RAISING THE BARRE DANCE STUDIO
It began as a “vision” to Executive Director Lena Smith. To be able to minister to children through praise and worship, and to offer parents a Christian based alternative to Performing Arts. Her vision was truly a gift from God. In 2004 she established Frisco’s first Christian-based Dance Studio.
Lena has always had a passion for the arts and a special love for children. She believes that every child possesses the ability to bring beautiful worship to God through dance.
“For great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise” 1 Chron. 16:25
Raising The Barre’s Mission is to provide a positive, inspirational, and artistically nurturing environment for each child. Prayers and scripture readings are a integral part of our curriculum. To provide professional training taught by instructors with strong technical dance background who enjoy working with our young students, who truly love the Lord, and who believe that Christ is indeed the head of our lives.
MS. MARQUITA
Marquita was born in Los Angeles, CA and raised in Houston, TX. Her dance career began in high school when she auditioned and joined the Alief Jazz Ballet Dance Company. While there, Marquita trained in hip hop, tap, ballet, modern, lyrical, and jazz dance. She then went on to attend Sam Houston State University, where she danced with the Sam Houston State Dance Department. She choreographed and performed in several shows, and also created her own dance company and produced two productions. Her career highlights include performing in and or traveling to Buenos Aires, Cor Doba, Amsterdam, Cairo, Giza, and over Dana Nicolay, Kista Tucker, Loris Beckles, Tommy Defrantz, Randall Flinn, and Jeniffer Pontius. Marquita is currently pursuing her Master's in Fine Arts at Dallas Baptist University and she hopes to continue her research and publish in the next few years. Marquita is also the Artistic director of Infusion Dance Ensemble. She lives in McKinney with her husband, Daniel, a Children's Pastor at Collin Creek Community Church in Plano, TX.
NX LEVEL URBAN HIP HOPRAISING THE BARRE IS EXCITED TO BRING YOU NXLEVEL. NXLEVEL IS A FAST RISING DANCER/CHOREOGRAPHER LIVING IN THE DALLAS/FW METROPLEX AREA. THIS URBAN HIP HOP DANCER/CHOREOGRAPHER HAS CHOREOGRAPHED AND PERFORMED IN SHOWS SUCH AS DESTINY'S CHILD, T-PAIN, CHAMILLIONAIRE, YOUNG JOC, KAYO, AVANT AS WELL AS LOCAL ARTISTS FROM THE DALLAS AREA. NXLEVEL'S DANCE EXPERIENCE WITH DANCE TEAMS, MONSTERS OF HIP HOP SCHOLARSHIPS IN 08 & 09, INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED RECORDING ARTISTS, WORLD CLASS CHOREOGRAPHERS, TOURS AND TELEVISION HAS FURTHER FUELED HIS PASSION TO GIVE BACK TO OTHERS THROUGH THE GIFT OF DANCE. A YOUNG SPIRIT FILLED CHRISTIAN, HE WORKS WITH YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO GLORIFY GOD THROUGH DANCE.
MS. KENYA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTORKenya began her career in Texarkana at Dixie Splawn School of Dance, Kenya has been dancing since the age of 3 and began performing at a young age for various events in Texarkana as well as the Texarkana Community Ballet. She attended the University of North Texas where she continued learning advanced ballet while earning a Bachelor degree in Business Administration. Versed in classical techniques such as Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Flamenco, and Musical Theater, Kenya has since been choreographing, performing and instructing around the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex for various special events, conventions and is a member of several dance teams and dance companies in Dallas. Ms. Lockett has received technical instruction by Dance Masters from companies such as the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Dance Theater of Harlem, Alvin Ailey, and Debbie Allen Studios just to name a few. Kenya is currently a 1st company member of Happy Nia Dance Theater.
