Staff
Stephanie Manuel has owned and operated The Dance Warehouse Inc. for the past 24 years and has been teaching and choreographing for over 3 decades. As a young dancer, Stephanie trained in Louisiana and Florida. During her years in Florida, she was the runner up of Jr. Miss Dance of Florida and was part of Mary Jo’s Performing Arts Company. As she continued to study, she received scholarships to The Edge Performing Arts Center and Tremaine Studios in Los Angeles. Stephanie was also selected as LA DanceMagic Performer of the Weekend. She attended college at The University of Southwestern Louisiana and received a Bachelor of Arts degree. While in college, she was invited to be a part of an LA Showcase with Tony Selznick Productions. Upon graduation, Stephanie opened The Dance Warehouse Inc.
From 1989 to 1991, Stephanie was a member of the nationally ranked St. Thomas More Sparklers. It was during this time that her love and talent for choreographing became apparent. Beginning in 1992, Stephanie began coaching and choreographing for the St. Thomas More Sparklers. She continued to coach and choreograph for The Sparklers for the next 23 years. Under Stephanie’s direction, the Sparklers received 16 national championship titles for jazz and pom. Her success with the Sparklers gave her the opportunity to work with and choreograph for the nationally ranked dance teams of The University of Tennessee, The University of Minnesota, The University of Oklahoma, Hawaii Pacific University, The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Louisiana State University, not to mention many high school dance teams across the country.
Stephanie was a head instructor and choreographer for Universal Dance Association for 12 years and served as the district representative for 6 years. She serves as a judge for UDA College Nationals and other major competitions. In 2012, Stephanie was an ESPN commentator for the UDA College Dance Team Championship.
Owning and operating The Dance Warehouse Inc. has been a dream come true for Stephanie. She teaches all genres of dance and continues to educate herself and her staff by attending teacher workshops and conventions. Stephanie’s students have always been competitors, but in 2013, she officially started the Dance Warehouse Competition Company, also known as DWCC. As the director of DWCC, she has lead her team to many high point overall honors at competitions and her students have won numerous scholarships. In 2019, DWCC was awarded 3 National Championship titles at The Streetz Nationals. Dance Warehouse was also awarded Top Choreography at the Nationals event.
Stephanie and her husband, Garrett, are the proud parents of their 17 year old twins, Jaxon and Chloe. Mostly, Stephanie is committed to teaching the art of dance and enjoys the energy of her students while giving quality instruction. She believes that at The Dance Warehouse, not only do you learn how to dance, but you learn dedication, how to be a team player, and how to be kind to one another.
Lori Giglio Carter was a student and assistant teacher at The Dance Warehouse in 1997 and began teaching in 1999. After moving away for several years, she was excited to rejoin The Dance Warehouse staff in 2003. She was a member of the nationally ranked St. Thomas More Sparkler Dance Team from 1993—1997, during which the team obtained six first place national titles. Lori was a member of the Universal Dance Association staff for four years, where she taught and choreographed for various high schools throughout the country. She attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where she obtained a degree in Accounting in 2001 and became a CPA in 2002. Lori has been working at Stuller, Inc. since 2003, where she is currently the Executive Director, Financial Controller. She and her husband, Shawn, have two daughters, Izzy and Callie. Callie is a student at Dance Warehouse and a talented member of the Dance Warehouse Competition Company (DWCC). Izzy’s passion is in sports such as basketball, track, and cross country. While juggling careers and family life, Lori and Shawn find great joy in sharing their passions of dance and music with their children. Similarly, Lori aspires to share her knowledge and love of dance with all the students she teaches. Her favorite quote, "We never learn so well as when we teach", has been reinforced after her many years of dancing and teaching.
Alexis has been dancing since the age of two. She started with Dance Warehouse in 2005. She then became an assistant in 2010. She has attended numerous conventions where she has been privileged to train under various world renowned teachers. After moving away for a few years she’s very excited to be back with the Dance Warehouse Staff. She is an alumni of St. Thomas Moore high school and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She also is an active alumna in Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority. While Alexis enjoys her love for the dental field as an Administrator for Theriot Family Dental Care, she’s excited to express her love for dancing with those who are eager to learn and to increase their love for dance!
Stefani is a lifelong native of Lafayette Louisiana, where she has taken dance for over 23 years and has taught at Dance Warehouse going on 9 years. In high school, Stefani was a member of the nationally ranked St. Thomas More Sparkler Dance Team, earning 2 national titles. Then, while earning her bachelors in Business Marketing with a concentration in sales, she was a two-year member of the Nationally Ranked University of Louisiana Ragin’ Jazz dance team and served as Captain during her second year. Upon graduating in the Spring of 2014, Stefani continued to follow her passion and pursued a career in dance. In addition to teaching at Dance Warehouse, she is the head coach for the University of Louisiana Ragin’ Jazz Dance Team. Stefani is also employed by Universal Dance Association (UDA) and International Cheer Union (ICU), for which she travels around the US and the World teaching and choreographing for high schools, colleges and competitive dance teams. So far she has traveled to more than a dozen countries where she has either taught, choreographed or judged internationally. Dance is a major part of Stefani’s life and she plans to continue dancing and teaching for as long as possible. She enjoys working with kids and her excitement is shown through her passionate and energetic personality.
Natalie has been a student of dance for over 19 years. At age 11, she began her dance training at The Dance Warehouse Inc. She has been awarded numerous dance convention scholarships over the past years. Natalie was a member of the National Champions St. Thomas More Sparklers from 2003-2007. In her Senior year, Natalie served as Captain of the squad. She has worked for Universal Dance Association where she taught high school dance teams across the country. Through UDA, she has choreographed for Louisiana schools. From 2007-2013 she coached and choreographed for the Cougar Dance Team at STM. Since 2007, Natalie has been assisting and teaching at The Dance Warehouse Inc. Her love of dance shines through in her performances and in the teaching of her students.
Jessica Henke is currently in her 27th year of teaching dance. She is a certified member of Dance Masters of America and Louisiana Association of Dance Masters. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1993 and was a member of the Ragin’ Jazz Dance Team for four years, serving as captain and choreographer for 2 years. She was a dance instructor for Universal Dance Association for seven years, traveling across the U.S., as well as internationally, teaching high school and college cheer and dance teams. For five years, she performed on the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon and the National Dance Team Championship, representing UDA. Jessica was also the coach and choreographer for the Lafayette High School Dance Team for nine years and has choreographed for several area high school dance teams. She was the Assistant Artistic Director of Jazz Extensions Dance Company and Classical Connections of Louisiana where she choreographed and performed for numerous Mardi Gras Balls and industrial shows. She attended Ballet West Summer Dance Intensive, and has studied with numerous teachers including, Lou Conte, Joseph Giocobbe, Bill Hastings, Bill Hotaling, and Finis Jhung. Jessica has broadened her love for teaching and is currently a second grade teacher at St. Edward Catholic School in New Iberia. Jessica lives in Lafayette with her husband, Roger, and their two children, Riley and Avery. Jessica loves learning and nurturing the untapped potential of every child she meets.
Camryn began dancing at Dance Warehouse when she was 2 years old. She was a member of the Dance Warehouse Competition Company from its inception. She has attended numerous conventions and national competitions throughout her years with Dance Warehouse. She is a graduate of Comeaux High School and is in her Junior year at University of Louisiana, Lafayette. She is majoring in Marketing. Camryn is an active member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority. Her passion for dance has always surpassed everything else in her life. She loves to share that passion with her students, other instructors, and the rest of the Dance Warehouse family.
Samantha has been dancing since the age of two and joined DW as a student in 2002. Starting in 2011, Samantha became an assistant helping classes of all ages. She attended Lafayette High where she was a part of the Performing Arts Academy. She was also a part of the dance team for three years, serving as Captain her Senior Year. She was an instructor for UDA (Universal Dance Association) from 2015-2020 where she traveled teaching dance teams around the country, judging competitions, and working UDA Nationals. She is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, majoring in Marketing with a concentration in Business Law. While attending UL for Undergrad, she was an active member of Kappa Delta Sorority and was a member of the Ragin’ Jazz Dance Team her senior year. She recently graduated in May with her Masters in Business Administration with a concentration of Entrepreneurship. She now works for the Boys and Girls Club as their Outreach Coordinator here in Lafayette. Samantha is also going into her second year of coaching the Gator Jazz Dance Team at Ascension Episcopal High School. They were recently titled as Pom National Champions at DTU Nationals in April 2021. She is excited to continue her love of teaching to all of her students as she wishes to inspire them as much as they inspire her.
Ashley Trett Lombas began dancing her sophomore year at Lafayette High School where she served as captain of the dance team her senior year. After graduating high school in 1999, Ashley joined the Universal Dance Association, where she was a member for 4 years, served as Head Instructor her last 2 years, and choreographed for the association her final year. She joined the Dance Warehouse in 2001 then began teaching in 2003. Ashley attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. She is currently employed as an Administrative Supervisor for AGI Packaged Pump Systems and is also an Independent Beauty Guide for LimeLife by Alcone. Ashley lives in Lafayette with her husband, Lane and their two children, Luke and Leni. Ashley’s approach to teaching is full of energy and passion which makes her students excited and eager to learn.
Andree joined the Dance Warehouse as a student in 1996 and has been a part of the Dance Warehouse staff since 2001. Committed to expanding her dance education, Andree has attended regional and national dance conventions for the past ten years, where she takes class from top choreographers. Andree attended Lafayette High School where she was a part of the Gifted and Talented program, and graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She became a registered nurse in 2006 , and she is currently employed at Southern Oral and Facial Surgery, in New Iberia. Andree is skilled in the art of interacting with young children which only adds to her love of teaching dance. She enjoys passing on her love of dance to her students through her positive attitude. Dance has always and will always be a part of Andree's life.
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Brianne (Bri) , a native of Lafayette, Louisiana, began her movement training 21 years ago. She is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, modern, contemporary, gymnastics, acrobatics, and ballroom (smooth and rhythm) dance. She is a 2007 graduate of Lafayette High School. During her high school years she was a member 2 nationally ranked dance teams, including Teurlings Catholic for 2 years and Lafayette High for 2 years. She has been awarded many scholarships from LA Dance Magic, Jump, and Odyssey dance companies, including LA Dance Magic State Magic Performer, LA Dance Magic National Magic Performer Finalist, a full year scholarship to LA Dance Magic Competitions/Conventions, and a two-week scholarship at the performing arts studio in Los Angeles, CA. She was a member of the Universal Dance Association’s staff from 2007-2009. Bri continued her dance training and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in spring of 2011 as a Dance Cognate and Speech minor. During her time at MTSU, she was member of the MT Lightning Dance Team, crowned Miss Middle Tennessee Blue Raider, Miss Tennessee Contestant, a member of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, a member of Core Project Chicago Dance Company, and a member of the MTSU Dance Theatre Company. Her enrollment in the MTSU Dance Company has given her many opportunities such as performing an original Alwin Nikolais work Pond during the “Sharing the Legacy” celebration in New York. During the 2010-2011 school year she traveled with the MTSU Dance Theatre Company to Chicago to perform in Bonesbare 4 with Core Project Chicago, and also to New York to participate in the centennial celebration of Alwin Nikolais. She was a member of Core Project Chicago and has traveled to Chicago, IL for Bonesbare 4 (Fall 2010), and traveled to Boulder, CO for the annual Fringe Festival (Summer 2010). Bri was also a part of the professional staff at National Dance Clubs teaching ballroom dance in genres such as waltz, tango, foxtrot, swing (push pull, east coast, west coast), bolero, rumba, samba, salsa, mambo, cha cha, merengue, and viennese waltz. Upon returning home to Lafayette, Bri found her home here at the Dance Warehouse, and also is also the current dance team coach for Southside High School.
Bio Coming soon!
Madison is a New Orleans native that began dancing at the age of three. After moving to Lafayette due to Hurricane Katrina, she found her home at Dance Warehouse where she has been a student since 2013 and an assistant since 2017. She was a member of the Dance Warehouse Competition Company through which she received numerous scholarships and awards at regional conventions and competitions. She was a performing arts student at Lafayette High School where she was a member of the dance team during the 2014-2015 school year. Madison is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, majoring in Business Management. In college, Madison has maintained a 4.0 GPA and received annual scholarships from UL’s Moody III College of Business Administration. She is an active member of the Epsilon Beta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated where she holds position as treasurer. She was also a member of the Ragin’ Jazz Dance Team for 3 years. She served as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative for the team in her last year. Madison has always had a passion for dance that shows through her performances and dedication to the art. She is excited to share this passion with her students.
Katie has been teaching at the Dance Warehouse for the past 18 years. She attended St. Thomas More Catholic High School, where she was a member of the nationally ranked Sparklers dance team. During her senior year she served as Treasurer, and the team obtained two first place national titles in Pom and Jazz. She attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s School of Architecture and Design and graduated in 2005 with a Degree in Interior Design. She currently works for the Professional Engineering firm, Randall J Hebert & Associates, Inc. Katie has also been fortunate enough to continue her dance education over the summers by traveling with Stephanie to various cities across the nation, such as New York and Las Vegas. She has studied at the Broadway Dance Center and has attended the Dance Teacher Summit and various national dance conventions. It is her goal to share all of the knowledge and passion she has acquired about dance with every child she teaches. Her classroom is always filled with smiles and encouragement.
