Instructors 2020-2021
Vanessa Diaz began her career in dance at the age of five. At the age of seven, Vanessa visited the U.S.S.R., Denmark, and Sweden on a dance tour. At age nine, she joined a dance troupe and has competed and traveled to many places including Orlando, Dallas, Nashville, Las Vegas, Anaheim, and New York. Vanessa has taken classes from the Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway. She is a graduate of CMSU (now UCM) with a Bachelor of Science in Education – Special Education degree. Vanessa has been teaching dance for twenty-two years, and is currently teaching her 18th year at By Grace. She continues to further her dance education each year by attending convention classes specifically designed for dance instructors. Vanessa is a co-owner of the By Grace Performance Studio and has been teaching for the Clinton School District since the Fall of 2006. Miss Vanessa is a co-director of the By Grace Performance Team and the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team.
Riley Bradley started dancing at the age of three. At the age of ten Riley became one of the first members of the By Grace Performance Team which allowed her to perform locally, compete regionally, and even travel nationally for many competitions, classes, and performances. At the age of 16, Riley had the opportunity to travel as a VIP with the Dance Olympus/Dance America Summer Tour. She also was an intern for Step It Up, LA where she participated in photo shoots, video shoots, took classes from well-known choreographers, and many other opportunities within the commercial dance industry. Riley received her Bachelor of Performing Arts from Oklahoma City University. There she was able to study under the renowned, Jo Rowan. Riley was a four-year member of the American Spirit Dance Company as well as a member of both the OCU Pep Dancers and Liturgical Company. Riley has also had the opportunity to be on the other side of the table, judging for competitions including: Dance Out, DanZa, and Elite Dance Cup. Most recently, she was an Oklahoma City Thunder Girl! Riley is very excited to return to her roots sharing her passion for the art with the students of By Grace Performance Studio. Miss Riley is a co-director of the By Grace Performance Team and the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team.
Audrey Higgins is an Intern Apprentice in the By Grace Apprentice Program and will be teaching her own classes beginning the summer of 2021! See her bio info below.
Apprentices 2020-2021
Miss Audrey began dancing at the age of two. She is 16 years old and a sophomore at Clinton Christian Academy. She is enrolled in ballet, Pointe, jazz, contemporary/lyrical and tap. Audrey is an 8th year member of the By Grace Performance Team, the competitive dance team. She is very excited to start teaching classes and inspiring kids to always follow their dreams. When Audrey graduates from high school, she plans to attend college and get a degree in Agribusiness.
Miss Alex is in 8th grade and she is 14 years old. Alex has been dancing and/or tumbling since she was five years old and enjoys it a lot! She loves tumbling and hopes to help others enjoy it as much as she does. Alex hopes to be an apprentice for many years so that she can encourage others to believe in themselves.
Miss Jasmyn is ten years old and is in the 5th grade at Clinton Intermediate School. She has been dancing for nine years! Jasmyn is enrolled in tap, jazz, ballet, tumbling, Pre-Pointe, lyrical, hip hop, fundamentals and technique. She is a member of the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team and a 5th year member of the By Grace Performance Team. Jasmyn says she wants to be an apprentice to help others. She likes to be around little kids a lot. Jasmyn says she wants to be a preschool teacher when she grows up.
Miss Ashlyn M. is ten years old and in the 5th grade at Windsor Elementary School. She has been dancing for four years. Ashlyn is a second year member of the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team and the By Grace Performance Team. She wants to be a tap, jazz, and ballet teacher when she grows up!
Miss Maycee has been dancing since she was five years old. She is now 14 years old and a freshman at Clinton High School. This is her 3rd year on the By Grace Performance Team. She is enrolled in Pre-Pointe, tap, tumbling, ballet, lyrical/contemporary, and jazz. Maycee has been wanting to be a teacher and now she gets to be! She loves helping out little kids. Maycee would love to do this for many years and continue to teach younger students.
Miss Gracie began dancing at the age of five and have done it ever since then! She is enrolled in tap, ballet, jazz and Pre-Pointe. She admires helping others and hopes to include it in her future. When she is older, she hopes to be a special education teacher and work at a dance studio. Gracie is also a captain of my dance team at school!! Her goal is to help others love dance as much as she does!
Miss Jazsneelia started dancing at the age of four and is now 13 years old. She has been competitively dancing for three years. Jazsneelia is enrolled in tap, jazz, ballet and is a member of the By Grace Performance Team. She wants to encourage and help little kids get better. When she gets a job, she wishes to be a preschool teacher and a half-time dance teacher Monday thru Friday.
Mr. Onlee has been dancing for three years. He is 10 years old and goes to Leesville R4 School. Onlee is a member of the By Grace Performance Team. He says he wants to be an apprentice because he likes helping people.
Miss Harper began dancing at the age of six and she still is at the age of nine. She is a first year member of the By Grace Performance Team. She previously was on the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team for two years. She is enrolled in hip hop, tap, jazz and ballet. Harper wanted to apprentice because she loves working with little ones so they can become better. She is the the 4th grade at Clinton Intermediate School.
Mr. Benjamyn is nine years old and started dancing at the age of one. He is a member of the By Grace Performance Team and the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team. Benjamyn loves to do hip hop, jazz, tap and musical theatre. He is in 3rd grade at the Clinton Intermediate School. Benjamyn says he is willing to help!
Mr. Tyler is 13 years old and in the 8th grade at Windsor High School. He has been on the By Grace Performance Team for one year, competing in group dances and a hip hop trio. Tyler says he loves to apprentice little kids to help them get ready to move up in dance and tumbling. He is currently enrolled in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre, hip hop, and tumbling.
Miss Audrey began dancing at the age of two. She is 16 years old and a sophomore at Clinton Christian Academy. She is enrolled in ballet, Pointe, jazz, contemporary/lyrical and tap. Audrey is an 8th year member of the By Grace Performance Team, the competitive dance team. She is very excited to start teaching classes and inspiring kids to always follow their dreams. When Audrey graduates from high school, she plans to attend college and get a degree in Agribusiness.
Miss Alex is in 8th grade and she is 14 years old. Alex has been dancing and/or tumbling since she was five years old and enjoys it a lot! She loves tumbling and hopes to help others enjoy it as much as she does. Alex hopes to be an apprentice for many years so that she can encourage others to believe in themselves.
Miss Jasmyn is ten years old and is in the 5th grade at Clinton Intermediate School. She has been dancing for nine years! Jasmyn is enrolled in tap, jazz, ballet, tumbling, Pre-Pointe, lyrical, hip hop, fundamentals and technique. She is a member of the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team and a 5th year member of the By Grace Performance Team. Jasmyn says she wants to be an apprentice to help others. She likes to be around little kids a lot. Jasmyn says she wants to be a preschool teacher when she grows up.
Miss Ashlyn M. is ten years old and in the 5th grade at Windsor Elementary School. She has been dancing for four years. Ashlyn is a second year member of the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team and the By Grace Performance Team. She wants to be a tap, jazz, and ballet teacher when she grows up!
Miss Maycee has been dancing since she was five years old. She is now 14 years old and a freshman at Clinton High School. This is her 3rd year on the By Grace Performance Team. She is enrolled in Pre-Pointe, tap, tumbling, ballet, lyrical/contemporary, and jazz. Maycee has been wanting to be a teacher and now she gets to be! She loves helping out little kids. Maycee would love to do this for many years and continue to teach younger students.
Miss Gracie began dancing at the age of five and have done it ever since then! She is enrolled in tap, ballet, jazz and Pre-Pointe. She admires helping others and hopes to include it in her future. When she is older, she hopes to be a special education teacher and work at a dance studio. Gracie is also a captain of my dance team at school!! Her goal is to help others love dance as much as she does!
Miss Jazsneelia started dancing at the age of four and is now 13 years old. She has been competitively dancing for three years. Jazsneelia is enrolled in tap, jazz, ballet and is a member of the By Grace Performance Team. She wants to encourage and help little kids get better. When she gets a job, she wishes to be a preschool teacher and a half-time dance teacher Monday thru Friday.
Mr. Onlee has been dancing for three years. He is 10 years old and goes to Leesville R4 School. Onlee is a member of the By Grace Performance Team. He says he wants to be an apprentice because he likes helping people.
Miss Harper began dancing at the age of six and she still is at the age of nine. She is a first year member of the By Grace Performance Team. She previously was on the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team for two years. She is enrolled in hip hop, tap, jazz and ballet. Harper wanted to apprentice because she loves working with little ones so they can become better. She is the the 4th grade at Clinton Intermediate School.
Mr. Benjamyn is nine years old and started dancing at the age of one. He is a member of the By Grace Performance Team and the By Grace M.A.T.S. Team. Benjamyn loves to do hip hop, jazz, tap and musical theatre. He is in 3rd grade at the Clinton Intermediate School. Benjamyn says he is willing to help!
Mr. Tyler is 13 years old and in the 8th grade at Windsor High School. He has been on the By Grace Performance Team for one year, competing in group dances and a hip hop trio. Tyler says he loves to apprentice little kids to help them get ready to move up in dance and tumbling. He is currently enrolled in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre, hip hop, and tumbling.