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Meet the Staff
Alicia McGee is the owner and founder of Precision Dance Academy, which she established in 2006. With a lifelong passion for dance and education, Alicia began training at age five in various dance styles and gymnastics, achieving success in competitive dance and later training at renowned institutions like Broadway Dance Center, The Edge, and Hubbard Street Dance. She performed professionally with Houston-based companies and discovered her love for teaching at a young age, launching her own competitive team at 16.
Alicia’s students have won numerous awards and have been accepted into prestigious programs, including Kinder HSPVA and American Ballet Theater’s JKO School. An accomplished choreographer, Alicia is highly sought after by drill teams for officer choreography, with her work consistently recognized for its creativity and excellence.
In 2023, Alicia had the unique opportunity to choreograph and help direct the Power Play Dance Party video exhibit for the Houston Children’s Museum, combining her love of movement, education, and community engagement in an innovative and interactive experience.
Dedicated to continuous learning and technique, Alicia strives to nurture her students into confident, well-rounded adults. Her faith in Christ and desire to share His love remain central to her mission. Alicia also adores her husband and two daughters, who have supported her throughout the entire journey of building the studio, and she treasures watching them grow and mature.
Randi is deeply passionate about training and nurturing young minds. From an early age, her grandparents inspired her to care for and support her younger cousins and neighborhood children. Embracing this challenge sparked her enthusiasm for working with children and the elderly.
With more than ten years of experience as a preschool teacher and an associate degree in early childhood development, Randi’s professional background also includes office management, record keeping, and collections.
Her infectious smile creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and her ability to step up and take the lead with grace and confidence inspires trust and admiration. Randi’s genuine, kind, and loving nature allows her to effortlessly connect with others, making students and parents alike feel valued and understood.
Raised in the vibrant Houston/Galveston area, Samantha’s journey began with a passion for dance that ignited at the tender age of three. Her early start led to a competitive dance career throughout her high school years, laying a strong foundation for her future endeavors. Samantha pursued higher education at the University of Houston – Clear Lake, earning a Master of Science in Professional Accounting and obtaining her CPA license. Alongside her academic achievements, she trained with industry professionals such as Mike Minery and Anthony Morigerato as well as many others, honing her skills and expanding her expertise. Her professional journey in dance began at age 15, where she started teaching and later became the assistant director and tap director at Precision Dance Academy. Over the course of more than a decade, Samantha’s dedication and creativity led to numerous award-winning routines, establishing her as a respected figure in the dance community. Currently, Samantha balances her career between teaching a few dance classes and focusing on her CPA career and family life. Her commitment to both fields reflects her versatile talents and dedication to her passions. Beyond her professional achievements, Samantha enjoys traveling and embarking on adventures with her husband and daughter. Her personal philosophy is grounded in the belief that "you will only get to where your efforts take you," a guiding principle that has shaped her approach to both her professional and personal life. Looking ahead, Samantha aspires to explore as much of the world as possible, continuing to blend her love for dance and accounting with her desire for global experiences.
Brooke Trahan is a passionate and dedicated dancer whose journey in the arts began at the age of three. Her early exposure to tap, jazz, and musical theatre set the foundation for a diverse and accomplished dance career.
Throughout her formative years, Brooke was an integral member of a prestigious competition team, earning numerous top-place awards and showcasing her talent and dedication. At the age of 15, she joined the Artistic Soul Dance Company, directed by Jade Whitmire, where her artistic growth flourished.
Brooke’s commitment to her craft has led her to train with renowned choreographers and Masters of Dance in New York, California, and Houston. She has studied under industry icons such as Anthony Morgerato, Jason Janas, Desiree Robbins, and Jade Whitmire, each contributing to her versatility and expertise.
Brooke’s passion for teaching began at 16 when she started instructing tap classes and choreographing for students aged 4 to 18. Today, she continues to inspire the next generation of dancers with her profound knowledge, creativity, and love for dance, encouraging them to follow their dreams and express themselves through movement.
RISA D’SOUZA is a Houston native, where she began her training in the MET too Youth Company, performing works by Pattie Obey and Kiesha White. She attended HSPVA and, in her senior year, had the opportunity to dance in Tidal Intersections by Katarzyna Skarpetowska with METdance in 2010. She holds a BFA in dance from Point Park University, where she performed works by Randy Duncan, Alejandro Cerrudo, Ohad Naharin, Toru Shimazaki, Doug Bentz, and Garfield Lemonius. Risa was awarded a scholarship to the 2013 Parsons Dance Summer Intensive. Upon graduation, she danced with Reed Dance, performing works by Terence Green and Christopher Huggins. Risa danced with METdance for five seasons, serving as company liaison in her final year and performing works by Kyle Abraham, Josh Manculich, Mario Zambrano, Rosie Herrera, Joshua Peugh, Camille A. Brown, Joe Celej, Larry Keigwin, Jess Hendricks, jhon stronks, Kiki Lucas, Katarzyna Skarpetowska, and many more. She debuted with the Houston Symphony in 2019. Risa has toured extensively, performing on stages such as the Inside/Out Stage at Jacob’s Pillow, Jo Long Theatre, Colorado Springs Theater, Arts Midwest Conference, Austin Dance Festival, Dallas Dance Fest, Green Box Arts Festival, Spring to Dance, Ohio Dance Festival, and Red Rocks Dance Festival. As a founding member of Houston Contemporary, Risa danced for three seasons, performing works by Sean Aaron Carmon, Robbie Moore, Jenn Mabus, Marlana Doyle, Hanna Brictson, and others. She continues to teach and choreograph throughout the Houston area and is excited to return to the stage in Houston Grand Opera's West Side Story!
Adrian Ciobanu was born in Cluj, Romania, where he graduated with honors from the Liceul de Choregrafie, Octavian Stroia, under the direction of his father, Florin Ciobanu. After performing with the Romanian Opera Ballet, he joined the Hungarian Opera Ballet for five years, achieving the rank of principal dancer and touring extensively throughout Europe. In 1996, Adrian joined the Sarasota Ballet, where he danced major principal roles and worked with world-renowned choreographers, developing a dynamic repertoire of classical and contemporary works. Beyond performing, he made a significant impact as the Principal of Academy at Sarasota Ballet, where his leadership doubled student enrollment and expanded the academy’s reach. Since moving to Houston, Adrian has served as Co-Director of Uptown Dance Centre and Uptown Dance Company, in addition to teaching at HSPVA and throughout the Greater Houston Area. His outreach efforts and dedication to ballet education reflect his passion for fostering talent and making the art form accessible to the community.
Kyla’s dance journey began at the age of 2, and she has continued her training every year since. After starting her studio training at Dancescape by Joyce, she transitioned to PDA, where she found her home. At 6, Kyla joined Precision’s Competitive Company and spent 8 years competing in styles like Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Jazz, and Hip Hop, earning numerous awards at local and national competitions.
Currently, Kyla is the Captain of the Dawson Diamonds Drill Team, leading performances and competitions across genres such as jazz, contemporary, pom, and more. She credits PDA’s exceptional training for her success as a drill team officer. In addition to her own training, Kyla teaches our Classic Cuties, Tap 1, and Ballet 2 classes, sharing her knowledge and love of dance with younger students.
Outside the Studio:
Kyla is equally accomplished academically. As a senior at Dawson High School, she ranks in the top 8% of her class, is a National Merit Commended Scholar, and serves as President of the Teen Executive Board of the South Belt Houston Chapter of Jack and Jill.
Kyla plans to pursue a degree in Biology with aspirations of attending medical school to become a Physician.
Dene has been dancing, performing, and teaching for the past 15 years across a wide range of styles. His dance journey began in the freestyle dance scene in Houston, where he learned street dance forms such as breaking and popping. During high school, he expanded his repertoire to include Hip Hop choreography, ballet, jazz, contemporary, and modern dance.
After graduating, Dene pursued his passion for dance at Sam Houston State University as a dance major, where he spent the next decade training under incredible instructors across various styles. As a Hip Hop dancer, Dene became a member of the world-famous crew Academy of Villains in Los Angeles, learning from industry icons like Pharside, Krystal Meraz, Baby Tight Eyez, Poppin Pete, Steve Lozano, and more.
Currently, Dene trains, competes with, and choreographs for the competition team BNDT, continuously striving to push his artistry to new heights.
Ashlynn grew up immersed in the world of competitive dance, where her love for the art flourished. With experience in studio dance, the drill team world, and as a former competitive gymnast, she brings a well-rounded approach to her teaching. Her dedication and talent have earned her numerous scholarships and accolades as a dancer, and she continues to inspire others through her work as an assistant for the Innovative Fusion Convention.
In addition to her accomplishments as a performer and teacher, Ashlynn has modeled for Weissman dance costumes, further connecting her to the dance industry. As an instructor, she is passionate about helping students build confidence, creativity, and discipline through movement.
Ashlynn is inspired by Psalm 149:3: "Let them praise His name with dancing." For her, dance is not only a beautiful art form but also a meaningful way to glorify God.
Madison Araiza, who goes by her last name “Araiza,” was born and raised in Houston, Texas, where her passion for dance began. Araiza is a movement artist, performer, and choreographer with a rich background in training, performing, and mentoring. From ages 12-18, she trained as a soloist at Vitacca Dance Project under the direction of Kelly Ann Vitacca and former Royal Ballet principal dancer Phillip Broomhead.
After graduating high school, Araiza attended The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where she refined her skills in various styles, including Gaga, Counter Technique, and Limon, working with esteemed instructors like Mario Zambrano, Joy Davis, and Kurt Douglas. She also collaborated with renowned choreographers such as Zoe Scofield, Stephanie Martinez, Uri Sands, and Jon Olestad. Araiza earned her degree from The Boston Conservatory in May of 2020.
Throughout her career, Araiza has expanded her training with prestigious programs across the U.S. and internationally, including Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Henry Jurriëns in Amsterdam, SALT Dance’s “LINK” program in Salt Lake City, and the Northwest Dance Project in Portland. She has performed original works by celebrated choreographers, including Nacho Duato, Ohad Naharin, Princess Grace Award Winner Omar Roman De Jesus, and Ihsan Rustem.
In 2022, Araiza joined Vancouver’s Lamondance professional contemporary company, performing with acclaimed artists like Nicolas Ventura and Alex Neoral during the company’s 14th season.
Now back in Houston, Araiza is a trainee with the Houston Contemporary Dance Company, a dance artist with Aufheben Dance Ensemble, and a dedicated teacher and mentor in the Houston area.
Originally born and raised in Houston, Texas, Laura began her dance training at the age of five. Following her passion, she attended The Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, where she studied ballet, modern, jazz, musical theatre, choreography, and improvisation.
After graduating in 2020, Laura expanded her artistry at the University of Texas at Austin, earning a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography with a minor in Arts Management and Administration. During her time at UT Austin, she performed in numerous mainstage works with the Dance Repertory Theatre and choreographed several pieces for Dance Action’s S.E.E.D (Students Exhibiting Experimental Dance).
Since graduating, Laura has performed with local Houston artists through Dance Source Houston. Outside of dance, she enjoys traveling the world, going on hikes, and cheering on the Texas Longhorns.
With years of teaching experience in gymnastics, Effie is committed to building self-confidence and a strong work ethic in her students while encouraging them to express themselves artistically. Her favorite part of teaching is seeing her students beam with pride as they master new skills.
Effie’s goal is to run engaging classes that prioritize safety and proper execution, creating a supportive environment where students can thrive. Her teaching philosophy is beautifully reflected in her favorite verse:
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Philippians 4:8, NIV)
Tori trained intensively at Kingwood Jazz Co. and Kingwood Dance Theatre before performing at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London for Dancers Responding to AIDS. She attended the prestigious Jacob’s Pillow summer intensive and trained under some of the dance world’s most renowned names. Following high school, Tori performed professionally as a Radio City Rockette and participated in major theatrical productions, including Spamalot (choreographed by Casey Nicholaw) and Fly (choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler).
Tori has over ten years of teaching experience, having taught in New York City and abroad. She traveled with NYLA Dance Conventions & Competitions, giving masterclasses across the country. In her classes, she focuses on dance fundamentals while encouraging individual expression and the joy of movement.