TAYLOR PITTMAN:
Owner, Instructor, Choreographer
Miss Taylor is from Dale, Texas a small town just south of Austin. She started taking tap and ballet lessons when she was eight years old which led her to a spot on a competition team later on that year. She continued dancing competitively through her senior year of high school at various competitions and conventions primarily in the central Texas area. However, she has also traveled to New York where she trained at Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and performed at Encore Nationals in Las Vegas where she danced with the Encore Elite Dance Team. Since she started dancing, she has had extensive training in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, pointe, contemporary, and acrobatics. She started assisting classes when she was fourteen and began teaching at FCDC at 16. She graduated from Texas State University spring of 2020 with degrees in accounting and marketing. She was promoted to Company Director spring of 2019 in which she took on more responsibilities around the studio such as planning performances, leading the competitive companies, and creating and planning studio classes and camps. She took ownership of FCDC and wants to share her passion for dance with the dancers of San Marcos while helping them reach their fullest potential both in and outside of the studio.
ADDISON KEY : Company Director, Choreographer, Instructor
Meet Miss Addison! Addison was born in Austin and grew up in San Marcos, Texas. She did not follow the traditional path of a dancer. Growing up, she participated mostly in cheerleading and gymnastics with Texas State University. It was at the age of 11 that she took her first dance class and realized her passion. She quickly became part of the Elite Company at her Jr. high and competed multiple group dances and solos. She became a member of her high school drill team Elite Company and was a lead in multiple group routines as a freshman, while also competing a solo and a duet throughout the year. She joined the FCDC family at the age 15 and continued her training in ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, lyrical, musical theater, and hip-hop. Throughout her dance career she has been invited to perform at Pro-Bowls and dance in several performances at Texas State University. She is now a student at Texas State in the Athletic Training program. She hopes to continue her education with a focus in blending her passion for dance and her interest in the medical field. Addison has been a part of the FCDC family teaching for 4 years and loves being here.
MACEY PHILLIPS :
Instructor, Hip-hop Director
Meet Macey! Macey is from Buda, TX. She started dancing when she was two years old and competed for eleven years winning regional and national titles with her studio. She is trained in tap, ballet, hip-hop, lyrical, jazz, and contemporary. In high school, she was on her drill team, Jack C. Hays Highsteppers for all four years. She was on the Highsteppers Elite Team for three years and was an officer her senior year. After graduation, she started working for Crowd Pleasers Dance Company where she teaches and choreographs for high school drill teams across Texas. Macey was also a Texas State University Strutter throughout college where she served as an officer for three years and was head captain her senior year. During that time, she performed at football and basketball games, several away game stadiums such as A&M University and University of Texas San Antonio, the Royal Caribbean cruise line Liberty of the Seas, the San Antonio Spurs Game and opened the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Macey graduated from Texas State University with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education and with a business minor. She now serves as the Dance Teacher at Miller Middle School and continues to be the hip-hop Director at FCDC where she loves challenging dancers with various styles of hip-hop.
SCARLETT MCGRAW : Ballet Instructor
Scarlett came from the Ozsoy School of Ballet in Duncanville, TX, where she danced for 14 years. She began dancing at the young age of 3 at Stacia’s School of Dance. Her mother realized that her daughter’s true passion was ballet, so she found a more ballet-focused school. Scarlett went through her years at Ozsoy striving to be the best. At the age of 12, Scarlett received her letter that deemed her strong enough to begin pointe. That same year Scarlett auditioned for Joffrey Ballet’s summer intensive where she attended for four consecutive years— three years in New York City and one year in Denton, TX. Scarlett then went on to lead the ballet program at Oak Cliff Dance in Dallas for 3 years, before moving to San Marcos. She enjoys teaching the discipline and technique to beginners and more advanced students.
KIERSTEN FLORENCE : Instructor
Meet Miss Kiersten! Kiersten is originally from the DFW metroplex where she began dancing at Dana’s Studio of Dance at the age of 3. She began dancing competitively from the age of six and continued through her senior year of high school. After moving to central Texas, Kiersten trained and was on the competition dance team at Illusion Dance Center, NB Dance and First Class Dance Center of San Marcos and also trained at MUV Dance and Fitness. She is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, pom, hip hop, and ballroom.
Kiersten was a dancer on her middle school dance team for two years. She was also on her high school dance team for all 4 years and served as a Lieutenant and later the Captain of her team. She has lead and choreographed multiple group routines and won numerous team awards. She was a solo finalist every year during her middle and high school years and won multiple years.
Kiersten attends Texas State University and is a Texas State University Strutter. She is excited to be on staff at First Class Dance Center!
CATHERINE WRIGHT : Instructor
Catherine is from Texarkana, Tx. She began dancing when she was three years old at Judith McCarty School of dance in Texarkana. She has studied tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, and Spanish dancing. In high school she was a member of her drill team, the Pleasant Grove Showstoppers, for fours years and served as junior and senior lieutenant. Catherine has won two national high kicking competitions, along with two other regional titles, and is a member of the national kick company. Catherine has been cast as principal dancers in her communities' ballets, attended multiple dance conventions, and taught master classes and private lessons for 4 years. After high school, Catherine auditioned for the World Famous Kilgore College Rangerettes and made the 80th line. During her time as a Rangerette, she performed in Cotton Bowl two years in a row, the 2021 presidential inaugural parade, in Virginia, and London, England. Catherine has since finished her time at Kilgore College with her associates degree in fine arts and has transferred to Texas State to continue her education. She is now continuing her love of dance, teaching at First Class Dance Center and is so excited for this upcoming year!
Giuliana Rubalcalba: Instructor
Miss Giuliana is a New Braunfels native. She started dancing when she was four years old at The Element Dance Center where she discovered her passion for dancing and performing.
Giuliana started competitive dancing when she was eight years old.
She trained and danced competitively during her time at The Element Dance Center (Mini and Junior), Suzi Hughson School of Dance (Junior), and First Class Dance Center (Pre-Team, Junior, and Senior). She has studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Acro, Contemporary, and Lyrical.
Giuliana was a one-year member of the Churchill Middle School Starcats team and a four-year member of the 17-time National Champion Canyon High School Aristocats varsity team. She was also a member of the Texas State Strutters during her first semester.
Giuliana hopes to utilize her personal dance journey and training to motivate and support our dancers to build their confidence and achieve their goals, while embracing their individuality and creativity.
Andrew Limas : Instructor
Andrew is a Theatre and Dance major at the University of Texas at Austin, and has recently returned from Los Ángeles where he studied dance at Santa Monica college. He performed with several local dance companies while he was there, while building his personal resume. He has choreographed and directed nationally award-winning choreography and productions. Andrew has been teaching for seven years and has traveled and competed nationally for over three years.
Although a relatively newcomer to the dance industry, Andrew is passionate about theatre and dance, and has taught musical theatre, contemporary, hip hop, vogue, and jazz funk at many studios on the Austin area. He enjoys challenging his students and creating a fun energetic atmosphere! Prepare to sweat!
Leslie Ellingburg : Instructor
Bio coming soon!
Alexa Watson : Instructor
Miss Alexa was born in Austin, Texas! Her love of dance began 16 years ago at Lonestar Dance Center in Pflugerville, Texas. There she trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, pointe, musical theatre, hip hop, ballroom, pom, and clogging. Alexa began training at Lonestar Dance Center at a young age and hasn’t looked back. Her love grew and she auditioned to be a part of the Energy Dance Company (EDC) with the Lonestar Dance Center. She was a member of the Energy Dance Company from 2011 until she graduated in 2022. While being on the EDC competition team Alexa competed and attended several competitions where her studio won many awards.
Alexa began assisting classes at Lonestar Dance Center in 6th grade where she learned the craft of teaching. She also was a member of her middle school cheer team where she continued to grow as a dancer and performer.
In high school she trained and auditioned for the Hendrickson High School Silver Dancer Drill Team. She danced on the team for 3 years. Her senior year she was a Senior lieutenant. There she led and helped choreograph for her team.
She will be attending Texas State University this year and will continue learning and training in dance. She has a great passion for dancing, performing, teaching, and choreographing. She is so excited to be part of the First Class Dance Center family!
Loralei Vergara : Instructor
Loralei was born and raised in Austin, Texas. She started dancing at the age of three at The Dance Spot. Then at the age of seven she joined Rise Dance Company and competed with them for seven years. She traveled to competitions with them all over Texas and even traveled to Florida and Las Vegas to compete nationally. At the age of 13, she started assisting and teaching the Pre-co & Mini Company teams. Once she got to high school, she decided to join the Anderson Trojans Belles Drill Team. In addition to the Belles, her Senior year she joined Cheryl Copeland’s company Bhumn Art Ensemble. She has enjoyed teaching camps and classes in Cedar Park, Round Rock, & Austin. She has trained in many styles including ballet, tap, hip hop, jazz, contemporary, modern and lyrical. She recently moved to San Marcos to start her first year attending Texas State University. Loralei has 15 years of training and counting, she’s excited to join the FCDC family and continue teaching dance.
