Katie McAninch
(Head Director)
Katie McAninch began dancing at her local studio at age four in Modesto, CA. Other competitive activities soon followed including gymnastics, cheer, tumbling/trampoline, and sports acrobatics. In 2009, she moved to Houston, TX continuing to dance in the studio as well as joining her high school drill team. After high school, Katie began working for Crowd Pleasers Dance Company, traveling across Texas choreographing and teaching. Katie continued her education at Blinn Junior College in Brenham, TX, competing on the Blinn Treasures dance team and winning a National Dance Alliance (NDA) collegiate title in 2014 while Captain. From Blinn, Katie went on to Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX where she continued competing in dance on the SFA dance teams. Katie won three more NDA Collegiate titles at SFA and as Captain her second year. During these three years at SFA, Katie was heavily involved in the dance program studying Dance Pedagogy along with Theories and Principles of Dance. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Dance with a minor in Communication Studies in 2017. Katie received her MFA from Texas Woman’s University in 2020 where she researched and explored possibilities to enhance artistry in competitive dance team choreography. She went on to teach Dance and PE at Independence High School along with holding the Assistant Director position of the Royals Drill Team in 2020-2021. She decided to move back to Houston and started the inaugural Spirit Program at the University of St. Thomas, holding the title of Head Cheer and Dance Coach from 2021-2022. Along with her position at Cy Ridge, Katie continues working at the collegiate level as the Head Dance Coach at Rice University. Katie was the Assistant Dance Director at Cypress Ridge from 2022-2024 and is ready to take the program to new heights while continuing to set high standards for excellence for our students as the Head Director.
Sarah Zaragoza
(Assistant Director)
Sarah Zaragoza is a native Houstonian who began her dance training at the age of five. She started training at Cypress Academy of Performing Arts in various dance styles such as Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Lyrical. Sarah then moved into competitive dance at her local studio and competed as a Senior Company member winning awards both locally and nationally. In high school, she was a member of the award-winning Jersey Village Gold Duster Dance Team. While on her high school dance team, she was a three-year varsity member and a two-year member of the All-District Dance Team. After graduating high school, Sarah attended the University of Houston where she was a member of the dance program. Sarah had the opportunity to study Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Improv/Partnering, Lyrical, Contemporary, Dance Pedagogy, Dance Production, Flamenco, West-African, and much more! In college, she also got the opportunity to work in stage management for UH Goes to the Match and EDW leading in production. Sarah graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a minor in Education. Sarah is so excited to be back in her home district and give back to each and every one of her students here in Dazzlerland and the Dance Department!!