Courtney Lopez - Director

Courtney holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre and Dance from the University of Texas.
She has trained under Yacov Sharir, David Justin, Lyn Wiltshire, Andrea Beckham, Kent De Spain, Andee Scott, and Holly Williams and has attended and participated in master classes taught by Alvin Ailey Dance Company, Delfos Contemporary Dance Company, Jose Limon Dance Company and Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Dance Company, Brian Burks & Mia Michaels.
  • Instructor for Focus Summer Dance Intensive for Austin’s Dance Elite Company members which helps the students find discipline, focus, and proper dance technique.
  • Choreographer for professional and pre-professional dance companies some to include Austin’s Dance Elite, Verge Dance Company and Millennium Dancers.
  • On  staff at Alisa's Dance Academy, High Pointe Children's Academy and Debbie's Studio of Creative Motion.

Amy Mersmann-Martinez - Owner

Amy founded Cedar Park Dance Company in July of 2001 with the hope to share her passion and love of dance with the Cedar Park community.  She brings with her  20 years of dance training and over 15 years of teaching experience.  Amy received a dance team scholarship and continued her dance education at Southwest Texas State University.
  • On staff at Unique` Dance from 1988-1994
  • On staff at Columbus Dance Studio from 1996-1997
  • Owner of Liberty Hill Dance 2004-2006
  • Member of TDEA, Texas Dance Educator's Association
  • Founder and Director of the award-winning Starline Dancers.
  • Co-Director of  Liberty Hill Middle School's Dance Team 2005-2007.

Amberlee Cantrell

Amberlee is a 6th year staff member with Cedar Park Dance Company.
Holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of North Texas. While attending North Texas, she received numerous dance scholarships and became the University Ambassador for the dance department.
  • Danced in the Lone Star Ballet's production of the Nutcracker for 13 years while studying classical ballet and jazz from artistic directors Neil and Camille Hess.
  • Former Radio City Rockette.
  • Danced with the Dallas Black Dance Theatre
  • Currently dances professionally with Ballet East. www.balleteast.org
  • Amberlee's favorite roles and performances include:
"Cassie" in "A Chorus Line"
"Fiddler on the Roof"
"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the
Forum"
Amberlee teaches classical ballet and pointe at Cedar Park Dance Company.  She also continues to perform and choreograph for Ballet East.

Nancy Bain  

Nancy Bain has been a dance instructor for Cedar Park Dance Co. for 3 years, developing programs at Kids-R-Kids and Primrose Pre-Schools. Ms. Bain holds a M.A. Degree in Dance Education from New York University and has taught children dance for over 35 years. Before moving to Austin in 2001, she taught in N.Y. City as a licensed dance teacher in public schools (including LaGuardia High School for Performing Arts) and as a teaching artist for several arts organizations. Ms. Bain has taught pre-school through college age, including at Queensborough Community College for 9 years. In Austin, she has worked as a  teaching artist for VSAarts of Texas programs in Austin ISD schools, teaching classes for developmentally delayed/ disabled children, and training teachers in movement for the classroom. She has also been the Dance Coordinator for the Twin Lakes YMCA, Cedar Park, since its opening. Ms. Bain is a choreographer and shows her work through Austin Independent Choreographers. She has choreographed for Leander High School drama department and Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Austin. In New York, she performed with various professional modern dance companies before running her own company, IdeaDance-Nancy & Co. Dancers, for 13 years. Ms. Bain studied with legendary modern choreographer, Hanya Holm, as well as Hawkins, Graham, Limon and Horton techniques with manyfamous dancers, and spent a year studying at the Royal Ballet School in London. Ms. Bain is the mother of 2 young men, ages 16 and 20, and is also a Parent Support Specialist for Round Rock ISD, at Westwood High School.
famous dancers, and spent a year studying at the Royal Ballet School in London. Ms. Bain is the mother of 2 young men, ages 16 and 20, and is also a Parent Support Specialist for Round Rock ISD, at Westwood High School.


Corban McNeil

Corban will be joining us for her first year at Cedar Park Dance Company.  She holds a Bachelors in Dance Education from the University of Central Oklahoma.  She has trained under Gary Hubler, Robyn Comers, Jennifer Medina, Hui Ca Poos, Shelly Beech, Tina Harbour and Jamie Jacobson and has attend and participated in master classes taught by Mia Michaels, Mandy Moore, Rhonda Miller, Barry Youngblood, Keith Clifton and Ron K. Brown.
  • Choreographer and Dancer for American College Dance Festival Association Gala
  • Dancer for the Weird Al Yancovich Tour
  • Instructor and Choreographer for Alisa's Dance Academy and Austin's Dance Elite
  • Member and Choreographer for multiple dance companies to include Kaleidoscope Dance Company and Verge Dance Company
  • Captain of the Varsity and Jr. Varsity Bartlesville Pom Squad
Corban will be teaching ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary as well as working with the Starline and Envision teams. We are thrilled to have Corban on staff!!!




Jenny Garcia

Jenny is a 8th year staff member at Cedar Park Dance Company.
  • Former member of the Trinity Valley Community College Drill Team.
  • Former member of the Blinn College Dance Team.
  • Former Leander High School Blue Belle.
  • Former dance instructor for the Round Rock Independant School District.
  • Member of the Texas Dance Educator's Association.
  • Owner of "Libery Hill Dance" 2004-2006
  • Director of the Liberty Hill Middle School Dance Team 2005-present
  • Co-Director of the Liberty Hill High School "Liberty Belles" Dance team

Heather Hardesty

Heather is a 4th year staff member at Cedar Park Dance Company. 
She began teaching at the age of 16 and has shared her love of dance to children for over 13 years.
Holds a BA degree in Public Relations and Dance from Texas Tech University.
  • On staff with Jeannie Strain @ Calico Kids in Garland, TX
  • On staff with Tracey Foster @ Struts &  Co. (now Studio 511) in McKinney, TX
  • Developed her own dance program for the YMCA of Greater Williamson Co.
  • Owner of Kinderdance of Round Rock.
  • Has trained under top dancers and choreographers in the industry:  Joe Tremaine, Doug Caldwell, Laurie Johnson, George Smallwood, Diana Moore, Germaine Dupree, Rhapsody, Gino Johnson and David Kellog
  • Performance credits include:  Ballet Lubbock's "Boots and Ballerinas" and "Nutcracker"
  • TTU's "Coppellia" and Choreographer's Showcase.
Heather will be teaching Hip-Hop, Jazz, Tap, Combos and is the co-director of the Starline Dance Teams. She lives with her husband of 6 years in Round Rock, TX.

Laura Laughlin

Laura has been on staff at Cedar Park Dance Company for 4 years.  She is currently working towards a Bachelors degree in Education.  Laura continues her training a workshops and conventions. 

  • 15 years of studio training.
  • Co-Director of LHS Liberty Belles Dance Team.
  • Former Leander High School Blue Belle.
  • Award-winning choreographer for the Starline Dance Team.
  • Award-winning choreographer for the Envision Dance Company

Leslie Garcia

With over 25 years of experience, Leslie has studied under many master instructors and choreographers in Jazz, Modern/Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop/Funk, Ballet, Tap, Breakdancing, and Cardio-Fitness. She also has 8 years experience in professional music editing for dance teams, industry performances, studios and competitions.
Working with youth to adults, Leslie is widely known her unique cutting-edge dance style and award-winning choreography with amateur and professional dance/drill teams and cheer squads across the U.S. and dance competitions nationwide. She has made a huge name for herself as an instructor and choreographer in Texas as well as her creative and entertaining music editing.  Nicknamed "The First Lady of Hip Hop and Street Jazz" by the Austin dance industry, Leslie is mostly known for her incredible musicality and creativity in Hip Hop, Street Jazz, and Jazz Funk. But she also continues to stand out of the crowd with her strong and emotional Contemporary Jazz style as well.
  • Sea World-Dancer, Choreographer
  • San Antonio Spurs Pre-Show and Halftime-Choreographer
  • Music Producer, Paul C.-Choreographer
  • Dennis Quaid Charity Weekend-Dancer, ChoreographerDennis Quaid Charity Weekend-Dancer, Choreographer
  • 96.7 KISS FM-Dancer
  • Austin Rocker's-Choreographer
  • KVUE/ABC News Austin-Dancer
  • KXAN/NBC News Austin-Dancer
  • KEYE/CBS News Austin-Dancer



STAFF:
 
Amy Martinez
Courtney Lopez
Lauren Caffey
Amberlee Cantrell
Jennifer Garcia
Corban McNeil
Megan Mulvihill
Leslie Garcia
Will Walker
Heather Hardesty
Nancy Bain