All teachers at the Claire School of Dance are performing artists as well as experienced teachers. Our teachers have performed at Houston Ballet, Alley Theatre, Diverseworks, and abroad. All teachers receive extensive training in the syllabus and are monitored and updated regularly in teaching techniques and syllabus requirements.

Roxanne Claire is the owner and director of the Claire School of Dance, with over 15 years experience teaching dance. She received her training in modern dance in Paris where she studied primarily with Jean Gaudin and Ruth Barnes. She received her ballet training in Omaha from Valerie Roche (Royal Academy of Dancing, London). Her training also includes jazz, flamenco, tai chi, African dance, and aikido, in which she holds a brown belt. She is also director of Summer Magic camps, unique arts programs for children. In addition to her work as a teacher, Ms. Claire is a choreographer and video artist.

You can see some of her work online at roxanneclaire.com

Melissa Pritchett is beginning her fourth season of work with the Alley Theatre, having appeared in Black Comedy (Clea), Witness for the Prosecution (The Other Woman), The Miser, The Pillowman (Mother), After the Fall, A Christmas Carol and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Panacea). Other theatre credits include Broadway 2003 (directed by Ann Reinking at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center), Beauty and the Beast, Brigadoon (Theatre Under the Stars), and Footloose (Great Caruso). As a dancer, she was a principal dancer for Longview Ballet Theatre and locally with Sparacino Company Dancers. She has also done choreography for Bayou City Concert Musical's production of Fiorello! Her training includes the Broadway Theatre Project 2003 with Ann Reinking and Ben Vereen. She holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from Sam Houston State University.

Kim Wagman Stafford was born in West Palm Beach, FL where she received her earliest training at Ballet Florida. After studying for two years in the Houston Ballet Academy she joined the company in 1992. During her 14 years with Houston Ballet, Mrs. Stafford moved through the ranks to soloist and enhoyed dancing a wide variety of works. She retired from professional dancing after the birth of her son in October 2005 and now looks forward to teaching and sharing both her knowledge and her love of dance.

Katelyn Halpern began dancing when she joined the McCallum High School Fine Arts Academy dance program in Austin, Texas. There, she sampled ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop, and musical theater, and embarked on her choreography career. She continues her ballet, modern, and choreographic training at the University of Houston, where she is currently pursuing a dance minor and making dances. Katelyn has recently choreographed for the UH School of Theatre and Dance's dance concerts and Rice University productions of "Urinetown," "Jesus Christ Superstar," and "Hair."