AARON MEDINA

Aaron first explored movement in high school as a member of his high school choir where he mastered the art of step touch and the infamous jazz square. Interested in a career in musical theatre, Aaron began taking numerous classes in different dance genres including hip-hop, street jazz, jazz funk, and contemporary. He is currently the artistic director of Soundbox Studios and teaches there regularly. He is a resident instructor and choreographer at Vdanse Studios where he has many regional and national award-winning accolades. He also is a resident instructor at various Houston area studios. He guest choreographs and guest teaches for private and public schools and companies all over the nation. While teaching and mentoring, Aaron strives to broaden his dance vocabulary by taking all styles and immersing himself in all things dance.

NICOLE YOUNG

A Houston native, Nicole Young began her formal dance training at the age of ten at Uptown Dance Centre. She joined their pre-professional ballet company and fell in love with performing. While on summer breaks, Nicole furthered her training at summer intensives with Houston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet School, Ad Deum, and BODYTRAFFIC. Nicole competed in the ballet competition the Youth America Grand Prix in Texas and placed in the Top Twelve in both the ballet and contemporary categories. She went on to receive a scholarship to study Modern Dance Performance in the prestigious University of Oklahoma’s dance program under the direction of Austin Hartel and Roxanne Lyst. During her time at OU, Nicole danced principal roles and performed across the globe in dance festivals in Beijing and Barcelona. After OU, she made her professional debut with the contemporary ballet company Uptown Dance Company. At this same time, she began teaching at Uptown Dance Centre. Nicole specializes in teaching ballet, jazz, contemporary and modern to children and young adults. Currently, she works as a freelance professional dancer and a Pilates instructor at Body Rock Pilates. Nicole has her accredited Pilates Mat, Reformer, and Trapeze certification from D.K. Body Balancing Method. 

She could not be more excited to join the Vdanse faculty and cannot wait to see what the journey has in store! 

Song Teng - Guest Artist

Graduated from Shenzhen Arts School, China, and continued his professional Classical Ballet training at the Houston Ballet Academy and Houston Ballet II. He won the most potential artist award at the Hong Kong Asian Grand Prix in 2015. And, a full scholarship with New Zealand School Of Dance in 2016-2017. In 2018 he joins the Houston Ballet II starting his professional dance career. He received the Most Potential Artist Award from the Houston Ballet and joins the company in 2019, soon has been promoted to Corps de Ballet in the company.

Whylan Rucker

Whylan Rucker, a Beaumont Texas native, has studied the art of dance through various styles, including, ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, modern, hip hop, and musical theater since the age of 6. She served as captain of her Drill Team, a member of her high school dance company,  classically trained at The Beaumont Ballet Theatre (also known as Bonnie Cokinos School of Dance), and trained competitively at Taylor Dance Studio. She amplified her dance training through various conventions and competitions, including Dance Masters of America, JUMP, LA Dance Magic, International Dance Challenge, and West Coast Dance Explosion. During her collegiate years, Whylan enhanced her experience as a choreographer and director by working at The Art of Dance Studio, teaching ballet, jazz, and contemporary. Currently, she resides in Houston, Texas, where she teaches both commercial and recreational dance classes and serves as a high school dance director. Under TheWhy Dance & Consultant Services, LLC., Whylan shares her knowledge and passion for dance by offering a plethora of dance services to various schools and dance studios across the region. Her goal is to spread her passion and knowledge for dance and performing arts, with a focus on execution and performance quality. More importantly, she has the true desire to help dancers of all backgrounds understand WHY they love to dance.

KEVIN KING

Kevin Chapman King is an American Latin Ballroom dance champion, choreographer, and instructor based in Houston, Texas. Kevin has been exposed to dance since the age of 5, earning many titles.  It began with his mother, Ms.Barbara King, who founded King’s Dancing Centre and Barbara King Dance Company over 35 years ago. Kevin performed and competed nationally and throughout Europe.  Kevin trained with the top coaches in the U.S. and abroad.  He moved to London to further his training with World Champions Corky and Shirley Ballas, while training alongside Dancing with the Stars’ pros Mark Ballas, Derek Hough, and Julianne Hough.  Kevin placed 2nd at the United States National Championships in 2001 and was honored by being chosen to represent the U.S. at the World Championships. He was named 2001 Canadian Open Champion and was also honored as the Emerald Ball Amateur Champion in 2000 and 2002.  Kevin continued performing on television shows, dance productions, and competing around the world representing the United States.

JANE THAYER

Jane Thayer (co-owner) is also co-director of the NHPA™ II Dance Company and a member of Revolve Dance Company. She was born in Joliet, Illinois and grew up in Spring, TX where she began her dance training at NHPA™ in 1995 under the instruction of Amy Cain, Dawn Dippel, and Ken McCulloch. Jane has also had the opportunity to work with other choreographers/teachers in the Houston area such as: Fred Strobel, Barbara Bears, Naomi Glass, Damian Schwiethale, and Clara Cravey of Houston Ballet, and Randall Flinn of Ad Deum Dance Company. Other notable instruction has come from Wes Veldink, Jason Parsons, Natsuo, Malaya, Mandy Moore, and Ryan Heffington (from New York and L.A.), and Yung Woo of Korea. She has performed in Revolve Dance Company's concerts since their premiere in 2005, as well as in Ad Deum Dance Company's "Mystery and Miracle" in 2007, Dance Houston, Choreographers X6, DAA's East Meets West, and the "Revolve On Camera" premiere at the Houston Cinema Arts Festival in 2014. Jane has her degree in Theatrical Costume Design which has provided her with opportunities of seamstress work for iMEE, and to work with Dominic Walsh Dance Theater for several productions.

JADA TYLER

Jada Tyler is the new Acrobatic instructor at Vdanse Academy. She has over 10 years of dance, professional choreography, and instruction experience. Jada specializes in Acrobatics and Tumbling classes. However, she trained in ballet, contemporary, jazz, musical theater, and hip-hop. She has trained with Majestic’s Dance Works, Apex Cheer, Dance Du Coeur, and METdance. Jada currently is an undergrad student at Houston Baptist University going for her bachelors in Marketing. She is also the studio owner of En Pointe Dance Academy and the founder of 8 Counts Dance Team. Jada instructs and choreography routines for Stafford MSD, Extended Day program, local drill teams within the Fort Bend County area, Studio V in Missouri City, Texas, at local drill/dance auditions, etc. A saying that she not only goes by, but instills in every dancer is, “Don’t practice until you get it right. Practice until you can’t get it wrong.”

PAIGE WHITE

Paige White was born in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. She began her dance training as student at The Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts at Pebblebrook High School where she graduated. In 2013 she moved to New York City to continue her dance training at The Joffrey Ballet School. During her time at The Joffrey Ballet School, Paige was cast as Lead Flower in The Nutcracker and Canary Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty. After three years at The Joffrey Ballet School she then joined METdance in 2016 as a member of the professional company. Paige has since performed works by Bridget Moore, Camille A. Brown, Katarzyna Skarpetowska, Rosie Herrera, Mario Zambrano, and Robbie Moore. With METdance Paige has traveled to Dallas Dance Festival, Austin Dance Festival, Green Box Arts Festival, and Jacob's Pillow. Paige is thrilled and eager to see what this 24th season has in store!

Greta Giasson

My name is Greta Giasson. Dance has been my passion for over 15 years. I started dancing professionally in 2017 when I performed at the Super Bowl in Houston with SoReal. Since then I have placed top 3 at WOD Houston with a professional competitive dance team, choreographed for Wyldstyl dance team as well as teaches Vdanse Studios, Soundbox, Garage 713, and additional Houston area studios. I have had the opportunity to teach dance all over Houston ranging from beginner kindergarten classes to advanced adult classes. I aspire to pass on my knowledge and passion for dance to others.