Our Team
Meet the heart and soul of River Oaks Dance! Our talented instructors and dedicated team members are passionate about bringing the joy of dance to every student. With a wealth of experience and a love for teaching, they create an inspiring and supportive environment where dancers of all ages can thrive. Get to know the amazing people who make our studio a special place to learn, grow, and shine!
Meet our Team
Sara began dancing at the age of six in Lake Jackson, Texas. She has had the opportunity to train with professionals and dance in many productions such as The Nutcracker. Her teaching experience ranges from pre-school aged children to junior high and adults. Sara has been working with school age children for the past 15 years. The goal of River Oaks Dance is to create a knowledge and love of dance at young age and foster an interest in the art that will last a lifetime. Sara believes that dance can help children grow in so many areas such as coordination, confidence, presence and imagination.
Sara is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Sara is also a certified master teacher through the Leap n Learn early childhood development and dance program and continues learning from and about children every year during classes and through continued education training. Sara is a member of St. Anne’s Catholic Church and lives in Montrose. She loves seeing her little ballerinas around town “in real life”!
Owner + Founder
Sara Carbo
Luisa began dancing at the age of three in Mexico City, training in Ballet, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Lyrical, and Contemporary styles. She studied under the Cuban technique, Royal Academy of Dance, and Imperial Classical Ballet syllabi, completing R.A.D Advanced 2 and I.S.T.D Advanced 2 exams. Luisa performed professionally in Mexican companies including TCUNAM. Her love for teaching began at age 10 in her family's ballet studio.
Luisa moved to Houston to get her Certificate for Ballet Teaching Studies (CBTS) under Rocio Braggiato. She is an ABT® Certified Teacher, having completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3. Luisa has taught recreational and competitive dancers in Mexico and currently teaches the Leap n Learn early childhood program. She believes in creating a comfortable environment where students feel confident, motivated, and inspired, aiming to pass on her passion for ballet to new generations.
Ballet & Contemporary Instructor
Ms. Luisa
Celina began training in ballet at the age of four in Friendswood, Texas, later joining her high school drill team where she learned jazz, contemporary, lyrical, pom, and novelty dance styles. She earned a B.A. in dance from the University of St. Thomas, training under Jennifer Mabus, Ben Delony, Nao Kusuzaki, and Colette Kerwick.
Celina trained with Noble Motion Dance in their winter and summer intensives and joined Ad Deum Dance Company as an apprentice in fall 2021. For the past two years, she has welcomed families at River Oaks Dance and gained valuable experience working with children. Celina believes in a learning environment filled with play, wonder, structure, and healthy expectations and is excited to continue her teaching journey at River Oaks Dance, eager to witness her students' growth.
Ballet Instructor
Ms. Celina
Kathryne passion for dance began at a very young age. Since then, she has found it effortless to incorporate all she has learned throughout her training in every day life. The discipline, continuous hard work and focus required for dance has prepared her for any challenge.
Kathryne spent her first year in Houston teaching in a Kindergarten Classroom. Here she found inspiration in her students and was motivated to begin teaching dance. Combining two of her passions as a teacher and dancer has been an ambition for her career. She cannot be more excited to be living this dream in the studio this school year!
Kathryne is thrilled to be in such wonderful company with the River Oaks Dance family. Her spirited, challenging and delightful approach to dance is truly special. She is looking forward to sharing her contagious joy for dance with all our students.
Experience Coordinator
Ms. Kat
Lucía is an educational psychologist from Monterrey, Mexico, and an M.Ed. in Movement and Cognitive Rehabilitation Science from the University of Texas at Austin. She has also been a dancer throughout her life, with a particular emphasis on classical ballet. At twenty-one, she opened a dance studio in her hometown to teach students of all abilities classical dance. She has directed more than twelve productions and won two state awards for her projects: Las Estaciones del Corazón (2016) and La Niña que Adelantó el Gran Reloj (2020). In 2019, she opened the professional company “Con el Corazón Co.” for students with disabilities trained in classical dance, being the first active company in Mexico to offer them this space of opportunity. In 2019, they presented their first production La Suite del Cascanueces. Currently, she is the artistic director of her school in Mexico. She remotely works with teachers and choreographers to ensure every student participating in the non-profit reaches her maximum potential.
During the last ten years, she has also continuously participated in awareness workshops and forums across Mexico, intending to create awareness and open more spaces that create a genuinely inclusive environment.
Ballet Instructor
Ms. Lucía
Ms. Balli, born and raised in Miami, Florida, trained at Dance Empire of Miami from the age of two, focusing on Ballet, Jazz, and Hip Hop. She trained with master teachers like Mia Michaels and Mandy Moore.
Balli graduated from Westminster Christian School in 2015 and studied at Florida State University, where she was a member of the FSU Golden Girl Dance Team. She graduated in 2019 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. After university, she returned to Dance Empire and became the dance director at Miami Palmetto Senior High School.
In 2022, Balli moved to Houston, teaching ballet and hip-hop at River Oaks Dance and offering adult barre and dance cardio classes. She also started "Hot Girl Fitness," empowering adults through workouts and flexibility exercises. Balli is passionate about sharing her love of dance with others.
Ballet & Hip-Hop Instructor
Ms. Balli
Paulina, born in Cordoba, Mexico, started dancing at age 3. She trained at various prestigious schools and won several awards, including the Hope Award at Youth America Grand Prix and the Gold Medal at Cuba’s International Ballet Competition.
She danced at Houston Ballet Academy and joined Mexico’s National Dance Company as a soloist. Paulina performed at The Spoleto Festival in Italy and the XIX International Ballet Festival of Miami. She worked with renowned choreographers and held principal roles in major ballets.
Paulina holds a BA in Art History and Dance Performance, and a Master’s in Dance Education from NYU. Certified by the American Ballet Theatre, she taught in New York before moving to Houston in 2023.
Ballet Instructor
Ms. Paulina
Angelica “Jelly” is a passionate dancer from Houston, Texas. Her dance journey began with Aldine Dance Company and Reddoor Productions, where she honed her skills in a diverse range of techniques, including ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, and hip-hop while exploring Horton, Graham, aerial, and stilts.
She pursued her love for dance further by earning her BFA in dance from Sam Houston State University. Now, in her second year as a professional dancer with Noble Motion, she’s thrilled to be living her dream on stage.
As much as she loves performing, nothing brings her more joy than being a dance educator. Watching her students grow with each class is an incredible experience, and she cherishes every moment of it. Dance has truly enriched her life, and she’s grateful to share that passion with others on their own dance journeys.
Dance Instructor
Ms. Jelly
Jamie Levit, a Houston native and second-generation dance educator, began her professional training at her mother’s studio, Cheri’s Academy of Dance. Trained in Royal Academy of Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Lyrical, Pointe, and Gymnastics, she started competing at age five. Jamie furthered her dance education at Houston Ballet and the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA), where she received the Outstanding Senior Scholarship for Modern Dance.
Jamie worked four summers at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Massachusetts and became a dance adjudicator for International Dance Challenge and Cathy Roe’s Ultimate Dance Challenge. She began teaching and choreographing at 16, working at various studios including In Step Dance Studio and Dalton Ballet Studio.
In 2007, Jamie returned to Texas to teach at Carol Ehler Dance School, where she instructed ballet, lyrical, tap, jazz, hip hop, and pointe for ten years. In 2017, she became the Children’s Dance Coordinator at the Jewish Community Center of Houston. Jamie took a break in 2019 to focus on her family.
Tap Instructor
Ms. Jamie
Katharine Andrews, born in Houston, Texas, began dancing at age 3 at Dance Productions in Pearland, Texas, training in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and hip hop. Inspired by Houston Ballet's The Nutcracker, she auditioned and trained at Houston Ballet Academy under Melissa Bowman until 2022. Katharine performed in Nutcracker and other showcases with Houston Ballet for five years. She attended the Bolshoi Ballet Prep Summer Intensive in 2019 and the virtual American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, she returned to the Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensive.
Katharine studied as a Dance Major at Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and now trains at Vitacca Vocational School of Dance. She is excited to inspire and create a fun dance environment for students at River Oaks Dance.
Teaching Assistant
Miss Katharine
Juliet Wagner was born in Houston, Texas, and began dancing at The Claire School of Dance at age three. At six, she joined the Houston Ballet Academy, training for nine years with notable teachers and winning awards for her talent and potential. She attended summer intensives at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Houston Ballet Academy and performed with the Houston Ballet Company in several productions.
In 2020, Juliet was accepted into the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts as a Dance Major. She later joined the Houston Ballet’s Professional Training Program and studied at the National Ballet of Canada as a summer exchange student. Juliet decided to pursue dance freely and joyfully rather than professionally.
Juliet is excited to join River Oaks Dance and inspire young artists with her love of movement, helping them discover their potential.
Teaching Assistant
Miss Juliet
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1 Potomac Drive
Houston, Texas 77057
Houston Country Club
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3641 Westheimer Road, Suite C
Houston, Texas 77027
