Dance Faculty
Amy Muffley
Amy Muffley's formal training is rooted classical ballet, jazz, and tap. She has traveled over the past 30+ years and gained a broad foundation of training from master teachers all over the world, such as; Al Gilbert, Doug Caldwell, Roland Dupree, Joe Tremaine, Jackie Slight, Laura Fremont, Keith Clifton, and Savion Glover. Amy continues to stay abreast of the dance world with yearly conventions, workshops and continuing education. The dance world is an ever changing and exciting world.
She opened Dance Elite after creating and building the elementary dance magnet program at Milam Elementary Fine Arts Magnet in Odessa, Tx and teaching dance/director of the Golden Girls dance team at Midland High School, Midland, Tx. Amy has taught various master classes and workshops for numerous studios, dance teams, gymnastics programs, dance conventions, school districts, special needs dance programs, and Expressive Arts Therapy groups. She was the resident choreographer for Robert E. Lee Choirs for 22 years. Amy has choreographed for various theatrical productions, dance companies, UTPB, and Texas Association Teachers of Dance. Her choreography and dancers have won numerous Regional/National awards, and have received scholarships to college and intensive dance trainings all over the country.
Amy has been asked by Third Future Charter School to teach dance in the public school system and help develop students physically and mentally at Sam Houston Elementary 2021-2023 and Lamar Elementary 2023-current. It is great that this charter sees the benefits that dance can have students learning abilities. She is thrilled to bring dance to these students in Midland during the day.
Her performing career spans from local entertainment to international commercials. She has extensive experience in pageantry, as former Miss Texas and choreographer for the Miss NM pageant, in dance teams, as former officer/performer/competitor to Dance team director, and in arts education; dance, drama, music and expressive arts. Her passion resides in educating and training others to have the skills to reach their dreams. Amy's pride lies in the success of her students.
Amy has a Masters degree in Psychology: Expressive Arts for Healing and Social Change. Dance connects individuals on an emotional, mental, kinesthetic and spiritual levels. She encourages dancers to tap into those levels as they develop their artistry.
Her passion for her work and mentoring students is evident in all that happens at Dance Elite. She loves educating dancers, witnessing their accomplishments and most of all, watching her dancers dance.
Tana Marks
Tana Marks began her dance training at Dance Elite as a child. She trained and competed under the direction of Amy Muffley, and traveled to learn from other professional choreographers such as Mandy Moore, Brian Friedman and Tabitha and Napoleon all before High School. During her secondary school years, Tana danced for her Jr High and High School dance teams. After high school Tana was selected to join the 2008-2009 Texas Tech Pom Squad. During her university years she choreographed locally for the UTPB dance team, Odessa College Dance Team, Odessa High School and Permian High school, The Permian Playhouse and was a member of the UT Arlington dance ensemble. Also during her university time, Tana taught at Dance Elite in Odessa, Tx and at The Dance Gallery in Big Spring, Tx. Tana lived and trained in Los Angeles, CA in 2011 and came back to Texas to perform as a member of the DGDG dance group in Dallas, Tx, in many contemporary and Hip Hop pieces. In 2019, Tana began teaching dance for the ECISD Fine Arts Magnet Elementary School. Her choreography is in high demand for various groups and organizations throughout the Permian Basin.
Tana has traveled the United States learning and taking class from many different teachers and has often found herself taking class in other countries, sharing her love of dance with people from around the world. Tana's newest love is for her husband and baby boy.
Dance Elite is very blessed to have Tana Petty in the studio, part of our dance family and her help in building our dance community. She is not only a beautiful dancer but an incredible person.
Ashley Ricks
Ashley Ricks became interested in dance at a young age. She started to take dance in kindergarten for a fine arts credit. She joined the Dance Elite family in third grade studying tap, ballet, jazz, and hip hop. I have a love and passion for dance because it is what I have known my whole life, I get to create a story through movement and express how I feel through dance. Being part of the Dance Elite family has shaped me to be who I am today and made my love for dance grow stronger and stronger.
Ashley attended Odessa High School where she met her now husband. She loves being a mom to their one year old son. Ashley was a part of the OHS Showgirls for all three years. She then went on to become a Blues dancer at Odessa College where they earned the title of National Champions in hip hop. Ashley has competed in dance since she was in eighth grade and has studied various dance styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary and pre pointe. While Ashley was in her transition year from ninth grade to tenth grade she was given the opportunity to take some dance classes at Broadway Dance Center in New York. Ashley also had the opportunity to dance with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and was part of an audition group for America’s Got Talent. Ashley has her associates in EC-6th and general studies. She is currently working on her bachelors in Child and Family studies with a minor in history at UTPB. She is very excited to share her love and passion for dance and hopes to inspire future dancers to achieve their goals in life.
Madison Boozer
Madison Boozer started dance at a very early age, and has been a part of a dance family for nearly 16 years. Astonished by the grace, beauty and talent Ballet had to offer, she then decided to take it more seriously when she turned 10. She began her formally training with Midland Festival Ballet, where she had the opportunity to participate in their company and attended Regional Dance America for nearly 5 years. Madison continued her training with Dance Elite for 2 years before progressing to teaching classes here at Dance Elite.
Madison's experience as a ballerina has shaped her into the person she is today by imparting grace, discipline, and resiliency. "Ballet is a difficult discipline that strengthened my resolve and stimulated my imagination because of its artistic movement. My character and perspective have been shaped by the things I've learned on the dance floor, that carry over into my daily life."
Madison Graduated high school May 2022 and has an associates degree in Psychology from Midland College. She is currently adding a Business certificate to her Associates degree as she plans for her further education.
She is excited to teach ballet at Dance Elite this year. Madison has the opportunity to pass on the grace and discipline of this age-old art form. She is excited to encourage students the love of dancing, inspire them, and watch as they progress on this wonderful journey.