The Dance Works Staff

	MICHELLE BELLAMY-ARNDT Owner and Studio Director Michelle began her dance training at the tender age of three in Grand Island, Nebraska. She began instructing dancers in her hometown of Cairo, Nebraska while a freshman in high school. Upon graduation, she attended the University of Nebraska and Creighton University where she studied dance. Michelle has had successful studios in Grand Island, Nebraska, Sioux City, Iowa, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and taught dance classes to aspiring dancers in Yorktown, Virginia, prior to the opening of The Dance Works in Austin, Texas.
	JESSICA TREMBLAY Assistant Performance Team Director and Instructor Ms. Tremblay is on her 26th year of dance and has been an instructor at The Dance Works since 2003. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art from the University of Texas at Austin. Jessica grew up in Fort Worth, Texas where she received her dance training from Bruce Lea Dance Factory and Gayle Corkery School of Ballet. Jessica's competition team won many national awards and titles at competitions including Showstoppers, Showbiz, Stage One, and Starlight. She also has performed in many local shows including Mayfest, Oktoberfest, Miss Fort Worth and Miss Texas Pageants. She has also participated in her high school musicals as well as choreographed Bye Bye Birdie her Senior year. Jessica also had the opportunity to perform with UT's STEEL Dance Company, where she was a member for 5 years and Publicity Manager for 2 years. STEEL Dance Company performed at many UT functions including Gone to Texas, Texas Revue, UT/OU pep rallies, and Campus Fusion. She was also given the opportunity to choreograph for the company as well.
	WENDY PALMER CLARK Instructor Wendy Palmer Clark began training in classical ballet with Tessa Williams and Peggy Gooder-Tan in Spokane, WA. Upon graduation of high school she worked as an apprentice with the Eugene Ballet Company. She went on to dance with the City Ballet of San Diego and Ballet Spokane. Over the years she has desired to continue her knowledge and versatility as a dancer by studying ballet, contemporary, modern, Bartineiff Fudamentals, yoga, pilates, hiphop, and contact improvisation with individuals including Kathryn Irey, Elizabeth Swallow, Katrina Mirinsky, and Kristen Potts. She also graduated from Goddard College after presenting a thesis on dance education in the 21st century and became certified as an aesthetic educator with the Lincoln Center Institute. She recently moved to Austin so her husband could get his PhD and is looking forwarding to teaching in the Austin community.
	EMILY KOPENITZ Instructor Emily grew up in Arlington, Texas and has been immersed in the dance culture since the age of two. She received her early dance training at a local hometown studio, and later continued her study of Ballet and Pointe with the Metropolitan Classical Ballet. In 2008, Emily began attending Oklahoma City University where she received a degree in Dance Management from the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management in May of 2012. While in school she has taught various age levels and choreographed many routines for performance and competitions. Emily is excited to be in Austin and looks forward to working with the various levels of dancers at The Dance Works.
	REBECCA OJEDA Instructor Rebecca Ojeda started dancing at the age of 10 here in Austin, Texas in a program called "Believe in me". After discovering her love for dance, she went on to pursue dance in junior high as a team leader. Rebecca joined drill team in high school as a cardinal belle and was an officer all four years.Rebecca received numerous choreography awards throughout her years in school. She had the opportunity to perform in many different shows including the Dennis Quaid Celebrity Poker Fashion Show, austin roller derby team, and been assisting at numerous studios in Westlake, Austin, cedar park, and round rock area. Rebecca has also continued her dance education by attending a convention called "The Pulse" with choreographers from the hit show so you think you can dance such as mia michales, wade robson, tyce diorio, dave scott and chris judd. Rebecca has been a teacher at The Danceworks since 2008, and continues to strive to teach young adults about the history of dance and bringing out the best in each and every student. Rebecca specializes in Jazz, Street Jazz, Hip Hop, Break dance, and Zumba.
	BRITTANY SHELTON Instructor Brittany began dancing at the young age of 3 for Shirley Mcphail's School of Dance in Austin, TX. At the age of 14 she joined a private drill team called the Round Rock Junior Star Dancers; she enjoyed dance and serving at community events, and competing in numerous competitions. The Star Dancers Drill team helped her discover her love for dance. She then went on to be a majestic at McNeil High School in Austin, TX. Along with being a Majestic she was assisting with the Round Rock Star Dancers. She moved to Knoxville, Tn in 2001 where she became part of the Oak Ridge Civic Ballet and performed in several productions. After graduating high school in 2003, she began to train, teach and professionally compete in ballroom dancing at National Dance Clubs in Knoxville, TN. While competing with tango, foxtrot, swing, and cha cha; Brittany and her partner won third place at a Nashville regional competition. From 2007-2008 she began coaching the Clinton High School Dance team in Clinton, TN, She lead them to winning numerous awards, and they qualified for Nationals for the first time in 10 years. Since then she became a mother of a baby boy in February of 2008. While being an at home mom, she has had many experiences in choreographing solos, and team routines. Brittany works with the Dance Company American Dance and Drill Team, working drill team competitions all over TX, NM,KA, and LA. Brittany is looking forward to pursuing her dance career and is working toward a degree in Dance Education. Brittany is excited about joining The Dance Works Family in hopes that the children she is teaching will find the love for dance that she has.
	SONJA SNOW Instructor Sonja was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Sonja started dancing at the age of four, she danced and performed with Southwest Ballet Company for all of her grade school years. After high school she received a dance scholarship to attend West Texas A&M University. While studying in Texas she dance with Lone Star Ballet Company, and spent three summers performing In the Musical Drama "Texas", she also taught all of the college level Jazz classes at WTA&MU. After receiving her B.F.A in dance, she moved back to New Mexico and danced with New Mexico Ballet Company for one Season. After getting married Sonja and her husband moved to Las Vegas, so she could audition for shows. Having lived in Las Vegas for 8 years, she danced in "Tournament of Kings" at the Excalibur, "Celebration Lounge" at the Tropicana, and most recently she danced for three years for "Siegfried and Roy." While dancing Sonja Taught for the Academy of Ballet for six years, teaching Ballet and Jazz. After "Siegfried and Roy" closed, Sonja had a little girl who is now two. Sonja, and her family moved to Texas in February. Sonja has over 12 years of teaching experience.