Meet our Coaches
Owner/Director:
Heather Wood started dance at 2 years old and cheerleading at 5 and have not stopped. From recreation leagues to elite competition squads, she won countless awards and titles throughout her 20+ years of Dancing and Cheerleading. Earning titles such as All-American Cheerleader and Miss High Kick America. She started coaching at 12 with her first paid coaching job at 15, by 16 she was offering private lessons, and volunteering to coach for schools without cheer sponsors. She danced under many prestigious choreographers at the Broadway Dance Center in New York City. Heather then moved to College Station where she graduated with an Associates Degree in Social Science and Psychology. In 2012 she moved to Dallas where she earned her Bachelor's of Science in Child Development and Psychology all while being a cheerleader at the University of Texas at Dallas and competed in UCA and NCA collegiate National Championships. With 15 years of coaching experience, she started Texas Galaxy with aspirations of every child, no matter the family income or ability level could have the chance to compete in Cheer or Dance. Outside of coaching and running Texas Galaxy Heather enjoys traveling with her husband Will Wood DC, and their 3 dogs.
Denton Dance Coach
Susanna MacTavish has loved the art of Dance from a young age. She started studying Dance at the age
of five and has been dancing ever since. Susanna graduated in May of 2016 with a BFA in Dance Performance from the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO). Throughout her dancing career she has
studied Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Modern, Musical Theater, and Hip Hop.
Her passion for instilling the love of Dance through teaching started at age twelve, when she became a teacher’s assistant, and by age fifteen she was teaching her own classes. Her love of teaching only grew when she started studying dance at Collin College and UCO where she learned from passionate and dedicated professors. Her future goal is to continue her education by obtaining a Masters Degree in Dance and become a professor of Dance that teaches with the same passion and dedication she was taught with.
During her career, Susanna has had the opportunity of performing at the Great State Fair of Texas as one of the “Top Twenty Teens in Texas” four years in a row. She has also had the opportunity to perform with the “Collin Dance Ensemble” and the “Kaleidoscope Dance Company.” It was through these companies that Susanna has performed several times at the “American College Dance Association”, a festival held every year for college students, where she studied with world renowned guest artists such as Bill Evens, Thom Cobb, and Gregg Russell.Susanna is very excited to be a part of the Texas Galaxy Cheer and Dance family and is ready to share
her love of dance to every student she encounters.
ant to be told the truth.”
Denton Cheer Coach
LaTreshia Johnson was born and raised in Dallas, TX. Her love for cheerleading began in a little league program at the age of 9. After failing to maker her 1st middle school cheer squad, she decided to cheer competitively. Progressing rapidly, she was the youngest on her squad as a 12 year old competing on a level 3 team for the Dallas Diamond All-Stars, where she competed for 2 years. Since then, she made her Middle school & High School cheer teams over the next 5 years, earning All-American with NCA her Sophomore and Senior year. Returning to Competitive Cheer with Jaguar Cheer Academy, she also volunteered as a cheer coach for a Pee-Wee Squad in her spare time.
After High School she was a cheerleader for the esteemed University of North Texas competition squad for all 5 years, and served as Captain for a year on the All-Girl, and another year on the Co-Ed team. After college she began coaching cheer at Denton Calvary Academy where she stayed for 3 years as their technique coordinator, and teaching tumbling, high levels of stunts, and choreographed various routines. Over the past 10 years she's been a cheerleading judge at several competitions and travels to choreograph award winning routines for other competitive teams in Texas. She was Texas Galaxy's 1st coach in 2016 and has loved every season since. Currently she is Denton's Cheer Director, keeping track of the progresses of 100+ students, both in our recreational and competition programs.
Mesquite Dance & Cheer Coach:
Ashlyn Miller starting dance at the young age of 2, and knew she was destined to dance! She danced competitively from the age of 4 through out middle, and High School in Mesquite, TX and throughout her years in college. She's learned all sorts of different styles of dance including; jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop and ballet. Ashlyn was also a cheerleader for many years during middle and high school, and has years of experience on a level 5 competitive cheer team. Her junior year of High School she switched to the Varsity drill team and was elected Captain her senior year. Afterwards, Ashlyn attended McLennan Community College and was apart of The McLennan Dance Company. She began teaching at Center Stage Dance company at the age of 16 and also taught at a dance studio in Waco, Tx. She has been with Texas Galaxy for 5 years and has choreographed several award winning competition dances. Currently she is Mesquite’s Cheer Director, keeping track of the progress of 100+ students, both in our recreational and competition programs.
Mesquite Tumbling Coach
Jatayvia is an undergrad psychology major at the University of North Texas and is already making strides in Denton. She began gymnastics classes at 2 and began competing as a gymnast soon after. She joined a competitive dance team for 1 year, specializing in stunts, tumbling, and technique. She currently trains in jazz, acrobatics, hip-hop, and ballet. She has taught Acrobatics and Hip-Hop for 2 years and pre-school gymnastics and level 1-3 tumbling for a year in her hometown. She has choreographed award-winning dance numbers for Texas Galaxy and her tumbling coaching has girls improving every week! She has a beautiful young daughter named Lyric and in her free time, she loves playing dress up and taking her daughter out shopping.
Denton Dance Coach
Victoria Nunez started dance classes at age 5 where she spent many of her younger years training and competing in dance competitions with studios and crews all across the DFW metroplex including Power House, Dance Precisions and Millennium Dallas. She also was on her high school dance team Birdville's Golden Motion. Throughout those years she trained mostly in contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, ballet and lyrical. Victoria won numerous awards and top over-all awards in her solos and group numbers. She also attended dance conventions where she won scholarships and was recognized by choreographers like Tyce Diorio, Gil Duldulo and Dave Scott. Victoria has back up danced for upcoming local artist such as Tiny B, B Simone, Jaylai and Kolten Kirste. She has performed on Good Morning Texas, choreographed and danced in South by Southwest in Austin and has been performing in the Bomb Factory's Dragons ball for 3 consecutive years. In 2016 She was also apart of the WNBA Dallas Wings first professional hip hop crew. She has been trained by local and national choreographers such as Kim Mcswain, Melanie Tyler and Kat Garcia. She is also currently one of the members of Kevin Harris's ASDS elite group. Victoria is a young growing choreographer that has been teaching competitively for 3 years and loves seeing her students grow and sharing her passion.
Mesquite Dance Coach
Makayla Sifuentes is a signed dancer, actress, and model with the agency of Icon Studios Dallas, and managed for modeling by 42 Model Management. Originally from Mesquite, TX she’s danced for 14 years and she’s been choreographing and teaching dance for 9 years teaching students from the ages of 2-60 years old. Makayla is classically trained in ballet, pointe, modern, Horton, Graham, contemporary, hip hop, jazz, Carribean, African, Salsa, Breaking, Partnering, Yoga, Acrobatics, and physical conditioning. She is a high school graduate from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and a college graduate from California Institute of the Arts, and also graduated from college with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance and a Minor Degree in Science and Mathematics. Miss Sifuentes has worked for many professional visual artists, vocalists, entertainment groups, music artists, producers, film directors, dance studios and educational institutions. She has even modeled for numerous dance magazines for ballet/pointe, and has been given the privilege to be the creative director for published dance magazines. Her talent continues with experience with music artists as their choreographer, creative director, lead dancer, and lead actress. Makayla has toured across the country with the So You Think You Can Dance, All Stars performing, and trained young performing artists all across the US. While in California she was able to teach and choreograph with Oakwood Secondary School in North Hollywood and also California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA. Professionally performed and choreographed in jazz, hip hop, contemporary, ballet, pointe, modern, and partnering. Her love and passion for performing, choreographing, and teaching is beyond measure as she takes each project and student of hers very seriously. Her goal as a performing artist and educator is to inspire, motivate, entertain, and captivate each audience I stand in front of to share my story; and to mold each student of mine into the striving artist that they truly desire to be while guiding them through their artist journey.
Mesquite Tumbling Coach
Mya Rhone has been a cheerleader most of her life. With her families encouragement, she began tumbling at a young age and started her love of cheerleading shortly after. She is currently a College Cheerleader at Southwestern College, where she is a flyer and helps coach their tumbling program. In her free time she loves hanging out with her friends and family and is looking forward to coaching more classes next season with Texas Galaxy.
Denton Cheer Coach
Sarah Auer was born and raised in Denton, Texas and has been with Texas Galaxy since May of 2018. Her love of tumbling and gymnastics began at age 8, and she progressed very fast. Sarah has competed around the country in artistic gymnastics winning numerous titles in all four events and in the all-around. Her freshman year of high school she decided to try out for her school's JV cheerleading squad and spent the year juggling both competitive gymnastics and school cheer. After battling multiple injuries, she decided to retire from gymnastics and begin cheering on her school's varsity cheer squad and coaching at Texas Galaxy. Throughout high school Sarah has served as her school's varsity cheer captain as well as competing on a competition cheer team, Swagcats, at Cheer Athletics. Sarah is graduating high school in the top ten of her class in 2021 and will be attending college that fall to major in business.
Mesquite Dance Coach
Judy Dryman is the most experienced dance.teacher at Texas Galaxy. She has over 50 years od Dance experienceincluding owning her own dance studio in Crandall and Mesquite for decades. Mrs. Judy was Coach Heathers Dance teacher and molded her into the person she is today. She was also a pageant queen, winning numerous titles and awards including the esteemed title of Miss Texas. Judy was also an acclaimed performer and a local celebrity for owning and performing at the Mesquite Grand 'Ol Opry for many years. Currently, she owns Stars of Tomorrow, a respected and well-known preschool dance and tumbling program in dozens of schools across the Dallas metroplex. Although she has the talent an knowledge to teach the most elite dancers, her passion is working with the tots and tinys age group, laying the foundation of which all dancers need to begin their journey as a performer. We are so lucky to have Mrs. Judy on board with Texas Galaxy.
Denton Cheer Coach
Carissa Correa is from Longview, TX! She grew up as a trained gymnast where she was coached by Jing at Jing’s Gymnastics. When Carissa was introduced into cheer world, she knew cheerleading was for her. She now has over 12 years of cheerleading experience! She started with All-Star Cheerleading and then switched to Game Day Cheerleading at her Jr High and High School in Hallsville, Tx. She has gotten NCA & UCA All-American, 3rd place at the TX UIL Spirit State Competition, and has taken her team to Compete at the UCA High School Nationals when she was Captain in 2019. Coach Carissa has been coaching others for around 3 years and has coached at Hallsville Academy All-Stars and Powersports! She is currently at the University of North Tx Studying Speech-Language Pathology where she plans on finishing her Bachelors and getting her Masters Degree! She loves coaching and loves the excitement when an individual learns a new skill! Coach Carissa can’t wait to continue her Coaching Career here at Texas Galaxy and can’t wait to meet you!
Denton Dance Coach
In her youth, Dymond Davis trained with Tabitha Ferrell and Kalynda Vincent in Houston before relocating to New Orleans where she started the Franklin Dance Project. There, she was on a dance competition team that went on to win over thirty-five titles in local dance competitions. In 2018, she joined Dancing Grounds' DG Uprising Youth Company and Dance For Social Change Program. Following high school, Dymond earned a position as a dance instructor at Imani Dance Academy, New Orleans Dance Collective, TK Elite Dance Project, Sassy Feet Dance Studio, American Dance Training Camp, Amor Dance Creations, Tippi Toes Dance, and Gem Dance and Company. In 2021, she joined the Central Dance Ensemble at Houston Community College. Dymond is currently studying Dance at the prestigious Texas Woman's University and is the Co-Coordinator of the TWU Dance Community Movers.
Mesquite Dance Coach
Maria Vaughn is a professional choreographer, dancer, teacher, and is the founder and director of Vaughn Dance. She began choreographing pieces for performances and winning awards for her work at the age of fifteen. She has studied with notable dance figures all over the U.S. She is trained in: ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, tap, hip-hop, West African, flamenco, belly- dancing, precision dance, improvisation, Pilates, Yoga, partnering, contemporary, character, and Indian. Having moved from New Orleans, La where she did work as an independent dance artist and with Audacity Dance Collective she has not forgotten where she was born and raised. Originally from Huntsville, Alabama she studied dance at Community Ballet Association, danced in many independent pieces and ballets in various roles, and on a multitude of stages with Huntsville Ballet Company. Later she returned to work professionally with Alabama Youth Ballet. After graduating high school in Huntsville, Alabama she went on to spend some years in Mississippi working on her degrees from The University of Southern Mississippi where she received a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography as well as a Business Management degree. During her time at USM she was a Dixie Darling and created “The Human Movement Experience Exhibit”, a site-specific work at the Hattiesburg Zoo. In addition to her studying she spent some time on the Gulf Coast where she taught dance with Robin Adams Performing Arts Center. She then returned to the Gulf Coast later and was co- director of choreography and dance with the Sultry Southern Sirens a Burlesque Troupe as well as where she worked with and developed her dance company before recently making an exciting move to the Dallas area of Texas!
Mesquite Tumbling Coach and Cheer Coach
Logan Kirschbaum has two decades of experience in the industry. Starting in a mommy and me class at 2, the love and passion for tumbling was deep-seated. He officially got his start as a gymnast at the age of 10 and quickly climbed the ranks. At the age of 13, he made the switch from a level 8 gymnast to Cheer for high school. He cheered for the school and an All-Star program in San Antonio, TX. In that time, he won 3 NCA titles and was Grand Champion at Cheersport. Did I mention that Logan is a former cheerleader for the University of Kentucky? In 2015 he graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor’s degree in Corporate Communications. Shortly after graduating he helped a new program, San Antonio SpirIt, get up and running as their Tumbling Director. He then moved to Dallas to work as a Digital Marketing Account Manager. He’s been coaching from age 14 and couldn’t wait to get back into stride. Logan started coaching part-time, after hours and eventually found a position coaching full-time with Express Cheer in 2019. Skills training - whether it be tumbling, jumps, motion technique, acro, prep for tryouts, etc. He can do it all! Logan believes that he’s been blessed with the opportunity to make a career out of his passion and he couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the Texas Galaxy program.
Mesquite Dance Coach
Chaslen Allorhian Osler resides in Dallas, TX as a coach, dance instructor, entrepreneur, and yoga instructor. Receiving her high school diploma from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and her B.F.A. in dance at Sam Houston State University. Chaslen began professionally teaching at the age of 19 as a dance intern at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters for 4 summer programs, including the program. Right out of college, I landed dance instructing roles at establishments such as Parish Episcopal School, KD Conservatory of the Arts, Preston Center Dance, Studio B, and others. Over time gaining skill sets such as leadership, organization, and management in the roles of a Director, Coach, and Teacher, Instructor.
Her biggest goal is to change the narrative of how teachers teach. Injuries are becoming too common in young children due to the lack of knowledge that could be preventing these injuries. Some of which affect a student for the rest of their lives. After receiving her 200 HR yoga certification, anatomical awareness, injury prevention, and conditioning became what she was known for the most at her previous dance studio, where she implemented an entire program for teaching children about their bodies. That way the kids can have fun without major pains.
Alongside her passion for science, she is an artist at the core. Loving writing, singing, painting, dancing, performing, and more. With many years of experience in dance performance and choreography, alongside studying anatomy, neuroscience, and yoga, Chaslen curated a great formula for coaching the youth.