MEET THE LIBERTY DANCE CENTER INSTRUCTORS AND MENTORS
Marisa Bain, Founder / Director
Marisa began her dance journey at the Joee Shapiro School of Dance in Houston, training under Joee Shapiro and Maggie Dickey. By the age of 15, she was already performing professionally. Her training expanded at renowned institutions including Houston Ballet Academy, EDGE Performing Arts Center (Los Angeles), Millennium Dance Complex (Los Angeles), and Broadway Dance Center (New York City).
Her versatility spans ballet, jazz, tap, modern, hip hop, and lyrical dance. She began her teaching career in Dallas, working alongside Kurt and Beckie Thomas at their elite gymnastics training facility, where she taught ballet. She later became Head of the Hip-Hop Department at Preston Center Dance, one of Dallas’s most prestigious studios.
Professionally, she performed with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and appeared in numerous industrial projects for major brands such as DIFFA, Zales Jewelry, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Sally Beauty Supply, Macy’s, Foley’s, and JC Penney. After relocating to Los Angeles, she signed with the respected DDO Artists Agency and worked with top television networks including MTV and FOX.
Her performance credits include collaborations with Mick Jagger, Lenny Kravitz, Mai Kuraki, and Dennis Rodman. She has also showcased with leading choreographers and companies such as Blue 13 Dance Company, Layla and the Lotus Dancers, The Delicious Dames, Keith Cross, Densil Adams, John Merrifield, Denise Lietner, Roni Blak, Achinta McDaniel, Joelle Consentino, Ray Leeper, Roger Lee, and Marty Kudelka.
As an educator, she directed jazz companies Dance Asylum and D-Gen at the Malibu Performing Arts Center in California. She also toured nationally as a permanent adjudicator for major competition circuits, including Hall of Fame Dance Challenge, and served as an educator with Dance Masters of America (DMA).
In addition to her extensive dance career, she pursued holistic health, graduating from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in New York City with certification in Holistic Nutrition and Health Coaching.
Krista Grigoriou, Instructor / Assistant Company Director
Krista Grigoriou is a seasoned dancer who began dancing at the young age of 5 years old. For as long as she can remember, she was always very interested and involved in theater and dance, which would lead her to travel throughout her home state of Kentucky.
As an adult, she continued her interest in dance and went on to study ballet, jazz and modern dance at University of the Arts and Western Kentucky University.
Krista’s ongoing passion for dance and movement led her to move across the country to California, where she continued to train with local dance companies and schools in San Diego and Los Angeles.
She had the fortune of performing in various projects and events where she became a member of companies such as Continuum Dance Company and Ooh La La Revue.
She continues to find joy through movement, expression, and choreography which has led her to pursue a career in dance education for both children and adults. Her interest in dance education led Krista to start an organization that focused on bringing the performing arts curriculum to public schools.
Krista enjoys spending time with her kids and husband while residing in Austin, TX.
Amy Bailey, Instructor
Amy began her dance training with Ballet Academy in Corpus Christi, the Houston Ballet Academy, and Joffrey Ballet in New York City. At 18, she moved to London to start her professional career. She was privileged to be coached by such legends as Dame Alicia Markova, Margaret Barbieri, and David Wall from the Royal Ballet and English National Ballet.
After performing classical ballet with notable companies such as London Ballet Theatre and on stages from The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden to amphitheaters in Cyprus, Amy and her husband Anthony re-trained with coaches from the Cirque du Soleil to travel the world as an adagio and aerial team. Amy then segued into musical theatre, starring in several productions including The Producers, Oklahoma, and Guys & Dolls.
In 2009, Amy was cast as a singer and dancer in Rob Marshall’s film NINE which sparked her interest in acting. Since then she has enjoyed a successful TV and film career both as an actress and producer.
Amy has taught all ages, all over the world, and has a passion for sharing her love of dance.
Joslyn Fink is from San Diego California where she grew up spending much of her time at the beach, swimming and surfing in the ocean. One of her greatest passions then and now is dance. From her earliest memories at age 3 through high school, Joslyn enjoyed ballet, tap, jazz, pointe and hip hop, through competition as well as simply performing for the love and joy of dancing! In high school Joslyn also discovered another beautiful expression of movement through the sport of golf.
Over the years, she has played golf on a team competing with other schools and had the opportunity to play some beautiful courses around the world. She graduated from a golf academy and began both working in the golf industry, and teaching it to others. Joslyn also spent 10 years discovering the world through fashion and modeling. Joslyn is now married to the love of her life James and they have four beautiful children. She is excited to pursue her first love of dance and share it with the amazing LDC family.
Joslyn Snyder, Instructor
Anthony Bailey was born in Canada and trained at the National Ballet School of Canada and the Quinte Ballet School. After studying with the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, he won a scholarship to train with David Wall at the London Studio Centre in England where he toured the UK. Upon graduating, he joined London City Ballet as an apprentice, then danced as a soloist with London Ballet Theatre touring throughout Europe. Anthony has guest performed with Bejart Ballet, Cyprus Ballet, English National Opera and Corpus Christi Concert Ballet. In 2001, he joined the London cast of the Phantom of the Opera as the lead male dancer, at the original Her Majesty’s theatre.
In addition to his ballet career, Anthony and his wife, Amy Bailey, travelled the world as an adagio couple guest performing on various cruise ships. Anthony’s commercial clients include Star Wars, Lego, Microsoft, Health & Fitness and various music videos. He has been featured as a judge on Australia & Norway’s Next Top Model, plus appeared as himself in the 7 part series, “The Agency.” Most recently he took part in a 2022 Sky/Guardian 3 part exposé documentary called, “Scouting For Girls.”
Anthony has taught dance, specialising in partnering, all over the world and helped to set the Corpus Christi Concert Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker.
Anthony Bailey, Instructor
Erin Aviles, Instructor
Erin Aviles was born Austin, TX and started her dance training at the age of 3 with D’Ette & Co. Dancers in Bastrop, TX. She studied styles such as ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, and contemporary, under the instruction of Paula Sansom, Jade Greenough, and many others who inspired her to become the dancer she is today.
In 2019, she joined Metamorphosis Dance as a Senior Apprentice. After graduating, Erin was then promoted to a Resident Artist and has had the privilege to choreograph her own work and perform in ballets such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, The Red Shoes, Dance of the Hours by La Gioconda, Coppélia, The Four Seasons, An American in Paris, and more. She is thankful for the excellent training and support Melanie Kregel and Melissa Glouchkova have given her as a dancer.
Erin has attended the American Ballet Theatre Intensive and is also a certified teacher in the Progressing Ballet Technique program. When not dancing or teaching, she enjoys working as a background actor in film and television.
Since 2023, Erin has loved every second of teaching at Liberty Dance Center. She is grateful to work alongside wonderful people and share her love for dance with her students.
Sydney Smith, Instructor
Sydney Smith has been dancing since the age of 13. Her dance journey began when she joined the dance class at her middle school. She quickly fell in love with the art and started training outside of school where she studied Hip Hop, Contemporary, Jazz, Ballet, Modern, and Pointe. Sydney has a love and passion for choreographing.
After graduating, Sydney received a scholarship to attend CLI Conservatory under the direction of Teddy Forance. The rigorous program allowed her to train with many different world renowned dancers and choreographers leaving her with so much inspiration and many new explorative ways to approach dance. During her time there, she worked with Nina McNeely as a dancer in the production of her creative film “DE PROFVNDIS”. “The Last Dance” was the culmination of her time at CLI, in which she got the opportunity to work with and perform in pieces choreographed by Teddy Forance, Kenichi Kasamatsu, Bret Easterling, Liana Blackburn, Al Blackstone, and Billy Griffin.
Sydney is very excited to share what she’s learned with the next generation of dancers as a teacher at Liberty Dance Center.
Coach Mac, Acro Instructor
Fully Certified
Michelle or Coach Mac, is a highly sought-after tumbling coach with more than 15 years of dedicated experience shaping athletes of all ages and skill levels. From the first forward roll to back tucks, her passion for precision and flair lights up every session. A fully certified tumbling coach, Coach Mac combines rigorous technical know-how with an infectious enthusiasm that keeps athletes motivated, confident, and eager to progress.
Coach Mac builds a rock-solid foundation by breaking down each skill into simple, repeatable drills. Whether it’s perfecting hand placement on a cartwheel or unlocking the power through a standing tuck, every movement is mastered step by step. Coach Mac designs individualized progressions, ensuring flexibility and strength. By prioritizing proper alignment and muscle activation, injuries are minimized and confidence soars. Every practice is infused with encouragement. She knows that a few energizing words can transform a tentative attempt into a personal best.
When Michelle isn’t coaching or inspiring, you will either find her teaching 7th grade Science, studying for her bachelor’s in special education or spending time with her grandson. However, she is always researching new techniques for tumbling because not all athletes learn in the same way. She is excited to educate our dancers in our acro program at LDC!
Navaizsa, a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin, is very passionate about sharing her love of dance through teaching. Starting her training at age three, she brings 15 years of experience across various dance styles. She thrives on her students’ success and finds joy in the relationships she builds with them as she shares her knowledge and experience in dance. She focuses on creating a safe and productive classroom environment, aiming to nurture her students both as dancers and as young minds.
Navaizsa Glen, Instructor
Liberty Bain, Assistant
Liberty brings a unique heart and lifelong dedication to Liberty Dance Center—a studio that not only shares her name but has served as her second home since she was born. With 11 years of formal training in a wide variety of dance styles, including hip hop, contemporary, ballet, jazz, tap, etc., Liberty has developed a technical foundation built on precision, passion, and the joy of movement.
Her journey as an assistant began at the age of nine when she first started helping out in the classroom. With nearly half a decade of experience as an assistant, she has become an integral part of the LDC faculty, working alongside professional instructors to guide the next generation of dancers. Her role involves demonstrating complex choreography, correcting technique, and ensuring that every student feels confident and supported in the classroom.
Having grown up in the wings of the studio, Liberty understands the importance of the "Liberty Dance Center Family" better than anyone. She is committed to upholding the studio’s standards of excellence while inspiring younger dancers to find their own rhythm and voice. Whether she is performing on stage or assisting in the studio, Liberty remains a dedicated student of the art form and a passionate representative of her family’s legacy.