Brandi is a full-time dance educator at Classen SAS Middle School, and is also a health educator in the International Baccalaureate Middle Year Program. She holds an M.F.A in Dance from the University of California Irvine, as well as an M.Ed in Secondary Education from the University of Central Oklahoma. She has served as a writer for the OK State Dance Frameworks and was a Subject Matter Expert for the grant supported OK State Department of Education project, Art Tech. She served many years as the Department Chair for Dance in Oklahoma City Public Schools, and was named a Top 9 Teacher of the Year for OKCPS in 2024.

She has co-presented at both national and local conferences and professional development for spaces including the National Dance Education Organization's National Conference, the NYC Department of Education, the OK State Department of Education Summer Institute, OKCPS Dance PD, and on-site cross-curricular developments. Brandi is a DET Ambassador for the female-owned dance education resource company, Dance Ed Tips. Brandi’s love of improvisation and dance as a means of joy and wellness comes into play as a current ®️Embodiology Teacher Trainee, under the mentorship of Dr. S. Ama Wray. She has served RACE Dance Collective in many capacities since 2009, including as a Company dancer, Director of RACE Academy, and Creative Director for Company. Brandi is proud to continue learning from and giving back to the red dirt that raised her.

Sheri has earned her Masters in Nonprofit Leadership in Arts Administration and a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance Performance from Oklahoma City University. As a working professional, she has performed internationally on cruise ships, with The Pollard Theatre Company in The Producers, with Tulsa Ballet in its North American premiere of Strictly Gershwin, +3 Quartets with Adam Parsons Company in Los Angeles, Jazz Dance World Congress in Chicago, and as a Company Dancer in RACE. Currently, Sheri serves as Executive Director of RACE Dance Collective, where she first spent many seasons as a full-time company member before transitioning to her leadership position. Her original works have been featured in various RACE performances, including RACE’s Hip Hop Nutcracker, The RACEy Show,Disorder, Resurgence, and THEN | NOW | NEXT.

In addition to her community work, Sheri is a faculty member of the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment at Oklahoma City University (OCU) and the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO), where she teaches multiple dance techniques, grant writing for the arts, and has choreographed numerous main stage productions. Her choreographic credits include Anything Goes, SpongeBob the Musical (Pollard Theater), White Christmas, Mother Road, Footloose, RENT, Sweeney Todd, Bright Star, Legally Blonde, Children of Eden, Spring Awakening, Spamalot, Music Man, Side Show, Sister Act, Evita, and Brigadoon. In addition to musicals, she has set numerous works on UCO’s Kaleidoscope Dance Company. In 2023, she was honored as Adjunct Faculty of Year at OCU.

Freelance Artist

Ayinde Hurrey was born in Manhattan, New York, and raised in Goldsboro, North Carolina. His artistic journey began early as a percussionist with The Cultural Movement, Inc., a performance company founded by his father, Raymond “Nilaja” Hurrey, the original percussionist for The Last Poets—a pioneering group in spoken word and hip-hop culture.

Trained not only by his father but also by several renowned artists—including Chuck Davis, Khalid Saleem, Ngoma Woolbright, Jalel Shariff, Mikell Pinkney, Yvonne Suhor, M’bemba Bangoura, and Mohamad DaCosta—Hurrey developed a wide-ranging expertise in the performing arts.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from North Carolina Central University and went on to receive his M.F.A. in Acting from the University of Florida. Among his most notable accomplishments is his original solo show, Nappy Journeys, which was selected as a mainstage production at the 2009 National Black Theatre Festival.

As an educator, Ayinde has taught theatre to students of all ages—from elementary school through university level—across public school districts in Oklahoma City, New York, North Carolina, and Florida. Ayinde is the founder and driving force behind Hurrey-UP Consulting & Performing Arts, a theatre company that offers high-quality residencies, workshops, and productions. Focused on acting, West African dance and drumming, and arts consulting, the company emphasizes cultural awareness, diversity, and arts education.

Principle Dancer, Oklahoma City Ballet

Alejandro González, originally from Caracas, Miranda, Venezuela, trained with Isabel Franklin and Gloriant Herrera at the Gustavo Franklin School, followed by two years of training at the Houston Ballet Academy under Shelly Power, School Director. González started his career with Oklahoma City Ballet in 2017 as a studio company member, then was offered an apprenticeship in 2018, promoted to corps de ballet in 2019, to soloist in 2021, and to principal dancer in 2023.

His repertoire includes works by Stanton Welch, Ben Stevenson, August Bournonville, Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye, Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine, Jiří Kylián, Helen Pickett, Val Caniparoli, Septime Webre, Robert Mills, Gerald Arpino, Cayetano Soto, Nicolo Fonte, Jessica Lang, and Michael Pink.

Freelance Artist

Jessica Cajina is a Nicaraguan-American queer artist from Ardmore, Oklahoma. She has her bachelors degree in Musical Theatre and a minor in Dance Performance from the University of Central Oklahoma. Jessica has professionally performed with Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma and Southern Plains Theatre. She has taught master classes in Alaska, Texas, and all over Oklahoma. Jessica is also a past dancer for the Kaleidoscope Dance Company and she is a current dancer with the Abstrakt Mindz Hip Hop company. She has also choreographed shows at the University of Central Oklahoma such as Rent, Sister Act, Goosebumps, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and Milk and Honey. Her choreography has been featured and awarded at multiple dance competitions and national competitions. She has also had the opportunity to perform professionally in Los Angeles, Alaska, and New York City. Jessica is immensely grateful to continually share her art to the world and have the ability to inspire others with dance. She wants to thank her dad, mom, siblings, her partner Alex, Hui Cha Poos, Sheri Hayden, Ashley Tate, and Jeff Dismukes.

Freelance Artist

Joshua Yago Mora is a dance artist, educator, and researcher whose work integrates somatic practices, cultural dance forms, and socially engaged pedagogy. With an MFA in Dance and background in Laban Bartenieff Movement Analysis, they have taught in various educational settings, from university classrooms to community programs. They love project based work and most recently co-directed an evening length dance theatre divisive work based on themes found within the Crucible. Joshua is passionate about fostering creative, inclusive dance environments that empower students to explore their personal and cultural identities through movement. Their research explores how dance can be a tool for personal discovery, cultural exchange, and community-building.

Outside of their professional work, Joshua is deeply engaged in the joy of discovery, currently exploring new passions like mermaiding, miniature house building and roller skating. They value the process of failure as part of the creative journey and find inspiration in falling down on their skates, just as they do in the ongoing exploration of new ideas. This current space of learning, failing, and discovering mirrors the creative process they foster in the dance spaces they participate in.

Ilias Gibigaye, Jessica Permoso, Amanda Leonard, Danny Chakron

Latin Fusion Oklahoma (LFO) brings the vibrant energy of salsa and bachata to life through movement, music, and community. LFO offers adult salsa and bachata classes on week nights and weekends to share the joy of Latin dance to people of all backgrounds.

Founded in 2007, LFO has trained and inspired thousands of students. LFO's acclaimed performance teams have graced stages at festivals across the nation, guided by professional instructors who have trained with world-renowned artists

LFO's professional instructors continue to be invited to teach and perform at dance events and festivals nationwide. Now partnering with RACE Dance Collective, Latin Fusion Oklahoma invites you to experience Latin dance as both a cultural celebration and a living art form.

Swingout OKC began when a handful of strangers found each other at a public city dance event. We decided that while there might not currently be a Lindy hop dance scene in OKC, there would be if we kept showing up for each other and for new dancers. We love being a part of this city, participating in local events, and getting people excited about swing dancing. Swingout OKC is a 501c3 that is dedicated to facilitating, sustaining, and growing the swing dance community of the greater Oklahoma City area by providing educational and social swing dance opportunities. We strive to promote a forward thinking scene while preserving the historical culture of the dance. Since 2016, our goal has been to become a community hub for all forms of swing dance, spurring integration of the diverse people of the greater Oklahoma City area through intentional outreach and fostering a safe and welcoming community for education and expression in the form of swing and jazz dance.

Dancer, THEN Choreographer

Brigitte Goulart is an OKC based actor, comedian, dancer, and all around performer. She holds her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting and Directing from Oklahoma City University. She has worked with many theatres and arts organizations across the state including OKC Improv, Oklahoma Children’s Theatre, Oklahoma Repertory Theatre, and RACE Dance Collective. She is a third year member of RACE Dance Company. She also teaches tap and jazz at RACE Dance Collective. Brigitte hopes to promote and uphold RACE’s mission through her artistry as well as her own personal mission of uniting people through the arts.

Dancer

Dakota Ross began dancing in high school at the Lawton Ballet Theatre, where he took a few partnering and ballet classes. He did not really start his full dance training until he arrived at UCO and decided to become a dance major. There he studied for 4 years in ballet, modern, jazz, and a few special techniques like Arial and hip hop. Along with skills like music production, film work, and portfolio development. 

Dakota Ross has been fortunate enough to be able to audition for RACE right outside of graduating and making the company. He has been a part of the RACE show: DISORDER and the RACEY show: BONDED.

Dakota thinks that dance should be shared with everyone and that it is a safe space to explore who you really are. It’s a way for him to be free from the world and truly be himself. He invites you to do the same!! Really let yourself go in the art and enjoy it and be free!

Dancer, NOW Choreographer

Emma is from Appleton Wisconsin, She began dancing when she was two, and participated within the dance competition world. Although she started with ballet and tap, her love for dance expanded, pushing her to explore many other styles such as jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop. She attended Oklahoma City University, and received a Bachelors of Performing Arts. She currently works as a dance teacher for school children in Oklahoma City. She is starting her first year with RACE Dance Company, and is intrigued with what is yet to come!

Dancer

Joseph has been dancing since age 7. Joseph began his training at Gravity Performing Arts Center, where he studied tap, jazz, ballet, musical theater, lyrical, and tumbling until the age of twelve. Afterward, he danced at his public school which led him to learn aerial and cheer. After graduating high school, Joseph joined Langston’s University cheer team and in 2024, he auditioned for RACE for the first time. Joseph has been training with RACE since then and is excited to premiere this performance as a full company member.

Dancer, NOW Choreographer

Kaitlyn Murphy began dancing as soon as she could walk. Originally from Arizona, she holds a B.F.A. in Dance Performance from the University of Central Oklahoma, where she choreographed and presented works in student showcases and senior capstone performances. Kaitlyn was a member of Kaleidoscope Dance Company, performing in numerous productions and working with renowned artists such as Mike Esperanza, Tiffanie Carson, Jessie Zarrit, Larry Keigwin, Alexander Olivieri, and Terrill Mitchell.

Her training spans ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, lyrical, tap, musical theatre, hip hop, and aerial dance. Beyond performance, Kaitlyn has experience in dance film, stage lighting, music production, and stage management. She co-directed the Reclaiming Arts Creative Leaders Academy for two years, producing a full-length show and teaching skills in choreography, improvisation, leadership, and aerial dance.

Kaitlyn currently teaches at studios including Movement Innovations and Race Dance Collective, specializing in jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and hip hop. She also travels with The Dance Effect and Gravit8 Dance Competitions, working backstage, judging, teaching, and assisting directors and faculty. She is passionate about creating spaces where movement fosters connection, creativity, and confidence.

Dancer, NOW Choreographer

Ligia is a professional Latin American dancer from Nicaragua, currently based in Oklahoma, USA and with over 20 years of dance and performing arts experience. Ligia studied at The Nicaraguan Academy of Dance’s Juvenile Program where she graduated with a Dance and Performing Arts Major at the early age of 14 years old where she learned ballet, jazz, contemporary, folklore, bellydance, Latin, Caribbean and African dance. Upon graduation, she entered the accelerated dance program at The National School of Ballet where she graduated with a Ballet and Performing Arts Major. Throughout her 4 years at The National School of Ballet she specialized in traditional ballet technique (Cuban style), partner work, theater and music. During her time as a professional dancer in Nicaragua she joined the Ballet Folklorico Quetzaltnahuatl and the Nicaraguan Ballet Company as Corps de Ballet, performing in various shows including La Fille Mal Gardee, Spartacus, Carmen and Majisimo. Ligia got to be part of the touring act and visited over 20 cities during her time as a company dancer. During her last years in Nicaragua, Ligia joined the Nicaraguan Salsa Company where she competed in the Adrian & Anita World Cup and achieved 4th place. Now based in the USA and as a company dancer for Race Dance Collective for the last 3 years, Ligia has participated in RACE’s Hip Hop Nutcracker with the lead role of Mom, Disorder (Company Show) as a soloist and RACEy show. Ligia is a multidisciplinary artist as she enjoys learning and expanding into different mediums, she is a professional photographer, grant writer and entrepreneur as she is the co-founder and CEO of Starving Artist Co. She aims to continue her dance and performing arts career and is passionate about creating meaningful connections that empower and strengthen the arts.

Dancer

Mackenzie has been dancing since the time she could walk. Following in her sister's footsteps, she was at her dance studio almost everyday. She has trained in many styles of dance: jazz, tap, contemporary, modern, hiphop, pom, musical theater, heels, and the list goes on.

She danced competitively for ten years and got the opportunity to train with some of the most amazing choreographers and instructors like Joe Tremaine, Derrick Schrader, and Caleb Brauner. She moved to California and continued her dance training as she attended Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts High School. Throughout Mackenzie’s high school career, she got the opportunity to travel the nation, create her own pieces alongside her peers, as well as perform in multiple shows throughout the year. She graduated as “Dancer of the Year” and a finalist for Orange County’s “Artist of the Year”.

She moved to Oklahoma and attended the University of Oklahoma in 2020. In 2021, she was nominated and accepted to become one of the Co-presidents of the student-run OU Elite Dance Team. After leading the team, she found RACE Dance Collective to continue her dance career. “I will forever be grateful for the opportunities and family that RACE has provided me, and I cannot wait to see what is next for the collective.”

Dancer

Meegan Hertensteiner enjoys all realms of the arts and copious amounts of bacon. She has performed internationally and relocated to OKC in 2022 after living and working professionally in the San Francisco Bay Area for 16 years. Meegan received her BFA in modern dance performance from the University of Oklahoma in 2005. Since then she has performed, choreographed, and taught from the east coast to the west coast. Meegan has had the pleasure of working with companies such as Ballet New England, SoulForce Dance Company, Number 9 Dance Company, CALI & CO., PunkkiCo., Deborah Slater Dance Theatre, and RACE Dance Collective. In 2008 she co-founded Human Creature Dance Theatre with partner Derek Harris which incorporates an eclectic blend of disparate dance styles in conjunction with partnering, counterbalance, and contemporary modern dance techniques. Meegan is currently back at OU obtaining her MFA in dance. She is examining how to prolong the dance career including sustainability and accessibility. She is super grateful to be dancing with RACE for her 3rd year.  For more information about Meegan or Human Creature, find us on Facebook or Instagram.

Dancer

Nai has been dancing since the age of 4, starting her dance career in ballet and tap. As she got older she began training primarily in hip hop, heels, and modern. In high school, Nai was a part of the North Dance Company (NDC) overseen by Melanie Lambert at Putnam City North High School. She was also a part of the Senior Hip Hop Company at Everything Goes Dance Studio (EGD) all 4 years of her high school career training under Kevieon Johnson and Jesus Martinez. She currently attends the University of Central Oklahoma majoring in Psychology and minoring in Dance in the hopes of becoming a Dance Therapist providing services to those struggling with depression and anxiety. She also plans on pursuing a future as a professional dancer and choreographer.

Dancer

Sadie was born in Muskegon, Michigan and moved to Dallas, Texas with her family and was lucky enough to grow up at a local theater and ignite her love of the arts. Sadie has been in the Performance Art world since before she could talk. Studying Dance/musical theater/theater arts since the age of 3. She has received numerous titles as a soloist and choreography awards. Sadie comes from a Family of artists and has been lucky enough to explore her love of dance at various studios in the Dallas metroplex and has been teaching all ages and styles at Artworks Academy of Performing Arts. Sadie’s love lies in contemporary, jazz, and modern dance. She is so incredibly excited to start her second year with the RACE Collective and share the love of dance with so many incredible humans, creating the most incredible art.  Sadie is so thankful for the people who inspire her most, her incredible family and friends who continue to show up for her in every way. “With love and peace”

Dancer, NOW Choreographer

Samantha Haynes holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography at the University of Southern Mississippi where she graduated with Highest Honors. While at USM Samantha was recognized in her department for Outstanding Junior and Most Memorable Senior Piece. While completing her undergraduate degree Samantha attended the American Dance Festival in Durham, North Carolina for two summers where she studied under numerous artists including Elizabeth Corbett (Forsythe Company), Jennifer Nugent (Bill T. Jones Company) Teena Marie Custer (Venus Fly Trap Crew), Pamela Pietro (Anthony Morgan Dance Company), Gerri Houlihan (Lar Lubovitch Dance Company) and Sherone Price (Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble).

After graduating, Samantha moved to the OKC area where she fell in love with the dance community and also met the love of her life, Caleb Haynes. Together, they have two fur babies Rainey and Kimber. Samantha has enjoyed teaching with multiple studios over the years and is thankful for each and every student and friend she has made along the way. Samantha currently instructs at OKC Ballet, choreographs for Spotlight Productions OKC, and guest judges for P3 Talent Competition. This is Samantha’s fifth season with RACE Dance Collective.

Dancer (Apprentice)

Zachariah Noi began dancing on July 28, 2018, a day before his 19th birthday, with free online Hip Hop classes in his bedroom in Omaha, Nebraska. Not truly from anywhere, Zachariah moved through adolescence from places like Würzburg, Germany, Killeen, Texas, and Omaha, Nebraska. After returning from Texas, he underwent a jarring shift of focus, from being a protégé expected to open his own Martial Arts studio, continuing the legacy of his masters, to becoming a self-taught dancer.

His training encompasses street & social dance styles such as House, Hip Hop, Popping, and Locking. Due to the limited physical resources for learning such dance styles in Omaha, he pulled from an eclectic range of foundational sources online. He gathered bits of knowledge he could find in the real world while living in Atlanta, learning under Grayling “Gray” Walker, a hip hop dance teacher at the commercial dance studio “Dance 411". Other notable teachers he has learned from, whether in person or online, include Shuho Chiba, Leigh “Breeze-Lee” Foaad, Joeythejam, Henry Link, Buddha Stretch, Aaron Gregory, Alfonso Pule, & Stephen Wafer, alongside a countless sea of others.

Zachariah moved to OKC in 2023 with a desire to further develop his grasp and skillset of a multitude of dance styles, continue his journey as a dance teacher currently providing Hip Hop classes at RACE Dance Collective, and strengthen his aptitude and experience as a dance performer through the likes of joining RACE 2024. “Expression within the art-form of dancing brings fire to my soul, it’s what satiates a yearning to profoundly engage with my own life and thus the spiritual growth process… ultimately an exercise in what brings meaning to my life!”