Guest Faculty
Learn from Collegiate Dance Stars
Sara Wilson
Dance Instructor | Specialist in Leaps & Turns
Sara Wilson brings energy, passion, and positivity to every class she teaches! A proud graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a BFA in Dance (Class of 2002), Sara has dedicated her career to helping dancers reach their full potential—both technically and personally.
Sara has taught at studios throughout Austin, Dallas, and Houston. She was a drill team director for 10 years, ending her directing career at Houston Lamar High School, where she grew the team from 11 dancers to over 80. Her dancers have gone on to be Houston Texans Cheerleaders, Houston Rockets Power Dancers, Kilgore Rangerettes and Rangerette officers, Baylor Songleaders, SMU Pom squad, UH Cougar Dolls, DBU Dance Team, Texas State Strutters, and even drill team directors themselves!
She has been honored to teach multiple years at the annual TDEA convention, various district dance teachers inservice/professional developments/workshops, as well as work with various collegiate teams including the national champion SHSU Orange Pride Dance Team, UH Cougar Dolls, national champion Blinn College dance team, and TSU. Sara also judging—-she has served on judging panels for ADTS, CrowdPleasers Dance, and for various districts.
Sara specializes in leaps and turns technique and is certified in all levels of Progressing Ballet Technique and Acro through ADTA. Sara loves helping dancers understand how their bodies move so they can dance safely, efficiently, and with confidence. Her approach focuses on building strong muscle memory and training in a way that keeps dancers healthy and powerful.
A lifelong learner, Sara is always exploring new ways to inspire her students. She’s passionate about creating a supportive, encouraging environment where every dancer can grow, shine, and believe in themselves. Her favorite part of teaching is watching her students discover their potential, find confidence in themselves, and fall in love with dance.
Sara has been featured in “Voyage Houston”, “Sole Talks” on The Working Dancer, and “Danceable Thoughts”. Currently, Sara is loving being a guest teacher for schools throughout the Houston area, and being on staff at Artistry In Motion. In addition to her love for dance, she is married and the mother of 2 beautiful kids——one of which is on the Ascend team at AIM.
Nikki Murphy
Nikki Murphy is a 4th-year student at Stephen F. Austin State University, pursuing a Bachelor of Dance performance and choreography, and has a Minor in Dance team Coaching. She is a proud 4-year member of the SFA Dance Team and Captain. She has 19 years of studio training across all genres and 15 years of competitive dance experience. She is a 3x NDA Collegiate All-American and a 2x NDA Collegiate National Champion. Her background also includes 15 years of Acro and Tumbling, 4 years of Drill team and Pom, and 2 years of Cheerleading. Nikki also has 5+ years of teaching/assisting, judging, and choreographing pieces.
Natalie Morrison
Guest Faculty | Dance Instructor
Natalie Morrison is a sixth-year member of the nationally recognized Orange Pride Dance Team at Sam Houston State University. Originally from Bedford, Texas, she began dancing at age four and competing at nine, specializing in jazz, hip hop, and musical theatre.
At SHSU, Natalie has trained in pom, pro-style, and collegiate contemporary/lyrical, with a focus in jazz. She is a Collegiate All-American, seven-time NDA Collegiate National Champion, and helped lead her team to the 2025 NDA Grand Championship.
She has choreographed and set competition routines outside of SHSU and attended a summer intensive at the CLI Conservatory in Massachusetts.
Emma Sheneman
Guest faculty for Tx event
Emma Sheneman is a dancer and choreographer from Austin, Texas. She grew up training at Dancer’s Workshop as a member of Creative Culture Dance Company. In high school, she was a member of the Vandegrift High School Legacies Dance Team, serving as an officer for two years before continuing her dance journey at Kilgore College as part of the 83rd line of the World-Famous Kilgore College Rangerettes.
During her time at Kilgore, Emma had many incredible performance opportunities, including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Mariah Carey, the Cotton Bowl Classic, the Today Show, and the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade in Hawaii. She was also a member of Industry Dance Company, Kilgore College’s pre-professional dance company, where she further developed her artistry and technique while earning an Associate of Arts in Dance.
She is now a senior at Texas A&M University, continuing to share her passion for dance as a staff member with Ascension Dance Company and as co-founder of 512 Choreography, a company that choreographs original routines for dancers and teams.
Naomi Pastrick
Guest faculty for impact U
Naomi Pastrick is a technical dancer with a versatile background in gymnastics, acrobatics, and dance. She began as a gymnast before transitioning to dance around age 14, training in multiple styles including ballroom, contemporary, jazz, lyrical, and ballet at Club Dance Studio.
After graduating, Naomi discovered her passion for teaching and mentorship. She coached young athletes at studios across Arizona and served as head coach for the varsity pom team at Mountain View High School, involved with the program for two seasons.
Naomi was a three-year member and captain of the Arizona ACES Worlds All-Star Team, later continuing to support the program as both a coach and team manager.
She is currently a team captain on the Washington State University Crimson Girls and is in her second season.