Farrah Olson is a San Antonio native and has been performing and dancing since she was five years old. Farrah has extensive background in Ballet, Jazz, lyrical and modern. Farrah was a member of the world famous Kilgore College Rangerettes. During her time as a Rangerette, she had the privilege of performing at many incredible events, which included: a performance for President Clinton, Ms Texas Pageant, Chingay Celebration in Singapore, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Cotton Bowl Halftime Performance, Fiesta Bowl Game and Parade and many others. She was also on staff with Showmakers of America for eight years, teaching and choreographing at camps and workshops for high school dance teams throughout Texas. Farrah developed and created the Showmakers technique curriculum. Farrah also worked exclusively under her mentor and friend Dominick Defranco as his assistant at the Broadway Dance Center in New York and with the New Jersey Nets Dancers. Later Farrah went on to dance with Ballet California in Santa Rosa California. While in California she had the opportunity to train and work with some of the best jazz and hip hop teachers such as Johnnie Smith, Eddie Garcia, Joaquin Escamilla, Doug Caldwell, Joelle Martinec, and Bill Hotaling. After training, performing and choreographing in California, Farrah returned to San Antonio and was a member of the San Antonio Spurs Silver Dancers, performing at halftime performances, commercials, and many related events. Farrah was also selected to travel with the Spurs to Milan Italy to perform in the Basketball World Championship. Farrah has choreographed and taught for many studios, high schools, universities and professional organizations such as the New Jersey Nets Dancers, Power and Motion, SA Spurs Silver Dancers, and the Texas Jubilee. Farrah became the owner and director of the American Dance Co. in 2000. She is very passionate about training and encouraging her students to be the very best that they can be. Farrah’s students have received scholarships at workshops and conventions like Tremaine, Jump, Urbann Jamm, Celebrity, VIP, NYCDA, and many more. Her students have also gone on to study and train at top dance schools such as Oklahoma City University, Western Michigan University, University of Texas, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech, and New York University. Farrah is the creator and director of the San Antonio Dance Troupe, which is a semi-professional organization providing, competition and performs opportunities for elite dancers. Farrah is the also the mother of three beautiful children and serves as the Director of American Dance Co.
Brittany Pittman began dancing shortly before her 2nd birthday and began competing at age 4, with CoMotion Dance Company. At age 12 she became a member of RPM Youth Tap Ensemble under the direction of Barbara Philips. Since joining the company, she has had the privilege of studying with dance greats such as Barbara Philips, Arthur Duncan, Dianne Walker, Harold Cromer, Derick Grant, and Step Afrika as well as many others great artists. Brittany is currently a senior at the University of the Incarnate Word, studying for a degree in Fashion Management with a concentration in Merchandising. She is currently a member of the Fashion Society and Fashion Group International. Brittany is very grateful and appreciative for the opportunities to perform and learn from such amazing teachers. “Tap is not just show business anymore; it is an art form with elastic boundaries. There is room and time on the concert stage to take risks and expand into the future while paying tribute to our traditions.” – Brenda Bufalino
Lauren Gawlik was born in San Antonio TX and began her dance training at the age of 3 years old. Lauren studied all areas of dance including Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, and Contemporary. She grew up dancing in the competition and convention circuit where she won many scholarships and awards including those from Showstoppers, Rainbow, Encore, TATD, NYCDA, JUMP, and Dance Olympus. Through conventions and master classes, Lauren has had the opportunity to study under many well known choreographers including Mia Michaels, Wade Robson, Dee Caspary, Dan Karaty, Brian Freidman, Joe Tremaine, and Barbara Ryan Phillips. Lauren attended the North East School of the Arts where she participated in dance shows and musical theatre productions. While at NESA, her student choreography pieces were chosen to be in the annual dance shows, and during her senior year she was selected to teach dance classes to the Reagan and Roosevelt High School dance teams. She graduated as a dance major from NESA and received a dance scholarship to Point Park University in Pittsburg, PA, where she majored in dance. Lauren lived in Seoul, South Korea for a year, where she taught and performed with the professional contemporary company Soo Dance Company. She was the dance director of the Yongsan Players, an international musical theatre group based in South Korea. She considers her year in Korea an invaluable experience because it made her realize her love of dance extended into choreographing and teaching dance. Lauren now lives full time in San Antonio, TX with her one-year-old son, Colton and looks forward to continuing to spread her love of dance to our youth and community.
Brazlee Guido started dancing at the age of 3 in San Antonio, Texas. She has trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, lyrical, pointe, tap, and clogging. At the age of 12, she joined the San Antonio Dance Troupe, which provided her with the opportunity to perform and train in and around the San Antonio area. She has competed and placed in many regional and national competitions, and has received scholarships at Urban Jamm and Tremaine dance conventions. Brazlee has also studied with Ballet Austin. She has spent the last three years training in New York City while completing her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at New York University. During her time in New York, she was an intern at Broadway Dance Center and worked administratively for Peridance Capezio Center. Brazlee has returned to San Antonio to teach and assist administratively at American Dance Company.
Alex Guiffre started dancing when she was four years old and at the age of 17 she moved to Seattle to train with Pacific Northwest Ballet, one of the top 5 ballet companies in the United States. She also trained at the School of American Ballet in New York and with famous teachers including Suzanne Farell, Jillana, Stanley Holden, and Merril Ashley. She apprenticed with Ballet Idaho for one season and then danced with the Montgomery Ballet for three years where she performed in leading roles such as the Nutcraker, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, and various original works. She later moved to San Antonio where she danced with Ballet San Antonio. Ms. Guiffre has been teaching for seven years.
Kim Clay holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Sam Houston State University and has studied under Jennifer Pontius, Dana Nicholay, Jonathan Charles, Bill Evans, Kista Tucker, Melissa Wynn and Dr. Cindy Gratz. She was invited to perform her independent choreography as a featured concert soloist in the American College Dance Festival in Birmingham, Alabama. She has performed with Six Flags Theme Park as a dancer, Holland America Cruise lines as a dancer/singer, and has recently been accepted in the Graduate program at Sam Houston State University where she will be pursuing her Masters of Fine Arts in Dance beginning this fall. Kimberly hopes to dance and explore her craft for as long as she lives, and is so very blessed to have already been pursuing this dream for nearly twenty-five years.