Teacher Bios

Cristin Herr Leoni
 

Owner of Studio C Dance, Cristin began her dance training at the age of two in Burleson. She began dancing professionally at the age of 16 while attending Joshua High School. She was awarded her B.A. from the University of North Texas in Denton.

She traveled extensively throughout the U.S., performing in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Phoenix, and Tampa for such companies as Mary Kay Cosmetics, American Airlines, Wilsonart International, 7-Eleven, Sally Beauty Supply, State Beauty Supply, MAC Tools, Forever Living Products, and Fannie Mae Housing Foundation. Cristin also performed in Munich and Frankfurt, Germany for five years with Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Most recently, Cristin appeared in Tony and Tina’s Wedding at Bass Hall in Fort Worth. She has also performed in numerous productions at Bass Hall and Casa Manana, such as 42nd Street, Bye Bye Birdie, The Wizard of Oz, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

She served as choreographer for the Burleson High School Showchoir for 16 years and choreographed musicals for Burleson High School including, The Boyfriend, Thoroughly Modern Millie, 42nd Street, Honk, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, and Seussical the Musical.

She is a life-long learner and continues her dance education each year attending master classes and dance conventions and recently became a certified Kindermusik® educator. Cristin raised her two sons Rocco and Frankie at the studio and knows that their early years in the dance studio led them to their current success as musicians and performers and all-around wonderful humans.

Lori Woods

STUDIO DIRECTOR | TAP/BALLET COMBO | LYRICAL | MUSICAL THEATRE | TAP | JAZZ | COMPANY

Lori Woods was the head of the dance and drill team program at Lamar High School in arlington for 24 years and was the first dance educator in AISD. She has an Associates degree in Musical Theatre from Mountain View College and a Bachelors degree in Theatre from Texas Wesleyan University.

Lori began her dance teaching career at the age of 15 and began performing at Six Flags Over Texas in the Southern Palace Theatre which led to a remarkable career performing at local professional theatres theatres including Bass Hall, Casa Manana, Theatre Arlington, Theatre Three and Stage West. Some of her favorite roles include Charity in Sweet Charity, Velma in Chicago, Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Bebe in A Chorus Line, Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Paulette in Legally Blonde and Lorraine in 42nd Street. She also taught dance and musical theatre at Dallas Summer Musicals School of Musical Theatre, TCC College for Kids, JTM School of Performing Arts, Granbury Opera House and Casa Manana.

In addition to her teaching career, she worked with Eclipse Entertainment as a choreographer and casting director for more than 20 years, producing award-winning custom theme entertainment for provate and corporate events. 

Her mission is to create well-rounded, positive citizens using dance as the vehicle to teach her students artistry, empathy, compassion, dedication, discipline, integrity, and performance.
 

Jayda Gray
HIP HOP

Jayda is from Grand Prairie, Texas and began her dance training at the age of four. She continued training through high school when she joined the Bowie High School Belles Drill Team serving as captain her junior and senior year. After graduating, she took her dance training to college as a member of the Tyler Junior College Apache Belles, serving as dance captain her sophomore year. She graduated from TJC and then Sam Houston State University with a business management degree. 

Jayda has been on staff as a dance instructor and choreographer for HTE Dance since 2015, choreographing for events such as the Rose Bowl Parade and the Dallas Holiday Parade. She is now the head drill team director at her alma mater Bowie High School and has led her team in winning regional titles. She continues to be a senior instructor for HTE Dance, where she trains staff members in the company. 

In her spare time, Jayda enjoys working with many teams choreographing competition pieces and teaching technique classes. She also enjoys spending time with her family and friends, working in her church's student ministry, and continuing her education in business as she will graduate with her Masters in Business Management in 2025. Her favorite scripture comes from Psalms 46:10 reading, "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted among the earth."

Jennifer Santoyo
 TAP/BALLET | JAZZ BABIES |  CONTEMPORARY

A passionate dancer since the age of two, Jennifer has explored all genres of dance. During high school, she excelled as a member of the dance team, leading as captain her senior year. Her talent earned her a full dance scholarship to Weatherford College, where she continued to share her love of dance by teaching young dancers at various studios. Since graduating, Jennifer is now embarking on a nursing career while still nurturing her passion for dance. 

Carlin Dixon
BALLET TECHNIQUE |

Carlin Dixon began her early dance training with Orlando Ballet School and Patel Conservatory Youth Ballet before becoming a trainee with Next Generation Ballet in Tampa, Florida. There she trained under the direction of Peter Stark, Ivonne Lemus, and Philip Neal for four years. During her time at Next Generation Ballet, Carlin had the opportunity to perform soloist roles in many full-length ballets including The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, and Don Quixote. She received additional training through summer intensives at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Carolina Ballet, and The Washington Ballet.