Staff

Catherine De Frances co director of De Frances Academy of Dance

began De Frances Academy Of Dance in 1971. Since then, she along with her daughters Gwyn and Angie have turned their studio into the largest and most successful school in the Baton Rouge and surrounding areas with 2 locations! Catherine is considered a “Teacher of Teachers.” Many of her past students now dance professionally or operate their own dance studios in or around the Baton Rouge area. She is well known for her children’s work and her loving ability to make dance fun for the student, at the same time developing them to their highest potential. She is also the head ballet mistress. Catherine has been a teacher at St. Aloysius school for 27 years. She has been the choreographer for the Tucumcari Mardi Gras Ball for 12 years. She has choreographed for the Baton Rouge Christmas Symphony and been a guest teacher for the BRLT. Catherine is a former gymnast, an AAU champion and a certified gymnastics teacher through DMA. In the 1960’s, she was an alternate on the U.S. Olympic Gymnastic Team! Catherine strives to bring the best dance education and opportunities to her students each and every year through her continued dance education and travels. Her energy has no limits! She is a member of Dance Masters of America and regional director of Dance Educators of America.

Gwyn De Frances owner and director of the Coursey Blvd. location

is a committed professional bringing her expertise, creativity, passion and sense of humor to the teaching profession. She began dancing at the age of 7 and received her training from her mother, Catherine De Frances as well as Gus Giordano, Joe Tremaine, Lea Darwin and many others. While most kids took their summers off, Gwyn lived alone in Chicago at the ages of 16 and 18 training at the world renowned Gus Giordano Dance Center for her career. In 1986, she was the recipient of the highly sought after Joe Tremaine 1 month scholarship award of which she used in Los Angeles. Gwyn has been taking advantage of conventions and workshops since she began dancing. She continues to do so here at home as well as around the country each year. She taught at St. Aloysius school for 6 years and was the cheerleader coordinator for 2 of them. She performed in BRLT’s production of “A Chorus Line,” has been a guest teacher and choreographer for other studios in the area and other parts of the country and has choreographed and judged for many of the area high school dance teams. Gwyn has traveled all across the country as an experienced adjudicator for dance competitions and is a member of Dance Educators Of America.

Angie De Frances Snow owner and director of the Old Perkins location

brings over 25 years of knowledge to the studio. She has been trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Point, Modern and Lyrical. At the age of 12, she was the youngest student accepted to the North Carolina School Of The Arts which she attended alone for a summer of intensive training! In high school, she was aSt. Joseph Academy cheerleader and a Catholic High Bruinette. She was selected as an American All Star Dancer to perform for Super Bowl XXI and as a dance ambassador to the Bahamas and New York. Angie was the 1992 Miss Dance Of Dixie and Miss DEA. She has received numerous scholarships including Dance Masters, Dance Educators and Gus Giordano. She taught at St. Aloysius for 3 years and was the choreographer for the Parkview Baptist High School “Silversteppers” for 2 years. She has been a guest teacher and choreographer not only for local studios but for Southeastern University as well. She has judged for the LSU “Tiger Girls” and local dance teams. Angie’s strong style and sense of adventure have helped her become a noted choreographer. She truly “steps out of her box!” She has won numerous choreographer awards on the regional and national levels. Her commitment to her continued education is obvious in her works. Angie is a certified teacher through Dance Educators of America.

Ashley Alexander Billiot is a graduate of Parkview Baptist High School where she was a member of the “Silversteppers” dance team. She has been dancing for 24 years. Ashley was awarded the De Frances scholarship in 2001. She was a member of Dance Force for 9 years. As a member, she received many Platinum and High Point Awards and traveled all over the country competing and studying. She has choreographed for Dance Force for several years. As a choreographer, Ashley has received Gold and Platinum Awards as well as many choreography awards.

Niki Banes is a registerd nurse at Our Lady of the Lake. She’s been dancing for 25 years. She was a member of Dance Force for 6 years receiving high point awards in New York, Las Vegas, Branson and Houston. She has performed with the Baton Rouge Symphony and with the Tucumcari Mardi Gras Krewe. Her choreography for Dance Force has won Gold and Platinum awards. Her work has also been featured in LSU's Spring Concert. Niki always takes advantage of conventions and workshops. Niki works exclusively with Dance Force.

Pat Crifasi has been with De Frances for 30 years. She teaches the 2 year old creative movement classes. She was a playschool teacher at BREC for 5 years and taught preschool at the Alford G. Rayner learning center. She also provided daycare in her home for many years. All 4 of Pat’s children have taken from De Frances.

Katie Fear Katie Fear grew up dancing at Starstruck Academy of Dance in Greenwood Village, Colorado where she competed as a member of the Starstruck Elite Company. She was awarded numerous convention scholarships, including NYCDA and West Coast Dance Explosion, and earned other top honors at local and national competitions. Katie went on to earn a full ride scholarship as member of the University of Tennessee Dance Team where she won the 2007 UDA National Title in the Jazz category. She has been teaching for Universal Dance Association for last 9 years and has had the opportunity to teach middle school, high school and collegiate teams national wide and internationally in Ecuador. She choreographs for multiple top 10 universities and high school dance teams and her choreography was recently featured on ESPN as a part of the collegiate nationals show. She is the owner of Future Step Dance LLC which helps mentor high school dancers who hope to dance on top notch collegiate dance teams. Katie is excited to be back in the studio world and teaching in Baton Rouge!

Erika Guiberteau is a former student of DAofD. She was a past member of Dance Force. Erika graduated from Oklahoma City University in dance performance and New York Film Academy in acting. She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild. Erika has danced for music artists Vince Gill, Amy Grant, and Boa. Her choreography credits include the World's Our Little Miss Pageant and the independent film "All she wants to do." She is the choreographer for the up and coming children's tv show "King Red and the Roar into Action Kids." Erika has appeared in the films: Final Destination 4, Dinner for Schmucks, Inception, and Little Fockers. She has also appeared on television shows: Desperate Housewives, Better of Ted, Make it or Break it, and recently Treme.

Monika Guiberteau originally from Baton Rouge, Monika began as a gymnast but later found her passion for dance when she turned 12 years old with De Frances Academy of Dance. Growing up as a competitor in dance competitions, she won a number of titles such as Miss Global Dance International, Miss Nexstar and Miss DanceXplosion! In the past, she was a dancer on the Bishop Sullivan Dance Line and Catholic High’s Bruinettes. She also competed in Our Little Miss Pageant where she won World’s Ideal Miss. For 2 years she choreographed the production number for the international pageant. For 3 years she attended Oklahoma City University where she was trained in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, musical theatre dance and acting at the Ann Lacey School of American Dance and Arts Management. There she was a dancer in the American Spirit Dance Company where she performed in several shows including the televised Oklahoma Centennial Spectacular Show staring Reba McIntire and Carrie Underwood. She has also toured as a magician’s assistant and dancer for Rob Lake Magic, where she performed in Oklahoma, Los Angeles, Key West, Virginia and Europe. Her most exciting job ever was dancing in the Walt Disney World Company in Florida where she was a featured dancer in the High School Musical 3 Show and The Block Party Bash! She is excited to be home again finishing her degree from LSU and working at the studio where she grew up…De Frances Academy of Dance!

Kyle Kahn is a former student of DAofD. He was a member of Dance Force and won the national title of Mr. Dance for Dance Educators of America. Kyle has danced his way around the world with some of the industry’s top production companies! He performed on cruise ships and both in Florida and Japan for Disney. He has directed/choreographed for some of the tops…BET, Paul Mitchell, House of Blues, The Continental Pageant System, the MGM Grande, Planet Hollywood Tokyo, Dormei Paris…etc. He is the owner and creator of Smooches.com Production Company. Performing in many of the industries facets, this award winning dance teacher, choreographer, and performer has returned home from the Radio City Rockette US Arena Tour ready to Dance Baton Rouge!

Ashley Lappin recently graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors from Southeastern Louisiana University, holding a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. She is a former SLU Lionette as well as the former captain of the Tara High Dance Team for two years. This is Ashley's fifth year working with De Frances teaching Hip Hop and Petite Level classes. Ashley is very happy to be a member of the De Frances family and enjoys every minute of teaching!

Amanda Walters Roussel is a LSU Business Management graduate and works in business development at GEC. She was with Joh'anna's Jazz In Motion Dance Studio for 12 years, and later became a part of her high school dance team while serving as captain for her senior year. She travelled to London and Rome with the All Star team, performed at the Super Bowl in 2002, and won the Archie Legeune Scholarship at State Competition. As an American All Star staff member, she taught camps at Jr. High and High Schools, judged dance team auditions, and coordinated state and national competitions. Amanda is a Dance Force choreographer, and her routines have earned Platinum and High Point awards. This is Amanda's ninth year with De Frances.

Allison Ward began dancing at the age of three and joined De

Frances

two years later. Allison is a graduate of LSU, majoring in History with a minor in dance. She was with the LSU Dance Ensemble for five years and choreographer for three of them. Allison has danced with Of Moving Colors Productions ('08) and has also been featured in Martha Graham's "Panorama" and Bill T. Jones' show in Baton Rouge. She is in the process of getting certified to teach elementary mathematics through LRCE. This is Allison's 6th year teaching at De

Frances

Dani Smith is a graduate of Aveda Institute of Baton Rouge. She has been with De Frances for 23 years and received a scholarship in 2003. Dani was a member of Dance Force and traveled all over the southeast competing. She is a graduate of Denham Springs High School and was also a member of the Denham Springs High School Jackette dance team for 3 years. In 2007, Dani was a maid for the Krewe of Tucumcari and also performed with De Frances in that ball.