LISA WESTBAY
Lisa Westbay has 13 years’ experience choreographing and teaching dance to students of all ages. Her training background is in jazz, drill team technique, contemporary, musical theatre, hip hop, and 10 years in gymnastics. Her dance specialties include Acro, Jazz, Contemporary, Pom, Kick, and Novelty. Her competition choreography routines have received accolades for Best Choreography, Platinum Awards, and provided dance teams the opportunity to rank in the top 10 at regional and national dance competitions. Lisa has worked for American Dance/Drill Team since 2009 as a competition judge, routine supervisor for summer camp curriculum, and as a dance camp instructor. Lisa’s recent onstage dance experience was at the Hype Choreographers Showcase.
Lisa received her master’s degree in communication disorders from University of Texas at Dallas in 2015 and pursued a career as a medical speech-language pathologist. Specializing in adult cognitive-communication disorders and working alongside physical and occupational therapists in neurological rehabilitation, Lisa has a unique background and knowledge of the brain-body connection, the importance of body mechanics-awareness, and communication techniques to improve overall physical health and reduce the risk of injury.
Lisa graduated from the University of Oklahoma, where she served as President of the OU Sooner Dance Company (renamed OU Elite Dance Team) and choreographed and performed for multiple on and off-campus events. As an OU student, she trained with endowed professor of musical theatre-dance, Lyn Cramer, and in modern/contemporary technique with former Alvin Ailey Dancer, Derrick Minter.
During her high school dance career, Lisa served as Captain of the Vines High School Vikettes under the direction of Gabrielle Fulbright, and Captain of the Plano Senior High School Planoettes, where they won their first National Champions-Super Division Award in 2009 under the direction of Meredith Walraven. Lisa also placed as a top soloist with her self-choreographed routine at the American Dance/Drill Team National Championships.
She is excited to join the Centre for Dance family and follow her passion to teach, dance, and inspire others to live a happy and healthy lifestyle. Lisa loves traveling with her husband and college-sweetheart, Ben, and spending time with her snuggly, energetic German shepherds, Echo and Sierra.