MEET THE STAFF

Studio Owner

The director of Extreme Performing Arts Center, Nikki Arnold, has been a part of this dance studio since 2005. She became the owner of EPAC in 2014.

Nikki has always been passionate about dancing. She began her dance career at the age of 5. By the age of 16 she started choreographing solo dancers and dance crews for her company. Her drive, attention to detail, and dedication led her to become a member of the McCullough Callie Drill Team and York Jr. High Liberty Babes.

Over the years, she gained expertise and has directed and choreographed many solos and award-winning team performances. Her directions have led teams to win many National Championship Titles in contemporary, lyrical, pom, and jazz styles. She has fine-tuned her skills and become a master in the performing arts field over the last 29 years. Nikki is committed to continuing to enhance her knowledge and skills through seminars and conventions. She shares this wealth of knowledge with young learners and loves being a part of their ongoing development.

Studio Director & Instructor

Carly Heard is a passionate teacher, choreographer, and dancer from East Texas! Carly graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts in Dance from Sam Houston State University. At Sam Houston State, Carly received training in various aspects of dance, including choreography, dance costuming, modern, contemporary, jazz, improv, and partner work.

She was a part of her high school’s drill team, the Marshall Mavettes. During Mavettes, she held the positions of Junior Lieutenant and Captain! Since 2020, she has been a proud member of American Dance and Drill Team Staff.

Carly is thankful that God has given her the gift of dance among a strong support system of family, friends, and dance mentors in her life! She is eager for another season at Extreme!

Studio Manager & Instructor

Kaitlyn Lopez graduated from Sam Houston State University with her B.F.A. in Dance. She began her dance training in Sugar Land, Texas at Dance Works where she won numerous team and solo awards. Kaitlyn was a member of the Clements Stars Dance Team for 3 years where she served as President her senior year. Kaitlyn has trained intensely as a pre-professional company member of the modern dance company Noble Motion Dance. She began her teaching career in 2017 and has been teaching ever since.

Kaitlyn is on staff with Crowd Pleasers Dance where she teaches advanced dance team workshops and camps teaching team choreography and leadership. Kaitlyn is experienced in multiple genres including: contemporary, pom, jazz, lyrical, ballet, and pointe.

Instructor

Hannah Richardson is from Kingwood, Texas and began dancing at the age of 3. She has been an instructor at Extreme for over 4 years.

Hannah danced at Stacey’s dance studio where she was a member of the Kingwood Strutters and the Stacey's Elite competition team.

She was also a member of the Silver Stars at Kingwood Park High School where she served as Captain and Colonel. Hannah has taken ballet from many different instructors throughout her time as a dancer, including 2 years spent on pointe. She also attended many conventions during her time as a dancer.

After high school, she went to Texas State University and became a member of the Texas State Strutters dance team. She graduated from Sam Houston State University in May of 2023 with a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology and received her masters degree at Texas A&M University.

Instructor

Payton Gibson is from New Braunfels , Texas and has been dancing since she was 10 years old. She spent the majority of her years dancing at Illusion Dance Center where she learned all styles of dance from jazz, lyrical, hip hop, pointe, contemporary, and acrobatics.

She graduated from New Braunfels High school in 2022, where she served as Lieutenant colonel of the Monoceros varsity drill team. Payton was selected to be a member of the 83rd line of the World Famous Kilgore College Rangerettes. She further grew her training in everything dance and got to be apart of some amazing opportunities such as performing with Mariah Carey, performing twice in the Macys Thanksgiving parade, opening the Pearl Harbor memorial parade, performing on the today show, performing in the Cotton Bowl Classic twice and more.

After graduating from Kilgore College with her Associates of Arts, she now attends A&M where she is furthering her education in her major of Kinesiology. Payton is filled with joy and pure excitement to be working at Extreme and is so ready to share her love and knowledge of dance with young children and be another light in their life.

Instructor

Being from Magnolia, Shayla first started dancing at the age of 6 at Extreme Performing Arts. After many years of several award winning performances, she was apart of the Award Winning Showtime International Champion Senior Team in 2018!

She trained in various styles of dance that include contemporary, lyrical, pom, and jazz.

Shayla graduated from Lone Star College with a Degree of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2025.

Shayla has always had a passion for dance and teaching others the love and knowledge she gained from being a dancer. She is excited for another year with all of the dancers!

Instructor

Ashley Singley is from Whitehouse, Texas and has been dancing since the young age of 3. She obtained the majority of her dance training from Candy Crocker School of Dance where she was able to learn a variety of styles. She graduated from Whitehouse High School in 2022, where she served as the Captain for the Whitehouse First Ladies Drill Team. As a continuation of her Dance Education, Ashley was selected for the 83rd line of the World Famous Kilgore College Rangerettes.

During her time spent at Kilgore, she further grew her training and knowledge of dance by being an active member in the Kilgore College Dance Department.

Additionally, she now attends Texas A&M University where she studies Sport Management in hopes of expanding her dance career further at the University level. Furthermore, she has been on staff for American Dance Drill Team since 2022, where she continues to choreograph for teams, host summer camps, and judge contests.