Earle Cobb Dance Studio
Carolyn Gresham
Dena Mabry
Owner/ Director
Earle Cobb Dance Studio
Teaching Staff Biographies
Dena holds a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance from Oklahoma City University. She danced for Norwegian Cruise Lines, and for Crystal Cruises in Japan and Australia. Dena also performed at Opryland in Nashville, TN and in four separate shows at Fiesta Texas. Dena has also had the privilege of performing with tap dancing legends including Sandman Sims, Charles Honi Coles, and Gregory Hines. Dena has choreographed all over the country for industrials, musicals, concerts, and symphonies. Dena is a former Miss San Antonio and is currently the Co- director of the North East School of the Arts, where she created the Dance Curriculum. She has been teaching at NESA since the school opened. She is the founder and Director of “Dena’s Dazzlers”. Dena is proud to continue the legacy of her Mother and Grandfather in fostering a love of dance at the studio and throughout San Antonio.
Gloria "GL" Liu
Gloria “GL” Liu is thrilled to beworking back at the studio where she grew up! Gloria received a BA from the University of Texas at Austin. Her career in the performing arts spans over many decades and productions. She has served as a producer, director, stage/production manger, choreographer and oldest living chorus girl. GL has worked on the stages of the San Pedro Playhouse main stage and Cellar Theatre, Cameo Theatre, Harlequin Dinner Theatre, Colonies Theatre, Church Dinner Theatre, The Josephine Theatre, Casa Manana in Ft. Worth, Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theatre in Fresno, CA, McAllister Fine Arts Center, NESA, St. Philip’s College’s Watson Fine Arts Center, UTSA’s Downtown Theatre and the Alamodome. In addition to her bookkeeping/tapping studio job, she does a little Zumba & Aqua Fitness to stay upright. GL wishes to congratulate Dena on the NEW studio! She is proud to be part of the Earle Cobb Team.
David Hernandez
David Hernandez, a native of San Antonio, TX, started his career on the KLRN/PBS television show Cat Paws for over 10 seasons under the direction of Grammy award nominee, Lee Towell. The show offered him many opportunities such as performing for George and Laura Bush and alongside Tejano singer Patsy Torres. David also appeared on an episode of Zoom, and worked with David Newell from Mister Rogers Neighborhood. David is a proud graduate of the North East School of the Arts (NESA), which at the time, was the only performing arts high school in San Antonio. After high school, David continued his education as a dance major at Point Park University in Pittsburgh. During his time at Point Park, he performed in many stage productions including The Snow Queen, Pittsburgh Connections, and Dance With Me, to name a few. After college, David returned to Texas to pursue a career in dance education and to share his passion of dance with students from all over the state. Over the span of his 12 year professional career, David has performed and choreographed for the San Antonio Spurs halftime shows, the University of Texas Dance Team, the San Antonio Symphony, Luminaria Arts Festival, and was a company member of the San Antonio Jazz Ensemble. He was also a featured dancer in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s annual conference performing for a crowd of over 60,000 people. David is in high demand by dance teams all over Texas and has choreographed countless regional and national championship routines. In addition to his award winning routines, David works closely with dance teams across the Lone Star State by providing dance intensives, master classes/workshops, and private lessons. David enjoys teaching at dance conventions with Crowd Pleasers Dance and Elevate Dance. David is excited to be starting his 12th year teaching with Earle Cobb and working with Dena’s Dazzlers.
Marisa Barrera
Marisa is a San Antonian, born and raised, and proud member of the Earle Cobb staff! She is a graduate of the North East School of the Arts, class of 2019, as well as Northwest Vista College with an Associates of Arts in Mexican American Studies. During her time at NESA, Marisa performed in shows such as The Phantom of the Opera, EVITA, CHICAGO and Newsies. Now a student at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Marisa is finishing a bachelors degree in Mexican American Studies with plans to teach ethnic studies in San Antonio public schools.
Meli Rosin
Meli Rosin is a graduate from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a degree in Finance. She is currently a Financial Planning Specialist. She has been dancing since the age of 3 and was a member of Dena's Dazzlers since she was 8 years old. Dancing has been in Meli's family since her great great grandpa, Earle Cobb. She has performed in many events including Steppin' into the Holidays, Footnotes, Spurs games, and a Google commercial.
Mady Wulf
Mady has been a proud member of the Earle Cobb family since she was six years old, as well as competing in “Dena’s Dazzlers” for 7 years and assisting for 4 years. She’s a recent Summa Cum Laude graduate from LEE High-school where she was a part of the North East School of the Arts dance department. She will be attending the University of San Antonio (UTSA) this coming fall, majoring in the liberal arts and hoping to pursue nursing in the future. Her performing experience includes multiple Spurs performances, Steppin’ into the Holidays, Footnotes and more!
Carolyn holds a Bachelor of Science in Dance Management from Oklahoma City University. She danced with the American Spirit Dance Company as well as in many industrials, conventions, and national events. Carolyn has performed and taught workshops in Spain, France, and around the U.S. Carolyn is a certified dance teacher at the secondary level and is currently the Co-Director of the Dance Department at the North East School of the Arts. She is also thrilled to be teaching at Earle Cobb Dance Studio and working with Dena's Dazzlers!
Sam Payne
Sam has been dancing since the age of 6. He holds a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance Performance from Oklahoma City University. He was selected to perform with the American Spirit Dance Company and was a featured performer in Home for the Holidays for many years. His choreography was featured in A Perfect Ten Choreography Show, Kiss Me Kate and his work has been seen all over the United States. He has also performed in Oklahoma’s Centennial Spectacular alongside Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, and Kelli O'Hara. He performed in Branson, MO with Andy Williams and in musical productions of Beauty and the Beast, Music Man, and Wizard of Oz, just to name a few. He is excited to be sharing his passion for dance with his students and the Earle Cobb dance family again this year. Sam has been teaching at Earle Cobb and working with "Dena's Dazzlers" since 2011.
Sarah Anderson
Sarah is excited to be back in the studio where she grew up and was one of the original Dazzlers! Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from The University of Texas at Austin and a Masters in Education from Southern Methodist University. She taught dance in Plano and Richardson and was a dance team director/assistant for 10 years at Plano East and Lake Highlands HS respectively. She grew up in San Antonio and graduated from Clark HS, where she was Captain of the Top Cat Dance Team. She currently teaches English II and Rhetoric at Churchill HS and is proud to have her daughter enrolled at the studio and be one of the newest members of the superb Earle Cobb dance family!
Cassidy Miller
Cassy started attending Earle Cobb after moving to San Antonio in 2002, and was an assistant teacher as soon as she was eligible. In high school, she was on the Top Cat varsity dance team and was a co captain her senior year as well as a substitute teacher here at the studio. She went on to Texas State University in San Marcos to study Biology and minor in Chemistry, where she was a member of the world famous Texas State Strutters dance team, and getting appointed to line officer after her first year. She helped bring tap dancing back to Strutters and continues to be their tap choreographer. She graduated after three years and now is back at the studio to have her own classes. Cassy is super excited to be home because Earle Cobb is her family!
Kara Van Delden
Kara Van Delden is an honors graduate of Oklahoma City University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Dance Management. She is also a dance major graduate of North East School of the Arts. Upon graduation from OCU, she traveled throughout Alaska, Canada, Central America, South America and Antarctica as an employee of Holland America Cruise Lines. She grew up dancing at Earle Cobb since the age of 5 and is so happy to be back teaching! Kara can’t wait for another fun year here at Earle Cobb Dance Studio!
Shelby Ward
Shelby Ward is a performer, teacher, & choreographer from San Antonio, TX. She attended the North East School of the Arts as a Dance and Musical Theater Major and went on to attend Oklahoma City University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Performing Arts degree. Shelby has performed as a featured dancer onboard the Crown and Emerald Princess cruise ships sailing the Caribbean sea. She has most recently been seen on stage in 'Cabaret' with San Antonio Broadway Theatre and in 'A Chorus Line' at the Woodlawn Theatre. Shelby is looking forward to sharing her love of dance with the students at ECDS this year!
Anisah Montilla
Anisah is a recent graduate of St.Mary’s University with a Bachelors of Science in Biology. She began her dancing career at age 14 and was a former student of Earle Cobb Dance Studio. She has dance competition, performance, and audition experience. Anisah trained at the Texas location of the Olympic Training Sites to be certified through USA Gymnastics to become a professional Junior Olympic coach for acrobatic gymnastics. Her students have gone to win top positions during dance and gymnastics competitions, winning national and world championships, and even performing on Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions along side the final four. She has experience teaching all ages beginning at 18 months to adults. She has a passion for teaching and children and is on her way to a career in neonatology. Anisah is excited to be back at Earle Cobb and continue the journey as not only a student but a teacher as well.
Mandy Correa
Mandy is very excited to be at Earle Cobb dance studio for her second year! Mandy attended Kilgore College and was a member of the World Famous Kilgore College Rangerettes. As a Rangerette, She performed at the Texas State Society Black tie & Boots Ball in Washington D.C as well as being a feature group in the 2004 Presidential Inaugural Parade. Going back to my home town, she danced for the San Antonio Spurs as a Silver Dancer. While she was an NBA dancer for five seasons she traveled and danced internationally. During her time as a Silver Dancer she held a captain position for two seasons. She has had the privilege of teaching and choreographing for numerous dance teams throughout San Antonio and surrounding areas and is thrilled to be sharing her love and knowledge of dance. Her greatest accomplishments are her two beautiful children, one of which is a dance student at Earle Cobb Dance Studio. It brings her great joy to watch her daughter learn and dance at a studio with such prestigious legacy.
Sage Duncan
Sage Duncan is excited to be teaching at her 2nd home, Earle Cobb Dance Studio! She began dancing at Earle Cobb at the age of 3 and is going into her 12th year with Dena’s Dazzlers! She is currently a Senior at NESA (North East School of the Arts) as a dance major, where she was showcased in Steppin’ into the Holidays and Footnotes. She has participated in a variety of dance intensives such as Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Dancers Inc., and Dance Olympus. Through her years in Competitions and Conventions, Sage has received scholarships from Organizations such a Dallas Black Dance Theater, Encore Dance, Stage One, and Danza. She hopes to continue on her dance journey in the future!
Ivette Logan
Maeve Armand
Maeve has been a part of the Earle Cobb family since she was three and was a part of “Dena’s Dazzlers” for eleven years. She is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the North East School of the Arts where she was a dance major. She has performed in various productions at NESA such as Mary Poppins, Steppin’ Into the Holidays, Footnotes: A Concert of Dance, and Newsies. Maeve is currently attending Trinity University where she is majoring in History and minoring in Education. Maeve is so excited to start another year of teaching at Earle Cobb Dance Studio!
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Hayley Wilhelm
Hayley Wilhelm is very excited to be joining the Earle Cobb Dance Studio teaching staff this year! She is a graduate of Oklahoma City University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dance and Arts Management. She grew up dancing at Earle Cobb and was a part of Dena’s Dazzlers for many years. She also attended the North East School of The Arts as a dance major. For the last several years, Hayley has been performing professionally all over the country. She has performed at the Music Theater of Wichita, been a background actor on several TV series in Los Angeles, and performed at the International Mary Kay Cosmetics Convention. Most recently, she spent the last six years in Orlando performing at both Universal Studios and at SeaWorld Orlando. She enjoyed performing in many different shows at both parks, but her favorites include the Superstar Parade, Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular, and Electric Ocean. She currently performs at SeaWord San Antonio. Hayley is so happy to be back at Earle Cobb and can’t wait for a fantastic year ahead!
Ivette Logan is an instructor, performer, and choreographer from San Antonio, Texas. She has earned her Bachelors of Fine Arts in dance with a focus in performance and choreography from Texas State University in December of 2021. During her time at Texas State participated in community outreach through dance with organization Cim Teya, a touring ensemble for young audiences. Ivette was also president of hip-hop organization IBA.
Both during and after her time at Texas State, Ivette has performed and showcased with the hip-hop organization/company Countdown Studio. She has most recently been seen on stage with CODA, a contemporary dance collective based out of San Antonio.
Ivette is excited to begin her first year sharing her passion for dance at Earle Cobb.