienced teacher and choreographer, working with dancers of all ages to build confidence, discipline, and performance quality.
Evelyn Amaya
Commercial Instructor
Evelyn is an El Paso native, NFL Cheerleader, former D1A UTEP Dance Team leader, and BFA Choreography & Dance Studies candidate. She trained at Imagine Dance Academy in Jazz, Pom, Contemporary, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Jazz Funk, Ballet, and Conditioning, earning recognition as a 1x National Champion and 3x National Finalist. Evelyn specializes in High School & College Team Prep, helping dancers elevate their technique, performance quality, confidence, and versatility while preparing for the next level.
Rhea Athilat
Commercial INSTRUCTOR
Rhea is a Houston-based choreographer and instructor with over 10 years of dance experience. With a foundation in hip-hop, jazz funk, and street jazz, Rhea’s classes are all about confidence, individuality, and pushing dancers beyond what they thought they could do. She ensures a safe, high energy, yet challenging environment where dancers have no choice but to thrive in! Her classes focus on intention, encouraging dancers to feel, move, and leave the room a little more confident than when they walked in.
Greta Glasson
Commercial Instructor
Greta has been dancing for over 11 years and has spent the last 4 years sharing her passion for dance as a hip hop instructor at Studios all over Houston Texas. She is dedicated to creating a fun, energetic, and supportive environment where dancers can build confidence, gain a sense of community and express themselves through dancing.
Robbie
Commercial INSTRUCTOR
Robbie Moore is a Houston-based freelance dancer, choreographer, Pilates instructor, and movement coach who began dancing at age six and graduated from the Juilliard School in 2014. A 2010 Presidential Scholar in the Arts, he has performed and toured internationally with L.A. Dance Project, Eastman–Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, and Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève, collaborating with renowned artists including Benjamin Millepied, Damien Jalet, Marina Abramović, and Johan Inger. Robbie has also worked as a Resident Choreographer and continues to perform as a Guest Artist with Houston Contemporary Dance Company. His career spans international performance, commercial work, choreography, Pilates, and movement coaching.
Elissa
Commercial Instructor
Originally from Utah, Elissa has been dancing since the age of six, and professionally for 12 years. Elissa graduated from the University of Utah in 2014 with her BFA in Ballet Performance, and then danced professionally for 4 seasons each at SALT Contemporary Dance, Minnesota Ballet Theatre, and most recently Vitacca Ballet. Elissa is currently a freelance dancer in Houston, TX, and is participating with a few new companies, including KODA Contemporary Ballet and The Relevé Collaborative. In addition to performing, Elissa has been teaching for 15 years, focusing on ballet and pointe technique, and enjoys teaching the talented dancers of the Houston area! Outside the studio, Elissa has a young daughter with her husband and loves being outside, cats, and reading.
Aaron Medina
Commercial INSTRUCTOR
Aaron Medina is a Houston-based dancer, choreographer, and educator known for his high-energy performance quality and passion for artist development. He currently serves as Artistic Director for Soundbox Studios while teaching throughout Houston at Soundbox Studios, Dancezone, The Dance Kollective, Xtreme Level Dance, and The Dance Barre. Specializing in Jazz Funk and Hip Hop, Aaron’s teaching blends performance, musicality, confidence, and authenticity. He is dedicated to continuous growth and inspiring dancers to embrace their individuality and become the most fearless version of themselves.
Leo
Commercial Instructor
Leontine Coombs is a dance instructor based in Houston, Texas with over 17 years of experience in styles like contemporary, hiphop, ballet, jazz, and more. She has competed regionally and nationally, choreographed award winning dances, and has been teaching at studios in SETX for the last five years. She strives to create well rounded dancers that focus on musicality, technique, and a passion for growth in every dancer.