FACULTY
JESUS LOPEZ
Kristy O'Connell
Owner/Director
Kristy has been a faculty member of BBA for 40 years. She is proficient in the dance styles of Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, and Tap. Performance experience includes commercials for El Paso and stage productions for Fort Bliss. She has been a TATD member for over twenty-seven years and has served on their board of directors. She is an associate member of both the National Dance Association and the International Tap Association. Kristy has worked with Paula Abudl, Patsy Swayze, and Sherman Hemsley.
Kelsey Hollis
Office Manager
Kelsey has been coming to BBA with her family for twenty-five years and danced at BBA for five years. She assistant managed BBA for two years and has managed BBA for two years. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Media Advertising with a minor in Theatre from UTEP.
Lauren Brooks
Office Assistant
Lauren danced at BBA for fifteen years and has worked at BBA for one year. She is proficient in the dance styles of Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Lyrical, and Jazz. Performance experience includes the Champs Sports Bowl and Universal Studios New Year’s Eve parade (2011). Lauren has a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from NMSU and took Ballroom and West-Coast dance classes while in college.
Gabi Samaniego
Social Media Coordinator
Gabi has danced at BBA for twenty-one years and has worked at BBA for eleven years. She is proficient in the dance styles of Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, and Tap. Performance experience includes Eastwood Saltatrix, the Holiday Bowl (2013), the Valero Alamo Bowl (2016), and Disney Dance the Magic Parades (2018). She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Media Advertising from UTEP.
Bailey Hollis
T E A C H E R S
Ray Alba
Ray has danced at BBA for ten years and has taught at BBA for nine years. He is proficient in the dance styles of Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, and Hip Hop. Performance experience includes NMSU and EPCC concerts, the UTEP dance company, Bailando International Dance Festival, World Dance Alliance Americas regional assembly (2018), the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, American Dance Festival (2017), American College Dance Association (2014-2018) with a special Gala performance (2017). He was the founder/artistic director of FAWNZ Dance Company (2017-2019) and is the founder/associate director of Moon|Collective, a performance art company. Ray is CLI certified, has a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance Performance with an emphasis in Ballet and modern dance, and a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling, both from UTEP.
Aly Baeza
Aly has danced at BBA for twelve years and has taught at BBA for three years. She is proficient in the dance styles of Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, Tap, and Acrobatics. Performance experience includes Eastwood Trooperettes, where she is currently a captain.
Harley Castillo
Harley has danced at BBA for eight years and has taught at BBA for three years. She is proficient in the dance styles of Contemporary, Lyrical, Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, and Acrobatics. Performance experience includes Eastwood Trooperettes Captain and Disney Dance the Magic parade (2024). Harley has a Bachelor’s degree in Education from UTEP. “So then, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and steady. Keep busy always in your work for the Lord, since you know that nothing you do in the Lord’s service is ever useless.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
Nahlur Gurrola
Nahlur has danced at BBA for fifteen years and has taught at BBA for one year. She is proficient in the dance styles of Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, and Tap. Performance experience includes Eastwood Advanced Dance and Disney Dance the Magic parades (2018 & 2024). She is currently working on her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from UTEP.
Bailey Hollis
Bailey has danced at BBA for twenty-five years and has taught at BBA for twelve years. She is proficient in the dance styles of Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, and Tap. Performance experience includes Eastwood Advanced Dance, the Champs Sports Bowl and Universal Studios New Year’s Eve parade (2011), the Valero Alamo Bowl (2016), and Disney Dance the Magic parade (2018). She has directed our dancers for a regional production of Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet (2022) and for a Disney Dance the Magic parade (2024). Bailey is CLI certified and is currently in the process of completing her TATD Certification. She has a Master’s of Education in Curriculum and Instruction focused on Early Childhood from UTEP.
Ivan Marquez
Ivan has danced at BBA for nine years and has taught at BBA for thirteen years. He is proficient in the dance styles of Hip Hop and Latin Ballroom. Performance experience includes various national hip hop competitions, Step It Up Dance Studio, Cause Revolution, and a promotional competition hip hop team out of Semenya Dance Studio, Unified Soul. Ivan has a Bachelor’s degree in Education from UTEP.
Romie Noriega
Romie has danced at BBA for eighteen years and has taught at BBA for four years. She is proficient in the dance styles of Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, Tap, and Hip Hop. Performance experience includes Disney Dance the Magic parades (2018 & 2024). She is working on her Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art Drawing with a minor in Creative Writing from UTEP.
Angel Quiroz
Angel has danced at BBA for sixteen years and has taught at BBA for eight years. She is proficient in the dance styles of Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, and Tap. Performance experience includes Eastwood Trooperettes Leadership, the Valero Alamo Bowl (2021), and Disney Dance the Magic (2018 & 2024). She is working on her Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from UTEP.
Lala Quiroz
Lala has danced at BBA for fifteen years and has taught at BBA for seven years. She is proficient in the dance styles of Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, and Tap. Performance experience includes Eastwood Trooperettes Leadership, the Valero Alamo Bowl (2021), and Disney Dance the Magic (2018 & 2024). She is working on her Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from UTEP.
Erica Salazar
Erica danced at BBA for twenty-six years and has taught at BBA for sixteen years. She is proficient in the dance styles of Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Jazz. Performance experience includes the Alamo Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, Disney Magic Music Days, Knotts Berry Farm, and UTEP basketball halftime show. Erica is a member of TATD, a certified ballet and barre fitness instructor, and holds a BLS certification through American Red Cross. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Psychology from UTEP. She is a mother to three beautiful children.
Mia Velazquez
Mia has danced at BBA for fourteen years and has taught at BBA for five years. She is proficient in the dance styles of Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Lyrical, and Jazz. Performance experience includes the Loretto Dance Team and Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet.
A S S I S T A N T S
Mia Cataldi
Madison Hernandez
Danity Martinez
J R . A S S I S T A N T S
Kaylee Aguero
Abby Chavez
Layla Ortega
Karina Soto
Pictures by Jesus Lopez
