Stagedoor Faculty - Staff

Our staff

Joanna Bennett/Owner & Director - Prior to earning a BA degree from SMU, Ms. Bennett was active not only in SMU's Dance Department productions, but the Theatre Department's as well. With over twenty-five years teaching experience, she began her dance training in Galveston, having taught for local studios in that area as well as being involved in the Galveston Community Theatre. Before becoming the studio's Owner/Director in 1990, she was the previous owner's principal instructor. The studio has been in continuous operation for over forty-five years.

Over the years, Ms. Bennett's students have been scholarship recipients to the Oklahoma City University Dance Department, as well as numerous scholarships from AFGM Dancin', Starlight Productions, Dance Caravan, Break the Floor Productions, Tremaine Dance Conventions, Encore Preforming Arts Showcase, Gregg Russell's 3-D Network and the Retter Academy of Dance in Agora Hills, California. Several students have toured as Caravan Kids on summer national tour. In addition, several of the studio's assistants and competitive level dancers have participated in Hollywood Choreographer Debbie Allen's annual Summer Dance Intensive, Broadway Dance Center Summer Intensive, St. Louis Summer Tap Festival and Oklahoma City University's High School Dance Intensive.Former students have served as dance instructors in Duncanville, Georgetown,Oklahoma City, Florida and Nevada. Many have continued in dance programs and on dance teams at SMU, Texas Tech, A&M, TCU, OCU and Kilgore.

Prior to obtaining her bachelor of science degree, former student Amanda Green was a member of the SMU Dance Team which was ranked #1 in the Open Line Division at the 2008 and 2009 NDA Collegiate Dance Championships which were held in Daytona Beach, Florida.  While in graduate school, Amanda is on staff with National Dance Alliance (NDA) as an instructor.  2009 Graduate Saxon Wilson was one of fifty dancers attending by invitation the Broadway Dance Center Summer Intensive with Rhonda Miller.  2008 Graduate, Catherine Samson, currently attends the University of Notre Dame and is active as a performer and choreographer in their annual Dance Showcase as well as their Irish Dance program.  Senior company members were also awarded the Fred Nevius Overall High Score Award at the 2009 Teen Talent Follies in Arlington.

Sarah Samson Miller - Having received all of her formative training at Stagedoor, Sarah obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Dance Management from Oklahoma City University.  An academic, as well as performance scholarship recipient, she was a member of their nationally recognized program and performed with the acclaimed American Spirit Dance Company. As a student, she was a frequent dance captain and served in roles such as stage manager and assistant stage manager. 

Sarah was on staff at All That Dance Studio in Moore, Oklahoma for three years where she choreographed several award winning routines for their Junior Company.  Her choreography was seen in competitions throughout Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri.  Sarah has also assisted Los Angeles based choreographers Darryl Retter, Rhonda Miller, and Laurie Johnson during master classes held in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.  She was featured in the Sept./2003 issue of Dancer Magazine as an upcoming young dancer in their "In The Spotlight" section.  During the summer of 2005, she also studied at the St. Louis Annual Tap Festival.

She is credited with our numerous Overall Performance Awards in the Teen and Senior Solo and Duet/Trio Divisions for the past six competition seasons. During the Summers of 2006, 2007, and 2008 Sarah's choreography swept the Senior Tap Duet/Trio category at Tremaine/Dallas, receiving 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. During the 2006 Stage One Nationals, again, her choreography was awarded 1st Place Overall Performance in the Teen Duet/Trio Category.  During the 2009 Stage One Nationals, her senior dancers were awarded overall high scoring senior small group.  At the Summer 2010 Tremaine regionals in Dallas, her choreography swept the Teen Jazz Duet/Trio category receiving 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place and her senior group had the high scoring routine in both the tap and lyrical categories.  Sarah has also worked with the award winning Burleson High School color guard as their choreographer during the 2010 - 2011 season.

Sarah currently works with all ages and levels of our students, both Recreational and Competitive, and has taken courses to obtain her secondary teaching certification in dance.

Mariah Miller - Mariah is a 2008 Mansfield High School graduate who began her dance training at Stagedoor as a preschooler.  Mariah assisted in classes for four years before becoming an instructor.  As a student she was an active participant in our competitive companies, competiting at the regional and national levels as well as attending conventions and master classes in the area.  Mariah is currently a Senior Advertising Major at the Dallas Art Institute.  In addition to teaching at the studio she works as a Graphic Designer for Tiger Tails in Mansfield.  Her artwork can be seen on our Company t-shirts as well as on many dance and cheer team attire throughout the state.

Tricia Steinberg - Tricia's training began at the studio as a Kindergarten student.  She ws an active participant in our performing and competitive companies.  Her 2009 tap quartet was ranked first place overall at the Stage One Nationals.  She began assisting in classes as a middle school student.  Currently a political science major at UTA, we are glad to have Tricia join our staff!

 

Assistants

Members of our Teen and Senior Competition groups serve as teacher assistants in most of our classes, providing that "extra help" that is often needed.