Meet Our Instructors and Founders

Nellie Whitmire
Instructor

Nellie Whitmire is the mother of four who has been a dance teacher in the area for may years. She began her dance training at the age of two. She has extensive professional dance training in Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Modern, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Drill Team, and Clogging. In High school she was on drill team for three years and served as Jr. Lieutenant and Sr. Captain. She won overall high scores at regional and national competitions as a soloist for self choreographed pieces. She attended UNT as a dance major, and was a UNT Dancer for two years. She was also a member in the Mosaic dance Project in Tarrant County Nellie was also casted as a dancer in the ABC Family movie “She Gets What She Wants.” She has continued her dance education with training from master teachers such as Joe Tremaine, Doug Caldwell, Mia Michaels, Dave Carter, Dave Scott, and Tyce Diorio to name a few. Nellie has won several choreography awards and entertainment awards at local and national level competitions for her dance groups. Nellie has a true passion for dance, choreography, and teaching dance. She has currently gone back to school so that she can become an elementary teacher!

Mikala Spinelli
Alumni/Guest Teacher
Mikala Spinelli is originally from Fort Worth, Texas. She grew up in dance competitions winning various titles with Triple Motion Dance! She fell in love with musical theater throughout grade school. In Spring of 2020, Mikala graduated from Theater Arts Preparatory School in Las Vegas. Mikala is back at Cedar Point Entertainment in Ohio for another fun summer and fall of singing and dancing. You can catch her as “Ginger” in their main stage show, Beach Blanket Beagle and a dancer in their 150th parade! Some of Mikala's favorite roles include Penny in "Hairspray," and Ariel in "The Little Mermaid.” Mikala is passionate about pursuing her musical theater career using her triple threat talents!
Bleu
Office Manager

Bleu Morris grew up in California and has always loved watching and participating in the performing arts. She was born into a family that has a long history of performing. Fun facts: Bleu’s grandfather was a dancer, singer, and performer in the longest Vaudeville show. He met her grandmother who was a chorus line dancer on the set of a show. They had three sons. Bleu’s uncle, Russ Tamblyn is known for his acrobatic dancing and played major roles such as Tom Thumb, Riff in West Side Story, and Gideon in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. His daughter Amber Tamblyn has been in movies like The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants and in several TV Shows. Bleu’s dad, Larry Tamblyn, was the founder of a sixties rock band The Standells . The Standells had a few popular records and had a hit record Dirty Water. Dirty Water climbed all the way to 3rd on the music charts. Dancing and performing run in the family. Bleu was so excited when her children became passionate about dance. She is thrilled to be the office manager and witness their growth and development. Bleu also works as a co-curricular aide for an elementary school in Keller ISD. Although Bleu is not an instructor, you will find her participating in the showcase parent dances, and in adult dance classes when offered.

Sonya Hardy
Instructor/Founder

Sonya grew up dancing in California and now resides in Fort Worth. Sonya has been dancing since the young age of six years old. She has trained with numerous instructors in the Bay Area. She was co-owner of SS Dance Express for 11 years and Triple Threat Performing Arts for the past seven. She has also performed in a variety of shows and musicals in the Bay Area. Her choreography has been seen in "Singing in the Rain" and "South Pacific" for the  the local community theater companies. Sonya was the dance dance instructor at the Keller Music and Dance Preschool in Keller. Sonya is the mother of 4 children and her love of dance and children has led her into teaching for over 20+ years.  Sonya's dancers and choreography has won numerous overall scores and top choreography awards at State and national competitions. Many of her dancers have continued their dance careers on college dance teams, MTV Video Award, Disney's "High School Musical 3," Professional Sports teams (NFL, NBA, AFL), Cruise ships, Disneyland, "So You think You Can Dance," and Broadway touring companies of "Cats," "Wicked," and most recently, "Chicago"!

Shawnel Herbst
Instructor/Founder

Shawnel is originally from California where she has been involved with dancing since the age of 2 1/2, training with multiple studios and teachers in the Bay Area. She is co-owner of the dance studio Triple Threat Performing Arts back in Ca. During her six years as a member of the San Francisco 49er “Gold Rush” cheerleader, she has had the chance to perform in such locations as Canada, Japan, China, and Austria, and with Boys II Men, Huey Lewis and the News, Don McClean and Jefferson Starship. She also has had the opportunity to tour overseas with the USO to Bosnia, Croatia and Hungary to entertain American Troops for Independence Day. She has been involved in Community Theater for the past 20 years and has co-directed/ choreographed such shows as Singing in the Rain, Beauty and the Beast, Modern Millie, Wizard of Oz, and Nunsense. If you look closely, Shawnel can also be seen in the feature film "Flubber" with Robin Williams. Shawnel has judged regionally and nationally for Hall of Fame Dance Challenge and Kid Artistic Revue. The dedication of Shawnel and her students have led them to many awards and accomplishment nationally. Many of Shawnel’s students have continued on and performed on award winning college, NFL, NBA, and AFL dance teams. Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships, Disneyland and California Adventure. “So You Think You Can Dance,” “The Glee Project,” “Glee.” The movies: “Easy A,” “High School Musical 3,” “A Better Life,” reoccurring roles on “All My Children,” and touring casts of “Wicked,” “Cats," and "The Little Mermaid." Along with everything else, Shawnel is the mother of two very active boys and twin girls!

Hollind Hardy
Instructor
Hollind grew up in California and Texas where she found a love for dancing, singing, and acting. Growing up as a competitive dancer she was trained in multiple styles including jazz, ballet, contemporary, musical theater, etc... but soon found her niche in tap dancing. After high school she joined a professional company, Rhythmic Souls Tap Company, where she was able to teach at multiple dance studios throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, educating to students of all ages. During this time Hollind was able to take classes and learn from world renowned tap dancers such as Anthony Morigerato, Nick Dinicolangelo, Acia Gray, and many more. Once relocated to Los Angeles in 2019 she began to take professional classes with Rhythmatic Tap Co. and trained in multiple styles at Edge Performing Arts Center and other studios. She also began working for Kids Artistic Revue as an emcee and judge, where she travels nationally working dance events. Starting in the fall she will be on staff as an instructor with their Convention where she will be. Currently living in the Denver area, she looks forward to her visits back to TMD where she will continue to train, teach, choreograph, and take every possible opportunity to refine her skills and help her students learn in a safe and dedicated environment!
Jacy Barney
Alumni/Guest Teacher
Jacy Rae Barney, Is currently the head coach of the Power Dancers at the University of Texas at Dallas and is versatile in all styles of dance including Tap, Jazz, lyrical, ballet, contemporary, hip hop, and gymnastics. She is certified by United Spirit Association in dance technique and has a diploma in performing arts and was the Director of Tap at Cutting Edge dance center for 5 years. Jacy was chosen to represent the United States in Barcelona Spain winning world titles as a member of the American Dance Company and choreographs for many competitive studios, winning numerous top overall awards as well as creativity and choreography recognition. She won two college dance team titles which aired on ESPN and has coached at the Anaheim Angels stadium for the NCIF championships, as the head coach of the Edison High school Song Team. Jacy was crowned national “Miss Dance USA” and was awarded Dance Spirit Magazines “Future Star of the Year Award.” She assisted at Company Dance Convention with Brian Friedman, Gregg Russell, Barry Youngblood, and Tyce Diorio. She is a national adjudicator for Move productions and Bravo talent competition, as well as the Master Tap teacher for Kids Artistic Revue Convention. Jacy is a three year veteran of the Los Angeles Clippers Dance Team, she was awarded hardest working member on the team and asked to represent the NBA overseas performing in Taiwan, Beijing, and Urumqi. She spent one season with the Dallas Cowboys Rhythm and Blue Dance Team, as the first and only Co-Ed hip hop team in the NFL. Jacy’s Performance credits include the “Beach Blanket Babylon Scholarship for the Arts” showcase at Club Fugazi in San Francisco, “Beat it down,” “A Chorus Line” and “Get up and move” Haiti Benefit. She was a soloist at the renowned duke theater on times square “Broadway dance showcase” and can be seen Dancing in the MTV Video Music awards with the Jonas Brothers and rapper TI. You may also have seen Jacy in commercials for Monday night football and Bacardi Limón or in the video for D. Woods (Danity Kane) “Legalize Me.” She is on the big screen dancing in the #1 comedy movie of the year “Easy A” and the “Hannah Montana Movie.” Jacy signed under the R&B singer Ciaras’ Label and had the opportunity to choreograph for her Universal Dance and talent agency auditions. She spent one season cheering for the Anaheim Arsenal basketball team and performed in Las Vegas representing alumni pro cheerleaders during the Super Bowl. She hopes to continue dancing and sharing her passion for dance while motivating others to be the best they can be.
Danielle Ihle
Alumni/Guest Teacher

Danielle Ihle has been dancing and performing since the age of three in the Bay Area of California where she was strongly trained in tap, musical theatre, jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, modern, and ballroom. During Danielle's 14 years as a competitive dancer she has been crowned Miss Teen Legacy, Miss Spotlight Dance, the Senior Hall of Fame Inductee of 2010, and has been awarded numerous 1st overall solo achievements, specialty awards, scholarships to train in New York and Los Angeles, and was scouted her senior year by DDO, a Los Angeles Talent Agency. After graduating high school she was a featured contemporary dancer on Season 8 of FOX’s “So You Think You Can Dance”, became a Pulse Protégé, Danced in multiple Music Videos in LA and toured in Hawaii with artist Aquile from NBC’s “the Voice” Team Xtina. Danielle moved from California to Texas to further her career and found a lot of joy working with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders on CMT’s “Making the Team” for 6 years. The Dallas Cowboys Organization brought even more opportunity to Danielle as she was able to perform in multiple NFL Halftime Shows with artists such as Selena Gomez, Meghan Trainor and Thomas Rhett. Danielle over the years came to realize that she was ready for the world to see her talent and she developed a new found passion for creating and choreographing unique styles of movement which lead her to become a USASF certified Dance Coach from 2013-2019 where she holds 2 World Champion Titles and 2 Summit Champion Titles as a Hip Hop Coach and Choreographer. She was past director of the hip-hop crew Motiv8’D. Danielle has relocated back to California where she has added judge for Kids Artistic Revue and Rainbow Talent competitions and continues to perform, choreograph, and teach. She loves sharing her knowledge and experience with students and audiences all over the United States in hopes to inspire all of her students and athletes to understand and love dance just as her teachers and mentors have done for her.

Kim Alverez
Kim Alvarez has a BFA in Modern Dance & Choreographic Design from the Conservatory at the University of Missouri – Kansas City and is represented by Bloc Agency in LA.gained. Kim gained notoriety as a competitive dancer where she won 10 national and international titles and was a top 30 finalist in Season 5 of FOX TV’s “So You Think You Can Dance”. Kim was awarded a number of scholarships to various conventions, master classes and dance programs and had the opportunity to assist choreographers such as Brian Friedman, Lane Napper and Mikeal Knight, as well as convention faculty. A “triple threat”, Kim is regularly seen in regional theatrical performances. Most recently, she received standing ovations for her portrayal of Cassie in ‘A Chorus Line’. Other career credits include Netflix’s ‘Glow’, Café Bustelo, Lifetime, Showtime, Facebook and Verizon Wireless. In 2012, she was a summer intern at Broadway Dance Center in New York City and was the featured dancer in several numbers as well as being the first participant ever to have two works selected for their Showcase. Kim was presented the Choreography Award by the BDC faculty. She has received many regional and national awards for her choreography including 5 Industry Dance Award nominations, 3 of which have been National finalists. Besides being a highly successful competition choreographer, her works have been seen in theatrical and concert productions, film, dance companies, teams and musical groups.
Madi Dean
Madi Dean was born and raised a true Texan. She started dancing at the age of 2 and started competing at the age of 4. Madi started dancing in the Disney Summer Classic parades when she was 4 years old. During her dance career she has competed all different types of solos, which she won the National Solo Shootout at StageOne National competition in tap. Madi was a member of the national award winning Central High School Lightning Dancer serving as line member, Jr Lieutenant and Senior Lieutenant. Madi is the most decorated Lightning Dancer in the history of the school being the very first ever to win a solo championship for the Lightning Dancers with more to follow. Madi was also a member of the musical theater at CHS. She was asked to choregraph for the musical Newsies. Madi choreographed "Seize The Day"she won Best Musical and Best Choreography at the Keller ISD Kelley awards. As a child Madi modeled and acted for The Campbell Agency where she was on the show Prison Break on Fox4 and multiple print ads for various companies. She was also a Junior Dallas Cowboys cheerleader that performed in halftime shows with the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders and various professional performers, including The Jonas Brothers and Neil McCoy. Madi has trained in various dance styles including Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern, Musical Theater and her favorites Hip Hop and Tap. Madi has taken multiple master classes with professional choreographers with her favorite being Phil Wright. She has traveled to Las Vegas to dance with Wildabeast and Janelle at his workshop where she won a scholarship. Madi loves working with the kids and sharing her passion for dance with them. Madi loves competition season. She loves to be backstage with the groups to be their "Hype Girl". Madi's hip hop choreography has won National titles and has been selected for the "Showdowns"
Veronica France
Veronica France is from Northern California where she started her performing arts career at the age of 9. Veronica competed in dance all over the West Coast, was the captain of the drill team and the Susanville City Rockettes and performed in more than 30 musicals taking the lead in Sweeny Todd, Little Shop of Horrors, Cinderella and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers throughout her formative years. In high school, she studied Modern and Conceptual dance at the University of the Arts in Pennsylvania which lead her to pursue Concert dance and choreography at San Francsico State University. In 2017, Veronica earned a degree in Dance with an emphasis in choreography, and a Recreation, Parks and Tourism degree. During her stay in San Francisco, she was the choreographer and production manager for the city’s award winning Young Peoples Teen Musical Theater Program and was selected to present a full stage production for the renowned ODC Dance. After working as a performer and party host on Carnival Cruise lines, Veronica moved to Texas to further her passion in the DFW area. Veronica has had the privilege to teach Jazz, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Creative Movement and Modern dance for 2-17 year olds at private studios in California, Nevada and Texas for the last 8 years. Since living in Texas, Veronica has been apart of the Triple Motion Family not only teaching but also leading the mobile dance program in 2019 and 2020. Veronica is so excited to be working at this amazing studio for a third season and to be able to continue to share her love of dance with every student that walks through the door.
Madison Galer
Instructor
Madison Galer has been dancing since she was 4 years old and trained under Sonya and Shawnel Herbst at Triple Motion Dance for 8 years in ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, tap and musical theatre. During this time she won numerous top awards in her groups and as a soloist. Madison then spent a year training in ballet and modern at Texas State University. Currently she is at the University of North Texas where she is going into her second year as a North Texas Dancer where she will be a nationals captain for the 2021-22 season. She has also been blessed with the opportunity to be part of the Universal Dance Association staff where she dances and teaches at camps for dance teams and high school drill teams across the country. Madison has been a teacher at Triple Motion Dance for 4 years now and is looking forward to continuing to teach the next generation of dancers!
Faith Knappenberger
Instructor
Faith Knappenberger is a retired studio owner from northern California with a B.S. in Kinesiology with an emphasis in dance & is excited for her family's new chapter in Texas! She was a member of the CSU Sacramento Stinger Girlz national champion dance team and went on to dance for 3 seasons for the NBA with the Sacramento Kings. Faith was also an instructor for NCA Danz (now NDA) for many years. She specializes in jazz, lyrical/contemporary and dance team style hip hop but has taught all genres, ages and levels of dance. In 2019 Faith was chosen to be a choreographer/director for the Sacramento King's 916 Crew which is a co-ed hip hop team. She is also currently a judge exclusively for Kids Artistic Review and Rainbow dance competitions. Faith's primary job is being a rep for Zyia Active and leads a team of over 130 reps from all across the country. She and her husband Curtis have a beautiful blended family with six kids ages 12-22 and one grandbaby. Three of their children dance competitively (Sadie, Jonah and and Joy) and they are thrilled to join the Triple Motion Dance family as well.
Jessica Popoff
Instructor
A native of Garden City, MI Jessica started her pre-professional training at Angie Hahn’s Academy of Dance where she trained in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and contemporary. She is a 2019 graduate from the University of Oklahoma where she earned her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Ballet Pedagogy. There, Jessica had the opportunity to perform works by Trey McIntyre, David Hochoy, and Alejandro Cerrudo. She has also trained at BalletMet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Dallas Black Dance Theatre summer intensives. After graduation Jessica joined DBDT: Encore! for two seasons. Recently promoted, she will be joining Dallas Black Dance Theater’s first company for their upcoming season. In addition to dancing, Jessica has been teaching and choreographing for 8 years. She has taught ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, and contemporary to all levels. She is the proud mother of Dakota Popoff, born September 11, 2020.