Meet the faculty

Alana Ralphs was born in California and raised in Texas, where her love for dance began at the age of five. Originally training in gymnastics, she was encouraged to take ballet to improve grace and artistry — and immediately fell in love with dance. She began her formal training at Lewisville Dance Academy before continuing her education at Ballet Conservatory, where she studied ballet, jazz, and modern dance. Throughout her training, Alana attended numerous summer intensives and performed in a wide variety of classical and contemporary productions, including The Nutcracker, The Little Match Girl, Alice in Wonderland, and excerpts from Swan Lake, Coppélia, Dracula, Giselle, The Little Mermaid, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty. At just 13 years old, Alana discovered her passion for teaching while student teaching at her studio. Since then, she has taught at studios throughout the area, dedicating herself to cultivating not only strong technique, but also a genuine love and appreciation for dance in her students. Alana is also a proud mother of six children, two of whom share her passion for dance: her daughter, Kaylee, enjoys both teaching and performing, while her son, Trevin, is a professional ballet dancer with Sarasota Ballet. Alana is excited to continue investing in the next generation of dancers as Artistic Director at The Dance Barre, where she looks forward to inspiring students through artistry, discipline, and a lifelong love of dance.

Seana Marie Martinez is a dynamic performer whose dance, vocal, and theatrical experience spans more than a decade of intensive training, stage work, and professional engagements. Born and raised in Texas, Seana began dancing at the age of three, developing into a versatile artist skilled in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and pointe. Her formal training began at Top Hat Dance Centre, where she was part of the elite dance company from 1988–1998, dancing competitively and in corporate shows for GTE, Home Realtors, and Columbia Medical. She performed in The Nutcracker Ballet of North Texas under Hugh Nini and continued her training at Dancin' Feet under Jana Block Mitchell and Malana Murphy from 1998–2001. Seana's foundation in the performing arts was strengthened through her years in the Marcus Varsity Show Choir, Singsations (1998–2002), and as a production member at Six Flags Over Texas, WOW Entertainment. She has competed at conventions and competitions including LA Dance Magic, New York City Dance Alliance, Tremaine, Star Power, and Star Light. Seana has taught since 2001 — at Top Hat Dance Center, where she started the Win Kids Dance Program, The Dance Space, the Ballet Academy of Texas in Coppell, and more. She resides in Highland Village with her husband Rick and their children, and loves sharing her passion for dance with the next generation of performers.

Alyssa Runyan began her formal dance training in Redmond at The Washington Academy of Performing Arts, where she studied under internationally recognized faculty including Deborah Hadley and Marissa Albee (PNB), Elaine Bauer, Marjorie Grundvig, and Dennis Marshall (Boston Ballet), Rachel Tudor (ABT), Suzanne Davis (Royal Ballet), Dora Manela (Theatro Municipal, Brazil), and Eva Stone (Eva Stone Dance). At age 15, she was awarded First Place at the Seattle Eastside Ballet Competition, and she continued her training at prestigious summer intensives with Boston Ballet, Ballet West, and Walnut Hill School for the Arts. At 17, Alyssa was invited by Bolshoi ballerina Viktoria Titova to perform in Paquita with City Opera Ballet in Seattle, and she later joined New Vision Dance Company as a soloist with roles created for her by choreographer Melissa Gould. In 2009, Alyssa graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Athletic Training, specializing in injury prevention, performing with two of the university's premier ballet and modern dance companies and touring throughout the United States and abroad in Beijing, Guangzhou, and Hangzhou. She became a Certified Athletic Trainer and worked in one of the nation's first university-based rehabilitation programs dedicated specifically to dancers. Certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), she integrates PBT methodology into her instruction to support technical development and injury prevention. Alyssa has taught across Washington, Utah, and Texas with extensive experience in all levels of ballet — including pointe, pas de deux, conditioning, choreography, and PBT — and her students have gone on to perform with Utah Metropolitan Ballet, Utah Regional Ballet, Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company, Disney Cruise Line, and Disney Theatrical Productions.

Gillian Brown grew up dancing first with the Ballet Conservatory in Lewisville, then with the Ballet Academy of Texas under the direction of Ballet Master Thom Clower and studio wonder Lisa Slagle. She attended multiple summer intensives during her high school dancing career, including Texas Ballet Theater and American Ballet Theater. Gillian holds a Bachelor of Science in Dance from Texas A&M, where she performed not only in student productions but also several times in the annual faculty concert, Perpetual Motion, working closely with faculty including Carolyn Pamplore-Rabbers, Christine Bergeron, Carisa Armstrong, and Jessica Boone. While attending Texas A&M, she spent three years teaching both ballet and contemporary at Suzanne's School of Dance, where she loved working with dancers and setting choreography for the studio's annual Christmas Jubilee and Spring Show. In Fall of 2026, Gillian will continue pursuing her dance education in the Master of Fine Arts program in Dance at Texas Woman's University, where she hopes to further develop her student-centered, anatomically-informed approach to teaching. Gillian is excited to begin her journey with The Dance Barre Co. alongside one of her first teachers, Alana Ralphs.

Kristin Watson brings an incredible mix of professional performance experience, leadership, and passion to the community. She is a two-time national hip-hop champion with the University of Memphis Dance Team and spent three years as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies NBA Dance Team. Her performance background also includes dancing for major artists and entertainment icons such as CeeLo Green, Snoop Dogg, the Jabbawockeez, and Three 6 Mafia. With years of experience in both performance and instruction, Kristin has dedicated her life to dance and to helping young dancers grow in confidence, skill, and artistry. She is passionate about creating a positive, empowering environment where students can thrive both on and off the dance floor — her favorite styles to teach are jazz, hip-hop, and technique classes for all ages. Outside the studio, Kristin is also a full-time hairstylist and a proud mom of four. For Kristin, dance isn't just something she does — it's life.

Molly Mattingly is an educator-turned-missionary who was born and raised in Flower Mound. She trained at Top Hat Dance Center for 13 years before joining the Marquettes at Marcus High School. Molly graduated in 2020 from Ouachita Baptist University with a degree in psychology and social justice. Even though she officially hung up her dance shoes in 2016, she continued performing and helping choreograph for university programs whenever she could. Today, Molly works for a nonprofit missions organization, leading trips around the world. Her favorite place growing up was her dance studio, and she is excited to return to the dance world and inspire young dancers through the same positive studio experience she loved as a child.

Brinley Tuma is the studio's front desk representative and resident substitute teacher, bringing both professionalism and a lifelong passion for dance. She has been dancing for 17 years and recently completed her first year in Texas Ballet Theater's Professional Training Division, where she refined her artistry and technique at a pre-professional level. Prior to joining Texas Ballet Theatre, Brinley trained for four years with the Ballet Academy of Texas, building a strong classical foundation and deep love for performance. She has also attended prestigious summer intensives with Orlando Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, and Texas Ballet Theatre. Brinley is excited to share her knowledge, enthusiasm, and positive energy with students and families both in the classroom and at the front desk.