316-631-5321
empireperformingartscenter@gmail.com
535 N. Woodlawn
Suite 340 & 345
Wichita , KS 67208
316-631-5321
empireperformingartscenter@gmail.com
535 N. Woodlawn
Suite 340 & 345
Wichita , KS 67208
RACHEL WEBER
OWNER & HEAD INSTRUCTOR
Originally from Derby, Kansas, Rachel’s dance training began at the age of three. Dance has continued to be a passion in her life ever since. Throughout high school, she was a member of her high school dance team while also participating in competitive dance with her dance studio. In addition, she trained in ballet with Jill Landrith with the Wichita Metropolitan Ballet Company where she performed in THE NUTCRACKER. She also trained with Sharon Rogers in a summer intensive in ballet at Friends University. Her love of hip-hop dancing led her to an audition with a hip-hop company where she earned a spot as the youngest dancer in the company. Her passion for dance followed her to Kansas State University where she continued her training in hip-hop, tap, modern/lyrical, ballet, jazz, and West African dance. She also performed in the Kansas State University Dance Shows. Rachel earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree at K-State. Rachel has participated in dance intensives across the country with TOP Dance, LA Dance Force, Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders, and Tremaine Dance Company, to name a few. She has studied with Dein Perry’s Tap Dogs; Laura Donnelly and the Alexander technique; Roni Mahler, choreographer of modern dance; Bernard Woma, choreographer of African dance; choreographer Wade Robinson from SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE; Jason Janas from TAP DOGS; Mary Dew; Pamela Bolling; Adrieene Canterna; Carrie Lockyn; Dustin Phillips, hip hop choreographer for music videos; and many others along the way. After being recruited by an international choreographer and training with him for a semester, she earned the opportunity to dance with a talent search company in Hollywood, California. For seven years, Rachel taught ballet, lyrical/modern, tap, jazz, pointe, and hip-hop at a dance studio in northeast Kansas. Rachel’s choreography for her dance team and her meticulous training regarding dance technique have resulted in her students receiving countless awards in the competitive dance circuit. She has established a reputation for her success in training students for high school and college dance tryouts, NFL tryouts, and for her choreography for various types of performances. As she teaches dance workshops in studios across the nation, her strong work ethic, her high expectations, and her passion for dance are transferred to her students. One of her most rewarding experiences has been her volunteer work whereby she has taught dance to at-risk students in a middle school in northeast & south central Kansas. Whether in a dance studio or in a middle school gym, Rachel has found that dance provides her with a means of mentoring her students and encouraging them to be the best they can be in whatever they pursue in life.
MERCEDES HAYDON
CHEER COACH
I’ve been performing since I was 4. I started off competitive cheering and dancing with Spirit Sparklers. I trained with the former WSU head cheer coach in tumbling, while training for jazz, hip-hop and cheer with my team. I choreographed multiple praise dances for my church along with performing in them. I was a part of my high school Production of Hair Spray, in which I played Lil Inez, and other countless production. I am a former Varsity Cheerleader for North High (GO REDSKINS)! Former Friends University Cheerleader (GO FALCONS)! I’m apart of Actors Models and Talent for Christ , where I trained for a year in Dance, Singing and Acting and then performed in front of 100 Scouts and Agents in Florida in 2013. It was there that I discovered my love for dance again, so I went to dance for the Arena football team in Topeka called the Kansas Koyotes! After the 1 st year, I made Captain. Afterwards I came back Wichita in 2014 and danced for the semi-pro Wichita Thunder Hockey team as well as the Wichita Force for several years. In 2016 I coached cheer with Ms. Rachel at Boys & Girls Club of South Central Kansas. In 2019 I joined the Wichita Lady Wizards Semi-Pro Dance Team and am still currently a Lady Wizard. Then I joined Empire Performing Arts Center as a Cheer Coach in 2021 and also have taught several other dance classes as well. Coaching will always be a love of mine as well as sharing with future genertations the passion for cheer and dance.