Mrs. Kelsea-Janenne Bucher
Director
Our director, Kelsea Bucher, has over 20 years experience as a dance educator. She has been on the faculty of Broadway Dance Center and PeriDance in NYC, as well as Impulstanz in Austria. She served as Artistic Director and lead instructor for New Hopewell School of the Arts and STARS Theatre and Dance Academy. She owned and operated her own successful studio in New Jersey for 6 seasons before moving back to San Antonio in 2015. She most recently completed her 10th season as the owner and operator of Stone Oak Dance Academy.
A native Texan, she began her training at her Mother’s dance studio. When the family relocated to New York, she went on to train and perform with the School of American Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Broadway Dance Center, and NYU/CAP 21 Musical Theater Program. She is a well-rounded performer, versed in many styles of dance. She has been a member of a National Titled Clogging Team and a Musical Theatre Touring Performance Troupe. She has appeared professionally in the US and abroad with several ballet and contemporary dance companies. She has performed, choreographed and directed Off-Broadway and for regional musical theater performances, on TV and in film. Her dance company, New York Performers Project was featured in the International Dance Festival-NYC and the World Dance Congress in Cyprus.
Kelsea Bucher is an Acrobatic Arts certified instructor an established choreographer, adjudicator and educator, Mrs. Bucher, along with her professional faculty, is dedicated to ensuring your child receives the highest quality of dance education in a nurturing environment.
Mr. Kevin Brewster
Instructor
Breakdance and Hip Hop “Dancing is my spiritual outlet. My dance style is Breakin'(breakdancing) I use it to get through the rough times in my life. I also use my talents teach others. Their joy for the art form enriches my life. In the future I hope to spread my knowledge of dance to underserved areas of the world.”
2025-2026 Classes
Monday
Hip Hop Level 9 Ages 15 & Up from 8:30-9:30pm
Miss. Neenah Cruz
Instructor
Neenah has been dancing since the age of two when she quickly discovered her love for the performing arts. She began teaching and instructing her own classes at the age of 15. Neenah has worked and trained with numerous choreographers throughout the East Coast, winning multiple awards and titles nationwide. One that stands out is her recognition from the United States Tournament of Dance where she received the all-around “Judges Award of Excellence”. Neenah was chosen to be a part of two U.S. dance teams nationally and internationally.
Throughout her teen years she performed at places including Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, Magic Kingdom, Universal Studios, for Fox News, the WNBA, & NBA. The International U.S. Dance Team oaered her the opportunity to perform at the “World Dance Show” in Riesa, Germany competing against 30 other countries. It was there that Neenah became the World Silver Medalist for her solo in the open category as well as a World Silver Medalist in the duet category for her tap duet. It was the experience of a lifetime!In the last 10 years she has received multiple choreography and entertainment awards. Her choreography has gone undefeated at the Regional and National level for the past few years, making her dancers undefeated National Title Champions. In recent months, her choreography received “stand out”, “entertainment”, “spotlight”, and “choreography” awards from Artists Simply Human convention and competition. Her hip hop choreography was also selected to compete at PRELUDE Hip Hop competition.
Neenah’s teaching style focuses on creating a positive, disciplined, and inspiring environment where each student can thrive. She sets clear goals and high expectations, encouraging students to challenge themselves while honoring their individual pace and progress. Through nurturing guidance and constructive feedback, Neenah helps dancers develop not only technical skill but also artistic expression. Most importantly, she strives to build their confidence in and out of the classroom. Her 19 years of teaching has led her to many places but wherever she lands, she plans to utilize her experiences and skillset to make a positive impact on the youth in the community.
2025-2026 Classes
Monday
Jazz Level 3/4 Ages 7-10 from 4:45-5:30pm
Jazz Level 9 Ages 15 & Up from 6-7:30pm
Jazz Level 7/8 Ages 12-14 from 8-9:30pm
Tuesday
Hip Hop Level 1 Ages 5-6 from 5:30-6:15pm
High School Jazz Ages 15 & Up from 6:30-7:30pm
Contemporary Level 5/6 Ages 9-11 from 7:30-8:30pm
Leaps & Tuens Level 9 Ages 15 & Up from 8:30-9:30pm
Wednesday
Hip Hop Level 3/4 Ages 7-10 from 5:30-6:15pm
Leaps & Turns Level 7/8 Ages 12-14 from 6:30-7:30pm
Middle School Jazz Ages 11-13 from 7:30-8:30pm
Thursday
Hip Hop Level 5/6 Ages 9-11 from 4:30-5:30pm
Intermediate Acro from 5:30-6:30pm
Hip Hop Level 7/8 Ages 12-14 from 6:30-7:30pm
Advanced Acro from 7:30-8:30pm
2025-2026 SODA/Bracken Competition Team, Duet, Trio, & Soloist Choreographer
Available to choreographer High School & Middle School dance team solos, duets, & trios as well as for technique privates in Acro, Jazz, Contemporary/Lyrical, Hip Hop, Tap, and Leaps & Turns email neenah6290@gmail.com for more information.
Miss. Reisa DiNatale
Instructor
Reisa DiNatale, from San Antonio, Texas is an alumni of Texas State University, recently graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Arts degree in Dance, with a focus in performance and choreography. She has been dancing since the age of two, and has trained at multiple studios in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and most recently Texas at Kathy Marfin’s Dance School under the Leading Edge Dance Company. She competed in dance competitions for about 10 years throughout her life at both regional and national competitions, training heavily in ballet, modern, jazz and tap. Along with that, she participated in a pre-professional dance company called Summerge in 2021, performing in the first Semilla festival, and was a member of Merge Dance Company, affiliated with the Texas State Dance Division and university for two years (2021-2023) learning from choreographers Ana Baer, Christa Oliver, Torens Johnson, Francisco Graciano, Brandon Gonzales, Heike Salzer, and Michelle Nance. While in Merge, Reisa not only danced, but served as the social media manager for the 2022-2023 company, promoting the show and the company as a whole. Her most recent accomplishment is choreographing an adjudicated piece titled “Hivemind” that performed at the American College Dance Association (ACDA) Southwest Conference at UT Austin. Before this she choreographed her BFA senior thesis piece titled “Lost in the Crowd,” with a cast of 19 dancers. In the years before these accomplishments she had choreographed three collaborative pieces with Alexzandria Turley at Texas State University, and one with Kamryn Bowling, and also choreographed her debut group piece, “Breezeblock.” She now plans to continue her journey of creating pieces. Reisa hopes to perform for a few years following her graduation from college, and hopes to choreograph professionally as much as possible. Along with her love of performing dance, she also has experience teaching the art form. Reisa has taught at Kathy Marfin’s Dance School with students ages 3-10 years old in ranging styles like ballet, jazz, hip hop and tap. Most recently she received a guest choreography job at The Dance Gallery in Round Rock, Texas choreographing a contemporary piece on their competitive senior company. She has also received her 200 hour Hatha yoga teaching certification under the guidance of Becky Jordan and Misti Galvan to add diversity to her teaching capabilities, which she is currently pursuing at the Thousand Oaks Family YMCA in San Antonio, TX.
2025-2026 SODA/Bracken Competition Team, Duet, Trio, & Soloist Choreographer.
Available to choreographer High School & Middle School dance team solos, duets, & trios email rdin2727@yahoo.com for more information.
Miss. Emily Mendoza
Instructor
With 16 years of diverse dance training, Emily Mendoza brings passion, experience, and versatility to every class. A recent graduate of the North East School of the Arts, Emily just completed her technical studio training at Jen’s Dance Spot and is continuing her artistic journey at Texas State University, pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance.
Over the years, Emily has trained extensively in ballet, pointe, tap, hip-hop, contemporary, lyrical, flamenco, folklórico, drill team, tumbling, and more. She’s performed with the children’s San Antonio Ballet and on professional stages including Six Flags Fiesta Texas and SeaWorld San Antonio. In 2016, she earned first place performer at Celebrities Nationals at Sea.
Emily’s teaching experience includes being an assistant instructor at Sarita’s Dance Studio and a substitute teacher at Alamo Heights Dance Academy. Most recently, Emily has made the professional cheerleading team for the San Antonio Caballeros football team and was a member of the Royal Ruby Varsity Dance Team during her freshman year/sophomore year.
Recognized for her talent and dedication, Emily was accepted into top dance programs across the country including Point Park University, Pace University, Hofstra University, Columbia College Chicago, and more. Emily is thrilled to share her love for dance and help the next generation of dancers grow both technically and artistically.
2025-2026 Classes
Monday
Leaps & Turns Level 5/6 from 4:15-5pm
Contemporary Level 9 Ages 15 & Up from 7:30-8:30pm
Thursday
Middle School Dance Team Skills from 5:30-6:30pm
Jazz 5/6 from 6:30-7:30pm
High School Dance Team Skills from 7:30-8:30pm
2025-2026 SODA/Bracken Competition Team Rehearsal Director
Available for technique privates in Jazz, Contemporary/Lyrical, Dance Team Skills, and Leaps & Turns email emilymdance2006@gmail.com for more information.
Miss. Francesca Napiltonia
Instructor
Francesca has trained in rigorous ballet programs for 18 years training under world-renowned Ballet instructors such as Nikoloz Makhateli (National Opera House and Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg Russia), Misha Tchoupakov (Bolshoi ballet, Russia), Natalia Bashkatova (Bolshoi ballet), Lauren Ader-Cumston (Ballet 5:8) and Vanessa Bessler (National ballet of Panama).
Francesca is passionate about both dance and teaching, and she strives to share her knowledge and love of dance with her students by creating a supportive and disciplined learning environment where students feel valued, and capable by focusing on improving student’s technique and skills. she believes that it is important to teach students valuable life skills such as discipline, perseverance, and teamwork.
Francesca has studied and trained the Vagonava and royal ballet teaching method for 9 years performing in The Nutcracker, Don Quioxte, Cinderella, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, and Dracula. She is Certified in Teaching Vagonava Ballet Method, Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), Pointe work, Contemporary, Acrobatics, Leaps and Turns, and Jazz.
She has attended numerous competitions holding titles and summer Intensive opportunities to multiple schools such as Louisville Ballet, Charlotte Ballet Academy, Sacramento Ballet, Kansas City Ballet , Colorado Ballet Academy, Cincinnati Ballet, School of Philadelphia Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, and Orlando Ballet.
2025-2026 Classes
Monday
Processing Ballet Technique Level 5/6 Ages 9-11 from 5:00-6pm
Ballet Level 7/8 Ages 12-14 from 6-7:30pm
Pointe (Ballet 7/8 and PBT are required for this class) Ages 12-14 from 7:30-8pm
Tuesday
Ballet Level 5/6 Ages 9-11 from 5:30-7pm
Pre-Pointe (Ballet 5/6 and PBT are required for this class) Ages 9-11 from 7-7:30pm
PBT Level 9 Ages 15 & Up from 7:30-8:30pm
Wednesday
Ballet Level 9 Ages 15 & Up from 6:30-8pm
Pointe (Ballet 9 and PBT are required for this class) Ages 15 & Up from 8-8:30pm
Available for technique privates in Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary/Lyrical, PBT, & Leaps & Turns email francesca.anastasia04@gmail.com for more information.
Miss. Chloe Quinn
Instructor/Front Desk Manager
Chloe has been dancing since the age of 3. She began her training in Dallas at Townsen Dance Studio then continued at Dance Expressions, moving to San Antonio when she was 11 years old, she joined Stone Oak Dance Academy to continue her training in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Acrobatics, Hip Hop, and Lyrical. Chloe was a member of the SODA Company competing at many local and national competitions as well as dance conventions from 2019-2025. She became an assistant teacher in 2020 then a teacher in 2022. Chloe has received numerous Acrobatic Arts Certifications (Assistant Teacher, Pre-School Teacher, and Module 1 Teacher) and most recently obtained her PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique) Certification as well. Chloe enjoys sharing her love of dance with all her students and is excited to be joining the Bracken Dance Academy faculty.
2025-2026 Classes
Monday
Creative Movement Level 1 Ages 2-3 from 4-4:45pm
Creative Movement Level 2 Ages 3-4 from 4:45-5:30pm
Creative Movement Level 3 Ages 4-5 from 5:30-6:15pm
Tuesday
Combo Level 1 (Ballet & Tap) Ages 5-6 from 4-4:45pm
Primary Acro Ages 5-6 from 4:45-5:30pm
Wednesday
Beginner Acro from 4:30-5:30pm
Advanced Beginner Acro from 5:30-6:30pm
Middle School Ballet Ages 11-13 from 6:30-7:30pm
Progressing Ballet Technique Level 7/8 Ages 12-14 from 7:30-8:30pm
Thursday
Combo Level 2 (Ballet & Tap) Ages 6-7 from 4:15-5:00pm
Basic Acro Ages 6-7 from 5:00-5:45pm
Hip Hop Level 2 Ages 6-7 from 5:45-6:15pm
2025-2026 SODA/Bracken Competition Team Assistant Choreographer
Available for technique privates in Acro, Jazz, Contemporary/Lyrical, PBT, & Leaps & Turns email chloequinndance@gmail.com for more information.