G INSTRUCTORS | danceconnection

Nancy Brown

Owner/Director

Nancy Brown has more than 40 years of teaching experience. Her dance career began in the Texas Panhandle, when at the age of sixteen she was chosen to teach dance and gymnastics for a local dance company. She moved to north Texas in 1977 and enrolled as a dance major at Texas Christian University. In addition to pursuing her dance education, Nancy began teaching dance for recreation to neighborhood children from a small studio she had built in the back of her home. Nancy’s love of dance, genuine excitement and charisma was immediately noticed and quickly her student body increased through the word of mouth advertising. The home studio was expanded and her student base doubled every year for the first four years. In 1986, she opened the doors to Nancy Brown’s Studio, her first commercial location. The studio thrived, additional teachers were hired, and after ten years of success it was time to expand again. In 1992, she moved to her current location, changed the studio name to Dance Connection, recognizing that this hobby turned business had grown into much more than a one woman operation. Nancy currently has seven instructors on staff, two large dance rooms within her spacious Fort Worth location. She also has a second location in Granbury, Texas and has enjoyed the same continued success with the Granbury studio over the last five years. Nancy has trained under some of the most notable leaders in the

dance industry such as Luigi, Joe Tremaine, Patrick Swayze, and the Hoctor’s. Her students have won countless awards and are featured at many local venues including Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, and TCU halftime shows. Many of Nancy’s students have gone on to become broadways dancers, musical theatre directors, Dallas Cowboy and Houston Rocket cheerleaders, Dallas Mavericks dancers, and even college dance team members. Nancy has also produced some of the best dance teachers in the business. She readily acknowledges how grateful she is for all the individuals who have contributed to making her journey a success. She is a kind hearted, fun-loving woman who after all the years says that her favorite thing about dance is the joy she has received from contributing to so many students.

Jackie Druzanovic

Jackie Druzanovic has been teaching dance for over 15 years. She began dancing at age 3 and teaching at age 15. As a teenager Jackie won countless awards while competing in large group, small group, duo/trio, and solo dance categories. In addition to dancing competitively for the Dance Connection, Jackie was also the lieutenant of her high school drill team. Jackie has always been involved in the convention circuit, regularly attending Tremaine Dance, Adrenaline Dance, LA Dance Force, and American Dance Projekt. Jackie is currently the instructor and choreographer for the Junior and Senior Competition Team in Granbury. Jackie loves what she does...Her classes are always fun, her choreography is always exciting, and her enthusiasm for dance is always contagious!

Stevo McMariyon

Stevo McMaryion started dancing right out of high school. He quickly realized his passion for dance and joined the West Texas A & M University program studying ballet & modern. He has since trained in many different styles allowing him to take his abilities to the next level. Stevo has trained with some of the best teachers in the industry and has assisted many of them at conventions such as Tremaine, Adrenaline, the Pulse and others. He has worked with Disney on musicals and with Carrie Underwood as a background dancer. Spending the last 6 months in L.A. training at the Edge, Millennium & Debbie Reynolds Studio Stevo is now back sharing his creative talents with the DFW area.

Jessica Teague

Jessica Teague began dancing at the young age of three and her love of dance only grew as she danced competitively for eight years and trained specifically in ballet at multiple studios across Fort Worth. Jessica is also classically trained in jazz, modern and contemporary. After high school she went on to further her education at Texas Tech University in 2010, where she graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Theatre Arts. While gaining an education of teaching, history, and technique, Jessica also became a student choreographer where she choreographed many dance pieces for her peers. For additional training, she was a member of University Dance Company where they held performances throughout the year and hosted benefit concerts. Jessica held an apprenticeship with Flatlands Dance Theatre of Lubbock where she learned and preformed with the professional company.

Marlon Lewis

Marlon Lewis has been teaching hip-hop at the Dance Connection for over ten years. He began dancing at age 17 and quickly realized he wanted to share his excitement of dance. Marlon has worked hard to perfect his ability and he is now one of the Dance Connections most asked about instructors. His laid back teaching style allows students to feel comfortable, since his teaching philosophy is " fun before perfection." He has studied under Marty Kudelka, Roger Lee, Nick Zebrowski, and many other local and nationally recognized hip-hop choreographers. Marlon's work is carefully choreographed, always current, and fun to watch. In addition to his hip-hop classes, Marlon is Nancy's instructing partner for cotillion classes, and is involved with the studio on many levels. He is loved by all who have the opportunity to work with him.

Amber Hallowell

Amber Hallowell has been actively dancing since the age of two and is going into her fifth year of teaching. She is "all-around" trained in dance, including: tap, ballet/pointe, jazz, clogging, hip hop, contemporary, and drill team. Amber is now going through her second year on the Tarleton Texan Star Dance Team. Throughout her dance career she has won multiple awards including winning top five in Texas at the 2012 DanceLine Drill Team competition in Weatherford, and winning 6th in the nation at the NDC Competition in Daytona Florida. She has also had the opportunity to dance in Branson Missouri, dance in multiple Dallas Cowboy's Thanksgiving and Christmas halftime shows, and perform on the Daytona Beach Bandshell. Amber’s classes are fun and challenge you to come out of your comfort zone! She is looking forward to another great year with Dance Connection.

Tiffany Zebrun

Tiffany Zebrun has been teaching dance for more than 20 years. She is Nancy Brown’s eldest daughter and is the director of the Fort Worth dance studio. She is a Fort Worth native and a Texas Christian University graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition & Dietetics. Tiffany began dancing at age 3 and began teaching at age 15. As a teenager, she won countless awards while competing in small group, duo/trio, and solo dance categories. She continued to dance throughout college, first as a TCU Showgirl and then later as a Dallas Mavericks Dancer. She has studied under numerous local and national dance professionals and she regularly attends national conventions and seminars including Tremaine Dance and Adrenaline Dance. Tiffany is also an ACE (American Council on Exercise) certified personal trainer and for years has combined her knowledge of exercise science and physiology with her love of dance to safely and effectively train and develop her students. She truly enjoys teaching and feels her greatest achievements have been realized as a choreographer and instructor. Throughout her career her students have won over 50 "1st Place" trophies & over 20 “Best of Show” high achievement awards. She has been recognized by Star Power Competition and American Dance Projekt for her outstanding choreography and was named a “Top Teacher” by Star Systems National Talent Competition for three consecutive years. Tiffany loves to inspire and encourage young dancers and loves to watch them grow in skills, confidence, and personality. She feels privileged to have witnessed the difference dance has made in so many lives.