Rosemary Cavazos Tatum began studying dance at age seven with her uncle, Doria Avila.  She was chosen Most Outstanding Dancer at SMU Drill Team Camp and was a Gold Medal winner at The University of Texas State Dance Competition.

A charter member and principal dancer with the Rio Grande Valley Ballet, Ms. Tatum attended the University of Texas at Austin and was a soloist with the Austin Ballet Theatre.  She moved to New York City at the age of nineteen and performed with the Ballet Hispanico of New York, American Dancemachine (West Side Story, Cabaret, Hair and Brigadoon) and was the featured dancer in Don Giovanni with the Bronx Opera Company.

Rosemary appeared in five productions of the Broadway smash hit Evita, touring the United States, Canada and Europe, where she served as Dance Captain and was featured as the Tango Dancer.  Ms. Tatum made her television debut as a Flamenco soloist on the Ti-IN Educational Network Series.  She has also been featured as the Flamenco soloist at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas and headlined Mr. Avila’s “Ballet Espanol”.

Rosemary has studied with some of the most important teachers in dance including; Igor Youskevitch, Finis Jhung, David Howard, Richard Thomas, Lee Theodore, Wayne Cilento, Paul Draper, Pilar Rioja, Jose Molina, Mariquita Flores and Jose Greco Jr. and returns to New York City every year to continue her studies and offer the latest in dance technique to her students.  Ms Tatum is the Owner/Director of San Antonio Dance Academy, a member of Actors Equity and Screen Actors Guild.  She has served on the city- appointed Performing Arts Panel for the Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs.  Rosemary is the mother of twenty year old Garrett and sixteen year old Anelise..

Elise Barker received a Bachelors Degree in Communication Arts in 1988 from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. She taught tap in Victoria, Texas for Busby Dancenter and Jan Moore Dance Studio for 10 years. She danced with Victoria Ballet Theatre and performed with the company in Austria for “Tanzsommer” 2004.

Elise has attended numerous tap workshops and studied under tap masters such as, Dianne Walker, Acia Grey, Lane Alexander, Robert Reed, Jay Fagan, Arthur Duncan, Jason Samuels, and Sam Weber. She is currently a member of the tap company “Rhythm in Motion” directed by Barbara Phillips of San Antonio, Texas.

Jenny Brown is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer with a strong commitment to helping all her students achieve their maximum potential.  In West Texas, where she grew up, Jenny taught many different styles of dance to children both before and during her education at Texas Tech University where she received her BA in Dance.

After graduating, she moved to New York City to further her studies in dance and to perform. Jenny performed in NYC on stage, television, commercial, film, industrial, and voice over work before realizing that teaching dance was her true passion.  She went back to school and received her MA in Dance Education from New York University. Jenny then became an adjunct faculty member at NYU’s Program in Dance Education where, for the past 7 years, she was the Assistant Director for Kaleidoscope Dancers, the resident performing and community service program as well as the Assistant Director for all Dance Education Program concerts. And she traveled to Africa for the past five years to help facilitate a study abroad course connecting NYU students to Ugandan teachers and artists in creating dance workshop opportunities for disadvantaged Ugandan children.

Jenny has taught dance at numerous public and private schools in Texas and New York. She currently teaches modern, jazz, ballet, creative movement, improvisation, choreography, and world dance. She has presented professional development workshops for the NYC Dept. of Education, and private studios in New York and Texas. She has also been active in the National Dance Education Organization and National Dance Association where she has presented workshops and panels at national conferences. Jenny is just moving back to Texas after being a New Yorker for well over a decade and is excited to be teaching at San Antonio Dance Academy. Thank you all for the warm welcome!

Amanda Decker attended the University of Oklahoma where she was on the Dean’s Honor Roll and in the Presidential Leadership Class.  She is now working toward a BS in Kinesiology with a Specialization in Exercise Science and Wellness at the University of Texas at San Antonio.  She has more than 7 years experience as a dance instructor and choreographer. She has danced competitively for 5 years with expertise in jazz, hip-hop, kick lines, and ballroom dance including but not limited to; Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Rumba, Samba, East & West Coast Swing, Merengue, Salsa, and Cha-Cha.

As a dance professional she has arranged dance tryouts, taught summer dance camps, and created award winning choreography for High School Dance Teams.  A list of some of the awards she has received for her choreography are: 15th Annual Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Drill Team and Dance Team competition 2nd place in Hip-Hop division, 16th Annual Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Drill Team and Dance Team competition 1st place in both Jazz and Hip Hop divisions, 17th Annual Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Drill Team and Dance Team competition 3rd place in Hip Hop division, 18th Annual Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Drill Team and Dance Team competition 1st place in both Props and Jazz divisions, 20th Annual Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Drill Team and Dance Team competition 2nd place in Hip Hop division, Magical Performance Trophy at Walt Disney World Competition in 2007 and 2009 , Ft. Worth Prime Time Dance Competition 1st place in the top 10 category of Hip Hop, Texas MA Competition 1st place in both Hip Hop and Pom Choreography and Routine divisions. Amanda is a creative, energetic, and confident dancer with a passion to change people’s lives through dance.

Andrea Hernandez Gonzales is a San Antonio Dance Academy alumna. She studied ballet, jazz, tap, ballet folklorico and flamenco under three SADA roofs; there she had the opportunity to learn from dance artists here in San Antonio and surrounding area. In 2001, Andrea had the wonderful opportunity to attend the American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive in Austin. She attended the North East School of the Arts as a dance major and her senior year was a scholarship recipient in the National Foundation of Advancement of Arts’ Arts Recognition and Talent Search.

While attending the University of New Mexico, Andrea studied West Afrikan Dance and modern techniques along with ballet, flamenco and jazz. In New Mexico she danced with the Blythe Eden Dance Compnay and performed in New York and San Francisco. Andrea studied with Afrikan drum and dance master, Abdulrahman Laryea Addy and performed with his troupe Gbotsui Afrikan Dance Troupe. When she came back to San Antonio she continued studying flamenco with Antonio Granjero and Stephanie Ramirez and now with Pilar Andujar in Austin. Currently shee is performing and working on new projects with artists such as Francisco J. Orozco “Yiyi” and Steve Arispe.

Samantha Lopez began her dance journey at the age of 4 and has continued it for 11 years at San Antonio Dance Academy (SADA). She started with Mexican Folkloric, and added Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Flamenco, Pointe, Lyrical, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, and Modern. In 2010, she was chosen by the faculty of SADA to receive the Doria Avila Memorial Dance Scholarship.

She has performed in SADA’s Arneson River Theatre Shows and several community events. For 5 years, Samantha performed with the Revolution 360 Dance Company and traveled to many competitions. While competing, she received an outstanding dancer scholarship from Ivan Koumaev. She has studied with Mia Michaels, Tucker Barkley, Ivan Koumaev, Jermaine Brown, Brice Mousset and Travis Wall. She is excited to share her love of dance with the younger students of San Antonio Dance Academy.

Jessica Nicole Marshall grew up dancing in the small town of Ennis, Texas, where she began teaching ballet, tap, and jazz at the age of 14. She held the position of Assistant Director of Encore Dance Studio from 2003-2005. Jessica went on to receive her BFA in dance from Sam Houston State University, working with professors and choreographers from all over the United States. She has performed in numerous festivals including Dancescape 2007, PILOT: Choreographers Take Flight 2008, Dance USA: The Power of Movement 2009, Cincy Fringe Festival 2010, and Brazos Contemporary Dance Festival 2010.

Her professional experience includes modern dance companies from Houston, Texas: Suchu Dance and Psophonia Dance Company. For the 2008-2010 seasons, Jessica worked under owner/director Evelyn Ireton, for both West University Dance Centre and Houston Academy of Dance, where she served as administrative staff writing scripts and planning for the annual performances, teaching all levels of ballet and modern dance, and working as a member of the office staff. Her life goal is to start a non-profit organization that provides performance-based learning for children through literature and dance for hospitals and public libraries. She hopes to keep the next generation excited about the arts, and passionate about pursuing their dreams.

Don Nuñez is originally from San Bentio, Texas. He serves as a faculty member at Edgewood Fine Arts Academy, teaching Ballet Folklorico, Modern, and Jazz for over 13 years. Don is the director for Ballet Folklorico de Edgewood, which has performed in both regional and national events.

Mr Nuñez holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Fine Arts, and a Certification of Dance Ballet Folklorico from Bellas Artes Academy, Mexico City D. F. He has taught Elementary, Middle School and High School and at the University level, as well as performed in several Broadway Musicals.

A native Texan, Barbara Phillips teaches rhythm tap as a faculty member and guest artist in both public and private dance institutions; including intensive workshops, residencies and master classes throughout the U.S. Her passion and inspiration was ignited by many of the great contemporary artists and masters including Sam Weber, Lynn Dally, Lane Alexander, Dianne Walker, Fred Strickler, Acia Gray and Heather Cornell to name a few.

She is dedicated to passing it on to the next generation, providing opportunity through accessible programming, producing outreach programs, concert performances and collaborations within the extended dance community. Barbara has appeared as a soloist and master teacher nationwide including the Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s Rhythm World Summer Festival, and Soul to Sole Festival, Tap Jammin at the Kaplan Theater, Rhythm Extravaganza, Dance Festival SA, Dance for USA, Dallas National Tap Dance Day Celebrations among others and is the founder of Third Coast Rhythm Project now celebrating its 12th season.

She appeared in the live concert series of “JUBA ” Masters of Tap and Percussive Dance with Lane Alexander, as a guest performer with Especially Tap Chicago, and has staged numerous productions for the San Antonio Symphony's Pops Series including “Big Band” under the baton of the irrepressible Michael Krajewski. Barbara teaches throughout the year as a guest instructor at Tapestry Dance Academy in Austin, works with numerous youth companies across the U.S., and is currently artistic director of the critically acclaimed R.P.M. (Rhythm & Percussion in Motion) Youth Tap Ensemble, and Artistic Producing Director of Third Coast Rhythm Project. She was recently recognized by San Antonio Women magazine as San Antonio’s first lady of tap and honored as the recipient of the 2009 Texas Tap Legend award by the Dallas Dance Council for her contribution to the art form, artistic and educational achievement and service to the community. 

Adriano de Rosa was born in Munich, Germany, Adriano moved to San Antonio at age 6 where he fell in love with dance right way. He started training in tap at the age of 7 at San Antonio Dance Academy. He eventually fell in love with hip hop and that is what he focuses on today.

He has trained with choreographers Havic Gregory, Michelle Garman, and Leslie Scott in Los Angeles. Adriano was featured on News 4 WOAI and Kens 5 and received a hip hop scholarship to take classes in New York and LA from instructors Misha Gabriel (Michael Jackson's 'This Is It' and Justin Timberlake) and also Kenny Wormald (Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson, and star in new move 'Footloose'.) He portrayed 'Michael Jackson' for the new video game 'The Experience,' a presentation in front of 7,000 Game Stop managers. Adriano is currently on the Michael Jackson Tribute Tour- 'Spirit of Michael' that travels across the country. His dream is to eventually land a gig that will send him around the world to perform! Artists he strives to dance for would be Usher, Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and yes, Justin Bieber!

Angel & Jessica Santiago are two of the hottest Salsa/Mambo dancers, performers, choreographers and instructors in Texas. Their unique choreography and teaching technique, along with their funky but precise body movements and clean styling, have brought them significant attention.  They are two passionate, hard working and focused individuals who always strive to be the best at everything they do. This passion and commitment, is what promises to make them one of the best top Salsa/Mambo instructors, performers, and choreographers.

Jessica Santiago started her salsa-dancing career as a member of the international dance company Semeneya in the year 2000, under the direction of Lee Rios.  Jessica has participated and won many salsa competitions throughout Texas, including first place in the Sabado Gigante Salsa Competition on Univision.  Jessica has performed for various concerts and events in Texas such as, opening act for Elvis Crespo, the Latin Jazz Festival, and the San Antonio Fiesta Celebration to name a few.

Angel Santiago, as a trained Ballet, Jazz and Hip-Hop dancer, has performed as a feature dancer for the Monster Mash Bash show and as a main character, Johnny, for the well known musical theater show Rocking at Rockville High at Six Flags Fiesta Texas.   He’s been part of several Ballet/Jazz performing companies, such as The San Antonio Dance Troupe, San Antonio Dance Academy, and The Ballet Conservatory of South TX.  Angel started his salsa career as a member of the international dance company Semeneya in the year 2002, under the direction of Lee Rios.  In May of 2004, he won first place at the TX Salsa Open and advanced to the World competition in Puerto Rico.  Angel has performed for various concerts and events in Texas such as, Opening act for Grupo Control at the Houston Rodeo, Elvis Crespo in Corpus Christi and numerous half-time shows at the San Antonio Alamodome.

Tara Smartnick is originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico and graduated from the Public Academy for Performing Arts where she majored in dance and video editing.  She has been studying dance since the age of three and holds national titles in team dance, solo work, ballroom and for her own choreography.  Tara has awards in the area of contemporary, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, lyrical, pom, mambo, cha cha, rumba, swing, salsa, tango and bolero.  She earned 2nd place and a college scholarship for her ballet solo at the Contest of Champions Nationals in Orlando, Florida in 2003.

After winning 1st place in Junior American Rhythm at People’s Choice 2005 in Arizona, Tara and her partner were invited to join the Junior Olympic Ballroom Team. Later the year, Tara was one of fifteen dancers chosen from around the United States to participate in JJ Villar’s, “The Road to Hollywood” held in Los Angeles, California where she was able to study and perform many forms of dance all around Los Angeles.  She moved to San Antonio, Texas in 2006 and is currently studying media arts at Northwest Vista College.  Tara dances professionally with Xibuke Dance Company and teaches jazz, lyrical, Latin rhythms and contemporary all around San Antonio

Anelise Tatum is very excited to be making her teaching debut at San Antonio Dance Academy! Anelise has been a student of San Antonio Dance Academy for over 13 years, training in: Ballet, Jazz, Pointe, Contemporary, Lyrical, Mexican Folkloric, Tap, Hip-Hop, and Flamenco. She has also been a member of SADA’s Revolution 360 Dance Company for the past 5 years.  Anelise had the opportunity of attending such conventions and competitions as Nuvo, NYCDA, Jump!, Tremaine, Pulse, and Co. Dance. She received the Pulse On Tour dance convention “Outstanding Dancer” award twice from Cris Judd and earned the Co. Dance convention senior scholarship along with 9 other dancers out of 100.

Anelise has also had the pleasure of studying dance with numerous artists all over the country including: Wade Robson, David Howard, Brice Mousset, Mia Michaels, Dave Scott, Cris Judd, Travis Wall, Tucker Barkley, Jermaine Brown and many more. She is actively involved in her high school cross-country team and choir program. Apart from teaching, Anelise’s dream is to live and dance in New York City!

Molly Waldner began her dance career in 1995, at the age of four. She has trained in every style of dance and has worked with multiple instructors and dancers throughout Texas. Her dedication and hard work allowed her to be one of the original members of Illovation Crew, which has won “All Out 2009” and “World of Dance Dallas 2010”. She performed in and won “The Show” hosted by The Jabbawockeez with Marvelous Motion. She also teaches contemporary and hip hop at Soundbox Studios when she is not at Texas State University working on her dance degree.

She has opened for Bun B and back up danced for upcoming artists Charlene Renee, Niq, A.L.G., and Ally Hernandez. Molly holds the title of Miss Dance Drill Team Texas 2009 and went on to compete in Miss U.S.A.  Molly loves to teach and feels that she is not working toward, but actually living out her dream of being a dancer and choreographer every single day. She is gracious for every opportunity that she receives and will continue to pursue what makes her thrive.