Meet Our Team
GABY LUCAS - School Director/ Company Director
Gaby was born in Coatzacoalcos, Mexico and obtained her BFA in Performing Arts from
The Wichita St University.
Since arriving in Kansas City, Gaby has had the opportunity to choreograph and perform with multiple professional theatre and dance venues including City in Motion Dance Theatre, AHA Dance Theatre, Young Audiences, Children’s Lyric Opera, Theatre for Young America, Coterie Theatre, Chameleon Theatre, BEST Network, Princess Squid Productions, Miss America-Miss Kansas Pageant and the Missouri Repertory Theatre.
She is a former Dance Judge for the North Dakota Dance Challenge and was awarded the 2006 Award for Distinguished Services in Arts and Disabilities from the KS State Board of Education. She is a current board member to Coterie Theatre and former Education Director for Jellybean Conspiracy- a not for profit agency that sponsors theatre shows promoting thoughtful inclusion among children inside their schools.
Gaby has 20+ years of experience teaching different genres of dance and fitness to children, young adults and senior citizens with broad levels and abilities. She is mother to 2 wonderful daughters and has become a passionate advocate for programs that include the talents of children with special needs. She would be honored to become your child’s dance instructor and welcome him/her into the exciting world of Dance.
TESS GADWOOD - Ballet
Tess received a dance scholarship to the University of Missouri-Kansas City with the honors of receiving the UMKC Conservatory Chancellor’s Scholarship and graduated with a BFA in Dance. She has received scholarships to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, American Dance Center, Gus Giordano, School of American Ballet and acceptance to the Mid-America Dance Company.
Tess has performed and competed nationally earning awards for her dancing and choreography. Tess has also enjoyed dancing some of her favorite ballets such as Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Carmina Burana.
She has studied with Tatiana Dukoudovska, Mary Pat Henry, Paula Weber, Gus Giordano and the late Leni Wylliams.
Tess has been teaching for the Kansas City Ballet since 2005 as well as the Kansas City Ballet’s “Reach Out and Dance” program which brings dance education to public schools in the Kansas City Area.
HOPE WILLIAMS - Tap
Hope Goertzen began dancing at the age of 6 with AngelFeet Dance Studio in south central Kansas where she trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Pointe and was member of the touring Ministry Team.
Hope found her calling to teach dance while assisting the DanceDC program and interning at The Washington Ballet at THEARC in Washington D.C.
While pursuing her bachelors at Kansas State University she performed at many venues including the Kansas Dance Festival in 2013, The Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, the Kansas State Fair, and many others.
Hope holds a Bachelors in Theater from Kansas State University with an emphasis in Dance. While at K-State, Hope was a member of the K-State Tap Dance Ensemble and the Kansas State Theater Organization.
Hope has been teaching Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, and Improv in Kansas City since 2015 as well as choreographed several musical productions in the Metro area.
She is excited to join the HOUSE OF DANCE Family and spread joy through movement!!
CALLIE OEHLER- Jazz/ Company Coach
Callie began her Dance Training in DeSoto, KS where she trained at local studios and became captain of her HS Drill Team. She went on to become a member of the University of Missouri-Kansas City dance team, and the Collaboration Laboratory Dance Company.
In 2017 Miss Callie won the title of Miss Golden Belt through the Miss America Organization and competed at Miss Kansas where she won "Top Talent" at multiple local competitions.
Callie graduated with a BS in Mathematics and is currently seeking a Doctorate of Physical Therapy at The University of Kansas Medical Center.
Callie is passionate about dancing and teaching all styles of dance.
She is excited to be a member of Gaby Lucas' House of Dance family!
ALEXANDRIA HUSKEY- Ballet, Lyrical
Alexandria Brant holds a Bachelors degree in Ballet and Modern Dance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, as well as a minor in business.
At seven years old, Alexandria Brant began dancing in Topeka, Kansas under the direction of Barbara Ebert at Barbara’s Conservatory of Dance and Ballet Midwest. Although Miss Brant began assisting and teaching dance at an early age, she has also succeeded as a professional dancer with vast experience in Ballet, Pointe, Pas de Deux, Jazz, Liturgical, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Modern dance forms. Her favorite ballet roles have been Clara in The Nutcracker and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. For several years, Alex has had the great opportunity of attending summer intensives at Ballet Magnificat! and the Rock School for Dance Education.
Most recently Miss Alex became a Company Dancer for the prestigious Ballet Hartford and the New England Ballet Collective in Hartford, Connecticut.
House of Dance is excited to welcome Miss Alex back home this year.
BROCK MAZE- Jazz, Hip-Hop, Acro/ Company Coach
Mr. Brock comes to us from Lexington, MO where he grew up dancing competitively at Shapes Dance and Acro where he learned various dance styles at a very early age including Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet, Hip-Hop and Acro.
Brock attended the Dance Conservatory at the University of Missouri- Kansas City where he furthered his studies in Ballet and Modern. During his time at UMKC, Brock also had the opportunity to be part of the National Championship Team at DNA.
Shortly after college, Brock was hired by the Disney Cruise Line were he became part of the original cast of "Beauty and the Beast" on the Disney Dream. After 2 contracts aboard the ship, he moved to New York City to continue his training and further his performance career.
Brock is excited to be back home and to be back teaching at GLHOD.
Gillian Yoder- Ballet, Lyrical
Gillian began dancing at the age of 5 and began her pre-professional training at 11 at Next Generation Ballet (NGB) in Tampa, FL, where she performed various principal roles including Cinderella, Black Swan, and 1st Movement lead couple in George Balanchine's Western Symphony.
At 18, Gillian joined Kansas City Ballet as a trainee where she performed diverse company roles including Balanchine's Serenade, Celts, Snow and Flowers in The Nutcracker, Dracula, and the Wizard of Oz.
Ms. Yoder will join KCBII as a second company member for the 2022-2023 season.
HOD is excited to have Gillian as the newest member of our Dance Family.
"Gaby loves my daughters like they are her own. I've never known anyone who can consistently give every child the amount of attention, energy, love and compassion that Gaby does. House of Dance is a place where children don't just learn to dance but learn how valuable they are."
Regina Sirios
"Gaby is innovative in creating classes to accommodate the needs of her students. Gaby is not only a wonderful dance instructor but a mentor who teaches by example."
Craig & Jenny Elliott