Staff

Principal

Bridget Payne (Ballet and Children's Div.) began her Ballet training in Manitowoc Wisconsin with Jean Wolfmeyer. At 14 years old she began training at the National Academy of Arts in Champaign, Illinois. After graduating in 1987, she began an 8 year performing career with Ballet West in Salt Lake City, Utah. She has performed soloist and leading roles in Ben Stevenson's Cinderella; Willam Christensen's the Nutcracker; Paul Taylor's Company B; Sleeping Beauty; Swan Lake; multiple works by Balanchine; and more. In 1995 she was invited by Ben Stevenson to teach at the internationally acclaimed Houston Ballet Academy, where she eventually became a Principal Teacher in both their Pre-professional and Professional Divisions. Mrs. Payne is also the associate Artistic Director of Woodlands Ballet Theatre.

Program Director

Jim Payne (Ballet and Children's Div.) trained with legend Michael Fokine's great niece, Nina Marlow , in Phoenix Arizona, and on scholarship at the San Francisco Ballet School. His performing career spanned 11 years, beginning with Ballet West in Salt Lake City. In 1994, he was invited by Ben Stevenson to join the world renowned Houston Ballet. His versatility allowed him to be equally at home performing both contemporary works and the classics. He has performed the roles of Albrecht in Giselle; the title role of Eugene Loring's Billy the Kid; the Prince in Cinderella and the Nutcracker; as well as Principal and Soloist roles in works by Ben Stevenson, Christopher Bruce, Paul Taylor, Helgi Tomasson, Peter Martins, Balanchine, and Petipa. Mr. Payne is also the Artistic Director of Woodlands Ballet Theatre.

Julie Berg (Modern and Pilates) has been studying Pilates concepts for over 10 years. Her initial exposure to Pilates occurred at Western Michigan University where she received a Bachelor of Science in Dance with a Minor in Kinesiology. Her Pilates Teacher certification comes from Body Balance, Inc. located in Chicago Illinois under Amy Halaby with additional training under Romana Kryzanowska. Since arrival to the greater Houston area Miss Berg has been training clients at Pilates Concepts of Houston. Because of her Pilates mastery and teaching approach, her duties at Pilates Concepts of Houston included Reformer and Mat teacher certification training through The Method Pilates in New York City. Miss Berg also has an extensive dance background in performance experience, dance instruction, choreography, educational outreach, and dance program development

Penny Ching (Ballet and Children's Div.) holds the Royal Academy of Dance Teaching Diploma in ballet, Licentiate of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing in ballet and modern dance and associate Diploma in Tap. She is the founder and co-principal of Centerstage Dance Academy in Kuala Lumpur, Malasia with over 350 students. She has been teaching ballet as well as tap, jazz, and modern for more than 20years. Her students have become performers and teachers who have started dance students of their own.

Kristy Patrick (Tap & Children's Div.) began her dance training 25 years ago at Ms. Rhonda's School of Dance in Spring, Texas. She also danced with the Steven Boyd Houston Dance Centre and performed with the senior company for many years. She has studied all forms of dance from various teachers all over the country for 25 years. Tap is her field of expertise. She has trained with tappers such as Debbie Dee, Bill DeRicco, Bo Wagner and Savion Glover.

Kristy began teaching 15 years ago at Ms .Rhonda's School of Dance. She then opened Kristy's School of Dance and owned and directed the studio for 10 years. As a teacher and choreographer, Kristy's precise technique and unique style has led to numerous regional and national award winning competition teams and soloists.

Amy Wudel (Jazz) received a Bachelor of the Arts in Dance with an emphasis in Education at Brigham Young University. While at BYU she was able to perform in their faculty and student choreography and dance performance company, Dancensemble, and was invited to be part of the undergraduate teaching staff for the BYU Dance Department. After graduation Amy was hired as the Dance Department Chair at American Fork High School in Utah Amy is also a member of the National Dance Educators Organization.