Tracie Poage, Director and Instructor at Studio 5-6-7-8, is excited to share her knowledge and experience with others! She began her dance training at the age of 4 at Encore! Dance Studios, Inc in Stillwater, Ok. She then went on to teach and choreograph at Encore! while earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Family Relations and Childhood Development at Oklahoma State University.
Tracie was on a nationally ranked Pom squad, a UDA Allstar, and also competed with her studio’s dance company for several years. These experiences influenced her decision to pursue a career in dance education.

She continues to train and and take classes in various genres of dance, acro, injury prevention, and flexibility. She and her team have led several competitive dance groups to regional, state, and national overall awards.
This will be the studio’s 24th season and it continues to grow and provide dance and tumbling/acro education to more than 300 students from Yukon, Mustang, El Reno, Piedmont, Bethany, and Edmond. Tracie loves being part of this community and providing a place for children to move, express themselves, and make friends through Dance.

A native Texan, Cristen received her dance training throughout the Fort Worth metro at Caron Moore Dance Productions, Dian Clough West Dance Studio, and Arlington Heights High School. After high school, Cristen relocated to Oklahoma to receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. She graduated as Class Marshall of the College of Fine Arts and Design for her academic achievements. During college, Cristen began teaching and choreographing for Studio 5-6-7-8, eventually serving as the Assistant Director for multiple years. Cristen was also a five-year member of RACE Dance Collective and served as the Program Manager for RACE The Space, the Collective’s dance studio. In addition to her work in dance, she obtained her Master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Arts Administration at Oklahoma City University.

Currently, Cristen works as a teacher and choreographer at Studio 5-6-7-8, where she works with recreational and competitive dance students. She is also the Director of Dance at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School. She leads the Dance Visions Company for students who are serious about their dance training and seek performance opportunities. Additionally, Cristen will serve as a Creative Director for RACE Dance Collective this season. She hopes to grow and expand her knowledge as a dancer and local professional to better lead and inspire the students she teaches daily.

Joshua Okpara is a versatile and innovative teacher, dancer, and choreographer. Since 2009, he has brought arts education in the form of dance and creative movement to a wide range of populations in Oklahoma through, master classes, workshops, arts camps, staff development sessions, seminars, and guest choreographer positions. As a teaching artist/camp instructor of Oklahoma Contemporary, Joshua believes that individuals learn best through the application of the arts in various formats. He finds great joy in working collaboratively with artists of other mediums to bring multi-faceted arts curriculum to participants of all ages and abilities. Josh has also been teaching at his home studio, Studio 5678 for nine years and counting! In addition to teaching dance at Studio 5-6-7-8, Joshua currently serves as Director of Dance for Generation Why, a nonprofit performing arts organization that uses creative arts such as spoken word, skits, MCing, hip hop dance and freestyle, and motivational speaking that focuses on inspiring kids to find their “Why” and passion so that they are able to move forward in your life. Joshua’s most recent choreography work can be seen in Race Dance Company’s latest show “Illume”. Joshua lives by his daily mantra “If you take care of your passion, your passion will take care of you!”

Gracie Rundle began her dance training in Yukon at Studio 5-6-7-8 when she was 4 years old. She trained in all styles of dance, ballet, tap, hip hop, jazz, pom and contemporary at the studio from the ages 4 to 15. She joined the Yukon High School Pom squad her freshman year of high school. She was a member all four years, and was honored with the Captain position her senior year. When she graduated high school, she joined the Universal Dance Association (UDA) Staff, traveling across the country to teach and choreograph routines for college, high school and middle school dance teams. In her second year of college, she took on the position as Head Coach of the Yukon Middle School Pom Squad. 

 Gracie is currently in her second year of coaching the Yukon Middle School Pom Squad, as well as in her fourth summer of working for UDA. She is very passionate about dance, and plans to create a welcoming, inclusive and positive environment for her dancers.

Heather Bryant rediscovered her love of dance at the University of Central Oklahoma, where she trained in ballet, modern, jazz, tap, and hip hop. While at UCO, Heather performed in and choreographed for several student and senior showcases. Heather has also performed in the Oklahoma Contemporary Dance Festival several years which allowed her to work with guest choreographers from around the United States. To further her dance instructor knowledge, Heather has become certified to teach Acro levels primary-six and continued her acro instructor education with Acrobatic Arts aerial and back handspring workshop. Heather is also certified in Progressing Ballet Technique. Heather absolutely loves teaching children dance at Studio 5678 and hopes to continue instructing as long as she possibly can.

Lisa Woods is best known for her passion for dance and her creative choreography.  She began her training in Houston, Texas at the age of three and became a member of the Beaumont Civic Ballet and Jefferson Jazz company, performing in the Nutcracker, Giselle, and Swan Lake.  These performances earned her a full scholarship to the Joffrey School of Ballet.  Lisa was also awarded a scholarship to Joe Tremaines Dance Studio in LA and moved there at 17 to dance professionally.   She has appeared in television productions, videos and commercials with Paula Abul, Tracy Ulman, Tony Danza, MacDonalds, Adidas, and was the Dance Club Barbie.  Lisa returned to Oklahoma and continued dancing and teaching.  She has taught across the country as the owner of OK-LA Dance Connection and has worked in collegiate dance as well.  She loves inspiring young dancers to fall in love with technique that gives them the sounding board for all types of dance.  She is madly in love with her husband and loves raising her three kids and her chihuahua.