Directors & Faculty

GLENDA BROWNis a native of Beaumont, Texas, where her dance training began at the Widman Studio, and became an Associate Teacher.   At the age of 18, she conducted her own school for four years in Jasper, Texas.  From 1950-1959, she performed and actively participated in the world travels of the Beaumont Melody Maids.  She was on faculty at the Emmamae Horn School in Houston, TX from 1964-1981. Ms. Brown is Artistic Director of Allegro Ballet of Houston and Allegro Academy of Dance. Ms. Brown is a founding officer of Regional Dance America, and served as President of Regional Dance America/Southwest 1981-2001. Prior to Regional Dance America  she  served on the National Board for National Association for Regional Ballet.  . She was elected national  president of RDA 1995-2000, and coordinated the first Regional Dance America National Festival held in Houston, TX in 1997, and is now Director Emeritus.   She directed the RDA National Craft of Choreography Conference from 1987-2001, and founded The Glenda Brown Choreography Project in 2001.  She has served on the dance panel for the Cultural Arts Council of Houston and the Texas Commission on the Arts.   She has served on the Advisory Board of Dance Teacher magazine, The Austrian Alps International Arts Festival, and  is now Director of  Young!Tanzsommer/Austria.

VANESSA BROWN is a native Houstonian, and began her study of dance at the age of 3 with
Emmamae Horn in Houston, Texas.  She was auditioned and selected to join the Allegro Ballet Company at the age of 11, and traveled abroad to Poland, Scotland, England, and Austria as a soloist.    Vanessa attended the University of Oklahoma on a dance scholarship.  She is a co-director and  Ballet Mistress of Allegro Ballet Company, and  has been on staff at Allegro Academy of Dance since 1982.  She has taught dance at Village School for 22 years, and several other schools in Houston.   She coordinated the first Regional Dance America National Festival held in Houston, in 1997, and was on faculty for the RDA/SW Festival in 2001.  She now serves a Director of Young!Tanzsommer/Austria.

THOM CLOWER is known as one of the most energetic and inspiring teachers across the country.  Mr. Clower began his training in Dallas with George Skibine and Marjorie Tallchief, and  has studied at School of American Ballet in New York, Paris, Amsterdam and London.  He began teaching in 1974 and joined Dallas Ballet in 1978 for eleven seasons.  He has been ballet master for Dallas Ballet and Hubbard Street.  He was artistic director of Ballet Dallas and Yuma Ballet Theatre, and is now a free lance teacher and choreographer.  We welcome Thom to our faculty this year!!!

PALOMA BRAGGIATO was born in Mexico City. She danced professionally with Taller Coreografico de la Universidad Autonoma de Mexico for ten years.  She received her Royal Academy Teacher Certification in 2002.  She has been on faculty at Allegro Academy of Dance since 1996.

CARLA CAPETILLO was born in Mexico City.  She joined the faculty at Allegro in 2003 and teaches Royal Academy of Dancing.

STEVEN MILLER  hails from Massachusetts and teaches hip hop.  He joined Allegro Academy in 2008.

SHAYNA WHITE performs with The Houston Metropolitan Company in Houston, TX.
She joins our faculty to teach Modern and Jazz.

MARTHA HARRIS is the Business Manager and Secretary for the Allegro Academy of dance and has been on staff since 1982.