Meet our teachers!
Dianne Stoffel has been a vital part of the Buda dance community since 1994, starting her teaching career at Barbara Lynn’s, later known as Footnotes. She began dancing at age five in Del Rio, Texas, and later became a Hays Highstepper and officer.
Dianne graduated cum laude from Southwest Texas State University in 1997 with a degree in Exercise Sports Science–Dance and a secondary teaching certification. While in college, she taught at several studios and programs, including Sunshine Generation and Hermann Sons Dance.
Dianne is trained in various styles including tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, modern, and gymnastics, and is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique and SafeSport. She’s also judged regional dance competitions. An award-winning business leader, she’s received honors such as Small Business of the Year (2005, 2018), Hays County Woman Entrepreneur, and Dance Unlimited’s 2023 and 2025 Best of North Hays County recognition.
Miss Dianne
Studio Owner and Founder
Erica Howie is a manager and instructor at Dance Unlimited. She began her dance training at the age of 5 at Jackie's Performing Arts and continued throughout elementary school. During middle school, she explored other performing arts but ultimately discovered her passion for dance. In high school, Erica joined the drill team and assisted with teaching dance classes.
Erica attended Texas State University, where she majored in Dance with a teacher’s certification. While at Texas State, she was a member of the modern dance company Orchesis for two years and participated as both a dancer and choreographer in eight dance concerts. She graduated with honors in May 2010 and has been part of the Dance Unlimited team since the fall of that year.
Erica’s extensive training includes ballet, jazz, modern, tap, hip hop, contemporary, lyrical, gymnastics, and creative movement.
Miss Erica
Recreational Director
Beth Bisett brings over 35 years of dance teaching experience to Dance Unlimited, where she has been a dedicated instructor since 1998. Originally from Tyler, Texas, Beth began her training in ballet, jazz, tap, and musical theatre under Utah Ground, a renowned teacher who mentored Broadway stars Tommy Tune and Sandy Duncan.
Her education includes studies at TJC, TCU, Lon Morris, SWTSU, and NWLSU. While attending SWTSU, she earned a Best Actress nomination for her performance as Peter Pan, reflecting her talent and passion for the stage. Beth has choreographed numerous productions for SWTSU, San Marcos Children’s Theatre, San Marcos High School, and Alamo Heights High School. Some of her notable credits include Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma!, Carousel, Guys and Dolls, The Music Man, and The Fantasticks, featuring 2007 Tony Award winner Julie White.
Miss Beth
Instructor
Caitlin Rients has been a dedicated dancer at Dance Unlimited since the age of 7 and has competed with the studio from age 8 to 18. Over the years, she became a prominent member of the studio’s Hip Hop Crew. In addition, Caitlin was a valued member of the studio’s Company for 3 years prior to her high school graduation.
Her primary focus is Hip Hop, both as a dancer and as an instructor. She has continually honed her craft and remains a committed student of dance, attending the Monsters Dance Convention annually since the age of 14.
Her teaching is driven by a desire to inspire young dancers and to foster a positive, supportive environment in which they can grow both technically and creatively.
Miss Caitlin
Instructor
Elizaveta Istomina has been dancing since the age of five and now has been dancing for over ten years. She started out dancing at Папины Дочки. A studio in Russia that focused on performing dance and singing. After a year of performing with that studio she moved on to a different studio in Russia to continue learning ballet and pointe. After competing group dances and a duet with her twin sister her family moved to the United States and she joined Balance Dance Studios. While at Balance Dance studios she started practicing in various different styles of dance such as Ballet, HipHop, Contemporary, Jazz, lyrical, and acro. Her last year at that studio she competed with a Jazz team called Ignite. She then moved to Dance Unlimited after seeing one of their teams at a competition. There she started practicing in Tap and continued her education in all the other styles. The second year at Dance Unlimited she competed with the Acro team and will be competing with the HipHop team on Teen Elites. This will be her fifth year at Dance Unlimited and she is excited to get to teach others and help them grow in their skills at dance.
Miss Liza
Instructor
Angie Villarreal has been dancing since the age of 3, starting with recreational classes before continuing her training at Dance Unlimited in 2013. She joined the Dance Unlimited Company in 2014 and danced for three years, later becoming a member of the Senior Elites in 2018.
Angie’s training spans a variety of styles, including jazz, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, tap, hip-hop, and drill team. She was also a dedicated member of the Lehman High School Star Strutters for four years, serving as Lieutenant and Captain for two years.
Currently, Angie is attending Texas State University, majoring in English with a teaching degree, and she is also a second-year member of the Texas State Strutters. This will be her second year teaching at Dance Unlimited, where she is excited to share her love of dance with her students and inspire the next generation of dancers.
Miss Angie
Instructor
Miss Natalie
Instructor
Bio coming soon.
Miss Jackie
Instructor
Natalie’s training began at the age of three at Dance Unlimited in Buda, TX, and continued through competitive teams at First Class Dance Center in San Marcos. In high school, Natalie was a four-year member of the Jack C. Hays Highsteppers and their elite team, where she served as Senior Lieutenant during her final year.
Natalie continued her competitive career at the University of North Texas as a member of the North Texas Dancers. She performed at major events such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Dallas Cowboys Halftime Show, and NDA Nationals. During her sophomore year, she served as the Jazz Nationals Leader, choreographed pieces for social media and clinics, and led technique sessions.
Currently, Natalie is pursuing a BFA in Dance at the University of Texas at Austin. She was a member of the Texas Pom Squad for the 2024–2025 season and is now part of UT’s Dance Repertory Company. Additionally, she serves on the department’s Student Council Committee.
Caty Costigan began her dance training in Buda, TX, studying under Dianne Stoffel from age eight to fifteen. She continued her training with Tapestry Dance Company under renowned tap choreographer Jason Janas during her high school years.
While in college, Caty danced with the Colorado Dance Collective, performing with their tap and hip hop companies for four years and eventually serving as co-captain. During this time, she trained with esteemed choreographers including Leslie Scott, Keith Clifton, and Gregg Russell, and performed alongside groups such as iAmMe and the Jabbawockeez.
Now based in Kyle, TX, Caty travels across the country teaching master classes, leading conventions, and setting guest choreography. She has been on faculty at Dance Unlimited for over 10 years, specializing in tap, hip hop, and improvisation. An award-winning choreographer in multiple genres, Caty is passionate about teaching and creating—and is grateful to have turned her love of dance into a lifelong career.
Miss Caty
The Company & The Crew Director
Stephanie Estes has been teaching at Dance Unlimited since June 2006 and brings over 30 years of dance experience. Her training began at Taylor Dance Studio in Nederland, Texas, and continued at Amy Dufour's Dance Center and Cynde Lomonte's Dance Dimensions in Sugar Land, where she earned numerous top awards. A graduate of Dulles High School, Stephanie was a three-year member and Captain of the Dulles Dolls Dance Team, leading her team to top awards.
Stephanies dance training includes ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, hip-hop, musical theater, and more. Stephanie holds a degree in Elementary Education and a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas State University. In addition to teaching at Dance Unlimited, she currently teaches STEAM at Negley Elementary and works as a workshop instructor and judge for local studios. She also guest choreographs for area drill teams. At Dance Unlimited, Stephanie has led her Company Teams to achieve high adjudication scores and placements, earning choreography and judges’ awards. Her passion for dance and teaching continues to inspire and motivate her students to excel.
Miss Stephanie
The Company Instructor
Kayla Duley has been a dancer at Dance Unlimited since the age of 18 months, and for the past 13 years, she has been a dedicated member of many of the studio’s competitive teams. She was also an active participant in the Hays High School Highsteppers for four years, including two years on the Elite team.
Kayla’s training includes a wide variety of dance styles, including ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, gymnastics, and acrobatics. She began assisting classes in 2011 and transitioned into teaching at Dance Unlimited in 2015. Kayla has also taught dance as part of the Fine Arts program at Fuentes Elementary.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development & Family Science from Texas State University. Kayla is excited to continue sharing her passion for dance with future generations and inspire young dancers to grow and thrive.
Miss Kayla
Instructor & Defy Director
Cindy Jones has been passionate about dance since the age of 3. She began her training at Lisa’s Dance Center in Arlington, TX, where she danced for 9 years before moving on to Dancer’s Workshop for an additional 2 years. Cindy then joined the Martin High School Sundancer’s Drill Team, serving as Captain during her senior year.
Cindy later graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in Interior Design. While in Lubbock, she also coached several cheer and dance teams at Extreme Cheer & Dance and Raider Xtreme, sharing her expertise with aspiring athletes.
Outside of the studio, Cindy is a wife and mother of two children. She is trained in a variety of dance styles including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, cheer, and drill team. Cindy’s diverse background and love for dance fuel her passion for teaching and inspiring the next generation of dancers.
Miss Cindy
The Company and Instructor
Valerie De La Rosa began dancing at age 2 at Brooke Lowden’s School of Dance in Kyle, Texas, where she was first introduced to competitive dance. She continued her training at SHOCK Dance Center under Kristina Weinman, competing at numerous regional and national events. She later joined Dance Unlimited, becoming a member of the “3D Team” and part of the first-ever Tap Troupe.
In high school, she was a four-year member of the Hays Highstepper drill team and assisted combo classes, gaining early teaching experience.
She currently teaches recreational classes at Dance Unlimited and supports office operations and seasonal dance camps. Her lifelong love for dance continues to grow through teaching and performing.
Miss Valerie
Instructor & Office
Rosie Salazar has been a dedicated dancer at Dance Unlimited since the age of 4. At 11, she joined the studio’s competitive company and continued to dance at a competitive level through her high school graduation in 2013. During high school, Rosie was also a member of the Lehman Cheer Squad, where she competed in numerous cheer competitions across the country.
Rosie’s training includes ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical, and she has built a strong foundation in each of these disciplines. She is currently pursuing a degree in Mass Communication and Electronic Media at Texas State University, while continuing to teach a variety of dance and gymnastics classes, including the DU Company.
Rosie graduated from Texas State in 2020 with a BFA in Dance Education and a minor in Mass Communication. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge and love of dance with her students and looks forward to inspiring the next generation of dancers.
Miss Rosie
Instructor
Ally has been immersed in the world of dance since the young age of 3 in Austin, Tx. Upon graduation, her professional dance career took off with the Austin Lady Wranglers, and she was soon recognized as Rookie of the Year with HTE Dance Staff, where she has been a dedicated choreographer and instructor of high school dance teams for 18 years. Her dance journey continued with four years dancing for the San Antonio Spurs where she had the honor of traveling across the globe with the NBA and Spurs Sports organization. After retiring from dancing with the NBA, Ally moved to New York City and dedicated a year to training in ballet, broadway, jazz, contemporary, tap, hip hop and various other styles.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Ally is the proud mother of three amazing children: Ava (11), Camryn (8), and Noah (2). Though her life is full, she dreams of traveling the world in her rare moments of free time. Ally holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Texas State University, San Marcos in 2010.
Miss Ally
Instructor & Office
Caitlin Brock has been dancing since the age of three in the Buda area. She began her training at Jackie's Performing Arts and joined Dance Unlimited at age 5, where her passion for dance quickly grew.
Caitlin was a dedicated member of the Dance Unlimited Company for seven years before becoming a Johnson High School Rosette, where she served as Sophomore Lieutenant, Junior Lieutenant, and Co-Captain during her four years on the team. Throughout high school, she continued her training at Dance Unlimited and began teaching in her junior year.
Caitlin graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Psychology and Critical Disabilities Studies. She is trained in tap, ballet, jazz, acrobatics, and drill team, with experience in a wide range of other dance styles.
Caitlin is passionate about dance and teaching, and she is excited to share her love for dance with the next generation of dancers.
Miss Caitlin
Instructor
Kristal Tan is an Austin-based dancer, choreographer, and educator known for blending her Texas roots with international experience. Originally from San Antonio, she trained competitively before earning a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Texas State University, where she performed with Merge Dance Company.
Her professional journey includes training at Broadway Dance Center and Debbie Reynolds’ Scholarship Program, signing with Luxe Talent Agency in L.A., and working with DreamWorks, Apple, Dance Spirit Magazine, and global music artists. She’s performed in productions like Thoroughly Modern Millie and Psycho Beach Party, and her award-winning choreography has been featured in Voyage LA and Meet the Dance Makers.
Kristal has taught and choreographed across the U.S. and abroad in Mexico, Belarus, Thailand, and Malaysia, and judges nationally for Groove and 8 National Talent. She also holds a Master’s in Organizational and Industrial Psychology and currently serves as Co-Director of The Company at Dance Unlimited.
Miss Kristal
The Company Director
Hannah Hallmark has been dancing with Dance Unlimited since the age of 2. She began her training at Barbara Kay's School of Dance, continued when the studio transitioned to Footnotes, and eventually became a member of Dance Unlimited. Over the course of her 9 years with the studio’s Company, Hannah honed her skills before joining her high school drill team, where she served as Lieutenant during her senior year.
Hannah earned a Bachelor's degree in Radio-Television-Film with a minor in Business Foundations from The University of Texas. In 2014, she moved to Los Angeles, where she worked with several production companies and entertainment outlets, gaining valuable experience in the industry.
Her training spans ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, lyrical, and drill team. Hannah currently teaches a variety of recreational classes, as well as the Debut Co, Demi Co, and Company teams at Dance Unlimited. She is excited to share her passion for dance with the next generation and inspire students to pursue their own artistic journeys.
Miss Hannah
The Company & Convention Team Instructor
Maddie Irwin has been dancing since the age of 6 and joined Dance Unlimited in elementary school. Throughout her training in various dance styles, Maddie has always had a deep passion for tap dance, which has remained a core focus of her dance journey.
In 2015, Maddie became a founding member of Dance Unlimited's original Tap Troupe, where she spent four years competing at regional and national competitions, as well as attending dance conventions and intensives.
For the past 6 years, Maddie has been teaching The Company at Dance Unlimited, sharing her expertise and love of dance with her students. She has earned numerous awards and accolades throughout her Company career, including a National First Place title at Elevation Finals in 2025, further showcasing her talent and dedication to the art of tap dance.
Miss Maddie
The Company Instructor
Gabriella Garcia is a competitive and recreational dance instructor, choreographer, and performer from Kyle, Texas. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a Business Administration minor from Texas State University in December 2024—Eat ’Em Up, Cats!
Starting dance at age 3, Gabriella trained and performed with Dance Unlimited’s company, competing at national finals. She has danced for the San Antonio Rampage Hockey Team, been a finalist with Crowd Pleasers, and trained with conventions like Tremaine, Radix, and The Streetz. In high school, she was a member of the Hays Highstepper drill team, participating in numerous community and competitive events.
Since 2021, Gabriella has been teaching recreational and competitive classes at Dance Unlimited. Her choreography has been showcased at recitals, community performances, and regional and national competitions.
Miss Gabby
Distinction Director and Instructor
Iza Higuera has been dancing since she was 3 years old and has attended Dance Unlimited for about 9 years. She is trained in Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Ballet, and Drill team. She was a four-year Lehman High School Star Strutter member, serving as a lieutenant and captain. She is attending Texas State University studying dance education. She is also a first-year member of the Texas State Strutters. She is excited to begin teaching while sharing her love and passion for dance
Miss Iza
Instructor
Kamryn Talavera has been part of the Dance Unlimited family since the age of three. She trained as a member of the Dance Unlimited Company for six years and was a four-year member of the Hays High Steppers dance team in high school. Kamryn is currently pursuing a degree in History and Education at Texas State University. She is trained in tap, ballet, jazz, and other styles, and brings a positive energy to every class. Kamryn is passionate about teaching and loves sharing her love of dance with the next generation of performer.
Miss Kamryn
Instructor
Violetta Istomina has been dancing since the age of 5. She started out dancing at Папины дочки, a studio in Russia specialized in dancing and singing. After a year of performing with that studio she moved on to a school of different arts where she started training in ballet and pointe. There she competed several dances with her group as well as a duet with her twin sister. After two years in that studio, Vita moved to the US where she joined Balance Dance Studios at the age of 9. While at Balance Dance Studios, she trained in dance styles such as contemporary, jazz, hip hop, ballet, acrobatics, and one of the years there, Vita was on their Jazz team called Ignite. The year after that she moved studios to Dance unlimited where she competed on the acro team and picked up tap dancing. Vita continues her training in different styles of dance at DU. Vita has assisted classes and now is happy to share her passion for dance as well as being able to help others grow in their dance skills!
Miss Vita
Instructor
Gabby began dancing at age two in the Dallas area and quickly fell in love with the art form. She trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and more. At 11, she earned a full scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, becoming one of the youngest dancers in their summer program. She went on to place at the Youth America Grand Prix and performed at events like Sarah Brinson’s Cultural Architect Awards in Vancouver. Gabby has received numerous awards and scholarships and performed lead roles in ballets including The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, and Coppélia.
During high school, she assisted with The Streetz and Celebrity Dance Conventions, working alongside renowned choreographers like Jim Nowakowski, Cat Cogliandro, and Alexa Moffett. She discovered a passion for teaching and began instructing at studios in Dallas, later continuing in Austin while earning her degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. At UT, she was co-president of Texas Ballet and danced with Redefined Dance Company, Dance Action, and Roustabouts. Today, Gabby balances her career as a software engineer with teaching dance, and she loves being part of the Dance Unlimited family.
Miss Gabby
Instructor
Allie Seitzer has been dancing at dance unlimited since the age of 3. She explored ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and gymnastics. In middle school she tried out for cheerleading and fell in love with the sport. She then cheered in high school at Buda Johnson all 4 years and served as a social officer for 3 of those years. During her senior year she was awarded the cheerleading sweetheart award which was voted on by the team. Allie is now furthering her cheerleading path by being a part of St Edward’s cheer and stunt team. Allie is also a judge for cheerleading competitions and try outs for many schools in the hays and travis county area. she began teaching cheer and tumbling classes at dance unlimited in 2022 and plans to stay!
Miss Allie
Instructor
Peyton brings energy, creativity, and encouragement to every class she teaches. With a background in gymnastics and hip-hop, she loves helping students grow in both confidence and skill. When she’s not dancing, you can find her reading books, sipping coffee, or coming up with fun, new ideas. She’s passionate about creating a positive space where every dancer feels supported and inspired.
Miss Peyton
Instructor