Jade Greenough - Owner, Director
Jade was born and raised in Austin, Texas. She began dancing at the young age of four with Shirley McPhail School of Dance. She studied in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theater, contemporary, and hip hop and performed with the Terpsichore Dance Company. Jade won numerous scholarships and awards from TATD (Texas Association Teachers of Dancing), Urban Jam, LA Dance Force and Star Makers. In high school Jade was a member of the award winning James Bowie High School Silver Stars and served on the officer line her Senior year. Jade has had the opportunity to study with master teachers and choreographers through master classes, conventions and summer intensive programs in both Texas and Los Angeles.
At the age of 15 she began choreographing for the Rhythm Force Dance Company, from D’Ette & Co Dancers. Jade began teaching in 1998 and was on staff for D'Ette & Co. Dancers for twenty years. Jade also taught at several studios in the Phoenix, Arizona metroplex while attending Arizona State University where she studied dance education in 2001 - 2002. While at ASU Jade had the pleasure of becoming the assistant teacher for both beginning and intermediate Tap. In 1999 Jade was accepted as a member of TATD (Texas Association Teachers of Dancing), with an exam in Jazz. In 2008 Jade successfully passed her Examiners Exam in Tap and in 2019 her Examiners Exam in Jazz. Jade currently serves as the President for TATD.
Jade graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance. She specializes in tap, ballet, jazz, musical theater, contemporary and hip hop for all ages. Jade has found a passion for dance that is undeniable. She brings energy, enthusiasm and laughter to all her classes. Jade has also had the pleasure of teaching both master classes and choreography to high schools and middle schools in the Austin and Bastrop areas. She has served on faculty at Tap It Up and TATD and enjoys spreading her love for the arts. Each day Jade is thankful for what dance has brought into her life. You can always hear her say, “Dance with your heart and your feet will always follow.”
Britt Herzfeld -
Office Manager, Director of PADlock
Britt began her formal dance training at the age of 3 with The Dance Center in Austin, Texas under the direction of Judy Thompson-Price. She graduated from James Bowie High School in 2002 where she was a member of the award winning Silver Stars for three years. Upon graduation, Britt attended Texas State University obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice where she also participated in several dance courses to include creative movement for children, “emphasizing rhythmical and creative movement as both an art form and a teaching tool”.
She then continued her education obtaining a Graduate degree in Criminal Justice from Boston University. Along the way, dance has always been a part of her busy schedule bringing her to D’Ette & Co. Dancers first as a student in 2008 and then as an instructor and office manager in 2014. She was an assistant choreographer of D’Ette & Co. Dancers Rhythm Force Dance Company from 2014 until 2017. She is proud to say her love of dance has filtered down to her daughters, both of whom actively dance at Pivotal. In 2015 Britt was accepted as a member of TATD (Texas Association Teachers of Dancing), with an exam in Jazz and has served on the Board of Directors since January 2020. Later in 2020 she became certified as a Progressing Ballet Technique Instructor, continuing her education to pass along to students. Britt is also a Dance Pro with Flash Mob of America for the Texas region, helping to spread joy through dance to the unexpected.
Her passion for dance is what has brought her to us and is both inspiring and motivational for the young students she teaches.
Paige Chun - Instructor
Paige was born and raised in Austin, Texas, and began dancing at the age of five with D'Ette & Co Dancers where she studied under Jade Greenough, Paula Samson, Karen Elliott, and D’Ette Ray Rice. Paige was a dedicated member of the Rhythm Force Dance Troupe for 8 years and studied many genres of dance including, ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, and hip hop. She performed at festivals and recitals, as well as competitions earning scholarships and awards for her performances. Paige also attended dance conventions where she learned from master choreographers such as Jay Fagan, Rhonda Miller, and Thayne Jasperson.
In high school Paige was a member of the award-winning James Bowie High School Silver Stars and served on the officer line as a junior lieutenant during her junior year and as the captain during her senior year. After high school, Paige received her B.S. in Public Relations in May 2016 from The University of Texas at Austin. After a couple of years working in this industry, she realized that dance education was her true passion.
Paige has been a dance instructor and choreographer for 10 years, spending the last 5 years at her "second home" Pivotal Academy of Dance in Buda, Texas. She specializes in tap, jazz, and contemporary as well as combo classes. Paige is also a choreographer and instructor for PAD's competition team Vitality Dance Company. Outside of the studio, Paige choreographs for Hays CISD and Austin ISD drill teams and judges for Ascension Dance during the competition season.
In 2019, she became a member of Texas Association Teachers of Dancing after passing her exam in Tap. In 2022, Paige passed the Module 1 Certification for the Alixa Flexibility program to help our dancers improve their flexibility in a safe and effective way. There is nothing Paige loves more than helping students grow through the art of dance.
Lindsey Gerson was born in Germany and grew up in El Paso, Texas. She started her dancing career in classical ballet at 13 and continued for 6 years under the direction of David Alejandro Duran. After graduating high school, she traveled abroad for 7 months in Germany and China during a Discipleship Training School where she also experienced native dance forms. After returning, she moved to Austin and began choreography and improv classes with Darla Johnson and learned American Sign Language at Austin Community College. During this time, she began sewing and costume making.
After gaining her Certificate in American Sign Language Studies, she transferred to Texas State. She was a member of Merge Dance Company for the 2016-2017 season and traveled with them to preform in Trinidad for the Contemporary Choreographers’ Collective Dance Festival. She joined Transient Dance Collective in 2016 and was the President from 2017-2018. Her dance films, Refine and Imprisoned, have both been selected for various film festivals. She graduated in May with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with an emphasis in Performance and Choreography. She continues her self- taught work as an amateur seamstress and also teaches dance in the surrounding Austin area. She will be preforming with the aerial dance company, Blue Lapis Light, this fall. Lindsey’s darling black cat, Coco, enjoys assisting with all sewing projects. Lindsey is very excited to be teaching at Pivotal Academy of Dance this year!
Lindsey Gerson - Instructor
Brooklyn Morrow - Instructor
Born in San Antonio, TX but raised in a variety of places, Ms. Brooklyn has always found dance to be her constant, a friend, a craft and a focus. She is currently enrolled in Texas State University working at her last year to receive her BFA in dance, along with becoming a certified Dance Movement Therapist. Brooklyn has been trained in all styles but has been drawn heavily to hip-hop most of her life, she brought that interest to college with her by becoming a co-founder of 2 hip-hop crews on Texas State campus. She has spent many years in Los Angeles, CA doing intensives with Millennium Dance Complex, IDA Hollywood, Debbie Reynolds Legacy, Playground LA and more. She has also trained and coached at studios/companies in Iowa and South Dakota. Ms. Brooklyn adores kids and hopes to mesh her passion for children and dancing together through movement therapy. She is extremely excited to work with PAD and can’t wait to have some fun with our dancers!
Hailey Chambers - Front Desk, Instructor
Hailey’s dance experience began in high school on a dance/drill team, and she was sure that that was the only dance experience she’d ever have. During Hailey’s first year of college as a marine biology major, there wasn’t a day that went by that dance did not cross her mind. After that year, Hailey transferred to Texas State University and knew that dance needed to be a part of her life. At Texas State, Hailey completed a degree in Dance Education with a second teaching field in life sciences. Hailey completed her internship at both Canyon Lake and Smithson Valley high schools. While at Texas State University Hailey participated in CIMTEYA, performed with Orchesis Dance Company and Transient Dance Collective, trained and performed in traditional Balinese dance and theatre, and performed in a variety of faculty and student projects. Hailey is currently dancing with and leading Psalm 149 Dance Ministries.
Sabrina Blackwelder was born and raised in Texas, and graduated High School at North East School of the Arts. She is currently a 20 year old dance major at The university of Texas at Austin who is completing her 3rd year to receive a Bachelor in Fine Arts degree. She has been dancing since the age of 3 and has trained in all forms of dance, but especially enjoy’s performing and teaching different Hip-Hop styles. She has performed in competitions all over Texas and received several awards. She also went to New York in 2019 to perform on a Broadway show with Broadway Artists Alliance. She’s passionate about teaching and hopes to be a big Hip-Hop choreographer in the future.
Sabrina Blackwelder - Instructor
Kelley Smith - Instructor
Kelley began dancing in Odessa, Texas. As a member of the Dance Elite performing group, she had the opportunity to travel and compete at several conventions including LADF, Co. Dance and Dance Magic. Her training was also enriched during the summers by attending classes at The Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles. Kelley was a member of the Odessa High School Showgirls drill team and was Captain her senior year. With the Showgirls she had the opportunity of performing in the 2001 Rose Bowl Parade. She attended Oklahoma City University’s Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management on scholarship. While there she performed with the American Spirit Dance Company, Liturgical Dance Company and the OCU Pep Dancers. She graduated Cum Laude with Bachelor of Science in Dance Management and has a well-rounded understanding of dance performance, technical theatre, non-profit organizations and the entertainment industry.
Kelley is also a member of the Texas Association Teachers of Dancing Inc., and earned her teaching certification in Jazz in 2006. Kelley has been teaching & training in Austin since 2009 & has found her true passion working with young dancers. Creating a foundation for a love of dance & learning. Kelley is proud mama to Nolan and Nash, loves spending time with hubby Riley & cat Kitty and is so excited to be joining the PAD family.