Movin’ Easy Ambassadors
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Follow their journey and share the love of Dance!
Ainsley Ryan @ainsleygracetalent
Ainsley Ryan is part of the Dance Academy (tDA) and Ballet Academy North family that includes her aunt, Kiley Ortiz. She attended her first dance competition when she was just two weeks old, and has since gone to many other events where she cheers loudly for her dance friends. Ainsley loves to swim and play, and is always on the go, very happy, and easy-going. She is happy to model the cute looks Movin’ Easy carries for little ones!
Kiley Ortiz, a native Austinite, started dancing when she was 4 years old. Now, at age 11, she is an apprentice with the pre-professional Ballet Academy North, at the Dance Academy in Leander, TX. Kiley danced in an ensemble at YAGP last year, and has participated in summer intensives with the American Ballet Theatre, the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, and the New York Institute of Dance and Education. She is very excited for her 2nd year as a Movin’ Easy ambassador.
Madison Rygaard @madison.rygaard
Madison has been a student at Studio 29 Dance Centre for 11.5 years. She joined Studio 29’s performance company 6 years ago and has since pursued many dance opportunities. Madison is a former Senior Ballet Scholarship recipient for the Texas Association Teachers of Dance summer convention. Madison has auditioned for and attended Ballet Austin’s summer intensive at both the Junior and Senior level. She has also attended Joffrey’s Jazz Summer Intensive. Madison also enjoys working with younger dance students and is currently a Junior Teacher at Studio 29 where she teaches Tap and Jazz. Madison is a Senior at Burnet High School and the Highlandette Drill Team Captain. Madison has a passion for arts which has also lead her to take classes in theatre and join the Burnet High School Choir.
Kara Nelson @livelovedance_2003
Dancing since the age of 3, Kara chose to enter the dance world eight years ago. She is a member of the Cary Ballet Conservatory Professional Training Program in Cary, NC. She trains in all styles from Ballroom to Modern, but she has a very special place in her heart for Pointe. Kara loves the intense training that is required to become a professional ballerina. Along with being an ambassador for Movin’ Easy, Kara represents RussianPointe as an RP Artist. Kara lives by the wise words of Robert Collier, “Success is the sum of small efforts – repeated day in and day out.”
Alayna Hamade @alaynaballerina
Alayna Hamade is a high school sophomore and a ballet dancer in Austin, Texas. She began taking classes when she was 3 years old and is currently dancing at Ballet Academy North in the pre-professional division. She has attended summer intensive programs at Orlando Ballet, the Kirov Academy of Ballet and the HARID Conservatory. Last year she began online schooling so she can dedicate more time to her dance training. When she is not in the studio, she enjoys musicals, camping and spending time with her dogs and cat.
Siobhan Fitzgerald @siobhan_enpointe
My name is Kaylie Beard and I’m so excited to be a movin easy ambassador this year. I have been dancing since I was seven and this year I switched from doing competitive dance to now doing ballet. when I am not dancing I love to hang out with my friends and go outside. Also, for the past four years I have been going to Africa where I teach the kids there about God. It is one of my favorite things to do because I get to see the same group of girls every year and it’s so exciting to see how much they grow each year. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to be a movin easy ambassador this year and I am so excited.
Susannah Otstott @susaballerina
Hello! My name is Susannah and I’m 15 years old. I’ve been dancing since I was 3, and loved it from the moment I stepped into the studio. Around 6 years ago, I began dancing with ONE Academy Of Dance and studying the Cecchetti method of ballet; the attention to detail has helped me grow so much. In addition to classes, ONE Academy puts on fall and spring performances. Some of my favorite roles in these shows have been Young Cinderella, Harlequin Doll, and Spanish. I was also able to attend Colorado ballet’s virtual intensive over this last summer and had the chance to learn from wonderful teachers. I can’t wait to see what this upcoming school year holds, and I can’t wait to represent Movin’ Easy throughout it!
I’ve been dancing since I was four almost five. I was on a competitive dance team for 6 years, and have competed 6 solos in the past 4 years (I started competing at YAGP 2 years ago). My favorite styles of dance are ballet and contemporary because those styles are kind of therapeutic for me. I love to dance, it’s my life and passion. Since I started dancing, I knew it’s wanted to do for the rest of my life. When I’m not dancing I like to draw, read, and I’m learning how to sew too! I just recently joined Ballet Austin’s academy and I still dance at The Dance Works.
Charlotte Drake @charlotte.en.pointe
Hi! My name is Mariah Garner and I am beyond excited to represent Movin’ Easy as an ambassador! I train at Dance Center of San Antonio in the Pre-professional program 14 hours a week. I train in ballet, contemporary, modern, and acro! This will be my first year competing at yagp in the contemporary and ballet category and I am so excited ! I am absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to inspire young dancers and to represent my favorite store!
Ashley Gundy is a fourteen year old aspiring professional ballerina from Leander, Texas. Her interest in dance began at the age of two but continued to grow when she became a member of The Dance Academy’s competition companies. During that time, Ashley realized she had a strong love for ballet and contemporary dance and transitioned to tDA’s ballet company. She is currently a First Company member with Ballet Academy North at The Dance Academy. Over the years, Ashley has enjoyed competing in several local and national competitions including YAGP. She has participated in summer intensive trainings through American Ballet Theatre and Texas Ballet Theatre. Ashley also has found a love for acting over the last few years. When not in the studio, she enjoys listening to old 70’s vinyl’s, watching Schitt’s Creek, playing with her dog, and trying out new coffee shops.
Alycia Williams @officiallyalycia
Alycia Williams is an aspiring ballet dancer who has been blessed with the opportunity to train with Cincinnati Ballet, Ballet West, and Texas Ballet Theatre. She is currently enrolled in the Professional Division Program at Ballet Academy North @ The Dance Academy in Leander, TX. She most recently attended Elite Classical Coaching this summer and placed 3rd in the Senior Division for Contemporary at 2020 YAGP Regionals in Denver, CO. Alycia has received many offers and acceptances to attend some of the best ballet school programs in the world such as, Houston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Pacifc Northwest Ballet, Debbie Allan Dance academy and Carry Ballet Conservatory. Not to mention, Alycia was invited to compete in Florida at the American Dance Competition & International Ballet Competition (ADCIBC) this past Spring where she obtained scholarship offers as well. Her most recent accomplishment is her being selected to be a Gaynor Girl this year. However, at the end of the day her true love in her spare time after dancing is watching Netflix with her BFFs (Ashley & Mya) while eating her favorite snack, flaming hot cheetos.
Camille Dowling @camille_dowling
Camille Dowling, 10, is the youngest of 7 children and has been dancing since the age of 5. She currently dances with Cibolo City Ballet in Cibolo, TX. In her first year to compete at YAGP (Youth America Grand Prix), Camille was awarded 1st place Classical Ballet and 3rd place Contemporary in the Pre-Competitive (9-11yo) age division at the 2019 Regionals held in Houston. She and her partner also earned 1st place in the Pas De Deux division, and she was invited to compete all 3 pieces at the 2019 YAGP Finals in New York City. Cami is thrilled to join the Movin Easy Ambassador family, and looks forward a great year!
Chloe Byman @chloeb29_txdancer
My name is Chloe Byman and I am 9 years old. I started dancing 7 years ago and enjoy every mintue of it! I was also a gymnast for 5 years and I love tumbling and using those techniques into my dance routines. My dance friends have even nicknamed me “rubber band” due to my acrobatic stunts and I was voted “Most Fierce” by my dance peers. I am entering my third season as competitive dancer and this is my second year as an Elevate Company Member with The Dance Academy of Leander. In addition to Elevate, I am also a member of Realm Hio Hop Jr. Company. I love all things dance and choreographed my own dances for my schools talent show for the last 4 years. When I am not dancing, I like swimming, spending time with my friends, learning about history and of course playing fetch with my dog Summer. One day, I hope to be a dancer on Broaday, and I dream of being a Radio City Rockette. I am most appreciative to Movin’ Easy Dancewear for selecting me as a new Movin’ Easy Ambassador and I look forward to this season!
Veronica Boccardo @veronica.boccardo
Veronica graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a B.F.A. In Dance with a certification in dance education through the Uteach dance program. She has performed works by Alvin Rangel, Shen Jun, Charles Anderson, and more. Including UT’s production musical “Little Women” and created her own choreography. She has had training at Joffrey Ballet, Mark Morris Dance Group, and Ballet West to name a few. She competed for YAGP and has performed Nutcracker roles like reed flute and the Arabian pas de deux (Allegro Ballet of Houston). She has extensive training in Vaganova technique however, her teaching repertoire spreads throughout the spectrum, including contemporary, Hip-Hop, Jazz, social dance (Ballroom, Latin, country – trained by Sonia Jupiter), and improv. She also has experience with commercial work and freelance projects.
Veronica currently teaches ballet at Shirley McPhail School of Dance, Tarrytown dance, as well as her former studio, Austin School of Classical Ballet. She dances with The Dance Project and is a freelance dancer around the Austin community as well, working towards performance opportunities, gigs, projects, guest teaching, and engaging within the Creative Learning Initiative and MINDPOP whenever possible.
Matilda Willcourt @dancer_matilda
I have been dancing since the age of 3 and I train at MÜV in cedar park TX. I work in all types of styles such as Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Hip hop, Contemporary,and Tap. I am on one of müvs competitive teams fluid senior elite. I love dance because it has made me who I am today and allows me to express myself. When I am not dancing I am hanging out with my friends, riding my bike, and doing my school work. I am so excited to be part of the Movineasy ambassador program and support my favorite store.
Sophia Sparrow @sophia.sparrow
She was born in Seattle Washington but is currently residing in Round Rock, Texas. She has been dancing for 7 years at Texas Academy of Ballet under the directions of Carolyn Bognor. For the last 4 years, she has been a part of a company at her studio called Ballet Royale. She has competed in local competitions and YAGP for the last three years. The styles of dance she practices are ballet, contemporary, character, and jazz. For summer intensives, Sophia has been to Southland Ballet Academy (summer ‘16) and last summer she trained at Pacific Northwest ballet in Seattle. Besides dance, Sophia enjoys being outdoors and hiking with her friends and family and going on dance photo shoots with her mom.
Brynley Nicole Crook @cbrynleydance
Brynley Nicole Crook – I am 11 years old and I started dancing at a very young age. I started my dancing career at 18 months old at The Dance Gallery in Round Rock. I danced with TDG till this past year. I have been trained in Ballet,Tap, Lyrical, Jazz and Hip Hop. I was on Kinetic Arts Dance Team for three years as well as TDG Hip Hop Crew.
In June of 2020 I decided I want to pursue a professional career in Dance. I made the MUV to Muv678 and joined The Muvment Dance Company. I currently train in all of the above classes and started my first year of pointe and I’m on the dance team Starlettes at Gateway College Preparatory . I am very excited to be a part of Movin Easy Team!
Elizabeth Coleman @elizabeth_cdance
Hello. My name is Elizabeth Coleman and I am 14 years old. I recently moved to Austin from Houston and now I dance with Ballet Academy North in the Professional Division. Dance is a big part of my life and I love setting goals for myself that help me improve a little everyday. I am so exited to see what this season brings for me and the other ambassadors.
Arabela Alvarado @arabeque.arabela
Arabela Alvarado is a Pre-professional Dancer at the Dance Center of San Antonio . She has attended Summer Intensive Programs such as, DCSA summer Intensive,Vaganova Academy 2 week Summer Intensive in St. Petersburg Russia in June 2019. in 2020 she was awarded for Princess Grace Academy Summer Intensive- Winner of a Full Scholarship awarded at YAGP Paris, Accepted to the Royal Ballet School in London, Accepted to the Paris Opera Ballet School in Paris, and was awarded scholarships to Next Generation Ballet, Kansas City Ballet School, Bolshoi Ballet Summer Intensive, and Boston Ballet School. Arabela has placed Top 12 Classical at YAGP 2020 in Paris, 1st Place Winner Classical in YAGP 2019 and 2020 Chicago, and in 2019 YAGP NYC Finals. Not only has she been fancing since age 3, she plays the piano!
Ronan Henson @ronan.atxRonan has been dancing with Ballet Austin for 3 years and has performed in The Nutcracker two times. Ronan also does ballet, modern, and jazz at Lamar Middle school.