Our Staff
The Ballet Academy
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Bethany Sleebos
Bethany Sleebos was born and raised in College Station, TX. At the age of 5 she began dancing at Suzanne’s School of Dance. After completing 10 years at Suzanne’s, she went off to join Ad Deum’s Trainee Program in Houston. Bethany was a trainee for 2 years and then continued on to dance as an Apprentice and a main company member. During her time at Ad Deum, she had the privilege of dancing works by Randall Flinn, Steve Rooks, Hope Boykin, and many more incredible choreographers. They performed both nationally and internationally. Along with performing professionally, she has taught at various studios in the Houston area including The Met, West University Dance Center, and Sugarland Dance Center. In 2009, she moved to The Netherlands to start Arise Dance School & Company under Youth With a Mission. It was there that she met and married her husband, Patrick Sleebos. In 2013, they felt called to move back to College Station and take over Suzanne’s School of Dance. Bethany and Patrick feel blessed to carry on this legacy for the years to come.
Patrick Sleebos
Mr. Patrick never dreamed of working in a dance studio. When he met Ms. Bethany he was exposed to a new world of performing arts and he absolutely loves supporting Ms. Bethany’s ministry of dance. After he and his wife took over Suzanne’s School of Dance her started working full-time for the studio and has developed a passion for what he does. One thing that bring Mr. Patrick joy is to see young dancers use their talents and gifts for Gods Kingdom. He is proud to be a part of the SSD family!
Andrea Sheridan
Description Coming Soon
Christi Varvel
Miss Christi is excited to return for another wonderful year at Suzanne’s School of Dance, serving as The Ballet Academy Director and Director of Apprentice AbunDance and Mini Company. Miss Christi began her Ballet training at Le Studio Dance under the instruction of Philip and Charles Fuller, Julia Ortega, and Roberto Almaguer. During her time there she performed in the Nutcracker, dancing the roles of Chinese, Spanish, Mirliton, and Waltz of the Flowers. She continued her studies at the Pasadena Dance Theatre, in their pre professional company, under the direction of Cynthia Lawrence and Lawrence Blake. While there she performed in the Nutcracker, A Midsummer Nights Dream, and original works by Lawrence Blake. Miss Christi continued her studies at the University of Colorado, graduating with a BA in dance, focusing on pedagogy, Ballet, jazz, and modern. During and after college, Christi taught Ballet and creative movement in studios and schools in the Boulder area. While teaching at the schools, Miss Christi worked with students with ADHD using creative movement and dance as therapy.
Catherine Sexton
Catherine Sexton began her dance training at Suzanne's School of Dance in College Station, Texas. She performed with studio companies at Suzanne’s School of Dance and with Ballet Brazos and participated in Project Dance New York and Houston, Dance Revolution, Ballet Austin Summer Intensive, AdDeum Summer Intensive, Ballet Magnificat Summer Intensive, Ballet West Summer Intensive, Texas Ballet Theater Summer Intensive, and ArtEmotion Workshop. She is continuing her training at The School for Classical and Contemporary Dance at Texas Christian University as a Ballet Performance and Modern Dance double major with a minor in Movement Science while also working towards certification in Pilates.
Samantha Shattuck
Samantha Shattuck is a graduate student working on a Masters of Science in Audit and Entrepreneurial Leadership at Texas A&M University. Serving as an office staff member at Suzanne's School of Dance has given her the opportunity to use her skills and talents for an organization she has grown to love. She is blessed and humbled to work alongside such strong people of faith.
Meggie Belisle
Meggie Belisle began her dance training at Suzanne’s School of Dance in College Station, Texas. She has danced with Ingredients Dance Company in Dallas, TX, Arise Dance Company in the The Netherlands and England, Roxey Ballet in New Jersey, Awakening Movement in New York, and Ad Deum Dance Company in Houston, TX. From 2014-2017 she freelanced in New York with various companies and projects. Meggie has also choreographed for and performed in the music videos Trace the Lines by Lizi Bailey and Summertime Anytime by Dannah. Other choreographic credits include works for Talitha Dance Company and You Are Conference in Texas, Freedom Benefit Concerts in Texas, HATCH showcase in New York, Amalgamate Artist Series in New York, Here to Listen concerts in Texas, and more. Meggie graduated from Belhaven University with a BFA in modern dance in 2013. In 2015, Meggie co-founded Mei/Co. Dance, a company that focuses on telling the stories of lives affected by cancer through movement. From 2015-2017 the company was based in NY and then relocated to Houston from 2017-2019. Meggie is a mover, teacher, and director who seeks to bring hope, healing, and beauty through the art of dance.
Megan Elliott
Megan Elliott began dancing at the age of 4 at Robin’s Dance Studio in Missouri City, Texas. She began dancing Nutcracker at the age of 6 with Moscow Ballet Touring company. Miss Elliott danced at Fort Bend Academy of Dance starting in 2008 and performed with the pre-professional company BalletForte from 2011-2017. Megan was privileged to study under the Artistic Direction of Michael Banigan and Diane Jarell, as well as additional instruction from Sally Rojas-Herrera and Erin Duncan. During her time with BalletForte she was honored to perform roles such as Sugar Plum and Snow Queen from the Nutcracker, as well as Aurora from The Sleeping Beauty. She was awarded an RDA scholarship to attend Louisville Ballet’s summer intensive in 2012 under the direction of Senior Ballet Master Harald Uwe Kern and Artistic Director Bruce Simpson. During the summers of 2014, 2015, and 2016 she studied at Ballet Magnificat! under Founder and Artistic Director Kathy Thibodeaux and Omega Company Artistic Director Jiri Voborsky. Megan is a two-time Youth America Grand Prix competitor. She is now continuing her education at Texas A&M University as a Kinesiology: Dance Science Major, where she is still dancing today.
Katy Ellison
Katy Ellison is a Bryan native. She received her most of her early ballet training in Houston and was a member of Houston Dance Theatre, a pre-professional ballet company. As a teenager, Ms. Ellison received numerous scholarships to spend her summers studying with Pennsylvania Ballet, Ballet Austin, Joffrey Ballet, The International Ballet School in Jackson, and the Choreographer’s Conference. At the age of 17, after spending her third summer studying with Pennsylvania Ballet, she was invited to move to Philadelphia and continue her studies on full scholarship. Over the next four years, she continued her training with Gloria Govrin, Sandra Jennings, Jeffrey Gribler and many other world-renowned dancers and teachers, and performed professionally with Pennsylvania Ballet in many traditional, contemporary, and Balanchine ballets. These include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Giselle, The Four Temperaments, Serenade, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Western Symphony and others. In 2000, Ms. Ellison returned to Texas and continued to perform as a professional guest artist with Sandra Organ Dance Company, Houston Dance Theatre, and Kingwood Dance Theatre. She also began teaching classical ballet, pointe, and variations in the Houston area and discovered a great passion for passing along her knowledge of classical ballet to the next generation of dancers. Ms. Ellison has been teaching pre-professional dancers for over fifteen years. She has served on the teaching staff at American Academy of Dance in Houston, TX, and Rowland’s School of Ballet in Kingwood, TX. She also served as rehearsal assistant for Kingwood Dance Theatre, and Director of Kingwood Youth Ballet, which she co-founded in 2002. She has been responsible for assisting with annual staging of full-length ballets such as The Nutcracker, and Alice in Wonderland, as well as dozens of new works each year. Her students have gone on to professional careers with Houston Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Colorado Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, Oklahoma City Ballet, and numerous contemporary dance companies, Others students have been selected to continue their ballet studies in prestigious dance programs at Juilliard, SUNY Purchase, University of Oklahoma, and University of South Carolina, among others. Currently, she serves on the teaching staff at Suzanne’s School of Dance in College Station, and is the Artistic Advisor for Ballet Brazos. In addition to teaching the next generation of dancers, Mrs. Ellison enjoys a career in choreography. Her ballets have been commissioned and performed all over the southwest, and have been featured at numerous Regional Dance America gala performances.
Sarah Kitterman
Sarah Kitterman holds a Bachelor's of Fine Arts degree in Ballet from Belhaven University. She has danced professionally with Ad Deum and Psophonia Dance companies in Houston, TX, as well as Armstrong-Bergeron dance company here in College Station. She has been an instructor at the Houston Met Dance Center, Rice University, guest taught at Houston Ballet Academy and Texas A&M, and previously taught for 4 years at Suzanne’s School of dance before moving to the Austin area. While in Austin she was on staff at Avery Ranch Dance and Music in Cedar Park, and the YMCA of Williamson County; helping to start up and continue dance programs at various Austin Y locations. Sarah is also a certified Pilates instructor, and loves to practice yoga. She and her husband Mike have 3 awesome children that keep them on their toes.
Katy Byrne
Description Coming Soon
Mariah Pfieffer
Description Coming Soon
Cece Spear
Cecelia Spear received her B.S. in Kinesiology: Dance Science from Texas A&M University, graduating summa cum laude. She began dancing at the age of three, and has trained in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, and modern dance techniques. Cecelia trained under the direction of Sheryl Rowland in the pre-professional ballet company, Kingwood Dance Theatre. She has attended numerous summer intensives including Houston Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ad Deum Dance Intensive, American Dance Festival, and the National Choreography Intensive. Cecelia has a passion for choreography, and has choreographed and presented works at the Hobby Center and Regional Dance America. She has had the privilege of working as a rehearsal director for Ballet Brazos’ production of The Nutcracker in 2017 and 2018. She is so excited to be back for her fourth year teaching at Suzanne’s and her second year teaching for The Ballet Academy.
Mackenzie Clowe
Mackenzie Clowe is a junior at Texas A&M University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education with a focus in Math and Science. She began teaching dance classes at the young age of 15 for a studio in her hometown of Carrollton, TX. She taught all levels in styles ranging from contemporary, ballet, tap, jazz, and drill team prep, and also had the pleasure of serving as a coach for the competitive cheer team. Mackenzie graduated from R.L. Turner High School in 2017 where she served as the drill team Lieutenant Captain her junior year and Captain her senior year. In addition to drill team she was also involved in A Capella Choir, annual musicals, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and served as a Senior Class Officer. She started her college career at Texas A&M in the fall of 2017. She spends her free time on campus dedicating her love for the Aggie community to Aggie Keys and Dance Arts Society, and she will be serving as the Co-President and Secretary of these two organizations this year. She has trained in all styles for 16 years now and has danced with competitive and pre-professional companies for 14 of those years. She has been blessed to have had the opportunity to train and dance all over the great state of Texas with instructors such as Mandy Moore, Mia Michaels, Nappy Tabbs, Luther Brown, Anthony Morigerato, and many more. She cannot wait to share her love for dance and the Lord with your children!
Taylor Dickson
Howdy, my name is Madi Leslie and I am a senior education major at Texas A&M University. I have always had a passion for dance and it has been a dream come true to have the opportunity to pursue it as a job after high school. I have been working at SSD for 4 years now and have been a company director for 3 years. I also teach a dance class for students with special needs or physical disabilities here at the studio, because I believe that every child can learn to dance no matter what! Along with teaching at the studio I dance with Talitha, a worship dance company that performs in college station. As you can see dance and school keep me a busy gal, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Emma Duke
Emma Duke started dancing when she was 5 years old. At 13, Emma was ready to take her dancing to the next level by attending classes at Suzann’s School of Dance. Soon after joining, Emma heard of Ballet Brazos’ production of the Nutcracker and quickly jumped on the boat. Since then, Emma Duke joined the pre-professional ballet and pointe, as well as trying out contemporary, tap, hip hop, jazz, and modern. Emma hopes to teach young dancers the art of preforming just as her teachers did for her.
Mary Clare Garant
Maryclare Garant started dancing at three years old at Palm Valley Gymnastics and Dance in Harlingen, Tx. There she trained in ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, and tap. Throughout her years at Palm Valley she performed in classical ballets such as Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Swan Lake. She was also on the competitive dance team and performed at many conventions such as LA Dance Magic and Tremaine. Now, Maryclare is in her 5th year at Texas A&M and is majoring in Geographic Information Sciences. Maryclare has loved teaching at SSD for the past 3 years and is very excited for the new dance season!
Olivia Gerwing
Olivia is a Senior at Texas A&M University, where she is studying Dance Science. She grew up training in Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Modern, and Hip Hop. In High School, Olivia danced with a competition company, traveling all over Texas to compete at Jump, Nuvo, Encore, Showstoppers, and many more. She enjoys aggie football, church, being a part of Aggie Sisters for Christ, and dance!
Emily Holland
Emily Holland began dancing at age 3 in her hometown, Austin TX. Growing up, she trained in Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Jazz, Tap, and Hip Hop. Emily became serious about her dance training in 2010 when she joined a pre-professional company under the direction Cheryl Copeland. With this company, Emily traveled to and competed at many conventions such as Nuvo, Co-Dance, West Coast Dance Explosion, and Adrenaline, where she received multiple scholarships and awards. She spent her summers attending invitation only intensives, training at the EDGE studio in LA, and taking class with the Kathy Dunn Hamrick modern company. She also had the opportunity to attend multiple master classes from Sidra Bell, Matt Cady, Gina Starbuck, Anthony Lomuljo, Anthony Morigerato, Morgan Burke, Emma Portner, and Koresh. Emily also led her high school drill team as 1st lieutenant and won many awards at local competitions with her choreography and solos, earning the title of Miss. Crowd Pleaser in 2015 at the Crowd Pleasers competition. In college, she has had the joy of choreographing for Chara Christian Dance Co. and dancing with Talitha Dance Company. Emily has a strong pull in her heart towards choreography and has so enjoyed getting to choreograph for multiple teams, recitals, solos, and shows. At Suzanne’s School of Dance, she has been given the opportunity to assist Mini Company and set choreography on them as well as Company Abundance. She is SO excited to be teaching at Suzanne’s for her Fourth year, and to be directing Mini Performance Company for the 2019-2020 season. Emily is currently working on receiving a degree in dance from Texas A&M and can’t WAIT to see how the Lord, in His faithfulness, uses her passions for His glory.
Alana Johnson
Alana Johnson grew up in The Woodlands, Texas dancing at Boni's Dance and Performing Arts studio for 15 years. Since moving to College Station, she has taught at Suzanne's for the past three years and has gained a deep love for worshipping Jesus through dance. She is currently the Company AbunDance director and also teaches jazz, tap and ballet. She has a huge passion for pouring into younger girls, helping them fall more in love with Jesus. She is a junior Kinesiology Dance Science major, a member of Delta Gamma Sorority and apart of Aggie StuMo ministries. She also teaches barre at Pure Barre! Her future dreams include owning a dance studio of her own one day and having a family. She loves the color pink, iced coffee, bubble baths and spending quality time with family and friends.
Maddie Klumb
Howdy! Madelyn Klumb is a senior and dance science major at Texas A&M University where she has had the honor with working with renowned choreographers such as Erica Gionfriddo and Ronen Koresh. Along with teaching and preparing to graduate, Madelyn will be applying to multiple dance graduate programs all over the United States with the goal to someday become a professor of dance at the University level. Her favorite styles of dance are tap and modern. She is looking forward to making the 2019-2020 dance season at Suzannes School of Dance the best one yet!
Madi Leslie
Madi was born in Houston TX and started her dance career at Chara Christian Dance Academy in 2010. She danced on her high school drill team the Friendswood Wranglerettes for 3 years, holding leadership positions of Secretary and President. While on drill team she won multiple national and state titles, performed in NYC at the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade, and had the opportunity to perform on the Today Show in New York. She is currently a senior at Texas A&M University pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in History. This will be her 4th year teaching at Suzanne's and her 3rd year as a company director. She looks forward to seeing where this year takes her!
Stephanie Murphy
Miss Stephanie began her dance training at the age of four in Lewisville, Texas at the Ballet Conservatory under the direction of Kelly Kilburn-Lannin. After moving to Houston, she continued her dance training at Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Amy Blake’s Academy of Dance, and Houston Ballet Academy. Stephanie’s love for teaching began in high school and continued when she moved to College Station, teaching at Suzanne’s School of Dance. Stephanie graduated from Texas A&M University with a BA in Theatre Arts and minors in both Dance and English. After graduating, she then moved to Houston to teach theatre for New Caney ISD. Miss Stephanie loves spending time with her husband and 3 boys. This is her fifth year back teaching at Suzanne’s School of Dance. She is grateful to have the opportunity to share her love of dance!
Alisa Piñones
Ms. Alisa is excited to teach her 4th year with Suzanne's. She is a graduate of Belhaven College with a Bachelor's of Art in Dance. In 2010 after graduation she moved back to her hometown in Houston where she performed with modern dance company, Psophania. After marrying her husband God called Alisa to College Station. They are now proud parents of a 2 year old girl and newborn boy. Ms. Alisa is passionate about dance and worship, and she is honored to teach your children.
Jada Stith
Like so many other young adults who find and pursue their passions, Miss Stith has found hers within the arts and growing community of dance. As of today Jada has directed two teams one of which participated and competed in World of Dance, Dallas. Through her college career she has participated/competed in multiple team competitions, choreographed/directed a multitude of sets and has even traveled to New York to further train and grow her leadership as well as skills. After college she plans on moving to California to further pursue her passions, but until she graduates she plans on devoting her time to the community here in College Station.