Alumni- Beyond the Program

"Hi I’m Sofia! I was an Emerald Dancer from 2014-2018 and a First Class Ballroom member from 2015-2018. My junior year, I served as lieutenant for the Emmys and my senior year I served as Captain for the Emmys and for First Class Ballroom. Being on these teams grew my confidence and gave me some life-long friends who are still very important people in my life. Competing with these teams taught me the value of ambition, dedication, and patience when working towards a goal. I currently practice and teach aerial hoop which would not be possible without the discipline and grace learned from Canyon Lake Dance. I am attending Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and will graduate May 2023 with a BBA in general business and a minor in Economics, a Writing for Nonprofits Certification, a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Certification, and with Honors. Being an Emmy pushed my academic standards very high which is why I’m currently working on multiple certifications and research projects. Once I graduate, I plan on being an economic research analyst." Sofia Mings, 2018 graduate

"Hi! My name is Dominic. I was on the First Class Ballroom Dance Team from 2013-2015 during my junior and senior year. During my senior year, I was voted by the team members as one of the two male captain’s of the team. Other than dance, I also played basketball all four years, ran track & field for two years, and played baseball for one year. When I look back and reflect on my time on the team, they are some of the fondest memories of my time in high school. During my time on the team, teamwork and effort were preached by Mrs. Jenkins (the artist formerly known as Ms. Endsley). As I’ve grown, I’ve enacted these same principals in my professional and academic life. After high school, I went on to attend UTSA and graduated with my Bachelor’s of Science in Kinesiology - Athletic Medicine in May of 2019. Currently, I’m a student of Texas State’s Physical Therapy Program, and am slated to graduate with my Doctorate of Physical Therapy in May of 2023. I am so lucky to have the experience I gained from being on that team!" -Dominic Adams, 2015 graduate

"Hello! I’m Megan Eskridge and I was an Emerald Dancer for four years and a First Class Ballroom team member for three years. I was Captain of First Class my senior year and held both Lieutenant and Co-Captain officer titles of the Emerald Dancers my junior and senior years. The Canyon Lake Dance program was a life changing experience for me, one that ignited my passion for dance and inspired me to make it my professional career. Being on the Emmys made me realize a love of performing and gave me distinguished levels of technique and discipline that continue to carry me far in life. First Class also holds a very special place in my heart because of its unique ability to help people learn to build trust in a partnership and tell stories through movement. After high school I attended the University of North Texas, was accepted into their dance program, and graduated in four years with a Bachelor of Arts Degree after studying under multiple world-renowned choreographers. I currently live in Los Angeles, CA, continuing to work hard, taking dance classes, attending auditions, and embracing what life teaches me throughout this journey!" -Megan Eskridge, 2014 graduate

"While signing up for my freshman classes, I decided to give the “dance” elective a shot. That year I was able to learn some cool individual and partner dances that I would not have realistically gotten anywhere else. Thereafter, I decided to try out for one of the competitive ballroom teams and I joined team 2 my sophomore year, followed by first class the remainder of high school. It was here where I was able to really improve my dancing techniques and get out of my comfort zone. Not only was I gaining confidence on the dance floor, I also made some really good friends. Currently I’m going through my last year at Texas State and applying to dental schools. However, I still keep in touch with a couple ballroom friends and Mrs. Jenkins." -Trey Lucero, 2019 graduate

"I’m Kimberly (aka Kim), I attended Canyon Lake High School from 2012- 2016 and was an Emerald Dancer during those 4 years. My Junior year, I served as Lieutenant of the Emmys and my senior year, I was honored to be Captain. During my time on the Emerald Dancers, I learned the importance of team work and having a strong work ethic. After graduating from CLHS, I attended the University of the Incarnate Word to study nursing. While at UIW I longed for the feeling of sisterhood I experienced as an Emmy and joined Alpha Sigma Tau sorority where I served various leadership positions and eventually served as Chapter President (sound familiar?). I graduated in the height of the infamous pandemic with my Bachelors of Science in Nursing -Magna Cum Laude. Shortly after graduating, I passed my boards and became a registered nurse. Fast forward to right now, I’m working as a Mother/Baby, Newborn, Pediatric RN just north of Ft. Worth, TX (I “catch” babies, it’s pretty cool). Thank you CLHS dance for everything, I wouldn’t be here without you! 🎶If ever a classy girl there was, an Emerald Dancer is one because, because, because, because, becausssseeeee, because of the wonderful things she does🎶" - Kim Feucht, 2016 graduate

"While being part of ballroom I was apart of First Class Ballroom dance team as well as having a duet with Sofia Mings that we won multiple dance competitions with, and later won 3rd at nationals. The program impacted me in many ways that still today I use, with everything from team building to keep a level head under pressure. The friendships that I gained in the program are still apart of me today, especially one had turned into a lifelong relationship- my beautiful wife, Raegan, who was also in ballroom, and just celebrated our 3 year anniversary. After finishing high school and leaving the ballroom program, I joined the United States Navy under a 4 year contract as a Damage Control-man. After multiple deployments, a great big wedding, and 3 1/2 years living in Japan with my wife we moved back home. Today, I work for Eco-soil Stabilizers as a project manager of the one-off rig, with a big nice company truck and a happy life"- Dalton Carson, 2017 graduate

"Hi my name is Brianna McCartney, formerly Rivera. I was an Emerald Dancer all four years of high school (2012-2016) and was on the First Class ballroom team my sophomore through Senior year (2013-2016). My senior year I was so incredibly proud to be chosen as Captain of the First Class ballroom team. These teams shaped so many different parts of me like my discipline, perseverance, leadership and compassion. The Dance program at Canyon Lake high school truly felt like a family and was my comfort zone when I felt like I did not belong anywhere else. By my senior year, this program and Ms. Jenkins’ helped me truly step up as a leader and ignited an even bigger passion in me for dance that led me to move to LA after I graduated to get my commercial dance degree at Relativity school. After 2 years of dancing out in LA I started to get really burnt out so I decided to switch routes and go to massage school at the Southern California Health Institute. Massage was originally going to be my plan B to my dance career but I ended up loving it so much and made it my career. Massage school is also where I met my husband in 2018, which led me to move to Ohio the following year. I have lived in Ohio since July of 2019, got married in the middle of the pandemic on June 19th, 2020 and have been working as a massage therapist since I moved here. I got my birth doula certification in 2020 and now studying under a local midwife to eventually become a midwife. It is absolutely one of the most incredible things I've ever gotten to do. I also just started my own massage therapy and birth doula company at the end of 2021." - Brianna Rivera (maiden name) 2016 graduate

"Hi! I’m Francesca Carle, former CLHS student from 2012-2015. During my time there, my greatest honor was being involved in the most incredible dance program led by two woman, Suzanne Schule and Kara Jenkins(at different times), who’s strong guidance taught me more than they will ever know. I was a member of the First Class Ballroom Dance Team my Sophomore and Senior Years, and an Emerald Dancer from my Sophomore year through graduation. My passion for dance and the team grew very quickly and I became Co-Captain of the Emmy’s for my Junior year, and Captain for my Senior year. Those three years of teamwork, discipline, and leadership taught me how impactful consistent hard work is, and how to show up for others through leading by example and commitment to service - principles that are shaping who I am growing to be in my adult life. Right after high-school, I moved to New York City to peruse my dream of a career in dance. Ultimately, multiple injuries led me to switch gears to a less physical creative pursuit; Interior Design - my second love! I attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC where I earned my Associates Degree in Interior Design, and I have been working in the field ever since. Right before the Covid Pandemic, I moved to Phoenix, Arizona for a change of scenery. Today, I am enjoying designing Air Bnb’s for work, exploring the beautiful desert, expressing myself through painting, and bringing back my dusty dance skills socially and alone in my living room from time to time!"- Francesca Carla, 2015 graduate