MEET THE STAFF

Studio Owner

The director of Extreme Performing Arts Center, Nikki Arnold, has been a part of this dance studio since 2005. She became the owner of EPAC in 2014.

Nikki has always been passionate about dancing. She began her dance career at the age of 5. By the age of 16 she started choreographing solo dancers and dance crews for her company. Her drive, attention to detail, and dedication led her to become a member of the McCullough Callie Drill Team and York Jr. High Liberty Babes.

Over the years, she gained expertise and has directed and choreographed many solos and award-winning team performances. Her directions have led teams to win many National Championship Titles in contemporary, lyrical, pom, and jazz styles. She has fine-tuned her skills and become a master in the performing arts field over the last 29 years. Nikki is committed to continuing to enhance her knowledge and skills through seminars and conventions. She shares this wealth of knowledge with young learners and loves being a part of their ongoing development.

Instructor

Carly Heard is a passionate teacher, choreographer, and dancer from East Texas! Carly graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts in Dance from Sam Houston State University. At Sam Houston State, Carly received training in various aspects of dance, including choreography, dance costuming, modern, contemporary, jazz, improv, and partner work.

She was a part of her high school’s drill team, the Marshall Mavettes. During Mavettes, she held the positions of Junior Lieutenant and Captain! Since 2020, she has been a proud member of American Dance and Drill Team Staff.

Carly is thankful that God has given her the gift of dance among a strong support system of family, friends, and dance mentors in her life! She is eager for another season at Extreme!

Studio Manager & Instructor

Erin has been dancing since she was 2 years old, growing up and training at her local studio in Pearland. She spent 8 years as a competitive dancer, building a strong foundation in technique, versatility, and performance quality. She then continued her dance journey on drill team, serving as a varsity member for 4 years and an elite company member for 2. Erin is also a former UTD Power Dancer, where she trained under Miguel Hernandez and had the incredible opportunity to compete at NDA Nationals in Daytona Beach.

She has 4 years of experience teaching competitive dancers and her dancers have earned multiple overalls, high point awards, and choreography recognition.

In addition to her dance training, Erin holds an Associate of Applied Science degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant. This background allows her to place a strong emphasis on injury prevention, proper technique, and safe, intentional movement in every class. She also incorporates strength and conditioning into her training as a certified barre instructor, helping dancers build the strength and control needed to support their performance and longevity.

Acro Instructor

Emma Holtham has been dancing since the age of 2, and recently earned her BFA in Dance from Sam Houston State University in Spring 2025. She is a contemporary based moverand choreographer with a background and passion for acrobatic movement, performative self expression, and improvisation. Emma has performed with Early Era Collective in Austin, TX, festivals such as Mind the Gap, Austin Dance Festival, Aimed Dance, Artists for Hope, and showcased Tower by Andy Noble at the ACDA Nationals in Long Beach, CA. Emma has performed in works by Travis Lake, Gregory Dolbashian, Andy

Noble, Dionne Noble,Joshua Manculich, Tyler Orcutt, Lauren Serrano, Jacob Regan, and performed “Photobox D” with NobleMotion Dance in 2022. Emma has trained under Adele Nickel, Travis Lake, Andy and Dionne Noble, Jennifer Pontius, Tyler Orcutt, Lauren Serrano, Jacob Regan, and Jen Passios in university. She has received extensive training from Shannon Gillen, Jason Cianciulli,Michaela Taylor and Natalie Lomonte. She is certified to teach Acrobatics by Acrobatic Arts and has

been trained in Acrobatics since the age of 3.

Instructor

A Houston area native, Jessalyn graduated cum laude in 2007, with Highest Honors, from Sam Houston State University earning a BFA in Dance. She then founded a performance company to create a medium for exploring modern movement grounded solidly in innovation and technique.

Jessalyn’s choreography was featured in venues all over the Houston area including the Wortham, Hobby Center, Barnevelder, at Sam Houston State University, and throughout the country from Ohio to New York. As a dancer, she was part of the SHSU Dance Company, the Kista Tucker Dance Company, and had the opportunity to perform (en pointe) alongside Lauren Anderson in the narrative ballet ‘Storm Recaptured.’ Jessalyn toured New York as part of KTDC alongside Bill Evans, and danced in Paris, London, and Nice. With a strong background in Ballet, Musical Theater, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical and Hip Hop, she has been instructing for over 20 years.

With over 15 years directing competition teams, Jessalyn has a deep appreciation for our youth. She prides herself in developing each student’s individual technique and artistry while maintaining a positive, professional, safe, and always encouraging environment. It is both her pleasure and passion to share her gifts with dancers ages 7-18 and help them grow into independent, driven, and successful movement artists.

Instructor

Alicia Chappell has been passionate about dance since age three, beginning her ballet training in Okinawa, Japan. She studied at the Payne Academy of Ballet and performed with The Woodlands Ballet Theatre, working with renowned artists like Ben Stevenson and Lauren Anderson.

She earned her BFA in Dance Performance from Sam Houston State University in 2006 and later completed her MFA there in 2014. Alicia has performed professionally with companies including Houston Grand Opera and Blue Lapis Light, where she also taught and choreographed aerial dance.

In addition to performing internationally with VauLt Dance, Alicia has received awards for her choreography and contributed to dance education as a teacher and mentor. A dedicated mother of three, she continues to share her love of dance through teaching and is excited to join EPAC as a ballet instructor, alongside her daughter Phoebe.

Instructor

Malerie Clifton, from Huntington, Texas, began her dance training at Susan’s Studio of Dance, where she trained for 16 years, including 8 years as a competitive dancer. She also served on the studio staff for 4 years, further developing her leadership and instructional experience.

Throughout high school, Malerie was a member of the Huntington Highsteppers for 4 years, serving as Co-Captain for 1 year and Captain for 2 years. Following graduation, she attended Tyler Junior College, where she performed as a member of the Internationally Famous Tyler Junior College Apache Belles. During her time with the Belles, she held several leadership positions, including Freshman Representative, Head Dance Captain, and Chaplain. After graduating from Tyler Junior College, Malerie continued her education at Texas A&M University, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. She will begin her senior year at Texas A&M this fall

Instructor

Brittani began dancing at the age of three at a small studio in Tomball, TX. She moved to In-Step at age 10 where she continued dancing competitively until she left for college at The Boston Conservatory. She obtained her BFA in Contemporary Dance from The Boston Conservatory in 2014.

She has taught dance since the age of 16 all over the United States. She has choreographed for studio productions of The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast, in addition to competitive routines. She pioneered a dance program at a charter school in Houston, built out and founded a middle school dance team in New Caney ISD.

She is now focusing on teaching dance, dancing anywhere and everywhere (including the grocery store), flow arts, being a mom, finishing her M.ed in Curriculum and Instruction, and teaching 6th graders right here in Magnolia.

She is so excited to be a part of EPAC this year!

Instructor

Emily Cain, a Friendswood, Texas native, has loved dance since the age of eight. As Marshal of the Friendswood High School Wranglerettes, she choreographed award-winning performances while discovering her passion for teaching.

Emily studied dance at San Jacinto College before earning a degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University. Throughout her engineering career, she continued teaching dance in the League City and Pearland areas.

After taking time off to raise her two daughters, Emily is excited to return to the studio. She teaches lyrical, ballet, and other styles, focusing on technique, artistry, confidence, and helping each dancer grow both in and out of the studio.

Instructor

Harmony Clay is from Houston Texas and is a current student at Sam Houston State University where she is majoring in dance and psychology with plans to become a pediatric therapist and dance instructor. Harmony was the Creative artist for Motiv8 dance convention. Harmony also works for 8 national talent. Harmony’s love for teaching allowed her to be a collegiate assistant for the Texas dance educators association at there all state convention.

While in high school Harmony was a dance officer of the Austin angels dance and lead them to grand champions and also served as the all state dancer for the TDEA convention. Harmony is also an Alumna of Dance Zone which is under the direction of Sheila Milner, as apart of the company Harmony trained at various conventions and received multiple scholarships to professional programs.

Instructor

Taylor Jones is an alumnus of Extreme Performing Arts Center. She trained under the direction of Mrs. Nikki Arnold for ten years. She began dancing recreationally at the age of eight. After one season, she transitioned to competitive dance. She remained a member of the EPAC company until her high school graduation. 

During Taylor’s senior year of high school, she began teaching dance at EPAC. Taylor has returned to EPAC each summer to teach dance camps to young dancers. She specializes in teaching introductory ballet and jazz classes to dancers three to six years old. 

Taylor went on to Baylor University, where she graduated with degrees in Political Science and Philosophy. She aspires to one day become an attorney and advocate for women and children in the courtroom.

She is so excited to be back at EPAC and teaching young dancers!

Taylor Bearden, a Victoria, Texas native, has been dancing since the age of two. She trained for 12 years with the South Texas Strutters, gained teaching experience, and later danced on her high school’s Golden Sabers Dance Team as Lieutenant Colonel.

Taylor continued her dance career at Blinn College as a member and captain of the Blinn College Treasures Dance Team, earning 2x NDA All-American honors and helping lead the team to three NDA College National Championships. She later performed with the Texas A&M Aggie Dance Team while earning her Bachelor of Science in Dance Science.

With 19 years of dance experience, Taylor brings a passion for technique, dancer health, and safe training practices. Outside of the studio, she and her fiancé, Cody, live in Montgomery with their dog, Tucker, who is their pride and joy. Taylor loves building confidence in dancers and sharing her love of dance in a positive, faith-centered environment. She is excited to join the EPAC family this season!

Eliana has been dancing since she was 9 years old. She has been a member of the Extreme Performing Arts Center competition team for nine years, where she has continued to develop her technique, passion, and love for dance.

Throughout her time at Extreme, she has had the opportunity to learn from incredible instructors who have helped shape her as both a dancer and teacher. For the past six years, she has had the privilege of assisting dance classes, primarily working with dancers ages 3–6.

Through assisting, she has loved helping young dancers build confidence, creativity, and a strong foundation in dance while encouraging their excitement for performing. Watching students grow and discover their own love for dance has been one of the most rewarding parts of her journey.

She is excited to step into this next chapter as a teacher and create a positive, encouraging environment where students feel supported and inspired. She looks forward to sharing her love for dance and being a part of each dancer’s journey at Extreme Performing Arts Center.