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Our Promise… To provide highly trained instructors who set a good example for students on and off the dance floor, and whom are always striving to learn the latest trends and techniques in their genre of dance.
Amber Frishman - Owner + Studio Director
Amber Frishman founded DanceXplosion to bring others all of the joy, experiences, and appreciation for the arts that dance has provided her. With over 25 years of dance training, 10 years of dance instructing, a Bachelor’s Degree in Childhood Development/Education, a college minor in Theatre and Dance, and 2 years of public school teaching experience Amber brings with her a diverse set of skills and talents, an understanding for children and their different learning styles, and a life-long passion for the beauty, creativity and freedom of dance.
Amber has extensively studied ballet, jazz, lyrical, theatre, hip-hop and modern styles of dance. She has studied under Natalia Krasaska (Former Prima Ballerina of Ballet Russe in Russia), Max Stone of Steps on Broadway, Frank Hatchett of Broadway Dance Center, Shella Sattler (Current Director of the Dallas Mavericks Dancers), and many more.
During her training growing up in Dallas, Amber had various solo roles in a number of full length, full symphony-accompanied ballets such as The Nutcracker, Le Corsaire, Giselle, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty. She was First Lieutenant and Junior Lieutenant of her award-winning high school drill team, she was a member of her studio’s Senior Performing/Competition Company, and she was a dancer/singer in a full length production of The Music Man.
Amber moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas where she graduated with Highest Honors with a Major in Childhood Development/Education and a Minor in Theatre and Dance. While at UT she was one of only 3 freshman to make the UT Pom Squad. While on the Pom Squad she had the opportunity to dance at football and basketball games, travel to school events, and attend various camps/workshops. She was also a member of STEEL Dance Company, which focused on bringing professional-level performances of jazz, lyrical, hip hop and theatre to the Austin community.
Upon graduation from UT, Amber continued to teach dance at various studios in Austin, in addition to teaching for 2 years in a public school classroom. She obtained official certifications in CPR/First Aid and Group Fitness/Aerobics instruction. Today, she continues to train and develop as a dancer/teacher at renowned dance venues in New York City such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway, in addition to attending quarterly dance conventions with instructors from across the country.
Amber cannot imagine her life without dance. She looks forward to helping more students on their road to developing dance technique, gaining a passion for the arts, and increasing their own sense of pride and self-esteem.
Marissa Wiseman-Maples - Instructor (top)
Marissa grew up in Tyler, Texas, studying ballet and jazz under the instruction of Pamela Erwin, Paula Sansom, and Helen Chambers. Eventually Marissa joined Tyler Civic Ballet. She performed in yearly Nutcracker productions and danced pieces from many ballets such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, La Fille, Mal Gardee, and Pas de Quatre.
Marissa’s first choreography experience came when she was a junior at Robert E. Lee High School when she was asked to choreograph the musical Oklahoma! Since then, Marissa has choreographed Hello Dolly, Cinderella, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, A Christmas Carol, and Kiss Me Kate. Recently she choreographed the musical Godspell for Parkside Players in Queens, NY.
Marissa attended Arizona State University. At ASU she studied modern dance under the direction of Jennifer Tsukayama, Mary Fitzgerald, Kim Karpanty, and Karen Schupp. She performed many pieces during her time at ASU, participated in multiple Guest Artist Residencies and danced under renowned choreographers such as Tere O’Connor. In May 2004, Marissa graduated with her BFA in Dance Choreography.
After graduating from ASU, Marissa moved to Brooklyn, NY. She taught dance at a studio in Long Island before being invited to serve as Dance Instructor at a private high school. She taught ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop, musical theatre, lyrical and intro to ballroom to all levels of students. She also choreographed pieces from a variety of musicals for the school, including Fosse, Chicago, A Chorus Line, Sweet Charity and The Pajama Game. She spent time in NY performing at WaxWorks, Chashama, and Artery Dance Festival under choreographers Leanne Schmidt and Felecia Hammond, and she had the opportunity to perform her own work at Artery Dance Festival.
Marissa and her husband, Darrell, made the move to Austin in Spring 2008 and are happy to be back in Texas. Marissa has become a member of the Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company (KDHDC), a collaborative contemporary dance company that presents an evolving repertory of original modern dance works designed to engage audiences on a meaningful level.
Nicole Johnson - Instructor (top)
Nicole Johnson began dancing at the age of 4, studying ballet, jazz and tap, but by the age of 8 she focused her training solely on ballet. She joined Longview Ballet Theater, under the direction of Pat George Mitchell, and was a senior company member for 7 years. Under Ms. Mitchell’s direction, Nicole was trained in the Balanchine style of ballet with a focus toward lyrical and modern movement. While with Longview Ballet Theater, she received instruction from various guest teachers ranging from Martha Graham Dance, New York City Ballet and Bolshoi Ballet of Moscow. She danced many solo roles in Ms. Mitchell’s original productions beginning at the age of 13 through her senior year of high school.
Her love for ballet and dance continued on to Rhodes College in Memphis, TN, where she performed in several plays and musicals. In addition, she was a member of the Rhodes dance team her sophomore year. As part of an internship her senior year, Nicole taught ballet at Dance Works Inc, a non-profit school for low-income, disadvantaged families. While teaching the younger children, she was invited to perform with the advanced high school students in their year-end production.
Upon graduation, Nicole began a successful career in advertising. Nicole and her husband Will welcomed their daughter in April of 2007, and this change inspired Nicole to return to her original passion of dance. She loves working with Dance Xplosion's students to help them discover their own love for dance.
Katie Feiock McCall - Instructor (top)
Katie Feiock McCall has a lifelong love for dance. She has been a student, professional dancer, instructor and choreographer. As a child she began in ballet and tap and soon found herself performing tap, modern, lyrical, jazz and musical theater at studios across Tulsa. Katie followed her passion to college where she enrolled as a Modern Dance Major at TCU, and ultimately received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Arts Management and a Minor in Business from the University of Tulsa.
Heather Hill - Instructor (top)
Heather Hill is proud to be part of the staff at Dance Xplosion in her 10th year of teaching dance. She grew up in Tyler, Texas where she began taking dance at the age of 2 from Candy Crocker Jordan. In high school she joined the Elite Dance Company at Candy Crocker School of Dance and was an officer on the Robert E. Lee Southern Belle Drill Team under the direction of Kellye Price.
Samantha Velasco - Instructor (top)
Samantha Velasco began dancing when she was 10 years old at Roy Lozano's Ballet Folklorico de Texas learning the art of Mexican folk dance and traditions. Entering high school she searched for a new style of dance and became a member of the Tex-Ann Dance Team at David Crockett High School in Austin. She served as Junior Lieutenant and then Co-Captain her senior year where she earned several awards for her solos and was named Tex-Ann of the Year.
Tiffany Plante - Instructor (top)
Tiffany Plante has loved dancing for more than 20 years. As a choreographer and teacher, she uses her extensive performance experience – ranging from jazz, tap and lyrical to ballet, hip hop and musical theater – to create high energy and motivational classes that push her dancers to new heights.
Growing up in Minnesota Tiffany trained at the Woodbury Dance Center. She was the Featured Dancer and Vocalist for more than 6 full-scale theater productions such as Footloose, Our Town and FAME, and as a member of the Woodbury High School Cabaret she kindled her love and work in choreography. From there she moved to Gustavus Adolphos College where she was a Member of the school’s Dance Company and Captain and Choreographer of the Dance Team. Amidst her dancing Tiffany earned her Management Degree with a Dance Minor, and even branched into costume design for 3 years while her teams competed at the UDA National Championships. She also regularly taught at the Gustavus Kids Clinic and St. Paul Children’s Theater.
Most recently, Tiffany was a dancer, choreographer, aerialist and wardrobe manager for the Holland America and Royal Caribbean cruise lines. She also taught Master Classes at several studios in Minnesota before making the move to Austin in the Spring of 2009. She is excited about being part of the Dance Xplosion family!
Camille Hodgins - Instructor (top)
Camille Hodgins has been dancing for more than 16 years and has studied ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop and modern. Born in New Orleans, she began her training at the American Ballet Company where she studied ballet, tap and jazz. She also discovered gymnastics and cheerleading at a young age, taking classes and performing at the Metarie Playground. Growing up she was a member of the Ursuline Academy (N.O.L.A.) Lionettes Dance Team and spent her summers at dance camps, intensives and cheerleading clinics.
Jessica Anderson - Instructor (top)
Jessica Anderson has spent almost her entire life dancing – and has loved every moment of it. She has studied a wide range of dance styles, with a focus on ballet, jazz and modern having over 15 years of training in each.
Tara Shelton - Desk Staff + Rock Star Mom (top)
Cindy McCraw - Desk Staff + Fairy Godmother (top)
Adam Frishman - Owner + Studio Development (top)
Adam Frishman co-founded Dance Xplosion to help his wife and best friend realize her dream. Adam leads the studio's business and marketing operations. Adam also believes that the cultural arts play a critical role for Austin as it continues to grow and risks losing its sense of community, and he is excited about helping inspire the next generation of dancers.
Adam is on the Executive Board of American Repertory Ensemble (“ARE”). ARE is a performance company that offers world-class ballet and classical music in a unique performance format that presents the art forms as equals, and focuses on the convergence and interplay of dance and music. ARE presents new works in the presence of masterpieces, and produces an intensely eclectic variety of work that showcases its world-renowned artists’ exceptional classical technique and exemplary caliber. ARE is the only company of its kind outside of New York melding dance and music on this level and offering it in an intimate setting.
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Copyright © 2008 DanceXplosion