Meet our Staff.
Heather Manuka
(Owner/Director)
Although being born in Bryan, TX, Heather began her dance training at the ripe old age of 11 years at a small dance school in southern Georgia. While training and competing there, Heather won many scholarships to various dance conventions and schools across the U.S. She began assistant teaching and choreographing at the young age of 14 and has never looked back. Teaching competition classes throughout high school and thru college, dancers under her tutelage have won numerous awards as well as her dance choreography.
Besides receiving training from national dance conventions, Sam Houston State University dance department, and exceptional classroom dance teachers, Heather has had the privilege of training at the Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, CA on scholarship under the direction of Joe Malone, and taking classes and learning choreography techniques from great artists such as emmy award-winning Marguerite Derricks, Michael Rooney, Mia Michaels, and other choreographers seen on the hit show "So You Think You Can Dance."
For the past 15 years, Heather has had the the privilege of teaching and choreographing at dance schools across the country from Georgia to California, Massachusetts and Texas. While teaching at a pre-professional ballet school in Boston, Heather specialized in creative movement and young children's ballet based on the international RAD program (Royal Academy of Dance, England). She also was in charge of the Jazz, Tap, and Hip Hop program for older children and teens. Many of the students at this school have gone to perform with the Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and the Boston Conservatory. For the past five years, she has been the Competition Director for one of the largest dance schools in Central Texas.
In March of 2011, Heather was awarded a scholarship from "The Pulse On Tour" to attend the 11th Annual Teacher Workshop in NYC sponsored by The Pulse and Broadway Dance Center. While in New York in the summer of 2011, Heather was once again taking classes from world renowned choreographers from SYTYCD, Tony award winning Broadway choreographers, and many more. She also received her Zumba Fitness certification in 2011, and is now a licensed ZIN instructor. Her official Zumba profile can be found at heathermanuka.zumba.com.
Now married and with children of her own, Heather is continuing to share her knowledge and love for dance with the heartwarming community of Franklin, TX and the surrounding area.
Madison Sexton
(Assistant Dance Teacher)
Kate Barnett
(Zumba Instructor)
Kate graduated from Texas A&M University with a BS in Education and began her teaching career at Franklin ISD. While at FISD, Kate developed the girl's athletic program to allow both junior high and high school girls to participate in UIL athletics. Kate also served for many years as head volleyball coach and girl's athletic director. For many years, too, Kate was involved with the Governor's Commission on Physical Fitness and served on the executive board of Aerobic Fitness Texas Style. Kate is currently a member of the FISD school board.
Kate has been licensed in Zumba teaching since 2012.
(Owner/Director)
Although being born in Bryan, TX, Heather began her dance training at the ripe old age of 11 years at a small dance school in southern Georgia. While training and competing there, Heather won many scholarships to various dance conventions and schools across the U.S. She began assistant teaching and choreographing at the young age of 14 and has never looked back. Teaching competition classes throughout high school and thru college, dancers under her tutelage have won numerous awards as well as her dance choreography.
Besides receiving training from national dance conventions, Sam Houston State University dance department, and exceptional classroom dance teachers, Heather has had the privilege of training at the Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, CA on scholarship under the direction of Joe Malone, and taking classes and learning choreography techniques from great artists such as emmy award-winning Marguerite Derricks, Michael Rooney, Mia Michaels, and other choreographers seen on the hit show "So You Think You Can Dance."
For the past 15 years, Heather has had the the privilege of teaching and choreographing at dance schools across the country from Georgia to California, Massachusetts and Texas. While teaching at a pre-professional ballet school in Boston, Heather specialized in creative movement and young children's ballet based on the international RAD program (Royal Academy of Dance, England). She also was in charge of the Jazz, Tap, and Hip Hop program for older children and teens. Many of the students at this school have gone to perform with the Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and the Boston Conservatory. For the past five years, she has been the Competition Director for one of the largest dance schools in Central Texas.
In March of 2011, Heather was awarded a scholarship from "The Pulse On Tour" to attend the 11th Annual Teacher Workshop in NYC sponsored by The Pulse and Broadway Dance Center. While in New York in the summer of 2011, Heather was once again taking classes from world renowned choreographers from SYTYCD, Tony award winning Broadway choreographers, and many more. She also received her Zumba Fitness certification in 2011, and is now a licensed ZIN instructor. Her official Zumba profile can be found at heathermanuka.zumba.com.
Now married and with children of her own, Heather is continuing to share her knowledge and love for dance with the heartwarming community of Franklin, TX and the surrounding area.
Madison Sexton
(Assistant Dance Teacher)
Kate Barnett
(Zumba Instructor)
Kate graduated from Texas A&M University with a BS in Education and began her teaching career at Franklin ISD. While at FISD, Kate developed the girl's athletic program to allow both junior high and high school girls to participate in UIL athletics. Kate also served for many years as head volleyball coach and girl's athletic director. For many years, too, Kate was involved with the Governor's Commission on Physical Fitness and served on the executive board of Aerobic Fitness Texas Style. Kate is currently a member of the FISD school board.
Kate has been licensed in Zumba teaching since 2012.
