Our Faculty

Sheri Sprague is from Tulsa, Oklahoma and has been dancing for over 24 years, winning prestigious awards as both a dancer and choreographer. In 1999 she was awarded scholarships to Alvin Ailey and Gus Giordano, choosing to study in Chicago. She has taught at studios across the country, judges regional and national competitions, and is a traveling dance artist for in-school programs including Harwelden and Artists in the Schools.

Born in Cali, Colombia, and trained at Incolballet, Catalina enjoyed a distinguished career as a principal dancer under the direction of Gloria Castro and Jimmy Gamonet. She later spent nine years as a lead dancer with Tulsa Ballet, performing a vast repertoire of works by legendary choreographers like Balanchine and Forsythe. Her technical excellence earned her numerous accolades, including a gold medal at the World Ballet Competition and honors at the Prix de Lausanne. Throughout her dance career, she performed as a guest artist at prestigious international galas and festivals across the globe.

Erin began competing at age six and graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2013. Over a 10-year career she has worked across all levels and most genres, taught as a master instructor at dance intensives, and earned top choreography awards at regional and national competitions across the US. She brings energy, artistry, and genuine passion for connecting with young dancers.

Born and raised in Tulsa, Sheryl graduated from the University of Tulsa before working in oil and gas and owning her own small business. Her two daughters Grace and Lily grew up dancing, which brought her to Elite in 2012. Detail-oriented and always welcoming, Sheryl is the heart of the front desk and an essential part of the EDOT family.

A 1991 Jenks High School graduate and Miss Dance of Oklahoma, Jayme attended Oklahoma City University as a dance performance major. She has shared the stage with celebrities including Cathy Rigby and Cyd Charisse, performed in professional theatre productions, and has coached Miss Oklahoma pageant contestants at the state and national level. Her credits in competitive and performance dance span decades.

Sigurdardottir was a finalist at Youth America Grand Prix in New York City. She attended summer programs on scholarship at the School of American Ballet, Boston Ballet School, and Chautauqua Dance Program. She has choreographed for The School of American Ballet, Chautauqua Summer Dance Program, and Boston Ballet School's Post Graduate program. She has performed with various companies in corps de ballet, soloist, and principal roles in Europe and on tour in the U.S.A.

Chris "ABstrakt" Nored graduated from Oral Roberts University with training in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, and Hip Hop. He has appeared as a principal dancer in Hanson's music videos "Thinking Bout Something" and "Give a Little" on MTV and VH1, choreographed for the WNBA's Tulsa Shock, and trained under industry choreographers including Twitch, Parris Gobel, and Keone and Mari Madrid.

Jessica Cajina is a Nicaraguan-American artist from Ardmore, Oklahoma, who holds a degree in musical theatre and dance performance from the University of Central Oklahoma. Her diverse professional background includes performances with the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma and Southern Plains Theatre, as well as master classes taught across Alaska, Texas, and Oklahoma. Currently active in the dance scene, she performs with the Abstrakt Mindz Hip Hop Company and choreographs for the Contemporary Collective Dance Company. Her award-winning choreographic work has been featured at both the national and international levels.

Nikki James is an instructor and choreographer in Tulsa. She has been teaching for over nine years with over twenty years in the dance world. She trained under many local professionals including Emmi Galfo, Rachel Galfo, Shayna and Adam Acosta, and Joshua Bergner. Nikki prides herself on a detail-driven class with a focus on foundational technique. She believes that breath is the center of every movement and strives to cultivate a safe space for dancers to discover their inner artist.

With over 20 years of dance experience, Julie brings a deep passion for movement, artistry, and performance to her choreography. As a Talent On Parade Alumni, she has trained and performed under choreographers such as Tina Cooper, Bart Doerfler, Don Mirault, Helene Phillips, and Michelle Elkin. She has performed with The Legacy Project under Shayna and Adam Acosta. In 2023, Julie joined Elite Dance of Tulsa, dedicated to inspiring others through movement and expression.

Jennifer Davis is a professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer who trained under Vaganova-educated masters and graduated summa cum laude with a BFA from the University of Southern Mississippi. Her early career was marked by soloist roles in classical masterpieces like Swan Lake and Giselle, as well as representing her studio at YAGP. Professionally, she has performed with esteemed companies such as Ad Deum II and Hannah Kahn Dance Company, dancing works by icons like William Forsythe. With over a decade of experience, Jennifer specializes in ballet and contemporary choreography.

Melissa Wood holds a BFA in Dance Performance from the University of Central Oklahoma, where she received the "Excellence in Dance" award while touring with the Kaleidoscope Dance Company. Her professional career includes dancing for R.A.C.E. Dance and Ashleyliane Dance Company. Melissa's notable credits feature The Hip Hop Nutcracker, World of Dance Chicago, and performances for the Harlem Globetrotters. For the past decade, she has directed and choreographed national title-winning routines in Illinois.

Originally from New York, Styles Dykes began his elite training at Odasz Dance Theatre, quickly rising to prominence as a Grand Prix Award winner and Top 12 finalist at the Youth America Grand Prix. His early career included international performances at the Nervi International Ballet Festival and a featured appearance on NBC's World of Dance. During his tenure with Tulsa Ballet, he performed works by renowned choreographers such as Alexander Ekman and Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa. He is currently a Company Artist with Ballet Rhode Island.

Maggie is a graduate of Oklahoma City University's Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment, where she earned a degree in Dance Management. She values the life skills that dance instills in children and is dedicated to fostering confidence in her students. In addition to teaching at Elite since 2019, she has built a career in venue management and the entertainment industry.

Zoie Hudson is part of the Elite Dance of Tulsa instructional team. Full bio coming soon.

Grace is a Tulsa-based dancer, choreographer, and coach with a versatile background in ballet, jazz, and contemporary movement. Her performance career is highlighted by her role in the original cast of Wahzhazhe: An Osage Ballet and three seasons on the Oklahoma State University Pom team. Under her leadership, both Metro Varsity and Elite Senior All-Star Pom have secured multiple state championship titles.

Ashley Rubey is a dedicated coach who brings energy and heart to everything she does. Her love of dance began at a young age, where she danced competitively before joining the Pom team at Jenks High School. She later returned to Jenks to coach Pom for seven years, inspiring the next generation. Ashley is now entering her fifth year coaching at Elite All Star Pom, where she continues to motivate athletes and share her passion for teamwork, discipline, and performance.

Katelyn Mendez is a dedicated coach who began dancing at a young age before becoming a member of the Pom team at Jenks High School. Katelyn went on to share her knowledge and leadership as a coach at Union High School for 9 years, helping athletes grow both on and off the floor. Now in her fifth year with Elite All Star Pom, she is committed to building strong, confident dancers while creating a positive and supportive team environment.

Originally from Kansas City, Emerson grew up dancing competitively and later served as a captain and leader for the Kansas State University Classy Cat dance team. Her extensive coaching background includes traveling nationwide as a summer camp instructor for UDA and choreographing curriculum for DTU. She currently coaches the Elite Junior All Star team and leads various technical classes, sharing her expertise with the next generation of dancers.

My daughter and I joined Elite in 2016 and began our adventure into the world of competitive dance. I love supporting the dancers at Elite while helping create a positive, welcoming environment. Building relationships with each studio family is something I truly enjoy, and it's incredibly rewarding to watch shy students grow more confident and begin to show their personalities.

I've been proud to be part of the Elite family since 2018, when my daughter first joined the competition dance team. You can usually find me at the front desk, where I love greeting dancers and their families and helping create a warm, welcoming environment. Being part of a studio that feels like a true family means so much to me, and I'm grateful to call this happy, supportive place our home away from home.

As someone who's both danced and taught, I truly love being part of this world on every level. I love to bring the fun to the front desk and also stay busy as a proud dance mom to three dancers here at the studio. My favorite role is being the ultimate hype girl for our dancers — whether it's their first class, a big competition weekend, or just a regular day in the studio.