Believe

lvy Mounsey  began dancing through cheerleading in high school. Upon graduation she studied ballet at Stephen F Austin State University. Ivy transferred to the University of Houston and went into their musical theater dance program. From there she began training with Camille Long Hill. Soon afterward, Ivy started working with Suzanne Banbury at the Banbury School of Dance in Houston, Texas. Ivy taught for Ms. Banbury and remained on her staff until 2002 when she moved to Prescott, Arizona. ln Arizona Ivy joined the Academy of Performing Arts teaching staff, as their Ballet Mistress, and worked there until the fall of 2004 when she moved back to Texas. Since then Ivy  has been teaching in the central Texas area and started the dance program at AcroTex. For many years Ivy has choreographed and co-choreographed award winning musical theater productions, competitive dance teams, recitals and dance camps. Ivy has also choreographed full length versions of Annie, Wizard of Oz, Oliver, and Fiddler on the Roof. She has been the resident choreographer for two show choirs, as well as the director for Banbury Tappers, Dancin' Grannies, and Silhouette Dance Company. 

 Ivy has taken classes and attended workshops in New York and Los Angeles, performed in numerous shows and several companies. She enjoys working with all ages and has taught beginners through professional level ranging in age from three to 82. 

Ivy brings years of training in ballet, tap, jazz, and choreography to her job of teaching dancers, ice skaters, baton twirlers, gymnasts and actors. Her students have gone on to be accepted to summer dance intensives, university dance and theater programs, regional theater, Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy and Ballet Austin's The Academy. Ivy's  greatest thrill is in the accomplishments of her students that are literally around the world either performing Off-Broadway, L.A., Holland, England, Disney World, Disneyland, Cruise Lines, teaching, studying in boarding schools, colleges and/or universities, or for their own enjoyment. She believes dance is a lifelong journey and we are always learning. 

Amber grew up dancing at Dancers Workshop, in Austin, and was blessed to have many opportunities to train and learn from the incredible staff, as well as to have taken master classes at the Edge Performance Arts Center in Los Angeles and many dance conventions. In high school Amber studied musical theater with AMT, was a Westwood Sun Dancer, and a principle dancer with Austin Dance Works, Third Coast Jazz and performed in many Something’s Afoot productions. After high school Amber continued to dance at the Edge Performing Arts Studio in Los Angeles, California, through their work study program. Then returned home to Austin where she was on staff with Dancers Workshop for 9 years teaching all ages in a variety of techniques such as ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop. Amber was certified in Ballet in 2002 and became a member of the Teachers Association of Teachers of Dancing. Amber was on staff with Something’s Afoot, an incredibly special motivational youth dance program, choreographer for Austin Dance Works, Third Coast Jazz, Instinct and Expectations. Amber was the Children’s Program Director and Competition Choreographer for Unity Dance Co. in Waco for 3 years and Teacher for Dance Unlimited. Amber has worked with the JCC Musical Theater Program and taught at conventions and several summer dance and ballet intensives. She has set choreography for many drill teams, the Great Hills Baptist Church-Christmas Pageant, contestants in the national All-American Miss. Jr. Pre-Teem Pageant and various other groups and soloist. Amber received and continues to receive choreography awards and high accolades from several competitions and her solo and group pieces have received outstanding awards, top ranks and best overall acknowledgements. She has performed with professional dance companies such as Third Coast Jazz and Instinct, was featured in the musical, West Side Story and Chicago and her film credits include, An Angel’s Whisper, MVN and Cat Black. Recently, she was featured as the 2020 August model for the “Smile, Your Beautiful” movement by Maggie Messer Photography.  

Amber took a few years off from dancing to spend time with her three beautiful children and pursue her education. She has received an associate degree in Criminal Justice, Basic Police Officers Certification and TCOLE License. Amber continued her education adding Craniosacral Therapy and Myofascial Unwinding  Certifications I/II and is a Reiki Teacher and Master. During the day she works with children, teens and adults with learning disabilities, behavioral issues and addiction at Elevate Energy, elevateenergy8.com, and is excited to share her love and passion for dance with us! She was the Legacy Dance Team Director, here at AcroTex Performing Arts for 2 years and is now the Director of the advanced team, Elev8 Dance Co.  Amber’s mission is to continue to inspire students through the art of dance while building strong, independent and confident people who continue life with compassion, balance and harmony. 

Originally from san Diego, Melissa began her training under the direction of Michelle Noblejas-Bartolomei at Balletcenter West. There she studied classical ballet intensely and was featured in many ballets including main roles in, Snow White; Clara in the Nutcracker, The sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker. To broaden her dance knowledge Melissa also studied modern, ballet, jazz, dance history, choreography and improvisation at Coronado School of the Arts for two years. Melissa went on to join the  city Ballet of San Diego as a trainee where she danced in several ballets by resident choreographer Elizabeth Wistrich, in George Balanchine's Walpurgisnacht Ballet, and as an original cast member of Geoffrey Gonzalez's Mechanical (E) Motion. 

While performing with City Ballet of San Diego, in 2010, she began her teaching career at Balletcenter West, instructing students in all levels of ballet and privately coaching point and variations. In order to further her performing career, Melissa moved to train with Miami City Ballet School for the 2011-2012 season. Here she had the opportunity to study and perform many ballets by George Balanchine and August Bournonville, including as a Russian girl in Balanchine's Serenade and as the Sylph in Bournonville's La Slyphide. Additionally, Melissa has trained and performed though summer programs at the school of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Miami City Ballet, Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Ferrell, and Ballet Austin. She danced professionally as an Apprentice with Ballet Austin, performing in Stephen Mill's Not Afraid of the Dark, The Nutcracker, and Luminaria and Bournonville's Napoli. As well as that, she had the opportunity to be involved in the creation of Nelly van Bommel's Snow White, which was taken on tour throughout Texas, and danced a feature role in the world premier and most recently performed with The  Dance Project for their May 2015 production, "Sentiments." In addition to teaching at AcroTex Performing Arts since 2013, Melissa taught at several schools throughout Austin and hopes to continue teaching and passing on her love of dance for as log as possible! 

Sarah Overton has over 20 years of dance experience in jazz, hip hop, modern, contemporary, pom, ballet and drill team. Mrs. Overton attended LIberty Hill High School and was a member of the Liberty Hill High School Liberty Belles and Captain her senior year. During her time with the Belles, she choreographed numerous field performances, spring show performances and pep rally routines for her team. 

After graduating high school, Mrs Overton was asked to be a teacher's assistant at the prestigious American Ballet Theater Summer Intensive, was a professional cheerleader for the Texas Stars and attended Texas State University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a minor in Business Administration. During her time at Texas State, Mrs. Overton started teaching students of all ages as the Drill Team Program Coordinator at Acrotex Performing Arts. During her time at the studio, she taught many classes including ballet, tap, hip hop, jazz and drill team prep classes. Mrs. Overton was the founding director of two dance companies including the award winning competition company, Legacy Dance Company, now known as Elevate Dance Company. Mrs. Overton has also served as a Professional Mentor for Texas Future Dance Educators and is a member of Texas Dance Educators Association. 

During her time as Director of the Royse City High School Debs, the Golden Debs have been awarded numerous awards and accolades including receiving Overall Grand Champions at Danceline and Division Champions at HTE. 

Abby started dancing at the age of 2 and ever since has been training in all different styles. In high school, she danced at the The Dance Spot in Austin, TX and was a member of Rise Dance Company. While on Rise, she was given the opportunity to learn from and perform pieces choreographed by many professionals in the dance industry, including Jaci Royal, Jason Gorman, and Emily Shock. Along with being on Rise, Abby was also a member of the Westwood High School SunDancers. As a senior, she served as her drill team’s captain. Throughout high school, she received recognition for leadership and choreography and scholarships for other dance accomplishments. This fall, Abby will be a junior at the University of Texas at Austin, where she is a BFA Dance Major as well a pursuing a teaching certification. At UT, she performed in Dace Repertory Theater’s MainStage show, Momentum.  Also, she choreographed and performed in shows hosted by Dance Action, a student led organization at UT. Abby plans to continue using her opportunity to study dance in college to grow as a dancer and artist. 

Tori Loper began her dance training in Austin, Texas at the age of two and has trained in numerous styles. She trained, competed, and performed pre-professionally with Rise Dance Company. Also, she was on her high school dance team, WestWood SunDancers, and served her Junior year as a Junior Lieutenant and her Senior year as Captain. During her time as a part of these two organizations, she received various dance scholarships, was acknowledged for her leadership skills, and was recognized for her choreography. To expand her training, she attended the ABT Summer Intensive, the BHumn Summer Intensive, the Summer Dance Sessions, and the Soul Escape Company Intensive and was a member of the Adrenaline Nationals Crew. She is honored to have worked with amazing choreographers such as Jason Gorman, Kirsten Russell, Justin Giles, Jaci Royal, Matt Luck, Emily Shock, and many others. To further her dance training, Tori will attend the University of Texas at Austin this fall to major in Dance Education. She hopes to be able to incorporate all of her passions of dance, performing, choreographing, and teaching, into her dance career.