Bailadora Director Caris Dunn
Caris Dunn began her dance training in ballet at age 3. She grew passionate about dance and performing and continued to expand her dance repertoire to include techniques in ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, hip-hop, drill technique, gymnastics and tap. She has trained across the state of Texas, in Los Angeles and New York City. Mrs. Dunn has performed in numerous ballets and musicals including The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle, Oklahoma!, Grease, Once Upon a Mattress, and Guys & Dolls.
Mrs. Dunn attended Berkner High School in Richardson, TX where she served as Lieutenant her junior year and Captain her senior year of the Berkner Bandoleras Drill Team. She also danced with the Talent N More Senior Stars dance company. While in High School, Mrs. Dunn won numerous solo awards including American Dance National Solo Finalist and Starmakers National Grand Champion. Mrs. Dunn attended Kilgore Junior College where she was a Kilgore Rangerette and Swingster. As a Rangerette, she had the privilege of performing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC, the Marshall Fields Parade in Chicago, the Indy 500, and in numerous Cotton Bowl and Dallas Cowboys halftime shows. After Kilgore, she transferred to UT Austin where she performed with the Dance Repertory Theatre and served as the Artistic Director of STEEL Dance Company. She also had the privilege of directing the teen and senior companies at The Danceworks dance studio in Round Rock. After graduating from UT with a BA in Dance & Theatre, Mrs. Dunn returned to the Dallas area and served as the Director of the Talent N More Shining Stars Junior Drill Team. Her students have gone on to dance successfully on teams such as Kilgore Rangerettes, TVCC Cardettes and UT Pom squad. She is an award winning choreographer and has choreographed locally for Richardson Repertory Company Theatre, as well as numerous local drill/dance teams. Caris lives in Allen with her husband Clint and two sons Cohen and Caleb. Mrs. Dunn is excited to share her love and passion for dance and drill team with her students. |
Belles Director Staci Cook
Bailadora Assistant Director Staci Cook began her dance training at the age of 3 at Spotlight Dance Studio in Cedar Hill, Texas. She studied all genres of dance throughout her childhood and went on to become a Sophomore Lieutenant, Junior Lieutenant, and then the Captain of her high school drill team, the Cedar Hill High School High Steppers. Mrs. Cook was named Miss High Kick at both Officer Camp and Line Camp her senior year of high school and was a solo finalist both her junior and senior year of high school at competition. Mrs. Cook performed at both Disney World and Disney Land with her high school drill team in addition to performing at the Capitol Building in Washington DC. She was named to the All American Drill Team all four years of high school.
Mrs. Cook studied Dance Education and English at the University of North Texas where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree and teaching certifications. She then went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University at Commerce. She directed the Varsity drill team at Sherman High School for five years as well as the Junior Varsity drill team at Clark High School in Plano, Texas for five years. Before joining the Boyd staff, Mrs. Cook was an AP and Honors English teacher at Plano West Senior High School. Mrs. Cook has taught dance and drill team all over the United States with American Dance/Drill Team School for over 25 years. She was the Military Staff Captain for several years and choreographed Pom and Military routines for schools throughout Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Iowa, and Louisiana. She has also judged drill team contests all over the DFW area, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and New Mexico. Mrs. Cook has over 25 years of teaching experience. She lives in McKinney with her husband, Justin, and their son, Jamison. Their daughter, Julianna, is a former Sr. Lieutenant for the Bailadoras, former Lieutenant of the TVCC Cardettes Dance Team, and is now attending Texas A&M University. She is studying Elementary Education and will graduate in 2023. Their youngest daughter, Reagan, was the 2019-2020 Captain of the Bailadoras. She is now studying Christian Ministry at Dallas Baptist University and is the former Captain of the 2022 National Champions DBU Patriettes Dance Team. |
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