Our Team

 

Ally Tippe creative director

Ally Tippe hails from the Midwest, where she had the privilege of participating in a Grammy Foundation Signature School music program as a dancer/singer in the 4th Avenue Jazz Company and the Select Womens Ensemble. Additionally, Ally studied dance at Nolte Academy and the University of Iowa Youth Ballet Program. Ally attended Beloit College under vocal music scholarship and graduated with BA degrees in Womens and Gender Studies and Education and Youth Studies (teacher certification). In association with Beloit College Dance Department, Ally participated in Chelonia Dance Co. as a choreographer and dancer as well as annual ADCFA conferences and Guest Artist dance residencies. Upon graduation, Ally took a position as Co-Director of Dance Dimensions, Inc., outside of Madison, WI where she taught dance to children and adults and coordinated summer dance camps and the STARZ Company dance program, receiving awards for choreography and performance. Ally has a wide array of experience in the field of education and youth services including Program Director positions (YMCA Camp Wapsie; Community Action of Southern Wisconsin) as well as several years Lead Teaching experience in licensed Early Childhood Education centers. In 2012, Ally moved to Austin to pursue an advanced degree in Education with focus on Curriculum Development and Educational Policy. She is thrilled to join the PAIYH family and continue her journey in arts-based education with PAIYH Dance Studios.

 

Meg Hubbarth Steiner musical director

Meg Hubbarth Steiner is a proud Austinite with an enormous passion for the performing arts. At an early age she became an active member of Austin's dynamic theatre community where she performed in several productions and fully realized her vocation. Upon graduating from James Bowie High School, she moved to Philadelphia, PA to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from The University of the Arts Brind School. While in Philly she had the pleasure of performing with several renowned theatre companies, and work-shopped with some of the most prestigious professionals in the industry. When a dance injury forced her off stage for several months, she sought out a way to continue work in the performing arts and found herself abroad as a theatre and dance teacher at The Leysin American School in Switzerland. There she discovered her love of education. Since returning to Austin in 2010 to start a family, Meg has performed in and choreographed several productions, including "Footloose" with Zilker Theatre Productions (performer), "HAIR" with City Theatre (performer), and and upcoming run of "BABY" with Austin Theatre Project (choreographer). She lives in Oak Hill with her hilarious husband Marc, adorable daughter Lily, and two mischievous kitties Berger & Yoko.

 

Brittany Landon instructor

Brittany Landon is originally from Los Angeles, CA. She fell in love with dance at the age of 12. She has trained in Los Angeles at Millennium Dance Complex and in Austin at Galaxy and Dance Austin. She had the privilege to perform for the past two years with Dance To Breathe, directed by Chi-Chi Rodriguez. She is also a member of The Project, a Hip Hop Crew that performs statewide. She has over 9 years of experience teaching ages 2 through adult.

 

Lisa Wright instructor

Lisa Wright has been dancing since the age of five and acting since age ten; she received training at Shirley McPhail School of Dance, Dancers Workshop, Westwood High School Fine Arts Academy, and Austin Musical Theatre. Types of dance include ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical and cheerleading. Lisa trained with acting coaches Diane and Marco Perella and dance instructors Danny Herman and Rocker Verastique. Lisa was a varsity cheerleader at Westwood High School and also danced for the Austin Vipers Football Team as a Lady Viper during the 2011-2012 season. Lisa has performed in many theatre productions including "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown" in the role of Lucy at the Sam Bass Theatre. Lisa is currently studying theatre and dance and plans to continue to teach both.

 

Jane Bernick instructor

Jane Bernick began dancing at the age of eleven, and has engaged in the art ever since. She was a four year member of the Lake Travis High School Cavalettes where she served one year as an officer. Over the years, she has had many exciting opportunities such as performing in Disney World and opening for the Radio City Rockettes. After spending some time at Texas A&M, Jane is thrilled to be back in Austin to complete her degree at the University of Texas. Jane loves working with children and hopes to share her love of dance with the students at PAIYH.

 

Sarah Hawbaker instructor

Sarah Hawbaker discovered her love of cheer, dance, and gymnastics at the age of four in Laguna Beach, CA.  She spent five years on a cheer squad competing at a national level.  Sarah had the honor of being her high school varsity cheer squad's captain for two years, while her team placed in state and won numerous competitions.  Sarah has performed in and choreographed for show choirs, musicals, and youth cheerleading camps.  She was named a top twenty dancer for the Dallas Mavericks, where she spend a season on their dance team.  Sarah attended Stephen F. Austin State University majoring in business/marketing and minoring in dance.  She is thrilled to share her passions for cheer and dance with students at PAIYH Dance Studios.

 

Allison Bernick instructor

Allison Bernick was born in Houston, TX but has spent most of her life in Austin. She began dancing at the age of 10 and has pursued it ever since. She has trained in jazz, ballet, and contemporary. Along with studio training, Allison was on the Cavalette Dance and Drill team for two years. She loves working with children and is very excited to work and continue training at PAIYH Dance Studios!

 

Melissa DeBaca acting instructor

Melissa DeBaca has always loved to entertain. She grew up in Dallas, Texas and was on stage participating in local beauty pageants at age five. She soon discovered her true passion for Acting and has never looked back. Melissa lived in Denver, Colorado and received her BA in Theater/ Communications at Metropolitan State University. Melissa continued performing throughout college, and upon completion she started teaching children's theater at Denver elementary schools. She recently moved to Austin to be closer to her loved ones and to be surrounded by a fantastic city dedicated to the arts. Some of Melissa's favorite roles have been the theatrical productions of "Praying For Secrets," "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and the films "Maintenance" and "Night Things." She taught a children's theater camp this summer and is currently in production for a local film. Melissa is so excited to have this opportunity to encourage and inspire children through the wonderful world of the arts!

 

David Kassin Fried jedi instructor

David Kassin Fried has been acting professionally since the age of 8 and performing stage combat since the age of 15. For the last two years he's been doing both at two separate Renaissance festivals: Texas Renaissance Festival, where he won Best New Character for his interpretation (and fighting) as Cyrano de Bergerac; and Sherwood Forest Faire, where he participates in one of the festival's most popular shows, the Combat Tournament of Sherwood. He's taught children and adults how to sword fight, and more importantly knows the ways of the Force.

 

Ronnie Bayles art instructor

Ronnie Bayles has always loved all aspects of the Arts. She has studied visual/fine arts, theatrical/special effects/fx/beauty makeup, and acting. This Texas native moved from sunny San Antonio to “the windy city” of Chicago, Illinois after being awarded a Talent Scholarship from DePaul University. She earned her BFA in Acting from DePaul's renowned Theatre School (formerly the Goodman School of Drama).

Throughout the years, Ronnie has performed in many productions, both in Chicago and Los Angeles, and has worked with some wonderful actors, including PAIYH's own Jeanna Phillips, and Disney High School Musical's, Monique Coleman (Taylor McKessie) a DePaul University alum. Ronnie's favorite roles include, Halie (Buried Child), Ellen (Vinegar Tom), Elizabeth Proctor (The Crucible), and Dotty Otley (Noises Off).

Ronnie currently lives in San Antonio and teaches Acting at The San Antonio School of the Performing Arts (SASPA). She is excited to be returning to teach at PAIYH's Summer Camps again this year. Ronnie has worked with PAIYH since 2004, beginning in Los Angeles.