Terrell Dance Faculty
2024-2025
Christen Reyes
Founder & Director
Horton (Modern 2-4), Dance Composition, Senior Capstone, and Performance and Ensemble
Christen Ashley is a BFA recipient from Howard University, and a proud legacy of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She has had the opportunity to work with Camille A. Brown, Hope Boykin, Ray Mercer, Kim Bears-Bailey, and a host of many others. She has also had the privilege to perform works choreographed by Pearl Primus and Ronald K. Brown. Christen has performed with Alfre Woodard at the Lincoln Memorial for Constitution Day, and was grateful for the opportunity to perform at two Inaugural Celebration’s for the re-election of President Barack Obama. Christen has also performed with Anthony Hamilton on TV1's A Christmas Special. Mrs. Reyes served as a dancer with Dallas Black Dance Theatre: Encore! for 3 seasons, simultaneously serving as the rehearsal assistant for 2 of those seasons. After the completion of dancing for 3 seasons, Christen then served in the position of Artistic Assistant for DBDT: Encore! Mrs. Reyes was a principal dancer with the Dallas Opera, and experienced national and international tours with DBDT: Encore! Christen was a featured choreographer for Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre’s Emerging Choreographer’s program during the summer of 2017. She served as the Director of the Junior Performing Ensemble within the Dallas Black Dance Academy from 2017-2020, and is currently the Founder and Director of Dance at I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM and VPA. She is a certified Horton Technique teacher, and enjoys her time teaching and coaching this next generation of dancers!
Claudia Orcasitas
Assistant Director
Ballet 1-4, Principles of Dance, and Contemporary Modern
Claudia P Orcasitas is a Peruvian dance artist, educator and psychologist. She is deeply invested in practicing ballet, modern dance and contemporary dance. Claudia was a long-time company member of the San Marcos Ballet, directed by Vera Stastny (Peru) and of the Contemporary Dance /Fort Worth Company directed by Kerry Kreiman (Texas). She received a dual bachelor’s degree in education and psychology from Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (Peru) and recently completed her Master of Fine Arts in dance at Texas Woman’s University where she earned the Dr. Linda Caldwell Excellence in Writing award, the Experiential Student Scholars Award and the Mary Cartwright Brown Merrick & Hellen Baldwin Bauer Smith Scholarship for her outstanding academic performance and research practice. In 2016, she participated as an artist in residency in the First Residencia de Investigación y Creación en Danza (RED) with the Ministry of Culture of Peru and Danzon Nuclear, conducting a movement research project titled Abject Bodies. Utilizing both western and non-western forms, her most recent creative work explores body, space and cultural identity. As a dancer and educator with over 12 years of teaching experience, she is currently working as adjunct professor at University of Texas at Arlington and University of North Texas, where she provides dance instruction and continues honing her dance research skills.
Melinda Cantu
Advanced Jazz Instructor
Melinda Cantu was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas where she trained primarily at Dance Concept. Following high school Melinda continued her training at the University of Central Oklahoma. After receiving her B.F.A in Dance Melinda moved to Los Angeles in 2010, where she signed with Clear Talent Agency to pursue her professional career. She has worked with artists such as Beyoncé, Afro Jack, The Cataracs, Shwayze, Twista, Victoria Justice and Trace Adkins to name a few. She went on a 2 year World Wide Tour dancing for Sky Blu, from the Grammy Nominated Duo LMFAO. Melinda has worked with many celebrities including, David Arquette, Wilmer Valderrama, George Lopez, Metta World Peace, Jay Leno, was also a featured dancer in Tru TV’s Full Throttle Saloon and has worked on the hit television show, Dance Moms. She is an adjudicator for various dance competitions and is thrilled to be able to spread her dance knowledge and passion by teaching. In 2018 she moved back to her home state to continue her career in teaching and choreography. She has taught at multiple high schools in the Fort Worth area and continues to teach and train dancers at Dance Concept. Melinda continues to thrive in the professional dance industry and hopes that her love and passion for dance will inspire others to pursue their dreams as well.
Hana Delong
Advanced Ballet Instructor
Hana Delong began her formal dance training at the Orlando Ballet School as well as the Dance Magnet Program of Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, FL. Hana graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Adelphi University in Long Island, NY. She furthered her training as a three-year scholarship student and an Oprah Winfrey Foundation scholarship recipient at The Ailey School, the official school of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, in the Professional Division. In her final year as an Ailey student, Hana was also given the opportunity to dance as an apprentice for Ailey II, the second company of the Ailey organization.
While attending these institutions Hana performed works by legendary choreographers such as Doug Varone, Trebian Pollard, Matthew Rushing, Alvin Ailey, and many more.
After her year as Ailey II apprentice, Hana joined the Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s DBDT: Encore! (formerly DBDT II) in Dallas, TX. After one season with DBDT: Encore!, she was promoted into Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT), main company of the organization, where she danced for nine seasons. With DBDT, Hana has danced leading roles in works by Darrell Moultrie, Hope Boykin, Christopher Huggins, Matthew Rushing, Kirven Douthit Boyd, and many more. Through DBDT and other organizations throughout her professional career, Hana has traveled and performed both nationally and internationally. Theaters and festivals Hana has danced in include Battery Dance Festival, Jacob’s Pillow, Lincoln Center, The Joyce, Summer Stage, and New York City Center. Hana is a 2017 Princess Grace Award Nominee.
Hana has choreographed for Dallas Black Dance Theatre, CDT Jamaica, Dallas Black Dance Academy, and for High schools.