About the
East Texas Dance Company
East Texas Dance Company offers classes in tap, ballet, pointe, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical/contemporary, drill team prep, and musical theater dance.
The school provides students an opportunity to study dance for personal satisfaction in a supportive environment. Students progress at their own pace to improve physical strength, flexibility, coordination, and body alignment.
East Texas Dance Company also offers six selective Competitive Dance Teams, consisting of Mini’s, Elementary, Intermediate, Junior, and Senior Teams. Members audition for positions on these teams and enter competitions all over East Texas. Our teams have won numerous awards during the past 26 years.
Many students of the studio also have won awards, joined hig school drill teams and been named drill team officers in the past years. Many have also gone on to join Rangerettes and other collegiate dance teams. Congratulations to our students who won officer positions in their drill teams for the coming year: Hallsville Bobcat Belles – Co Captain Faith Stowe, Co Captain Bella Torres, Sr Lt. Ryleigh Freeman, Jr Lt. Aubrey Tennison, Jr Lt. Katelynn Scott, Line Captain Addison Maroney; Longview Viewettes – Captain Emily Jarrell, Sr Lt. Hailey Sanders; Spring Hill Pacesetters – 1st Lt. Ava Rowland.
East Texas Dance Company Legacy Collegiate Dancers:
Kylie Benavidez – 81st Line KC Rangerette & Left End Lieutenant
Melea Bedford – 82nd Line KC Rangerette & Right End Lieutenant
Daisey Bewley – 82nd Line KC Rangerette
Abby Cox – 83rd Line KC Rangerette
Abby Hattaway – 83rd Line KC Rangerette
Mackenzie Duckworth – SFA Dance Team
Grace Crump -Baylor Songleader
Alexis Marjason
East Texas Dance Company instructors include Alexis Marjason, Director and Studio Owner. Marjason is a former Tina Grider and TNT Dancer. Alexis served as Captain of the Spring Hill Drill Team. She also received an Associate’s Degree in Fine Arts from Kilgore College. Marjason is beginning her 16th year at the studio. She serves as a full time Instuctor as well as the Director for the Intermediate, Junior and Senior TNT Dancers.
Tina Grider Lyon
Tina Grider-Lyon is the previous owner of the Studio for 35 years and will continue as a full time instructor. Grider-Lyon is a former Kilgore College Rangerette. She was listed in “Who’s Who” in dance at Kilgore College, is a past Board Member of Rangerettes Forever, and taught 13 summers for the Mini-Rangerette Camps. Grider-Lyon has attended numerous Dance Conventions in Texas, choreographed for Longview Community Theater Musicals, and worked with the Junior League of Longview Charity Ball Shows as well as Christus Good Shepherd Hospital Guild and many other community organizations. She received her Associates Degree in Fine Arts from Kilgore College.
Misti Irwin
Misti Irwin will begin her 18th year as an Instructor. Misti is skilled in all forms of dance. She has been a student at the studio for 29 years. She also serves as a choreographer for numerous events in the East Texas area.
Carli Howard
Carli Howard is returning for her 10th year as an Instructor and 5th year as a Director with the Mini and Elementary TNT Dancers. She is a former student at the Studio and was also an Officer for the Kilgore High School Hi-Steppers. She earned a degree in Early Childhood Education from Stephen F. Austin State University.
Emilee Hill
Emilee Hill is a former student of 8 years and is beginning her 5th year as an Instructor as well as assisting with the TNT Dancers. She is also a former dancer with our TNT Dancers and was a long time member of the Longview Ballet Company. Hill also trained multiple summers at Ballet West in Utah and Texas Ballet Theater. She is starting her 3rd year as our Ballet Department Director.
Nicki Patterson
Nicki Patterson is returning for her 9th year as our Office Manager. She is also the Instructor for our Musical Theater Dance Class. Nicki previously served as Ballet Director at the studio for 15 years and was one of the original directors of the TNT Dancers. She has also choreographed for many East Texas musicals, choirs and dance camps. She taught English and Psychology at Kilgore High School for 11 years. She is a former Rangerette Officer and Swingster, and she served as President of the Rangerettes Forever Organization. She now works closely with the recently formed East Texas Rangerettes Forever group.
Sydney Bates
Sydney Bates is beginning her first year as Assistant Office Manager at the studio. She was a former student as well as a TNT Dancer for 11 years. She also served as Jr. Lieutenant and then Captain of the Kilgore High School Hi-Steppers. Bates graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Marketing.
Drew Bates
Drew Bates is beginning her 3rd year as an Instructor and an Assistant at the Studio. She was a former student as well as a TNT Dancer for 11 years. She will also serve as Assistant Director for the Intermediate TNT Dancers. Bates graduated from Texas A & M with a B.S. in Recreational, Park and Tourism Sciences and a Certificate in Event Management and Youth Development. She also graduated from TWU where she got her Master’s Degree in Child Life Specialty. She served as an Officer for the Kilgore High School Hi-Steppers.
Rachel Hurt
Rachel Hurt is beginning her second year as an Instructor and Assistant at the studio. Clower is a former TNT and TGD Dancer. She also served as Lieutenant of the Kilgore High School Hi-Steppers. She is a former Rangerette and Swingster for the 79th line of the World Famous Kilgore College Rangerettes. Clower received her Bachelor’s Degree from TCU in May of ’21. She will be teaching multiple classes with us as well as assisting with the Junior and Senior TNT Dancers.
Caitlin “KK” Bailey
Caitlin “KK” Bailey is beginning her 19th year at the Studio and third year as our Head Dance Assistant. Bailey also teaches multiple classes at the studio. She was a former TNT Dancer and will serve as Assistant Director of the Mini and Elementary TNT Dancers. She is currently working towards achieving her Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology at UT Tyler in hopes to attend Physical Therapy school.
Information
East Texas Dance Company offers a wide range of dance classes and services including dance, drill preparation and competition teams for the people of East Texas. We provide our new clients with a free initial consultation to discuss our different classes and how we can best help them with their goals. Feel free to contact us for more information about our pricing, scheduling and classes
Competition Teams
We offer 6 Competitve Dance Teams:
Tot Team – Carli Howard Director
Mini Team – Carli Howard Director
Elementary Team – Carli Howard Director
Intermediate Team – Alexis Marjason Director
Junior Team – Alexis Marjason Director
Senior Team – Alexis Marjason Director
TRYOUTS FOR EACH TEAM ARE
HELD IN THE SPRING.