2022 VARSITY UNIVERSITY NATIONAL DANCE COACHES’ VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

Toya Renee Ambrose is the Head Coach of the dance teams for the Chicago Bulls – the Luvabulls and the all-male hip hop team, the 312 Crew. She was a member of two NBA teams, the Chicago Luvabulls and the Memphis Grizzlies. Her collegiate experience includes being a former scholarship member of the University of Memphis Pom Squad, and former captain and Head Coach of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Dancing Flames. Toya was also the Spirit Coordinator for the University of Connecticut (UCONN) spirit teams, which included the dance, cheer, and mascot teams. Toya is the owner of T.R.A. Choreography LLC and her company choreographs competitive teams all over the world – most recently in Japan, Slovenia, Finland, and Mexico. Alongside Shandon Perez, she is co-founder of Tone Society; a digital training and mentorship program for choreographers. Toya also enjoys being a national and international dance judge. She resides in Chicago, IL, and is married to attorney Garvin G. Ambrose. Their greatest adventure is being foster parents to three beautiful baby girls.

Jenny Eustice is entering her 14th year as the Dance Team Coach for the University of Iowa. In both 2017 and 2020 the Iowa Dance Team placed 3rd at UDA College Nationals in the division 1A Pom category.  In 2022, the Iowa Dance Team place 3^rd in the UDA College Nationals Game Day division. The Iowa Dance Team has been a perennial finalist, placing in the Top 10 in the past eleven years. Eustice is a former Minnesota Vikings cheerleader and a Minnesota Swarm Performance Team member. She is a former dancer (captain) and assistant coach of the four-time UDA National Champion University of Minnesota dance team in Minneapolis. Her coaching background also includes the multi-time Minnesota State Champion Wayzata High School dance team. Eustice has 15 years of studio training in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, and modern from the Dance Shoppe in Plymouth, MN. Currently, Eustice is an Assistant Principal at Iowa City West High School in Iowa City, Iowa. Eustice has been the Universal Dance Association(UDA) ESPN dance analyst for the National High School Dance Team Championship for nine years. She is a former member/choreographer for UDA summer camps. Eustice is a firm believer in servant leadership and the motto, “Actions speak louder than words”. 

Katie grew up dancing in Colorado and found her love and passion for dance in the studio and as member of her high school dance team. After earning multiple convention scholarships and awards in high school, Katie went on to earn a full scholarship as a member of the University of Tennessee dance team. Her team won their first Universal Dance Association National Championship in 2007 in the jazz category. She was a member of UDA staff teaching elite, college and international camps as well as helping with summer camp choreography. Katie moved back to Colorado in 2012 where she was the head dance coach at the University of Colorado for 4 years earning multiple top 5 finishes at UDA College Nationals.

Katie has been on faculty at TCDC in Lafayette, Colorado for 9 years and the Company Director for the last 5 years. Over the past 3 years Katie has continued her dance education focusing on safe and effective stretching, strength building and technique. She is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique, studied mUv method and is working toward her Pilates certification.

Choreography credits include multiple middle school, high school and college national championship routines in Jazz, Pom and Game Day, including the University of Tennessee 2020 national pom championship. Katie continues to work with the University of Tennessee as pom choreographer and a member of their recruitment team. Katie loves being involved with so many teams across the country and watching the dancers grow as both athletes and people!

When not teaching, choreographing or coaching you can find Katie hanging out with her husband Curtis and their two kids Connor, 5, and Colbie, 3.

Christina Leone is in her 19th year coaching at the high school level and is currently the head coach at Rock Canyon HS in Colorado. Her teams have earned numerous regional and state titles, are perennial finalists at UDA Nationals. Most recently, Rock Canyon earned Back to Back State Championship titles in 5A POM and earned three top 5 finishes at the 2022 NDTC, including two bronze medals. In 2018, they were selected as the Varsity Brands American Spirit Leader Award winner. Christina was the National winner of the 2015 Double-Goal Coach Award from the Positive Coaching Alliance and in 2016 named Coach of the Year by the Colorado HS Coaches Association. She has judged for the USASF Dance Worlds, National Championships at the High School, All-Star, & Collegiate levels for UDA, NDA, USA, GSSA, Dance Summit, Jamfest and Jamfest Japan and currently serves on numerous industry committees. Christina is an avid fan of figure skating, all Colorado sports, loves camping, traveling and spending time with her husband & two daughters.

Valerie Stead Potsos is in her 20th season as Head Coach of the nationally ranked University of Michigan Dance Team. She is the Director/Owner of Dancer’s Edge Studio in Dexter, Michigan. Recently, she traveled to Vienna, Austria to choreograph and train three dance teams with the Vienna Vikings. She has choreographed for NAIA College Teams, High School Teams and All-Star Teams. She has also choreographed for professional corporate sponsors including Ford Motor Company and much more.

Dancer’s Edge was named as one of the “Top Studios on the Move” in Dance Spirit magazine. Her articles on coaching and dance have appeared in Dance Spirit, American Cheerleader and in Motion Magazines.

She is a Seminar presenter, and curriculum consultant for Varsity University, UCA/UDA (Universal Cheer and Dance Association) and AACCA (American Association of Cheer Coaches and Administrators) on topics such as Motivation, Leadership, Teambuilding and many more.

Her students have auditioned for America’s Got Talent and have been featured on the show in 2015. Along with judging local, state and national competitions, she has judged Studio, High School and College Dance Nationals as well for various organizations. Previously, she coached The Royal Oak Kimball Dance Company and The Royal Oak Kimball Varsity Dance Team for 8 years.

As a dance educator for 30+ years and an adjudicator for 20+ years, she was also a member and captain of The University of Michigan Dance Team. Valerie graduated with a B.A. from the University of Michigan and has additional graduate studies in Secondary Education from Michigan State University. Valerie resides in Dexter, MI with her husband three children.

Jenna Schneider is a leadership and mental health coach. She holds a Masters in Public Health, and is certified as a life coach through the International Coach Federation. Jenna coached dance for 7 years for a high school team; winning two national championships and then went on to coach at the University of Wisconsin for 9 years. The University of Wisconsin Dance Team was ranked in the top ten all 9 seasons Jenna was a part of the spirit squad coaching staff. She “retired” from coaching dance in 2019 to start her mental health coaching business, Jenna Schneider Coaching LLC. Jenna works with clients from all over the country including leadership coaching with clients from Facebook, Google and Tesla to name a few. Jenna also hosts her own podcast called “She Leads Her Life” where she interviews women from all around the world to talk about women’s health, faith, business, and parenting topics. She lives in Madison, WI with her two daughters Elliana and Annabelle and is married to her high school sweetheart Nate. You can find more information at www.jennaschneidercoaching.com and @sheleads_herlife.