Lori Frazer

Company Director/Owner

Lori has been dancing since she was 8 years old, beginning her training with Tiffany Turner Edwards at Dance Techniques in Garland, TX, where she was a member of the competitive Company team. In her high school years she became actively involved in drill/dance team, serving as lieutenant on the Junior Varsity drill team as a freshman, a member of the Varsity team her sophomore - senior years and serving as Captain of the Varsity team her senior year. In addition, she earned All American dance team honors from ADTS both in junior high and her high school years, earning the honor to perform in the halftime show at the Freedom Bowl . While earning a BBA in Finance from Southern Methodist University, Lori took a break from dance to focus on her studies. After college, she returned to the studio, focusing her training in modern, lyrical and ballet and training primarily with Kathleen Lobue of Sugar Land Dance Center for the next 8 years. She danced with and choreographed for Sugar Creek Dance Company for 10 years, transitioning to Artistic Director before moving to Pittsburgh. Once in Pittsburgh, she had the privilege to teach ballet, modern and hip hop for Bella School of Dance for 5 years as well as dance with and choreograph for the dance ministry at Northway Christian Community both in weekly services and large productions. While in Pittsburgh, Lori continued her training with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Point Park University. On her return to Houston, Lori taught competitive dance, modern, and ballet at Laeral Dance Academy. In addition, she served as Executive Director of the Missouri City Ballet company for two years. Lori’s group, solo and duet choreographies and dancers have won numerous choreographic and national overall awards.

In addition to dance, Lori is also an AFAA certified Group Exercise Instructor and is certified to teach Zumba, PiYo, BootyBarre, LifeBarre, En Barre and Pound and is currently teaching at LifeTime Fitness Sugar Land.

Lori is married to Mike and is the proud Mom of Brandon and Whitney.

Lindsey Hill

Company Director/Owner

Lindsey Hill was born and raised in Missouri City, Texas and started her dance training locally at the age of 3 at Kinard Dance School. In her early years, her focus of dance styles were ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, and musical theater. In middle school, she became actively involved in the dance team, serving as Co-Captain of the Quail Valley Middle School Dance Team. Lindsey soon realized her passion for competitive dance and shifted her training style to a more elite level. As a young girl, she became a very successful competitive dancer winning local, regional, and national competitions with innumerable awards such as: first place overall, technique, showmanship, Senior Ballet Dancer of the Year, Dancer of the Year, and winning the dance Hall of Fame twice. She was also the recipient of several dance scholarships from Pulse Dance Convention, NYCDA, WCDE, Nuvo, Break the Floor, and Showstopper. During her high school years she was a member of the Varsity Dance Team at Hightower High School and Elkins High School. Lindsey received training from top industry dancers such as Lauren Anderson, Travis Wall, Mia Michaels and Tabitha and Napoleon D’Umo. Lindsey’s dance training has not only allowed her to win several awards and scholarships, but it also helped her win the title of Miss Teen Houston. Lindsey earned her BBA in Human Resource Management on scholarship at Sam Houston State University and while attending college continued her dance training as a member of the 12-time National Award Winning Orange Pride Dance Team. While focusing on her dance discipline, Lindsey taught dance at multiple studios in Houston, San Antonio, Huntsville and Pittsburgh, PA. Lindsey is proud to have received awards for best choreography for her work with high schools in the Houston area, along with her solos, duets, and group routines winning a variety of regional and national awards, Summit Dance finalist routine, and Dance Worlds Finalist routine.

Lindsey hopes that her love and passion for dance will inspire others to pursue their dreams as well.

Dawn Major

Instructor - Ballet, Pointe, Pre-Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Modern, Technique/Leaps/Turns, Stretch and Flex, Ballet/Tap, Ballet/Jazz, Dance with Me, Company

From a young age, Dawn showed a great passion for dance. Following in her grandmother's footsteps, Dawn started dancing from the age of 2 and began her professional career at the age of 18. Born in Fairfax, Virginia, she was raised in Missouri City, Texas and was trained in a variety of styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, modern, contemporary, lyrical, and acrobatics at her home studio, Cynde Lomonte's Dance Dimensions. She danced competitively since the age of 8 and placed with several overall and high point awards in group routines and as a soloist under the mentorship of Cynde Lomonte, broadway dancer, Natalie Lomonte, ballet master, Vanessa Brown, and Houston Ballet's Manuel Barra. Dawn was Captain of Elkins High School Elite Dance Team where she gained experience in Pom, Military, and High Kick. This experience taught her the importance of being a team and perseverance to rise together. After graduation, Dawn auditioned for MA Dance and was hired onto thier travel staff. City hopping every 3-5 days for months, Dawn had the opportunity to choreograph for several studios and teams throughout the south and east coast. Her love and passion for choreography grew as she traveled from city to city. Dawn attended the University of North Texas and Texas Women's University where she majored in pre- med biology and minored in music. She continued to teach at various studios, working with the competitive teams and dancing on the side for several dance companies including "Phenom" and "Polygon Dance Project" and had the opportunity to perform all over the Dallas metroplex. At the age of 21, Dawn was hired by The Frisco Ballet, where she had the opportunity to dance as a principle dancer and use her creative knowledge to reinvent various Ballets, such as The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia and more. After 5 years of teaching and training with The Frisco Ballet, Dawn moved back to the Houston area where she became the competitive company director and pointe program director with Pointe of Grace Dance Studio. Previously competing at a novice level, Dawn was able to successfully bring these dancers to competing at an Intermediate and Elite level consistently placing in overalls and being multi- grand champions at a national level. With a burning passion, Dawn is excited for her newest adventures with Core Dance Alliance and Mitsi's Ballet School.

Tre 'Clyde' Spears

Instructor - Hip Hop, Contemporary

Mr. Clyde Spears IV is a Dance Educator from Richmond, TX. They always said “He’s been dancing since he could walk!” but began his formal training at the age of 8 at Dancezone in Stafford, TX. He furthered his dance education at Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts MS and HSPVA. As a young dancer, Clyde earned multiple dance scholarships from dance conventions such as, NYCDA, NUVO, and Monsters of Hip Hop. These achievements fueled his first dream of becoming a Choreographer! Clyde attended the University of Houston, and danced for recording artist Frankie J. During this time, he also had a hand in choreography for local World of Dance competitive teams; Riot Squad, Lunchbox, WyldStyl and Soreal. Currently, he has taught and choreographed for Dancezone, Imperial Athletics, Soreal, Soundbox, Queensbury Theater, Vdanse Academy, Xtreme Level Dance and Precision Dance Academy. With now over 11 years of experience, Mr. Clyde works alongside Ms. Tina as an award winning Choreography Duo. In the past few seasons, they have choreographed for local studio convention and competition teams, where they won 1st overall in the advanced Hip Hop and Contemporary categories at The Dance Worlds and Starpower Nationals. Their solo, duet, and group choreography has consistently won a variety of overall awards at the Regionals, State and National levels. Mr. Clyde most recently also became an Assistant Drill Team Director, and helped his team take home 1st in all dances. They are also proud and grateful for the choreography awards and judges' choice awards for the competition pieces they've created for various high school drill teams around the state of Texas. He's very grateful for dance and is excited about his latest adventures with Core Dance Alliance!

Mary Utomi

Instructor - Technique/Leaps/Turns, Summer Camps | Marketing and Studio Manager

Mary Harden is a choreographer and dancer born and raised in Houston, Texas. She has always had an immense love and connection to dance since a very young age, but did not have the means train until later.

Mary began professionally training at Texas State University where she received her BFA in Dance-Performance and Choreography with a minor in Sports Psychology the Fall of 2023. While there, Mary had the opportunity to perform with the Collegiate dance team, Strutters, dance and choreograph in the dance department showcases, as well as work for Texas State’s Dance Division.

Mary began her journey with CDA the summer of 2023 as an assistant teacher of the Summer camps. Her specialties in dance are contemporary, modern, and jazz, but she has a soft spot for ballet too! Mary is eager to be back with CDA and hopes to continue her growth as an instructor here.

Kahlil Cabble

Instructor - Musical Theatre, Jazz, Hip Hop, Storytelling through Movement/Improv

Kahlil is still pretty new to Houston! After growing up near Charlotte, NC, he then moved up to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he attended Point Park University for Musical Theatre and Dance. Kahlil started his dance journey in high school, being thrown into the competition world, ultimately realizing his love for performing and creating. His time in Pittsburgh granted him the opportunity of performing with the historic regional theatre, Pittsburgh CLO in A Chorus Line, Rock of Ages and Peter Pan. He can also be seen as dancer in a recent Netflix film, White Noise. After coming to Texas, he has been a Teaching Artist and Choreographer at Theatre Under The Stars’ educational program, the Humphrey’s School of Musical Theatre. Kahlil has also spent time with TUTS as a performer in the role of Ensemble/Dance Captain in their most recent production of Rent the Musical. Additionally, Kahlil is a licensed realtor here in Houston. He loves to help people find a home and enjoys having a positive impact on peoples lives.

Suni Roberts

Instructor - Tap, Jazz, Contemporary

Ms. Suni has had a love of dance all her life. As a child she took classes beginning at the age of seven. At nine she auditioned for and was accepted into the company at Studio Once Dance Conservatory, located in Chicago Illinois, where she performed at many major parks. At age twelve she moved to Richmond Texas, and danced with Becky's Academy of dance for a year, before joining their company for two and a half years.

She has also had the joy of being taught and influenced by Stephen Boyd, and others such as Frank Hatchet and Ale Lowe. She attended Cookie Joe’s Dance School for tap and jazz, and went to Allegro School of Ballet. Ms. Suni taught classes at Dance Zone for five years. Prior to teaching she was a student at Dance Zone for four years.

Her specialty is tap, but she enjoys all styles. She has spent the last five years at Anne Moody Sill Dance Studio. Learning the ins and outs of the dance world from a director who's been in the business for over 45 years has been an educational experience, promoting even more growth in her dance teaching. For the past year she has taught at Move Dance and Family. She hopes to continue learning from wonderful choreographers and developing in her students’ grace, self-discipline, and self-confidence. She's definitely excited to be a part of a new family at Core Dance Alliance.

Dwayne Cook

Instructor - Ballet, Pointe

Dwayne Cook's journey in the world of dance commenced at the tender age of three, under the tutelage of The Houston Ballet Academy/J.C. Sanderson Elementary for the Performing Arts. His passion and dedication to his craft led him to further his training at prestigious institutions, including Lamar Fleming Middle School Fine Arts Academy and, notably, acceptance into the renowned High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA).

In 2006, Dwayne embarked on a transformative chapter in his dance career by joining Exclamation Dance Co., an experience that enriched his artistic development. He has honed his skills through rigorous training at esteemed institutions such as the Ailey School, the School of American Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB), and Complexions Contemporary Ballet.

A distinguished alumnus of the University of Oklahoma, Dwayne Cook's repertoire boasts performances of iconic choreographic works by world-renowned visionaries, including George Balanchine, Ben Stevenson, Matthew Rushing, Dwight Rhoden, William Forsyth, Judith Jamison, Christopher Wheeldon, Robert Battle, Thang Dao, and Garrett Smith.

Dwayne's exceptional talent has graced renowned dance companies, with a noteworthy tenure as a principal dancer at Philadanco and METdance. Beyond the realm of classical dance, his commercial endeavors have seen him collaborate with industry luminaries like Frank Gatson (Beyoncé), Chris Brown, Anthony Burrell, and participation as a Top 30 contestant on multiple seasons of "So You Think You Can Dance" (Seasons 8, 9, and 10). Additionally, he lent his remarkable artistry to Jazmine Sullivan's performances.

In the world of Broadway, Dwayne Cook has etched his name in the annals of theater with notable credits, including productions of "The Wiz," "Kinky Boots," and Disney's "The Little Mermaid." His multifaceted career is a testament to his unwavering commitment to the art of dance, underscored by a rich and diverse body of work.

Jasmine Burns

Instructor - Modern, Contemporary, Jazz, Ballet

Jasmine Burns is a dancer, choreographer, and teaching artist. During her undergrad at Colorado State University, she performed in over 15 dance concerts in student, faculty, and guest artists works. Along with performing, she was able to choreograph several works for the CSU stage, one of which was selected for the American College Dance Association Conference in 2020. Following her graduation in May 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance, Jasmine was offered a company position with Flatlands Dance Theatre, invited to the 2020 Lula Washington Dance Company Apprentice Training Program on scholarship, and was invited to dance with Impact Dance Company as a guest artist. After moving back to her hometown of Houston, Texas, Jasmine decided to focus on her love for teaching dance. She immediately began teaching ballet and jazz at D3 Elite Dance Academy, where she stayed for two seasons. During that time, she also began working at Sassy Feet Dance Studio, teaching contemporary, jazz, ballet, and choreographing for their competition team. Jasmine is excited to continue her dance teaching journey and share her passion and love for dance at Core Dance Alliance this season.

Fei Meng

Instructor - Acro, Stretch and Flex

Fei was born in Beijing, China and started gymnastics when she was 4 years old. She won the silver medal in the uneven bars and the bronze medal in the team event at the 1997 World Gymnastics Championships and was also part of the silver medal winning team at the 1995 World Gymnastic Championships. Since then, she has coached gymnastics for 15 years. She ha a 12 year old daughter, and a dog, chameleon, snake and a gecko and is excited to bring her talents to the dancers at CDA!

Joy Crissmon

Instructor - Ballet/Tap, Hip Hop

Bio Coming Soon

Haley Lee

Contemporary, Jazz, Ballet/Acro, Acro

Haley Lee is a Houston-based dancer and teaching artist who specializes in contemporary dance styles and acrobatic-arts. Lee is a member of contemporary dance company 6Degrees, and has performed with Karen Stokes Dance, and Mezclada Dance Company. She earned her BFA in dance from the University of Houston in 2020 and continues to explore choreography as collaborative and solo pieces for local shows. She is an involved teacher at the Jewish Community Center, and Dayton Academy of Dance. Lee is an active teaching artist for Young Audiences of Houston, as well as Hope Stone and is dedicated to the furtherment of educational outreach which serves Houston communities.

Myrah Porter

Instructor - Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop

Myrah Porter has been dancing since the age of 4, she grew up dancing competitively in Houston, Texas training at DanceZone. Myrah graduated from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. After high school, she attended the University of Texas at Austin where she received her BFA in Dance Performance and Dance Choreography. Myrah worked as a dance instructor in the Houston Independent School District and now teaches at dance studios around the city of Houston

Shelley Hill

Administration

Shelley began dancing at a young age in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After graduating from college with a BS in Accounting, she moved to Houston to start a career in the oil and gas industry. Her vast experience includes cost accounting, tax, auditing, reconciliation, accounts payable, project management, variance analysis, contacts and service agreements.

Wanting to share her passion of dance with her daughters, she enrolled them in dance at the age of 3. As a dance mom she supported her children at recitals, football games, competitions, conventions and auditions.Her support continued as they attended Sam Houston State University with one daughter graduating from the dance department and the other becoming a member of the 12 time national champion Orange Pride Dance Team. To this day Shelley continues her passion for the art by supporting her daughters in their careers as dance instructors.

She looks forward to bringing both her accounting and dance mom experience to her new role as office manager at CDA.