Teachers

REBECCA LUPNITZ: Rebecca is an accomplished dancer who completed her degree in dance (University of Houston) December 2008, and has also completed her Level 9 ballet exam with SCB.  Rebecca has taught tap, modern, and many levels of ballet for Excelsior School of Dance since 2006.  Her energy and strength have been an asset to Ballet Excelsior of Houston, as she has danced and traveled as a Company Member nationally and internationally to Australia, Russia, Poland, Bulgaria, Greece, China, and Japan.

PEYTON SHELL: Peyton began her training at Excelsior School of Dance at the age of nine and has completed Grade 3 through Level 8 exams under Sonshine Christian Ballet syllabus. She was accepted into the company Ballet Excelsior of Houston and travel nationally as well as internationally performing with them in  China, Bulgaria, and Japan, including dancing a principle Awaken role in Bulgaria.  While working towards a degree in English at Asbury University, Peyton taught a number of ballet classes at Wilmore Christian Ballet in Wilmore, Kentucky. After graduation, she returned to Texas and is now a company member with Ballet Excelsior of Houston.

Throughout the years of being a Christian performing artist, I have learned that dance is so much more than learning and perfecting steps to gain the approval of those watching.  It is about training to be able to catch the eye of the observer, not so that they can appreciate my skill, but so that they can see Christ in me and the message that He is conveying to them through my movement.  I am so blessed to be a part of Ballet Excelsior and have a role in sharing His message of salvation to the world.

ASHLEY WHITE: Ashley is a proficient dancer who has danced since the age of five, joining Excelsior School of Dance in 1993 at age seven, and completing all Pre-Primary through Level 8 exams training under the Sonshine Christian Ballet Syllabus as well as the ABT Syllabus.  She has since then received training in the S.C.B. Teacher Training Program and started teaching in 2003. She has taught numerous levels of ballet from Beginners to Level 7, Junior Modern to Modern 3, and Beginner Tap. She has also traveled nationally and internationally with Ballet Excelsior of Houston as an apprentice and as a senior company dancer.  We are delighted to have Ashley on our staff as both a teacher and our office manager!

SARAH SMITHWICK: Sarah started dancing at Excelsior School of Dance at the age of 10 and completed her Grade 3 through Level 7 exams before graduating high school. Sarah had the privilege of dancing as a trainee with Ballet Excelsior of Houston, traveling and ministering in New York and Bulgaria with the company. She attended Texas A&M University as a dance science major graduating in December 2014. While she was living in College Station, Sarah taught ballet and tap classes at Suzanne’s Dance studio where they use the Sonshine Christian Syllabus, taking on the role of Ballet Director after graduating college. Sarah is blessed and excited to be back assisting and teaching at Excelsior where she can use her gifts to help students accomplish their goals and grow in their craft.

ISABEL POLLOK has been dancing since she was 3 at Excelsior School of Dance.  She has the privilege to become a Company dancer in Ballet Excelsior of Houston this year .  Her heart for missions through dance started at an early age.  In 2016, at the age 11 yrs, Isabel had the opportunity to travel with Ballet Excelsior dancing the role of Lucy in the ballet of “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’ throughout Poland, Czech Republic and Bulgaria.  In 2018 she was cast in Saviour on our tour in Mongolia.  Miss Izzy is teaching 3/4 year olds, 5/6 year olds and  Primary  at Excelsior  School of Dance.  Isabel has graduated and knows God is calling her to continue to dance and use her gifts for His glory.