Kathy Marfin Gray - Founder ..brings to the Dance School 15 years of private study in Classical Ballet under the direction of Rosita Samelson, formerly of the Alician Alonso Ballet Co. of Cuba as well as extensive training in Jazz Dance with Charles Atterbury, Paula Lynn, Frank Hatchett, Gus Giordono as well as many great Master Teachers from LA to NY. In addition, she has studied and performed Tap, Modern, Musical Comedy, Creative and Lyrical Dance, Mime, and Choreography as well as Voice at Texas Christian University and the University of Incarnate Word where she also served as Assistant Instructor for Lucille Wheaton's Ballet School on campus. Ms. Marfin Gray participated in the American Dance Camp in New York where she attended classes with the principal dancers of the New York City Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet and Character Dance under Master Yurek Lawsoski. She attended a Ballet Teachers Seminar under Maria Vegh at the Atlanta Ballet School.
Kathy Marfin Gray's experience includes serving as Assistant Director, Choreographer and Dancer of the First Contemporary Dance Co. of San Antonio and Dancer / Instructor for the Carver Contemporary Dance Ensemble. She also was a Dancer and the Choreographer for the popular "Senior" Musicals at Alamo Heights High School for 8 years, Dance Instructor/Choreographer of the Texas Military Institute Junior High Dance Team for two years and Choreographer for the Mission Belles for three years, winning them many Regional and National Awards.
Ms. Marfin Gray was also Dancer/Actress/Choreographer as well as Instructor of Ballet and Disco Workshops for Adults at the San Antonio Fine Arts Center, Choreographer of the First Presbyterian Church Players for three years and choreographed a Musical for the University of Incarnate Word Drama Department. She also choreographed many winning Competition Pieces for local and surrounding High School Dance Teams, Flag Teams, Pageants and solo Audition Pieces. Ms. Marfin Gray was Instructor for the St. Mary's Hall Fine Arts Program, two years, Instructor of the Upper School Honors Dancers, three years and later served as Dance Instructor of the St. Mary's Hall Upper School Dance Department.
Ms. Marfin Gray opened her studio since 1979. For 30 years she taught Ballet, Pointe, Country Western Dancing, Jazz and Lyrical Jazz Dance as well as numerous Dance Team Prep Clinic at the studio. Ms. Marfin Gray was Director of the KMDS Competition Team for 12 years, as well as a Choreographer. Her Competition choreography, instructors and students have placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd at National Competitions, receiving cash awards for Highest Scores with students receiving Scholarships to Ballet Seminars and various Judges Awards.
Kathy Marfin Gray's experience includes serving as Assistant Director, Choreographer and Dancer of the First Contemporary Dance Co. of San Antonio and Dancer / Instructor for the Carver Contemporary Dance Ensemble. She also was a Dancer and the Choreographer for the popular "Senior" Musicals at Alamo Heights High School for 8 years, Dance Instructor/Choreographer of the Texas Military Institute Junior High Dance Team for two years and Choreographer for the Mission Belles for three years, winning them many Regional and National Awards.
Ms. Marfin Gray was also Dancer/Actress/Choreographer as well as Instructor of Ballet and Disco Workshops for Adults at the San Antonio Fine Arts Center, Choreographer of the First Presbyterian Church Players for three years and choreographed a Musical for the University of Incarnate Word Drama Department. She also choreographed many winning Competition Pieces for local and surrounding High School Dance Teams, Flag Teams, Pageants and solo Audition Pieces. Ms. Marfin Gray was Instructor for the St. Mary's Hall Fine Arts Program, two years, Instructor of the Upper School Honors Dancers, three years and later served as Dance Instructor of the St. Mary's Hall Upper School Dance Department.
Ms. Marfin Gray opened her studio since 1979. For 30 years she taught Ballet, Pointe, Country Western Dancing, Jazz and Lyrical Jazz Dance as well as numerous Dance Team Prep Clinic at the studio. Ms. Marfin Gray was Director of the KMDS Competition Team for 12 years, as well as a Choreographer. Her Competition choreography, instructors and students have placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd at National Competitions, receiving cash awards for Highest Scores with students receiving Scholarships to Ballet Seminars and various Judges Awards.
Tiffany Harmon - Owner/ Director/ Instructor - Tap, Tumbling/Acro, Hip-hop, Musical Theater Dance, and Competition Choreographer...grew up at Kathy Marfin’s Dance School, looking up to her step-mother Kathy who was a great inspiration and wonderful dance teacher. She took dancing for most of her childhood, studying Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Drill and Hip-hop, as well as being a competitive gymnast and cheerleader. Tiffany was a gymnast for five years with Alamo City Gymnastics and Harris Unlimited Gymnastics, competing in all events and excelling at floor and bars. She was also a cheerleader for CHEERS for two years, attending and demonstrating for two of their summer camps. Tiffany worked throughout High School and College for Kathy Marfin’s Dance School, including management, teaching, running the front office, sales and backstage assistance at each recital. She went on to receive a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Marketing from Southwest Texas State University in 2000. She also has over 10 years of management, finance and marketing experience and has several financial licenses in Insurance, Stocks & Bonds. After a foray into the financial world, Tiffany discovered her true passion was the world of dance.
Tiffany took on the Director position of Kathy Marfin’s Dance School in 2000, and took over as Owner in 2009 when Kathy retired. Tiffany is also the Director of The Leading Edge Dance Company, a pre-professional performance and competition team formed from the students at Kathy Marfin’s Dance School. She firmly believes in attending as many workshops, intensive and conventions as possible, with her, her staff and her students attending two to four conventions a year, including Texas Association Teachers of Dancing, DanceMakers, Inc, Tremaine, JUMP, Third Coast Rhythm Project, Celebrity and many more. Her choreography and routines have won numerous distinguished awards including IDE Outstanding Performance “Best in Tap”, two Al Gilbert awards, Video of the Year Finalist, SDA Regional Champion, “Better than Broadway” award, 4 times Golden Ticket Highest Scoring routine, Tap Excellence award, as well as five Entertainment awards. Tiffany is active in all areas of Dance and Tumbling; a member of the Teacher Advisory Panel for Discount Dance Supply and Theatricals Costumes, a member of San Antonio Dance Umbrella, a member of International Tap Association, a two year Co. Dance Teachers Program certified teacher, a Certified Instructor through USA Gymnastics, a member of National Dance Education Organization, a Sponsor of National Honor Society of Dance Arts, and is a Certified Instructor through Texas Association Teachers of Dancing.
Tiffany also provides support for future dance educators as a mentor teacher in The Generation Next Education Initiative through The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.
Tiffany took on the Director position of Kathy Marfin’s Dance School in 2000, and took over as Owner in 2009 when Kathy retired. Tiffany is also the Director of The Leading Edge Dance Company, a pre-professional performance and competition team formed from the students at Kathy Marfin’s Dance School. She firmly believes in attending as many workshops, intensive and conventions as possible, with her, her staff and her students attending two to four conventions a year, including Texas Association Teachers of Dancing, DanceMakers, Inc, Tremaine, JUMP, Third Coast Rhythm Project, Celebrity and many more. Her choreography and routines have won numerous distinguished awards including IDE Outstanding Performance “Best in Tap”, two Al Gilbert awards, Video of the Year Finalist, SDA Regional Champion, “Better than Broadway” award, 4 times Golden Ticket Highest Scoring routine, Tap Excellence award, as well as five Entertainment awards. Tiffany is active in all areas of Dance and Tumbling; a member of the Teacher Advisory Panel for Discount Dance Supply and Theatricals Costumes, a member of San Antonio Dance Umbrella, a member of International Tap Association, a two year Co. Dance Teachers Program certified teacher, a Certified Instructor through USA Gymnastics, a member of National Dance Education Organization, a Sponsor of National Honor Society of Dance Arts, and is a Certified Instructor through Texas Association Teachers of Dancing.
Tiffany also provides support for future dance educators as a mentor teacher in The Generation Next Education Initiative through The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.
Carrie Vicana - Director of Ballet and Modern Programs / Dance Instructor - 3 Years, Modern, Ballet, Contemporary, Social Dance and LEDC Choreographer, …has a Bachelor of Science in Dance, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Resource Management from Southwest Texas State University, where she was honored for outstanding academic achievement by the Education Department. Carrie has 20+ years of training, specializing in Ballet, Modern, Social, and Kinesthetic Awareness/Injury Prevention. Carrie was a Dance Instructor at Northwest Vista College for 15 years where she instructed classes in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Ballroom and Swing, as well as a coordinator and choreographer for NVC’s Repertory Dance Ensemble. Additionally, she has choreographed for Houston Community College. She is also a Co. Dance Teachers Program certified teacher, as well as a certified ballet teacher with Texas Association Teachers of Dancing. Carrie has been a member of and performed with San Antonio Modern Dancer's Co-Laboratory for many years, including the performance "Carving the Curve," a performance at the 5th Annual Sculptors Dominion International Outdoor Sculpture Invitational. She has also performed in Share the Beat in 2009, Project Africa with UIW in 2010, Luminaria and the Houston Fringe Festival with China Cart Productions in "Amazonia" in 2010, and with Erison Dancers in "Prototype" in 2011, "Revolution" in 2012 and multiple performances for WIP and WIP Creme. Most recently she performed and choreographed for the Texas State "Welcome Back" alumni concert, celebrating 50 years of Dance, the 30th anniversary of Dirty Dancing for the San Antonio Library, as well as Share the Beat. She served on the San Antonio Board of Directors for 4 years. For the last two years, Carrie joined the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in their initiative to take the arts back to the underserved youth of the San Antonio Independent School District, where she teaches dance to the middle school students at Hawthorne Academy. This is Carrie's nineteenth year with Kathy Marfin's Dance School.
Hailey Striebeck – Dance Instructor - Ballet, Modern and LEDC Choreographer,... received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance with a concentration in Performance and Choreography from Texas State University where she was on the Dean’s List for four semesters. She graduated Summa Cum Laude and was chosen as the J. Ralph Harrel Scholar for her dedication to and involvement in the Dance Division. While attending Texas State University, she served as Artistic Director for Orchesis Dance Company, a student-run organization, as well as Rehearsal Director for CIM TEYA (Creation in Motion – Touring Ensemble for Young Audiences) under the direction of Kaysie Seitz Brown. Hailey also performed in two BFA Senior Thesis concerts, including her own, and Opening Door Dance Theatre’s concert while at Texas State. Hailey danced with Kathy Marfin's Dance School for 15 years, studying Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Cheerleading and Tumbling. She was a six-year member of The Leading Edge Dance Company/KMDS Competition Team, winning many top awards including numerous 1st Place Overalls, Platinums, a "Great Chemistry" Judges Award, a National Championship and a Power Pak Finalist. While dancing with KMDS and LEDC, she danced at many performances including Luminaria in 2009 and 2010, Share the Beat in 2009, and Project Africa at UIW in 2010. Hailey was awarded from KMDS "Outstanding Cheer Student" in 2004, "Outstanding Jazz Student" in 2007, "Outstanding Modern Student" in 2008, "Outstanding Ballet Student" in 2011 and "Student of the Year" in 2012. Hailey has continued her dance education outside of school by attending several American College Dance Association conferences and the Dance Teacher Summit NYC in 2014. She has been awarded a Choreography Award and an Entertainment Award from Bravo! Dance Competition for her LEDC pieces. Hailey just completed her ninth year as an Instructor at Kathy Marfin’s Dance School.
Gretel Campbell - Dance Instructor - 6 Years, Hip-hop & Tumble Tots, Jazz, Musical Theater and Tumbling, LEDC Choreographer...brings to Kathy Marfin's Dance School many years of Dance and Theater education and performance. She has studied various styles of dance including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Hip-hop and Irish Step. Gretel was a dancer and Character Performer for Walt Disney World and Universal Studios-Orlando, as well as a Character Greeter for Design Imagery in Atlantic City, New Jersey. She has performed with and designed costumes for many Summer Stock shows including Mary Poppins and Sleeping Beauty. Gretel has performed, costume designed, choreographed for San Pedro Playhouse; directed and performed for The Woodlawn theatre; and been a featured Dancer and Vocalist and Assistant Director for performances at The Josephine Theater. Gretel has designed and made LEDC costumes and KMDS costumes, including Dorothy for The Wizard of OZ last year and all of the Alice characters for Alice in Wonderland in 2016 Her costumes have won several Costume Awards from competitions the last three seasons as well as an international costume award from the US Army Festival of the Arts Competition. This is Gretel's eighth year as an Instructor with Kathy Marfin's Dance School and fifth as a choreography for LEDC.
Mikayla Ohms – Dance Instructor – Ballet...has been studying dance for 10 years and competed in dance competitions for the last 9 years, the last 5 with The Leading Edge Dance Company. Throughout her years as a competitive dancer, she has won many awards and scholarships for her solos, duets, and group dances and competed in jazz, musical theater, ballet, pointe, contemporary and modern. Mikayla was invited to Body Traffic in Los Angeles by Celebrity Dance in 2022. Mikayla also competed at Youth American Grand Prix in 2022. She has dedicated her dance studies to jazz, musical theater, tap, modern, contemporary, tumbling, and ballet. Mikayla was awarded Outstanding Ballet student in 2019 and Student of the Year in 2022 from Kathy Marfin’s Dance School. She graduated with a 3.9 GPA from Keystone Academy. She is currently a student at San Antonio Community College. This will be Mikayla’s first year as a dance instructor for Kathy Marfin’s Dance School although she has been an Assistant Teacher for the last 4 years. Mikayla is excited to be teaching and being able to share her love for dance.
Christina Rodriguez - Dance Instructor - Hip-Hop, Jazz and LEDC Choreographer... is a second year teacher and KMDS parent, coming to us all the way from East Haven, Connecticut. Born and raised there, Christina recently moved down to San Antonio with her husband and daughter to be closer to family. Christina has danced herself for 20 years. Studying in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Tumbling, and Hip-Hop. Her dance career began with Dale Dance Studio at the age of 5 and further progressedwhen she reached age 13 at The Dance Connection Studio in East Haven, CT. There Christina worked hard and received training from the owners Linda and Sandee Juliano, Julie Reed-Russo, Janice Barringer, Bryan Lewis and Sara Conlon. Christina has done many dance performances from recitals to talent shows. In 2003, she was featured in her town's newspaper as "The Person of the Week" where they interviewed her on her passion for dance. She has also competed regionally up North and across the country, Las Vegas, Florida and New York to name a few. In her competition career, Christina has won many special awards, dance titles and overalls individually and in groups. She has also attended many dance conventions and workshops.
Grace Stephen – Dance Instructor – 2.5-6 Years and Tap... has been studying dance for 15 years, with 5 years as a member of KMDS and The Leading Edge Dance Company. She has won many awards for her solos, duets and group routines in Tap, Jazz, Hiphop, Ballet, and Musical Theater, including several Power Pak Invitations and Golden Tickets, a solo invite to World Dance Pagent, Entertainment Award, SDA Regional Champion, and Technique Award. Grace was awarded "Awesome Attitude" from KMDS in 2021, followed by "" in 2023. Grace is well known for being the "mom" among the students, as she is always making sure everyone is happy and taken care of, and thrives with working with young dancers. Grace is planning to get her fire science degree, as well as her paramedic/EMT certifications and become a firefighter in arson investigation. Grace is also involved in the Wonder and The Woodlawn Theater.
Megan Lux-Hall - Administrative Assistant / LEDC Management - has been a dance mom at Kathy Marfin's Dance School for 9 years. Her two daughters have been members of The Leading Edge Dance company for 2 and 4 years. She had been the Vice President of the LEDC Booster Club for 3 previous years, then President for 2 years before becoming the manager. In addition to being the manager of The Leading Edge Dance Company, Megan occasionally covers the KMDS front desk and is also the attendance clerk at Harris Middle School.
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