Ms. Amy has been an instructor with Dance Academy of Mansfield since 2005 and has served as the Studio Director since 2014. She teaches and choreographs for all levels of ballet, tap, and jazz from ages 2 through adult.

Amy has been dancing since she was 5 years old and studied dance for 17 years all over the United States. She trained for 5 years during high school and college under the direction of Scott Conway with the San Antonio School for the Performing Arts. Ms. Amy has performed as a soloist and in the corps for the Alamo City Dance Company. Her performances include featured roles such as The Snow Queen, Chinese, Mirlitons, Waltzing Flowers, and Snow Flakes in the Nutcracker Ballet. She also has performed as Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Mother Daffodil in the Original Production of Lepidoptera. Ms. Amy also has over 15 years of experience in Early Child Development, from teaching to administration and Directorship. She has an Associate's degree specializing in Early Childhood Education from Northeastern Oklahoma University, a Technical Certificate in Child Development from San Antonio College, and an Advanced Training Certificate from Christ for the Nations. She has 2 beautiful children and has been married to her beloved husband since 1996. Ms. Amy has volunteered in a variety of ministries for all ages and groups. More recently, supporting the business community of Mansfield has become a passion through her leadership skills as a Board member of the Historic Mansfield Business Association from 2018-2022. 

Priscilla Brothers - Instructor and Performing Company Coordinator 

Ms. Priscilla was a student of Dance Academy of Mansfield from age 3 through 17. As she advanced in her dancing, she performed as a lead in the yearly Spring Productions. While training at DAOM under the oversight of Christie Garrett, Priscilla also performed and competed in the studio's Performing Company. Throughout her high school years, she participated in Joffrey School of Dance's summer intensive and was accepted into Texas Ballet School's summer intensive program as well as Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts' most prestigious company. In addition to dance, Priscilla found a love for theater and performed in shows such as Music Man, Oklahoma, and Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat with a local theater group in Mansfield. After completing high school, Priscilla was accepted into the professional dance program Ingredients Dance Company and toured with Dance Revolution for 4 years. During her final year in the company, she received the position of Company Administrator.

While still young, Priscilla found much joy and fulfillment through investing in the lives of children. Through the training and opportunities presented at Dance Academy of Mansfield, she spent her formative years assisting classes and eventually teaching her own from 2018-2021. While traveling required her to teach elsewhere, Priscilla enjoyed the ability to invest in students all around the Nation. Her time away brought many opportunities, such as Ballet Director at FX Performing Arts in Clearwater, FL, and a traveling master class teaching position with Purpose University. Now, returning to Texas, Priscilla is excited to begin her 4th year teaching at DAOM and her first year as Company Coordinator. To pour back into the ministry that gave so much to her is a rare opportunity she cherishes having.  

Anna Alexander - Instructor

Ms. Anna was a student of Dance Academy of Mansfield from ages 4 to 18. Throughout the years, her training included classes in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, and modern. She performed in DAOM’s yearly spring productions and performed the lead role in her senior year. She was also a member of the Performing Dance Company from ages 8 to 18 and was awarded Company Ambassador in her senior year. During her time in high school, Ms. Anna performed in her school’s theatre productions. She served as co-choreographer during her sophomore and junior years and eventually served as head choreographer her senior year for the Mansfield High School Theatre Department. Ms. Anna is currently majoring in social work with a minor in dance at The University of Texas at Arlington. Ms. Anna found her passion by working with children at her church, First Methodist Mansfield. During her middle school to high school years, she worked with 1st-4th graders in children's ministry. She has spent the last two years serving as FMCM’s Children’s Ministry Intern.  Ms. Anna is excited to teach students what she learned during her time as a student herself, how to use their gift of dance to glorify God.

Jillian Joggerst - Instructor

Mrs. Jillian began her ballet education at age 4 with the Western Ballet in Mountain View, California, where she became accustomed to strict adjudication and bi-yearly productions. As an older child, she enjoyed assisting in classes for the little ones. She would go on to train in theater conservatory classes and perform the violin with a top youth symphony. Jillian also continued her dance training in tap, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and worship dance throughout her high school years. At San José State University, she attended ballet classes and earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance on a full merit-based scholarship. Mrs. Joggerst performed professionally as an operatic soprano singer, performing leading roles at Opera San José, Livermore Valley Opera, San Francisco Pocket Opera, Mendocino Music Festival, Modesto Opera, and Bay Area Summer Opera Theatre. As a concert soloist, she appeared with American Philharmonic, South Valley Symphony, Symphony Silicon Valley, San José Chorale, and for Ballet San José in the world premiere of “Out of Africa.” 

After a more than a decade-long career, the Lord guided Mrs. Jillian away from the stage, and she married her husband, Sascha. They have been married 17 years and are proud parents to 2 children. Mrs. Jillian currently homeschools her children, teaches voice lessons, and instructs music, theater, and dance at multiple co-ops. She also ministers as a Shepherd for the American Heritage Girls and serves in children’s ministry and on the worship team as a violinist with her church. She is excited to join Dance Academy and to see Lord’s fulfillment of a special childhood dream to be a dance teacher.

Charissma Rivera - Instructor

Hi, my name is Charissma Rivera, I am so excited to be teaching dance at the Dance Academy of Mansfield. I walked into my first dance studio at the age of 10 and fell in love. I am from El Paso Texas. I moved to the Arlington area in 2020 to continue to work on my Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. I graduated in 2023, and taught First grade with Arlington ISD for my first year of being a teacher. Before then, I had worked in other childcare facilities. I have a passion for teaching young minds and watching them grow. It is always exciting to see when the light bulb is working. My goal is to inspire my students to be the best version of themselves and to ignite a lifelong passion for dance. 

Cara Taylor - Instructor

Ms. Cara began dancing at the age of 3 and trained at various studios in South Texas, exposing her to competitive tap, jazz, pointe, ballet, and clogging. She was awarded scholarships at various conventions and competed in competitions. She would be accepted into Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts and perform in the Nutcracker with Frontier of Texas Ballet. Ms. Cara joined Dance Academy of Mansfield as a student in 2016 until she graduated in 2021. Her training with DAOM included ballet, jazz, contemporary, and modern classes. She performed in the yearly spring productions and was a member of the Performing Company.

Cara has graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Communication: Graphic Design.  She was a member of the Dallas Baptist University Patriettes Dance Team for two years and helped secure back-to-back NDA Pom National Championships. She also served the university and local community through ministry projects, culminating in her selection as social chair during her veteran year. Most recently, Ms. Cara served as the media leader at the T Bar M Family camp in New Braunfels. She continues to lead ministries and mold young minds for Christ. She also served at T Bar M Ultimate Dance Camp, a program that collaborates with Crowd Pleasers, as a dance team camp coach who facilitates team building, processing, and tools to set up teams for success.

Wendy Gist - Receptionist

Ms. Wendy Gist grew up in Arlington and started dancing at a very early age, and progressed into teaching. Her favorite genre of dance is Tap. During her high school and college years, she found a love for the Theater. Wendy attended U.T. Arlington and then went to Kilgore College and became a Kilgore College Rangerette, where she earned an Associate Degree in Business. She also obtained a Certification as a Paralegal and spent 7 years in Elder Law and in the Hospital areas of law. Wendy has 15 years as a Human Resources Director, where she was a liaison for the employees and the Company. In her spare time, she enjoys anything related to crafts, painting, and spending time with her family. Ms. Wendy has been married to her wonderful husband, Keith, for the past 28 years. Wendy has 2 daughters and 2 step-daughters, and 9 grandchildren.

 New Team Members:  Emma Browning, Alex Goss, Baylee Lohn, and Sarah Lane.  Bio's & photos will be posted soon. 

Would you like to join our TEAM, please email your resume to us at
danceacademyofmansfield@hotmail.com!