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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!”
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.
Meredith Jacob began her dance training at age 9 in her home state of Georgia. She trained at Into the Light Ballet studio for 9 years in ballet, modern, contemporary, and tap, and taught for two years. She performed in several states with Project Dance, a community of dancers seeking to positively impact culture through artistic integrity. At age 16, she choreographed and performed a video solo to song “Oh My Soul” for Casting Crowns’ The Very Next Thing tour. She directed, choreographed, and performed with the Thrive dance team at Eagles Landing FBC. After graduating high school, she relocated to Oklahoma to join Arrows International — a professional dance company that uses artistry as a tool to spread the gospel.
Meredith is currently in her second year with the company, and has performed in tours across the US and internationally including Costa Rica, Peru, and New Zealand, with upcoming performances in India and Japan this season. She has taught workshops in each destination in styles ranging from ballet and contemporary to jazz and musical theater, and has created choreography for Arrows International’s repertoire. She is performing this season in The Promise, a large scale production in Glen Rose, Texas. Her passion is to use the art of dance to speak into the hearts of others, and plans to continue engaging new cultures internationally. Her goal is to create a safe, encouraging environment for students to grow in creativity, expression, skill, and joy.
Ellie (she/her) is originally from San Antonio, Texas, with a life long history of performing. Her dance background varies from Mexican Folklorico to cheer-leading, to Musical Theater. Other styles she has done include hip hop, contemporary, ballet, tap, and jazz. Performing and creating works that move from a place of purpose and community while creating a culture of consent and safety are some of her passions, no matter which project she is working on. She is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma with a degree in Musical Theatre, and is currently working towards her 200 hour yoga certification. She is also continuing her journey in Intimacy Direction training while cultivating a sense of consent and safety within each artistic process.
One of her communities is within the YMCA where she was able to create a program for school age kids called Musical Fitness, encouraging kids to get up and move! Ellie has choreographed for some local productions of Footloose, Beauty and the Beast, and Ghost the Musical. Some of her favorite performance credits include LIZZIE and American Idiot! Ellie is stoked to share her passion for art and expression at Studio 5678!
Ciera Richardson is a born and raised Oklahoma City Native and 2022 Graduate of Piedmont High School, where she was a 4 year member of the Varsity POM Squad. She has grown in her love of Acrodance from her early training as a gymnast, which she began at age 5 and competed in for 4 years, before turning to cheer, tumbling and eventually dance after making the PHS POM Squad. Her gymnastics background built a grace and endurance that helped her to make the team, even though she had no formal dance training to that point.
Always one to work hard and put her all into her team, Ciera excelled and fell in love with dance. Missing the Acro element in the studio where she began her study, Ciera moved to Studio 5-6-7-8 two years ago to join the Acro classes and became a member of the Senior Hip Hop and Jazz Company Teams. She got her certification to instruct the Acrodance style she thrives in, so she can share her passion and she cannot wait to help the Studio 5-6-7-8 students gain strength, endurance and excel in dance!
Sam is originally from the Baltimore, Maryland area. She began her formal dance training at the age of three, progressing through the Royal Academy of Dance curriculum for ballet while also training in Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz, Contemporary, and Musical Theatre at a competitive level. In addition to her studio training Sam also trained in tap with the Chicago Human Rhythm Project with some of her idols such as Randy Skinner, Dianne Walker, Lane Alexander, and Michelle Dorrance to name a few. Sam began teaching at the age of 14, providing instruction in studios and managing dance classes at her high school. Eventually, she was given artistic control over the school’s musicals where she was awarded best choreography in a high school production out of all schools in Maryland. Sam continued her passion of teaching at Oklahoma City University as a Dance Pedagogy major. During her 4 years there she performed with the American Spirit Dance Company in their Home for The Holidays and Spring Shows, worked numerous backstage and management jobs, and worked in the Community Dance Center. Choosing to remain in Oklahoma, Sam continues to teach dance, travel and choreograph for dance studios throughout the United States.
Addison Bodine graduated from Yukon High School and is continuing her studies at OCCC. She started dancing at the age of three and started dancing at Studio 5-6-7-8 when she was just six years old. She has trained in many styles of dance including jazz, pom, musical theatre, hip-hop, contemporary, and ballet. She was on the varsity pom team for Yukon High School for four years. This will be her first year teaching and sharing her passion for dance at Studio 5-6-7-8.
Triniti Bodine grew up in Yukon, Ok and graduated high school in 2018. Triniti started dancing at Everything Goes dance studio at the age of three and then continued her training at Studio 5678 in the year of 2011. Triniti has been teaching and choreographing recreational and company classes for 4 years now. She is very excited and eager to continue her time teaching to young dancers!
Sarena has danced at Studio 5-6-7-8 since she was four years old and joined the competitive team at the age of eleven. Through out her many years of dancing she has trained in many different styles, such as ballet, point, pom, jazz, contemporary, acro and tap. This will be her fourth year assisting and teaching at Studio 5-6-7-8 and is excited to continue to show her students the love she has for dance in hopes to grow their love for dance as well
Emma has been dancing with Studio 5678 since she was 2 years old. She joined the studio’s company team when she was 7. Emma started assisting at the studio 3 years ago. She was dance captain of the Mustang JV pom team her freshman year and is currently on Mustang’s varsity pom team! Emma also auditioned and was selected to be part of the NDA All American team. She has trained in many different styles of dance. She loves getting to share her love and passion for dance with young dancers and always strives to be the best example and leader as a teacher!
Sarah is starting her 10th year of dancing here at the studio, and has even received the Brittanie Montgomery Dance Scholarship. This is Sarah’s 3rd year teaching and assisting at the studio. In the future she hopes to still be teaching and to possibly be dancing professionally.
