Kathy Marfin's Dance School

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 Joeffrey 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.

Tiffany Harmon - Owner/ Director/ Instructor - Cheerleading, Tumbling, Tap, Jazz, 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.  She 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, Co. Dance, Tremaine, JUMP, Third Coast Rhythm Project and many more.  Tiffany is active in all areas of Dance; she is a member of the Costume Advisory Board for Stagewear LA costumes, an advisor for Dance C.A.B., a member of San Antonio Dance Umbrella, a member of Dance Council, a two year Co. Dance Teachers Program certified teacher, and is a certified instructor through Texas Association Teachers of Dancing.

Victoria Amicone - Director's Assistant/ Dance Instructor- 2-5 Years...has been dancing for 6 years with Kathy Marfin's Dance School, studying Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Hip-hop and Tap.  She has received two awards from KMDS, "Outstanding Hip-hop Student" in 2006 and "Outstanding Ballet Student" in 2008.  Victoria is a third year member of The Leading Edge Dance Company, and has competed in Pointe, Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, and Modern.  Victoria was an Assistant Instructor for four years, and was a Substitute Instructor for many classes including babies, jazz and hip-hop.  She continues her dance education with KMDS, studying Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Hip-hop, Modern and Tap, as well as attending numerous Dance Conventions each year such as Co.Dance, Showstopper Convention, and Wild About Dance.  This is Victoria's third year working at Kathy Marfin's Dance School as Tiffany's Assistant, and she is also the Assistant Manager of Tots to Tweens Kids Resale Shop. 

Melody Beicker - Dance Instructor - 4-6 Years, Ballet, Tap, Hip-hop and Jazz...has been dancing since the age of 3, studying Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Character, Lyrical, Modern, Clogging, Pointe, Tumbling, Kickline and Hip-hop.  She has studied in many places, including Hermon Sons, All That Jazz, Adagio Dance School, Dance Plus, and Texas State University.  Melody was on her High School dance team, and was 1st Lieutenant her Junior year and Captain her Senior year.  She also has several years of Competition experience, having attended Starbound, I Love Dance, Starmakers, Showstoppers, Dance Masters of America and Dance Educators of America, performing in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical and Hip-hop.  Melody has over 4 years of teaching experience having taught at Adagio Dance School in Seguin and Ruiz Dance Studio in Lockhart.  She has also choreographed many competition routines in Ballet, Tap, Lyrical, and Jazz. 

Allison Ihle - Dance Instructor - Ballet and Jazz...has been dancing since the age of 3, studying Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Hip-hop and Lyrical dance.  She was classically trained at Deborah Korpis Ceccetti Ballet, Joy's School of Dance, The Slavin Nadal School of Ballet, and Ballet Austin.  She also attended The Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet Summer Ballet Intensive in 1999, and numerous dance conventions including LA Dance Force, Dupre, Encore Dance and Texas Association Teachers of Dancing, where she received a Ballet scholarship.  Allison was a Spurs Silver Dancer 2003-2004, and a ballet instructor with Olympia Gymnastics and Image Dance Company for two years each.  Allison has an Associate Degree in Architecture, Liberal Arts and Pre-Nursing and is currently in the University of the Incarnate Word Nursing Program, working toward her Bachelors of Science in Nursing RN Program.  This is Allison's first year with KMDS.

  Ernesto Lea Place – Dance Instructor – Ballet, Pointe, Jazz and LEDC Choreographer…is originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ernesto has trained with the Orlando Ballet School, the Ailey School, and the Academy of Ballet Florida. He has studied in summer programs at the Rock School, Sacramento Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, and Orlando Ballet School.  Ernesto is trained in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Ballroom and Ariel Dance.  He has also performed with Carolina Ballet Theatre, Orlando Ballet, Ballet Florida, Nashville Ballet and the Minnesota Ballet, and will be dancing with Ballet San Antonio this coming year.  Ernesto has taught Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz and Ballroom at many schools including School of Minnesota Ballet, School of Carolina Ballet Theatre and Greenhill School of Dance.  His favorite performances include Fernando Bujones’ Spartacus, Ben Stevenson’s Cleopatra, and the role of Arabian in The Nutcracker.   

Andrea Ortiz - Dance Instructor- LEDC Ballet Choreographer ...has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from St. Mary's University, and is currently working toward a law degree.  Andrea began her dance education at the age of 3, studying for 14 years at Victoria Ballet Theater, a member of Regional Dance America, under the Direction of Debbie Busby.  She has studied Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Modern and Hip-hop.  Andrea has attended many summer workshops including Texas Christian University Ballet Dance Workshop, Margo Dean School of Ballet and Ball Concerto Summer Workshop, as well as Craft of Choreography Summer Dance camp.  Some of her many dance performances include numerous "The Nutcracker" roles such as Harlequin Doll and Chinese Lead, "Cinderella", "Aurora's Wedding" and "The Firebird".  Andrea is a member of the Code Blue Dance Team at St. Mary's University and is currently the Team Captain.  She has taught numerous Ballet and Hip-hop classes for the Dan Cook San Antonio Youth Center.  Andrea is involved in many Community programs including Habitat for Humanity, Graffiti Wipeout, San Antonio Food Bank and the Boys and Girls Town Shelter.  This is Andrea's forth year with Kathy Marfin's Dance School.

Amy Smith - Dance Instructor - Jazz and Hip-hop....is currently studying Dance at Texas State University, with one semester left to complete her Bachelor of Fine Arts.   During High School in Laredo, Amy was a United High School Larriette Dance Team member, were she was awarded “Larriette of the Year”.   She was also a member of the Texas A&M International University Cheer Team and a member of their dance departments “Volta Dance Club”, where she took part in workshops, community events, and performances, in additional to attending the American College Dance Festival Association for two years.  Amy was also a Texas State Strutter, performing with the dance team at their sporting events.  For two years, Amy was a member of the Hip-hop crew “Sample Stylz”, and she is currently a member of the new San Marcos based hip-hop crew “Stereo Chemisty”.

Jennifer Trevino - Dance Instructor – 3-6 Years, Jazz, Dance Team, Tap and Hip-hop and LEDC Choreographer...began dancing and cheering at the age of 5, studying Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Drill and Hip-hop.  Jennifer has studied dance at Palm Heights Recreation, Dance Co., TJ's Dance Factory and Kathy Marfin's Dance School.  From age 5-11 she cheered for the Colombia Patriots and the Northwest Raiders.  Jennifer has many years of Dance Team experience including being a three year member of the Medina Valley High School Dance Team, a three year member of the semi-pro Thunder Football Lightning Cheerleaders, as well as being a Mission Belle Cheerleader for the SA Missions Baseball Team.   She has used her extensive dance team experience to assist her students in making the Drill and Dance Teams at many local middle and high schools, as well as coaching many into Officer positions. Jennifer taught Jazz and Hip-hop for several years at the Good Samaritan Center here in San Antonio.  Jennifer keeps up with the latest techniques and styles by attending conventions and masters classes, such as Co. Dance and Texas Association Teachers of Dancing.  This is Jennifer's fifth year with Kathy Marfin's Dance School.

Carrie Vicana - Dance Instructor - 2-3 Years, Modern, Ballet, Jazz, 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 on the Dean's list for 4 years and was honored for outstanding academic achievement by the Education Department. She has also completed all teacher certification courses at Southwest Texas and was an assistant teacher at Goodnight Middle School in San Marcos. Carrie has 13 years of Ballet and 13 years of Modern Dance experience, and received her training from Kathy Marfin's Dance School, Performing Arts School of Classical Ballet, Connally's Dance Workshop, San Antonio College, and Southwest Texas State University. Carrie is also a Dance Instructor at Northwest Vista College, where she instructs classes in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Ballroom and Swing. She is also a fourth year member of the San Antonio Modern Dancer's Co-Laboratory, in which she performs in many venues around San Antonio, including last year's "Carving the Curve," a performance at the 5th Annual Sculptors Dominion International Outdoor Sculpture Invitational. This is Carrie's tenth year with Kathy Marfin's Dance School.