Staff
Melanie Newell
Founder & Co-Owner
Melanie Newell is the founding owner of Dance Dynamics established in 1997. She danced in her first dance recital at the age of 2.5 years old, in Greenville, Mississippi. Melanie studied ballet, tap, jazz, and acro for 16 years under Almyra and Jack Jackson. Almyra’s Broadway style of tap and jazz developed during her professional career in New York as a “June Taylor” dancer. Melanie also trained in gymnastics through high school, developing her skills on the apparatus as well as tumbling on the floor. She honed in on her flexibility in acro to master contortionist movement, and enjoyed performing her skills! Melanie attended Hinds Jr. College and was a member of the highly acclaimed “Hinds Hi-Steppers”, under the direction of the legendary Mrs. Anna Bee, one of the first drill teams known for their precision established in the U.S. Melanie continued her ballet training, taking class through her young adulthood at the professional company of Ballet Mississippi and The Jackson Ballet. Melanie also taught the sport of gymnastics for 12 years in Mississippi and in Texas in addition to teaching dance since 1990. Melanie’s team and solo choreography has won numerous National titles with Dance Dynamics over a 20 year span.
Lauren Martin
Co-Owner & Director
Lauren Martin has been the proud Co-Owner of Dance Dynamics since 2001, after graduating as an alumni dancer at DD. Over the years, she has invested her time in growing the program into one of the nations top award winning studios. In addition to running the studio and co-coaching the Worlds Teams, she is highly involved in the All-Star Dance industry. She is a USASF Connection Leader, Peer to Peer mentor, and serves on multiple United States All Star Federation advisory boards. One of her greatest accomplishments is, at the 2017 Dance Worlds, she was awarded Program Owner of the year, alongside Melanie Newell. As she enters her 20th season, she looks forward to serving the students, coaches and parents of Dance Dynamics to make it the best season yet!
Heather Drake
Worlds Team Coach
Administrative Assistant
Heather has been with Dance Dynamics since 2014 and shares over 20 years of coaching experience with our teams from the tiny age group through seniors. Heather started dancing at a young age at studios in the Spring area. She was a member of the Spring High School Starlettes where she served as the Major. After graduating High School, she became a member of The World-Famous Kilgore College Rangerettes where she had the privilege to perform for former Presidents, dance at the Cotton Bowl Halftime, travel to Singapore for the Chingay New Year Celebration, and many more prestigious performances. After her time at Kilgore, Heather went on to become a member of the Stephen F. Austin State University Pom Squad where they took home the title of NDA Collegiate National Champions. She served as Captain of the Pom Squad her second year and then became the Coach for two years. Heather taught at a competitive studio in the Spring area for 9 years and is the former co-owner of Fierce Dance Company. Heather’s routines have won numerous regional and national titles over the years in both the team and solo divisions. Her most recent accomplishment includes choreographing and coaching the Dance Dynamics Senior Large Pom Team to the Bronze Medal at The Dance Worlds 2021. Heather believes in a solid work ethic and is looking forward to continuing to build strong dancers and teams for our program.
Noa Tumpkin
Worlds Team Coach
Creative Director
Noa received his formal dance training from Grand Valley State University (GVSU) in Allendale MI. Upon graduation he has danced for Columbia City Ballet (SC), Washington Reflections (DC) and Bowen McCauley Dance (MD). He most recently danced for The Houston Metropolitan Dance Company (MetDance) for five seasons, where he trained in ballet, contemporary, hip hop, jazz and tap styles and worked with a wide array of choreographers which he feels has shaped his movement vocabulary immensely. Noa is currently entering his 10th year teaching at Dance Dynamics currently as Creative Director. Noa’s choreography has received many NATIONAL and WORLD titles and was names WORLD CHAMPION in 2016 and 2017. Through the USASF, Noa has sat on the RAB and currently sits on the NAB as the SW regional representative. Noa most recently became the Florida State University’s(FSU) Nationals Choreographer for the Jazz Division, where they were awarded 6th place ranking at Universal Dance Association (UDA) College Nationals in 2020 and 2nd in 2021 (Virtually). He has also worked with other dance teams across the country including Texas Tech Pom Squad, University of Pittsburgh, University of North Texas, Sam Houston State University and Most recently Texas A&M.
Jenny Allen
Worlds Team Coach
Jenny Allen has been with Dance Dynamics since 1998! She graduated from Sam Houston State University where she danced on the National champions orange pride dance team for 4 years. Jenny is the coach for the jazz teams at dance dynamics for the mini, youth, junior, and seniors age groups and has brought home numerous choreography awards , national championship titles , and world’s titles and choreographed our 2017 World Champion Senior Large Jazz routine. In 2021 she coached and choreographed several undefeated teams including mini elite jazz, youth small jazz, and junior jazz. Her greatest accomplishment however is being the favorite teacher at dance dynamics! She absolutely love being a part of this studio and getting to work with the most amazing staff and coaches who are dedicated and love what they do!
Lisa Wolff
Worlds Team Coach
Lisa grew up dancing competitively and was the captain of her high school drill team. She was awarded Miss Dance of Oklahoma from Dance Masters of America in 2003. Lisa earned her Bachelor's Degree from Oklahoma City University in Performing Arts as well as toured with the American Spirit Dance Company domestically and internationally. After graduating she performed multiple seasons at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, and around the Eastern Caribbean while sailing on a Holland America Cruise Ship. Lisa moved to Texas in 2007 and performed with the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company for seven seasons. She has been an instructor at Dance Dynamics since 2010, and her dances have been awarded the prestigious title of World Champion at The Dance Worlds twice.
Devon Sells
Worlds Team Coach
Devon Sells is a choreographer in Houston, Texas with an extensive background in the competitive dance world. Her dance training began at a young age in the North Texas area at her home studio Dancer’s Studio Etc. She also studied at Dallas Black Dance Academy on scholarship for Jazz and Modern. She has had the opportunity to dance alongside the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders for performances with artists such as Toby Keith, Leanne Rhimes, Destiny’s Child, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood. She would later attend LSU, where she was a member of the LSU Tiger Girls and on the 2010 UDA College Hip Hop IA National Championship Team. She furthered her hip hop studies by attending Monsters of Hip Hop Dance Conventions where she received several scholarships and was chosen to dance background for Drake during a private Super Bowl performance, and Janelle Monae for a Texas Lotto Commercial. Currently Devon is the Elite Hip Hop coach at Dance Dynamics in Spring, Texas. She also teaches jazz, contemporary, and technique across the metroplex. She continues to choreograph pom, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary/lyrical dances for studios and drill teams across the United States.
Christine Rodriguez
Team Director
Christine has coached at Dance Dynamics since 1997, the first year of their existence. She has choreographed for soloists, ensembles, and teams over these years leading them to numerous national titles in the areas of jazz, lyrical, contemporary, pom, and hip-hop. From 2003-2005, Christine was an NFL cheerleader where she performed with Clay Walker, Chingy, Kelis, and in the 2004 SuperBowl halftime performance on stage with Kid Rock. As of 2021, she reestablished herself in the NFL world as Cheerleader Program Associate for the Houston Texans.
Melissa Powell
Tiny Team Director
Shining Stars
Melissa Powell has been with Dance Dynamics since 2007. She coaches our Tiny Prep, Tiny and Exceptional Athlete dancers. Melissa received her degree in special education but always had a passion for the arts and has worked with drill teams, dance teams, color-guards, show choirs and musical theater groups for over 20 years. Her most recent accolades include our Tiny Prep Team bringing home three 1st place finishes and our Tiny Team earning eleven 1st place awards. As the coach of our DanceAbilities team, Shining Stars, Melissa has grown the program to include both a recreational class as well as a competitive team. In 2018 our Shining Stars earned an at-large bid to attend The Dance Worlds in Orlando Florida. Over the years Mrs. Melissa’s fondest memories include the “drive-in movie” Tiny Team party, “Ghouls just wanna have fun” Halloween event, Cupid’s Diner-father daughter dance class and of course all of her nicknames… “Ms Kissa, Ms Mawissa, Ms Alisa”. Melissa is not only a coach, but she was a Dance Dynamics dance mom as well. Her daughter danced at DD from age 8 through high school and continued her dance journey with Aggie Dance Team. Mrs. Melissa bleeds pink and zebra and loves getting to share her LOVE for dance with everyone involved!
Tiffany Ortego
Tiny Team Director
Shining Stars Assistant
Tiffany Ortego has been in the dance industry her entire life. From Derrick dolls to Klein Oak Strutters all the way to being a University of Houston Cougar Doll for four years. After college she went on to teaching and eventually owning my own studio until she gave it up to be a mother to her six kids. When her two daughters started at Dance Dynamics in 2011, she got the opportunity to become a staff member, and have been working with the Tiny Team and The Shining Stars ever since!
Baylee Morgan
Recreational Team Director
Baylee Morgan started at Dance Dynamics as a student in 2004. Growing up in the studio ignited her passion for dance and led me to pursue it in college. She was on the Texas A&M dance team for 3 years and received her degree in Dance Science in 2018. Since graduating, she have had the privilege of teaching the Recreational Team at DD. She love meeting new dancers and teaching them the beauty of dance, just as she was taught. The rec team continues to grow each year and she look forward to the new faces every season!
Kim Miller-Hoff
Assistant Director
Kimberly Hoff has been with Dance Dynamics since 2016. Former Owner/Director of
Kimberly Hoff School of Dance and the Clear Lake Rockettes Competitive Dance team. She has an extensive dance background and over 35 years of teaching experience. She began dancing professionally at the age of 17 at Six Flags over Texas Astroworld, Theatre Under the Stars and in Las Vegas with Spell Bond Productions. Kim was also a 3 year member of the Houston Oilers Derrick Dolls and the show troupe. She loves sharing her love of dance with her students and her main goal is to make each student feel special and enhance their self-esteem and confidence. She is thrilled to be apart of Dance Dynamics and to be able to work with such an incredibly talented staff.
Madison Ortego
Assistant Director
Madison Ortego has been with Dance Dynamics since 2008! She was a dancer on the Senior Worlds Team for 5 years and won 4 World Champion Titles with my team. My love for teaching began when she was a freshman in high school, where she was given the opportunity to assist the younger age groups. She graduated high school with my Cosmetology license and since then have enjoyed doing hair and teaching dance!
Whitney Ballay
Tumbling Coach
Whitney Ballay has an extensive background in dance as well as Gymnastics, Cheerleading and Acro. Whitney was the Texas All-Around State Champion in her division of Gymnastics at the age of 13. Whitney also won numerous National solo Championship titles throughout her dance career from the time she was 10 years old, until she graduated Highschool.
Whitney teaches Acro along with dance technique, flexibility and strength and conditioning training. Whitney was also a cheerleader at school from 7th grade -12th grade when she graduated From The Woodlands Highschool. Whitney won numerous UCA and NCA All-American cheer titles. Whitney teaches private lessons in cheer technique such as Jumps , Motions, voice projection, and cleaning cheers, chants and dances along with tumbling.
Selinda Castillo Pursley
Tumbling Coach
Selinda Pursley has been coaching at Dance Dynamics since 2015. She has an extensive background in gymnastics, tumbling and Acro. Selinda started gymnastics at the age of 3 becoming a competitive gymnast at the age of 6. During her 8 years competing in the sport, she won numerous state, regional and national titles. Her passion for the sport has led her to coaching gymnastics and tumbling over 20 years now. During her years of coaching, she has taught preschool age gymnastics, developmental gymnastics, tumbling and upper level competitive gymnastics. She has had the privilege of coaching many talented gymnasts to state, regional and national competitions. Her tumbling and gymnastics background has also allowed her to work with many dancers over the past 10 years helping them develop and perfect their Acro skills.
