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, Theatre in the Park, 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 them into the exciting world of Dance.
BROCK MAZE-
Jazz, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Acro-skills, 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.
CALLIE OEHLER-
Jazz, Lyrical, 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.
ALEXANDRIA HUSKEY-
Ballet
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.
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.
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 be a member of KCB for its 2024-2025 season.
FRANCOIS DESMARTEAU-
Tap, Musical Theatre
François Des Marteau is a Kansas City native and began his dance training at his mom's studio at the age of 7, where he danced competitively and won many numerous top awards including the Footloose Extreme Team and TOP Stars.
Francois received a BFA in Dance from SUNY Purchase Conservatory in New York where he trained under Kasuko Hirayabashi, Richard Cook, Megan Williams, and Stephanie Tooman.
He attended summer programs at Kansas City Ballet, Doug Varone & Dancers, Reverb Dance, and Dance New York International, where his choreography was selected to perform in Burgos, Spain at Teatro Principal. His performance credits include One Man's Dream II (Tokyo Disney Resort), Big Band Beat (Tokyo Disney Resort), RWS Entertainment Group, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, the duet iPhone app commercial, Singapore Dance Ensemble, Peter & The Wolf (Lawrence Arts Center), & City In Motion Dance Theater.
Francois is a previous adjunct professor for the Musical Theatre & Dance department at the University of Central Missouri. He has produced award-winning choreography for multiple dance studios and is an adjudicator for local & national dance competitions. When he’s not teaching or dancing, he works as an interior designer and enjoys time with his nieces and nephews.
WHITNEY POMEROY-
Ballet
Whitney began dancing at a very early age at Dance Studio 1 with Liz Kelley, training in all styles of dance, where she later became a dance instructor of Ballet, Jazz & Lyrical classes. She also studied ballet at American Dance Center with Dennis and Kathy Landsman. She was a dance performance major at Oklahoma City University’s Ann Lacy School of American Dance & Entertainment. While her love of dance remained, she realized that she wanted to be a businesswoman and graduated from The University of Kansas Medical Center and started her career at Lockton Companies, all the while continuing her passion and teaching dance.
Whitney has been a passionate dance educator for many years and when she is not busy managing her many accounts at Lockton Companies, she is happily playing the role of Dance Mom to her beloved Madelyn.
HOUSE OF DANCE is thrilled to welcome the loving and infectious Whitney into our dance teaching family. Welcome home Miss Whit.
"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