Dance Faculty

Black and white portrait of a smiling woman.

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, Lamar Elementary 2023-2026 and now to South Elementary. 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. Tana is currently teaching dance for the ECISD Milam 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 as 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.

Miranda Bufkin

Miranda Bufkin has been dancing in the Permian Basin under different studios and teachers for almost 15 years now. Her love for dance has given her opportunities to continue dancing in college. She is currently a dancer on the UTPB dance team while pursuing her degree. Miranda performs for various UTPB athletic events, school events and competition on the collegiate level. She has experience in many styles of dance, but currently HipHop is her favorite! She is very excited to continue her love for dance through teaching and is thrilled to be a part of the Dance Elite Family.

Madison Boozer

Madison Boozer started dancing at a young age and has been part of the dance world for nearly 16 years. Captivated by the grace, beauty, and artistry of ballet, she decided to pursue it more seriously at the age of 10. She began her formal training with Midland Festival Ballet, where she was a company member and attended the Regional Dance America for 5 years. She then continued her training in ballet and lyrical at Dance Elite. Dance Elite is where she began training to become a teacher and started teaching ballet.

Ballet has played a huge role in shaping Madison into the person she is today, teaching her discipline, resilience, and confidence.She believes the dedication and creativity ballet requires has influenced not only her dancing but also the way she approaches everyday life.

Madison graduated from Midland High School in 2022 and currently attends Texas Christian University, where she plans to graduate in the spring of 2027 with her bachelor's degree. Through TCU Madison had the opportunity to study abroad in Florence, Italy, an experience that allowed her to immerse herself in a new culture and broaden her perspective personally and academically. While attending TCU and the university in Florence, Madison continued taking ballet through the universities. After graduating, she plans to pursue a PhD.