Texas Association for Dance and Culture Board of Directors

Lesly Castañeda is a dedicated marketing and management professional with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from The University of Texas at Arlington, where she graduated in 2021. She is currently serving in Event Project Management, Rewards and Retention for Dallas Independent School District's Human Capital Management department, a role she took on in October 2023. In this position, Lesly is responsible for coordinating districtwide event projects from inception through execution, ensuring that every detail is

meticulously managed to uphold the highest quality standards. She excels in environments that require managing multiple streamlines of work simultaneously while adhering to strict deadlines. Lesly takes pride in staying organized and focused, ensuring that all tasks are completed efficiently and effectively. A key aspect of Lesly's role is fostering and maintaining strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders. She believes that effective communication and collaboration are essential for successful project management. By engaging

with cross-functional teams and departments, Lesly ensures that all parties are aligned and working towards common goals. Her role as a liaison for Dallas ISD’s high scale events allows her to bridge gaps between various functions, driving successful outcomes for their initiatives. All while bringing her experience to the district, Lesly has developed an eye for graphic design

and has a deep understanding in the essence of branding and design. She offers a strong strategic and intentional creative direction to her projects and guarantees extraordinary results. Prior to her current position, Lesly gained valuable experience during her academic tenure and internships, where she built a solid foundation in marketing strategies and management principles. Her educational background has equipped her with the analytical skills necessary to assess and adapt to diverse situations, enhancing her problem-solving capabilities. Lesly continuously seeks opportunities for professional growth and is always eager to expand her knowledge and skills in the marketing field and stakeholder engagement. Lesly also has extensive experience in fundraising and a loving passion for philanthropy. During her time at UTA, she was involved with the Delta Delta Delta sorority chapter, where she supported their philanthropic partner, St. Jude. She later held a role at Kendra Scott, where she partnered with

up to 30 local organizations per month to support their fundraising needs through event and marketing strategies. Additionally, Lesly assisted with the creation of the Texas Association for

Dance and Culture’s (TADC) branding guidelines like our logo and is excited to support students and educators across the state by working with TADC as they continue to grow their programs.

Dr. Yvonne M. De La Rosa, a native of Seguin, is the Executive Director of Teatro De Artes De Juan Seguin (Teatro), a non-profit arts organization dedicated to promoting a deeper understanding of Mexican American culture through the arts. Teatro has a distinguished 42-year history of offering high-quality programming across performing arts (Ballet Folklórico, Mariachi, Conjunto), visual arts, literature, theatre, and culinary arts. Its programs are organized into three main areas: Community-Based, Center-Based, and School-Based programming, accessible to individuals of all ages, races, abilities, ethnicities, genders, and socio-economic backgrounds. Teatro recognizes the transformative power of the arts in fostering mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being and provides a platform for the celebration and preservation of Mexican American traditions through community education. For 46 years, Dr. De La Rosa has been deeply immersed in Ballet Folklórico, Danza Azteca, and Flamenco. Beginning her dance studies at age 4, she has taught for 29 years and is a founding member of Ballet Folklórico De La Rosa. Her extensive training includes studies under renowned instructors such as Elvira Desachy (Veracruz, MX), Profesor Benjamin Cruz Ascencio (Colima, MX), Salvador Ybarra (Laredo, TX), and many others. Dr. De La Rosa has taught a wide range of dances from various Mexican states and regions, including but not limited to Jalisco, Veracruz, Sinaloa, epoca del Revolucion, and Guerrero. Her teaching experience spans public and private schools, as well as universities, and includes communities from Seguin to San Antonio and beyond. Dr. De La Rosa holds a Ph.D. in Adult, Professional, and Community Education from Texas State University, where she focused her research on the development of Teatro De Artes De Juan Seguin. She has 20 years of experience as a public-school educator with Seguin ISD and has spent the past 15 years as a college professor in the Kinesiology Department at St. Philip's College. In addition to her role as Teatro's part-time program coordinator for 20 years and part-time Executive Director for 3 years, she has served as the full-time Executive Director since 2018. This year, Dr. De La Rosa has dedicated countless volunteer hours to supporting start-up non-profits in the arts and Native American organizations focused on educating and raising awareness about the Indigenous Peoples of Texas. Her expertise includes providing strategic guidance, strengthening organizational structures, networking, fostering supportive relationships, long-term planning, and offering advice on grant writing and resource diversification. "It has been a true honor to work alongside numerous non-profit organizations as they begin their journey. I remember my mother and co-founder of Teatro, the late Vickie De La Rosa, speaking of the individuals and arts organizations that helped establish Teatro on a strong foundation. It is my privilege to pay it forward and assist others in achieving their visions and missions."

Ronelle Jock Eddings began dance lessons at an early age in a dance studio and continued training in dance through the public schools starting in middle school.  Because she was dancing daily as part of her curriculum through high school, commitment to becoming a dance educator was solidified. Ronelle earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education and Master of Secondary Education with Dance Emphasis from Arizona State University and began teaching dance in public schools immediately upon graduation.  She is currently Director of Dance at Creekview High School in Carrollton, TX and serves as the Fine Arts Department Manager.  Within the dance department, Ronelle directs Moving Ground Dance Company which has represented the community at the Regional and National High School Dance Festivals as well as numerous dance performance and education opportunities. She teaches beginning through advanced dance classes and has developed Men’s Class.  Along the way she danced professionally with The Movement Source, Inc., NOVA Dancing Company, and then co-founded and co-directed Elledanceworks Dance Company for 20 years. Career highlights  include the National Dance Society K-12 Dance Educator of the Year 2021, Texas Dance Education Association Dance Educator of the Year 2019, Texas Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (TAHPERD) Dance Educator of the Year 2015, and The Dance Council of North Texas Larry White Award for Dance Education 2015.  She recently was the recipient of an EF Innovative Grant to produce the project “Black History Through the Eyes of a Dancer” to be performed for the community.  Ronelle is exploring health & fitness concepts related to dance and healthy living in order to teach as long as possible.  She is committed to making dance education available to all people as a human activity and will continue to make that happen by focusing on offering and supporting high-quality dance programs in public schools.  With the support of her family, dance and health are top priorities and continue to structure her 30+ year teaching career. 

Diana Elizabeth Gallego is a dynamic Neurofeedback Technician and Brain Health Coach at the Abilene Brain Center, where she has been making strides in mental wellness since May 2019. Diana’s career is marked by a profound commitment to enhancing lives through both innovative brain health practices and extensive experience in the arts. Before her current role, Diana enjoyed a distinguished career as the Theatre and Dance Coordinator for the Dallas Independent School District from August 2008 to August 2016. In this capacity, she collaborated with over 120 educators and principals to develop and implement a comprehensive Fine Arts curriculum. Her efforts led to the creation of impactful programs and events, including the Irma P. Hall Theatre Arts Workshop and the Dallas Summer Dance Intensive. Diana’s passion for dance education began long before her time with DISD. She served as an Adjunct Dance Professor at Mountain View College and Collin County Community College District, teaching a variety of dance styles from ballroom to folklórico. Additionally, she spent over a decade as a High School Dance Teacher at Moisés E. Molina High School, where she established a nationally recognized interdisciplinary and multicultural dance program. Her work there included founding Ballet Folklórico Jaguara and Corazón Latino, both of which celebrated and promoted cultural pride.

As the Founder of the Texas Association for Hispanic Dance and Culture, Diana dedicated nearly two decades to bridging community folklórico groups with academic dance programs. Her initiatives included the Folklórico Festival of Texas and the Texas High School Salsa Championship, which fostered academic achievement and cultural connection. Diana’s expertise extends beyond teaching and program development. She has coached and choreographed for numerous national dance competitions, earning accolades and contributing to the publication of Winning! The Dance Competition Handbook. She also directed the Liz Gallego School of Dance in Denton, Texas, where she oversaw a team of six teachers and produced a variety of artistic performances. Her educational background includes a Master’s degree in Dance from Texas Woman’s University and various certifications in functional medicine, neurofeedback, and HeartMath practices. Diana’s dedication to her field has been recognized with numerous awards, including her induction into the Texas Dance Educator Association Hall of Fame in 2023. Diana continues to share her expertise through workshops and training sessions across the country, covering topics from Aztec rhythms to Latin Fusion. She is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Association for Applied Psychophysiological Biofeedback and the Texas Dance Educators Association. Diana Elizabeth Gallego’s multifaceted career and unwavering dedication to enhancing lives through both the arts and brain health underscore her remarkable impact on her community and beyond.

Rachel Harrah is a dedicated advocate for intergenerational equity in educational spaces. She is known for her expertise and advocacy in K-12 educational fine arts facility design. As the former Director of Theatre and Dance at Dallas ISD, she earned numerous accolades, including the 2015 Dallas ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year and the 2020 Theatre Administrator of the Year by the Texas Educational Theatre Association. Through her company, Harrah LLC, Rachel continues to champion equity and act as a catalyst for change in educational spaces and programs. 

Leah Longoria Huggins was raised in McKinney, TX, where she fell in love with dance and drill team at McKinney North High School serving as Senior Lieutenant and Co-Captain of the Kick Company of her team, the NorthStars. Staying close to home Leah attended Collin County Community College in Plano, TX and was a part of the resident modern/contemporary dance company Collin Dance Ensemble. Leah completed her Bachelor's Degree in Dance from Texas Woman's University in Denton, TX. During college Leah was a staff member with the award winning Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Studio in Plano, TX. Leah also judges dance/drill competitions for Danceline Productions and HTE Dance.  Leah has and continues to choreograph routines, judge, and adjudicate for various DFW schools annually. Leah was a five year member of Dallas Dance Company performing and connecting with amazing people. ​Starting her first job at Sunset High School in 2010 she opened the costume closet to find only Ballet Folklorico costumes. She dove into the culture and traditions of Ballet Folklorico and took lessons with Raul Hernandez of Ballet Folklorico Mexico Lindo. Leah became proficient in performing and teaching Ballet Folklorico. Leah currently serves on the board of the North Texas Ballet Folklorico Contest helping high school folklorico programs compete across the state of Texas. She has presented at the Texas Dance Educators Association conference multiple times through the years. Recently Leah was nominated for Sunset Teacher of the Year in 2023. ​Leah has been the Director of Dance at Sunset High School for 15 years leading the Dance Company (13 years), Varsity Cheer (5 years), and Bisonettes Varsity Drill Team (8 years) and Dance I-IV. She has enjoyed watching the dance program evolve from 76 to 300 students as well as the students who have gone on to college dance programs. She is married to her high school sweetheart Rylie, they have two children and reside in Preston Hollow.  

Daniel Negrete is originally from San Luis Potosí, Mexico and currently resides in Dallas, Texas. He obtained a Bachelors of Arts in Dance at Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas. Daniel Negrete’s passion for dance emerged when he started dancing Ballet Folklorico. Since then, he has obtained experience in other genres of dance including Flamenco, Cechetti, Horton, as well as a variety of postmodern, Latin, African and Caribbean dance forms. Daniel was part of the Mountain View Dance Company where he performed a variety of dance forms that included ballet, jazz, and Latin dance. While attending Texas Woman's University Daniel was part of the International Dance Company where he performed, choreographed, and student directed the company. As a member of CholoRock Dance Collective he choreographed and performed dance works that portrayed the Mexican and Mexican American cultures. He is also seasoned in assisting, choreographing, and adjudicating for High School drill teams within the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. As his repertoire is continuously growing, he is interested in the fusion of dance genres, cultures, and choreographic techniques in his pedagogical strategies. Daniel currently works as a dance and drill team director for the Dallas Independent School District, dance curriculum writer, dances for Flamenco Black, and serves as a board member for the Texas Dance Educators’ Association and North Texas Ballet Folklorico Contest.  

 Rickey Phoummany grew up in Watauga, TX, and graduated from Haltom High School, where he was heavily a part of the Fine Arts programs.

After high school, Rickey attended Texas Tech University where he was a member and served as President of the University Dance Company. He also performed and choreographed for Texas Tech's Hip Hop Team; Dancers With Soul, and with Ballet Lubbock. He was selected to represent the TTU Dance Program at the American College Dance Festival in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Laredo, Texas, and his final choreography piece was chosen to be performed amongst his professors at DanceTech; Artistry in Motion. He also served on the Student Government Association as a Senator for the Visual and Performing Arts and was a member of the Texas Tech Men’s Chorus, Matador Singers. He also holds a Master's in Education in Educational Technology and Leadership from

Lamar University. Rickey was a performer of Black Gold Dance Company, and he choreographed and performed for the Turtle Creek Chorale for eight seasons. He has also performed and served as dance captain for numerous musical theatre productions in DFW, including High School Musical, The King and I, Hairspray, Footloose, and many more. Rickey has served as the very first Director of Dance at W.H. Adamson High School in Dallas ISD from 2014-2019. Under his direction, the Drill Team, Dance Company, Cheer, and Colorguard programs earned many top awards and national recognitions! He is the former Director of Dance at Bowie Fine Arts Academy (PreK-5th) in Grand Prairie ISD from 2019-2024, where he too established the dance program and directed the Back to Back National Award-winning dance team, Bowie Dance Company, National and State Champion Royal Reign Boys Dance Team and BFAA's Award winning Ballet Folklorico Company. 

He is now teaching in Irving ISD, as the inaugural Director of Dance at Austin Middle School and the Colorguard Director for Irving High School.

Mr. Alberto "Beto" Rincón is a native of Seguin, Texas and began dancing Ballet Folklorico with Teatro De Artes De Juan Seguin, a 501 c 3 nonprofit cultural arts center at the age of 3.  At the age of 15, Teatro saw his potential as a leader and educator of youth and offered him one of the first two paid internships ever awarded to any of its students. After completing 2 years as ballet folklórico intern and  graduating from High School, Beto stepped away from Folklorico to focus on building careers in Music and Food Hospitality in Austin, Texas. Once he returned from graduate school where he studied Food Studies, Teatro would call once again looking for their first full-time program coordinator, a role Beto would fill for 5 years. In this role, Beto also gained valuable experience creating and curating many community events. During this time, Beto would also serve as Ballet Folklorico instructor and eventually would become Co-Artistic Director of Teatro's Ballet Folklórico De La Rosa, a position he held until May 2024. Beto moved on from nonprofit administration when in 2019,  Seguin ISD chose to create its very own K-12 District Wide Ballet Folklórico program. Beto left his full-time position with Teatro to become Seguin ISD’s first ever K-12 Ballet Folklorico instructor, where he has been since 2020. He is currently working on a teacher's certification in 6th-12th Dance.  Since 2019, Beto has also been a member of Asociación Nacional De Grupos Folkloricos (ANGF)  and served on their board of directors as Southern Regional Representative from 2022-July 2024. As TADC's advisory board member, Beto looks forward to continuing to connect with as many school based Ballet Folklorico directors as possible and listen to their needs, especially those in rural, Title 1 settings.  

 As Northside’s first female Latina Director of Fine Arts, Elizabeth Sanchez-Lopez is responsible for in overseeing the district’s Fine Arts department as well as contributing production designs for all district’s performance initiatives. Elizabeth has been part of Northside ISD for 32 years and served as a dance educator, pep squad/cheer and dance team director, campus department coordinator, and supervisor of dance and theatre and Assistant Director. Elizabeth received her Bachelor of Arts in Education from Our Lady of the Lake University and holds a Master in Administration from Concordia University in San Antonio. Elizabeth has presented dance and educational workshops and adjudicated dance performances at the local, state and national level. She currently serves on the board of CEDFA and has served as a Trainer of Trainers for dissemination and training on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Fine Arts. Elizabeth has served on numerous boards and committees including State Board of Education Dance Teacher Certification Committee, SBOE Dance TEKS Review/Revision Committee, San Antonio Cultural Arts Board, San Antonio Dance Umbrella, Co-Chair the Texas Theatre Administrator Association, Outside Item Writer for ETS Dance Exam and Regional Representative for the Texas Dance Education Association. She currently serves as a committee member of TDEA’s Dance Educators’ Assessment of Learning and Dance Team Assessment. An award-winning artist, Elizabeth has staged and performed in numerous community musicals, summer stocks, and industrial shows. Elizabeth has also served in the capacity of performer, choreographer, director and dance consultant on such creative teams at Sea World of Texas, Opryland, Fiesta Texas, 1994 Olympic Festival, Fiesta 100th Celebration, Miss San Antonio, Miss Pan America Pageant, and Fiesta Noche del Rio, just to name a few. Elizabeth has received such prestigious awards for her service in arts and education including Sallie Mae First Year Teacher of the Year, Holmes HS Teacher of the Year, Business Careers HS Teacher of the Year, Stevens HS Teacher of the Year, Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, KENS-5/SACU Teacher Excel Award, Ford Salute to Education Award, Our Lady of the Lake University Outstanding Alumni Award. She was inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame in the area of Creative Arts. Elizabeth was a past finalist for Texas Dance Education Association Lifetime Achievement Award and was recipient of TDEA’s Distinguished Award.  

An award winning educator, Mia Street comes from a bloodline of educational activists and trailblazers. Her roots are embedded in the parishes of Louisiana that created the Deacons For Defense, the first Black students to force integration at La Tech University and a family that has dedicated their lives to the promise and potential of education.  She grew up listening to stories about her grandfather, Moses Lee Osborne, who led the efforts to teach black folks in Jackson Parish, Louisiana how to read in order to prepare them to register and vote. It is no surprise that Mia’s work, inside and outside of the classroom, is rooted in this dedication to education as a tool for Liberation. Her journey in education led her to teaching and developing culturally responsive curriculum for special needs children for nearly 20 years. Previously, Mia worked with Georgia State University and the The King Center to assist in student led events for the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington. She is the founder of  Kidada Education Design LLC and Bridging The Gap Mentoring Program, a 501c3 non-profit organization.  As a leader in education, Mia has overseen district level programming and introduced innovative initiatives to support equity for college and career readiness for margenalized students. Her work also included overseeing restorative practices and McKinney Vento programs districtwide. Throughout her years in education, she has been called on to design and facilitate professional development for educators that focuses on racial equity, implicit bias and culturally responsive teaching. Her focus has always been on increased equitable pedalogical practices and standards. 

Mia has over 10 years experience in grant writing, fundraising and non profit management.  She specializes in leveraging partnerships with educational agencies and industry professionals to create and develop unique educational initiatives that serve marginalized student populations. She currently holds the following roles: BH365 Foundation, Executive Director, Kidada Education Design, Founder, Dallas CORE Chief Growth Officer, NAACP Texas State Education Committee Member, BTGMP, Inc Executive Director and Founder. Mia Street is a proud member of  NAACP and sits on the NAACP Texas Education Committee as well as the former Education Chair for Dallas NAACP. She is a member ACLU Texas, American Speech and Hearing Association, National Alliance of Black School Educators, Urban League of Greater Dallas Young Professionals and The Golden Circle.