Kattie and Stephanie — Owners/Directors

Stephanie Riley and Kattie Brewer, the owners and directors behind Premier Dance Academy, established their studio in 2010. With over thirty years of shared experience in dancing and performing, they bring a wealth of expertise to their roles as owners and directors. Their extensive training spans a wide range of dance styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, lyrical, variations, partnering, character, modern, as well as acting and musical theater. Stephanie and Kattie’s long-standing collaboration as instructors and mentors has forged a strong partnership and a cohesive philosophy, forming the cornerstone of Premier Dance Academy’s approach to dance education.

Stephanie’s passion for the performing arts began more than three decades ago. She received extensive training in a variety of dance styles including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, character, musical theater, variations, partnering, and pointe. Her love of dance only grew stronger as she began performing in seasonal productions including The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Swan Lake, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, and Dracula. Stephanie also had the honor of performing lead roles in original classical and contemporary works by renowned choreographers including Soili Arvola, Leo Ahonen, Ayman Harper, Amber Thornton, Olga Kostritzky, Alex Hasbany, Joe Istre, Amelie Hunter, and Slam. Stephanie spent the summers during her teen years training at intensive ballet programs with the Joffrey Ballet School and The School of American Ballet, as well as open classes in other styles at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway in New York City. At the age of fifteen, Stephanie accepted a full scholarship to attend The School of American Ballet’s year-round training program. There she received extensive pre-professional training in ballet, pointe, variations, and partnering. Stephanie also attended two Craft of Choreography Conferences at the University of Iowa and the University of Utah which solidified her interest in the art of choreography. She has been a guest teacher and choreographer for The Kinkaid School, San Jacinto College dance department, and other studios throughout Houston. Her choreography has received numerous awards and recognition over the years. Stephanie has served as an adjudicator and workshop presenter at the National ISAS Arts Festival. However, her most cherished title is “Mom” to her boys Lincoln and Jude and bonus son Jakob. Stephanie graduated with honors from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology-Exercise Science. Stephanie is currently pursuing a second degree in Neurodiagnostic Technology. She would like to thank Beverly Williams, her first dance teacher and current friend, for guiding her over the last three decades and instilling a life-long passion for dance and learning that she continues to pass on to her students every day. Stephanie has been honored, since its inception in 2010, to be the Co-Director/Owner of Premier Dance Academy.

Kattie Brewer’s dance journey began over 30 years ago at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, where she trained in a variety of styles including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, variations, character, musical theater, pointe, and partnering. At an early age she began performing in numerous productions such as *The Nutcracker*, *Swan Lake*, *Giselle*, *Dracula*, *Sleeping Beauty*, and *Cinderella*. She also took on roles in original works by notable choreographers like Soili Arvola, Leo Ahonen, Ayman Harper, and Amber Thornton.

At fourteen, Kattie received a scholarship to attend an intensive summer program at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York. The following summer, she was accepted into the intensive program at the San Francisco Ballet School, focusing on ballet, pointe, partnering, and variations. Her journey continued with another intensive program in Hawaii with Soili Arvola, where she deepened her studies in ballet, pointe, and character.

While pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in Dance at the University of Houston, Kattie continued her education in ballet, modern, jazz, acting under Rutherford Cravens, and expanded her education to include costume construction, lighting and theater design, dance pedagogy, improvisation, and dance history. Her senior project choreography was selected to open the university’s fall show, marking the beginning of her exploration into choreography. Since then, Kattie has created numerous group pieces and solos, earning awards at conventions and competitions in the Houston area.

Kattie has also contributed as a guest performer and choreographer for San Jacinto College Central’s Dance Program and served as a judge for the Kinkaid School’s dance company auditions and as an adjudicator at the 2009 National ISAS Arts Festival. Her choreography was featured at the Clear Lake Dance Festival - Dance Houston in 2011.

Since co-founding Premier Dance Academy in 2010, Kattie has dedicated herself to teaching and choreographing within the community. She holds her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from the University of Houston (2009) and is thrilled to be a Co-Director/Owner of Premier Dance Academy. Kattie also has two wonderful children, Addison and Matix, who bring immense joy and inspiration to her life. She also acknowledges Beverly Williams, Soili Arvola, and Leo Ahonen for shaping her career as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer.

Abbie Kern

Abbie Kern is from the New Orleans area. She found her love of dance at a young age through studio and dance team life. With a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts with a concentration in dance from St. Gregory’s University in Shawnee, Oklahoma, she is well trained in tap, jazz, hip-hop, ballet, lyrical, and theater dance. Her training and experience also includes voice and musical theater. In her nearly 20 years as an instructor, she has taught at several studios in the Tulsa area and has served as a competition director, choreographer, and instructor. Abbie also worked with the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa where she and her colleagues created and performed educational dance shows for elementary students. She has received many choreography awards for her work in the styles of tap and lyrical. In 2018, she and her family moved to League City and is excited to be part of the Premier Dance Academy family.

My name is Abigail Bowers and I am a dancer and choreographer from Houston, TX. I have been dancing for 18 years and grew up competing with No Boundaries Dance Company and Clear Lake City Rockettes. I was also a 4 year member of my drill team and top officer my senior year of high school. I have been working for Crowd Pleasers Dance Company since 2019 and I also enjoy private lesson instruction. In May of 2023 I graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor Degree of Fine Arts in Dance and a minor in marketing. My training includes jazz, contemporary, lyrical, ballet, and modern. I love the feeling of expression that dance allows and thrive on the rigor and discipline of this art.

Marie Perret has been dancing for 18 years, involving herself in studio dance, cheer, drill team, and collegiate dance. She has an associates of Science and Fine Arts from San Jacinto College and is currently attending the University of Houston - Clear Lake, majoring in Kinesiology. She started teaching about two years ago and has award-winning dances with some of her students. Marie’s hobbies are reading books, attending dance classes, and spending time with her dogs.

Miranda has been with Premier Dance Academy since the very beginning. Starting her dance journey at the age of 3 she grew up to become an assistant and now teacher for the studio. Going to Clear Brook High School, she joined the drill team and became a jr. lieutenant dance officer. Now she is perusing her interests of science and dance at San Jacinto College. She has had many amazing opportunities, the most recent being her performance at Miller Outdoor Theater in “Dancing on Steel”.

Kara Nava is 17 years old and has grown up dancing in the city of Houston and is currently a senior at La Porte High School. She will graduate high school with her High School Diploma with a Foundation in Science and Distinguished Recognition, and her Associates of Arts degree in General Studies. Kara started dancing at the age of two and started competing at the age of three. She found her passion for dance extremely quickly and knew that she wanted to continue her dance career from the beginning. In 2016 at the age of eight, Kara went out to achieve a goal and succeeded by becoming the 2016 Petite Miss Dance of Texas, STADT Chapter 3 for Dance Masters of America. She traveled to Nashville Tennessee, where she won eighth in the nation for Petite Miss Dance of America and second in interview. She has grown into the dancer she is today at Elite Dance Academy where she is currently a senior company member for their competitive team. Kara has been lucky to have trained under numerous amazing teachers including Sean Carmon, Terrill Mitchell, Lanette Cook, Katelyn Gallagher, Tuesday Boswell, Erica Newsom, Genene Wallis-McGrath, and many more. She has attended numerous conventions and competitions throughout her dance journey, allowing her to train with many more teachers and receive scholarships and awards at countless events. She has been apart of multiple ballet productions including The Nutcracker with The Russian Ballet and Cinderella where she danced along side Misty Copeland! When Kara began her freshman year she started her time with the La Porte High School Chatos where she remained for the next three years, and her junior year was named Junior Lieutenant.

Throughout her high school years she remained in the company, convention, and competitive industry of dance where she became an assistant for Motiv8 Dance Convention for two consecutive years. This year Kara was also awarded a scholarship to AMDA College of the Performing Arts in Los Angeles or New York. Kara is excited to start her journey teaching the next generation of dancers!

Beverly Williams

Beverly Williams is a dedicated educator with a diverse background in the Fine Art of Dance. She holds a B.A. and a M. F. A. from the University of Houston / CL and has continued studies in Humanities at the University of Houston / CL and in dance at Sam Houston State University. She has taught, as is teaching, as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston/ CL and Houston Community College. Ms. Williams is known as a high-energy teacher of dance in all dance genres and in all levels of dance education. She has taught in private and public schools, American Schools abroad, colleges, universities, private dance studios and dance companies. Ms. Bev was a long time teacher for the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, and Director of Dance for the Kinkaid School in Houston, Texas for fifteen years. She enjoyed a long professional career in performing classical ballet, jazz and tap dance, and enjoyed small roles on Broadway and films. She is a well known choreographer and her latest projects includes: Sam Houston State University, ISAS Arts Festivals, Royal Academy of Fine Arts, City Ballet of Houston, London, Scotland and Wales Tours 2005, and a London study in 2011 with the Royal Academy of Dance. Most recently, she has been a guest teacher in New York, Arkansas, Alabama. Ms. Williams has spent several summers studying with the Royal Academy of Dance in the United States and in London, England. She is currently hoping to publish Fine Art Education books to be used as textbooks in schools. Ms. Williams contributes the joys and successes in her life to the students and artists she has had the pleasure to work and share with. Their love and accomplishments are the driving force that propels her energies to always believe in the journey of discovery that the Fine Arts provide us all. Ms. Bev believes that we can all achieve greatness through our dedication and passion for the Arts we love. As we achieve we believe in our dreams!