AMY CAIN was born in Jacksonville, Florida and grew up in The Woodlands/Spring area of Texas. Her 20 years of dance training include work with such instructors/choreographers as Wes Veldink, director of The Wes Veldink Movement in New York; Fred Strobel, Clara Cravey, Barbara Bears, Naomi Glass, Caleb Mitchell, and Damien Schwiethale of Houston Ballet; Randall Flinn and Laura Ziegelbauer of Ad Deum Dance Company; Steven Boyd; and Ken McCulloch, Ms. Cain’s personal dance coach and source of inspiration throughout her career. Ms. Cain is currently dancing with Revolve Dance Company, as a guest artist with Dominic Walsh Dance Theater, and part-time with Ad Deum Dance Company. She is also in her twelfth year of partnership in directing NHPA® Dance Studio, and is on staff at Masters, Upper Level in Sugar Land.

DAWN DIPPEL has been dancing most of her life and is now part owner of North Harris Performing Arts, a successful dance studio in Spring, Texas. She has spent much time traveling in and out of Houston working with various instructors including Fred Strobel, Ken McCulloch, Randall Flinn, Priscilla Murphy, Naomi Glass, Clara Cravey, Steven Boyd and Wes Veldink. For the past two years, she has been one of the co-directors, choreographers, and members of Revolve Dance Company, while also doing guest work with Ad Deum Dance Company and Dominic Walsh Dance Theater. Ms. Dippel has spent many years working beside many talented and professional artists which have all been a passionate influence and inspiration through her journey of this art.

MATT DIPEL was born in Houston, Texas and started dance at North Harris Performing Arts®.  After 13 years of training in the arts, Mr. Dippel is now the seventh member to enter into a partnership of eight with NHPA®.  He has worked with such instructors/choreographers as Wes Veldink from the Wes Veldink Movement; Barbara Bears, Naomi Glass, Damien Schwiethale, and Fred Strobel of Houston Ballet; Randall Flinn of Ad Deum Dance Company; and numerous teachers in New York and Los Angeles.  In 2002, Mr. Dippel performed in the magic company at the performing arts center and was offered a contract with Dorothy Day Otis Talent Agency.  Though just starting his career, Mr. Dippel’s choreography has already received top awards at various competitions in and out of Houston.  Currently, he is working with the NHPA® Dance Company, Revolve Dance Company, and Abbot’s Performing Arts Center.

SPENCER GAVIN began his training in Redlands, California, with his mother, Cecilia Hering. After two years at Pacific Northwest Ballet School, he joined Ballet Pacifica in Irvine, California where he danced with great acclaim for three years. Beginning in 1997, Spencer danced extensively with companies on the West Coast including the Redlands Festival Ballet, Pacific Dance Theatre, Pasadena Dance Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Golden State Ballet, San Bernardino Dance Theatre, and West Hawaii Dance Theatre. His repertory includes principal roles by acclaimed choreographers that are both current and iconic. With an eye on a post-dance career, Mr. Gavin took a two-year hiatus to study architecture in college. He returned to dance in 2004, joining Maximum Dance Company in Miami, Florida as a principal dancer and is now a principal artist with Dominic Walsh Dance Theater.

PAOLA GEORGUDIS was born in Santiago, Chile. Her international studies in dance have included modern, jazz, tap, contact improvisation, and ballet. She began her professional dance career in 1986, working with a wide range of companies and choreographers including Karen Connolly Dance Company, Contemporary Santiago Ballet, and Santiago Ballet. She moved to Houston in 1997, and has danced for Sandra Organ Dance Company, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, Ad Deum Dance Company, and Hope Stone, Inc., among others. Ms. Georgudis is a founding member of DWDT and has received praise from critics like Marene Gustin of Dance Magazine who called her “powerful” after DWDT’s inaugural program. Most recently, she was honored as a Critic’s Choice for “Outstanding Female Dancer” in 2005 by Dance Europe for her performance in Walsh’s Bello, and also received praise for her portrayal of Juliet in Walsh’s world premiere Romeo & Juliet. Ms. Georgudis is also a certified Pilates and Gyrotonic® instructor. She enjoys doing voiceover work, practicing yoga, and being part of the Ecstatic Dance Houston community.

DOMENICO LUCIANO from Naples, Italy joined DWDT in 2005 becoming the first company dancer to be hired under full-contract. Having made his American debut with Tulsa Ballet in 2004, Mr. Luciano has studied at the Teatro di San Carlo Ballet School and danced with various companies in Europe including Europadance in France, Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Germany, Teatro Comunale in Florence, and Teatro Dell’Opera in Rome. His repertory includes many of the classical principal leads such as Romeo, Paris, and Benvolio in both Sir Kenneth MacMillan and John Cranko's Romeo & Juliet, Solor in La Bayadere, The Prince in The Nutcracker, Albrecht in Giselle, In the Night by Jerome Robbins, Roland Petit's Ma Pavlova, and Don Jose with the National Ballet of China in Carmen. Mr. Luciano also excels in his contemporary repertoire which includes works by George Balanchine, Nacho Duato, Mauro Bigonzetti, Carole Armitage, Michele Merola, and Dominic Walsh. He culminated his first season with DWDT dancing the challenging role of Tybalt in Walsh's new creation, Romeo & Juliet. In 2003, he received the Leonide Massine award in Positano.

LINDSEY MCGILL graduated from the Houston Ballet Academy under the direction of Ben Stevenson and Clara Cravey. She then danced with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company 2. Since her return to Houston, Ms. McGill has had many wonderful opportunities working with several artists and companies in Houston including Hope Stone, Inc., Freneticore, Amy Ell, Leslie Scates, Daniel Adame, Erin Reck, Michele Brangwen Dance Ensemble, Atton Paul, Dancepatheater, and Psophonia as well as Dominic Walsh Dance Theater. In addition to her dance projects, Ms. McGill is a ballet teacher and Studio Manager at Hope Center.

ANDREA DAWN SHELLEY was born in Miami, Florida and received her classical ballet training from Magda G. Aunon. She studied dance at the University of South Florida, and later graduated from Florida International University with a BA in Dance Education. She began her professional career as a company member with Southern Ballet Theater in Orlando. In 1998, she joined Maximum Dance Company in Miami as a principal artist, dancing principal and soloist roles in premieres throughout Europe and the Americas for seven seasons. Ms. Shelley subsequently became a part-time company member with Miami Contemporary Dance Company. She is currently a principal dancer with Dominic Walsh Dance Theater and performs as a guest artist with the Redlands Festival Ballet Company in California. Ms. Shelley has participated as a choreographer in Ballet Florida’s choreographic workshop, Step Ahead in West Palm Beach; had a work showcased in the 2nd annual Emerging Choreographers Showcase in Miami; and had a work showcased in Miami Contemporary Dance Company’s choreographic workshop, New Works 2006. Ms. Shelley has received numerous awards, most recently being named Best Female Dancer in South Florida for 2004 by the Miami Beach Sun Post.