Travesty Dance Group Houston is currently comprised of eight performers and one apprentice.  

The Company 2010

Kara Ary has performed with Rebecca Valls, Toni Valle's 6 Degrees, Julie Fox, Sophia Torres, Suchu Dance, and Houston Grand Opera.  She is in her 7th season with TDG/H.  Kara was the recipient of the 2006 Outstanding Dancer Award in the School of Theatre & Dance at the University of Houston in 2006. She has trained at the High School for the Performing & Visual Arts, Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive, and Bates Dance Festival.  She recently discovered Bikram Yoga, and is a staff accountant at FKP Architects, Inc.  Kara as a cat named George, AKA "Curious George."

Yahudi Castaneda (apprentice) started his dance  training at 18. Since then, he has performed in works by choreographers Teresa Chapman, Jackie Nalett, Toni Valle, jhon r. stronks, & Lori Amare.  He has performed with the University Dance Theater Ensemble, and been an active member of the Young Audience company under the direction of Becky Valls.  Yahudi is also a musician and plays the trumpet. Yahudi is thrilled to be a part of Travesty Dance Group,and looks forward many exciting seasons with the company.  

Teresa Chapman has performed with various artists in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington DC (Liz Lerman Dance Exchange), and New York (KDNY).  In addition to performing, she is an independent dancer maker.  As a choreographer, her work has been presented at Diverse Works, Big Range Dance Festival, the High School for the Performing & Visual Arts, the Cunningham Studio in NYC, Miller Theater in Houston,and has been commissioned by several universities.  She recently won a teaching excellence award at the University of Houston, where she is an Assistant Professor in the Dance Division. Teresa received her MFA in dance from CSU at Long Beach.  Teresa has been a member of TDG/H since Fall 2005. 

Marlow Fleming is a native of St. Petersburg Florida. Fleming trained in various schools including Pinellas County Center for the Arts, Joffrey Ballet School, Pittsburg Ballet Theater School, and the Joel Hall Dance Center in Chicago.  He was awarded an apprenticeship before joining Joel Hall Jazz Dancers.  Performing with Ballet West in Central Florida, Marlow performed Swan Lake, Nutcracker, and Don Q under the direction of Mervet Einabarawi and Wagih Aboella.  Mr. Fleming has had works set on him by both modern and jazz artists such as Paul Sanasardo, Lisa Johnson Willingham, Kirby Reed, Tommy Cousins and Duwane Pendarvis.  Since coming to Houston, he has performed in work by Rebecca Valls & Teresa Chapman, in addition to joining Travesty Dance Group/Houston in January 2010.

Mechelle Flemming enjoys dancing in the air and on the ground.  Mechelle is  from London and began dancing at the University of Houston where she also discovered a love for choreography.  Her choreography was recognized at American College Dance Festival through  selection in the gala performance and at Big Range Dance Festival. In addition to being a member of Travesty Dance Group/Houston, she has worked with Amy Ell in her aerial dance company Vault.  Mechelle recently moved to Arizona, but remains active on our TDG guest roster.

Erica Okoronkwo is in her 7th season with Karen Stokes & TDG/H.  She has danced with the Sandra Organ Dance Company, Chrysalis Dance Company, Dancepath, Psophonia Dance, 6 Degrees, and numerous independent choreographers in Houston.  Erica is a graduate of the University of Houston where she received her BA in Theatre/Dance she also obtained her MBA in Finance from University of St. Thomas.  Erica won the outstanding dancer award at U of H, and was a recipient of the Joanna Freisen Dance Scholarship.  Erica's passion for dance has grown immensely with TDG/H under the direction of Karen Stokes.  

Catalina Molnari came from the real south: Bogotá Colombia. Her first stop was in Cuba to get a taste of what it takes to become a professional dancer. Since then she has performed with Chrysalis Dance Company, Psophonia Dance Company, Dancepaththeatre, Suchu Dance, Leslie Scates, Teresa Chapman, Mechelle Flemming, and Houston Grand Opera.  She recently was an young artist resident at Hope Stone Inc's HopeWerks.  Catalina is a full-time freelance dancer in Houston, working with 6 Degrees, Hopestone, Vault, as well as being in her fourth season with TDG/H.  She is a graduate of the University of Houston Dance Division.  Cata is happy to have her perfect man, three cats, two dogs, and a turtle. 

Toni Leago Valle recieved a BA in Theatre, specializing from dance, from University of Houston in 2000.  Since then she has received to Individual Arts Grants from Houston Arts Alliance to produce "It's All Relative" in 2002 and again in 2007 for her third evening length work "Tetris" (2009).  Her second evening length work, "Cracked," was a recipient of the Diverse Works Artist Residency in 2006.  As a dancer, she has performed with Suchu Dance, Becky Valls, Psophonia Dance, and Dancepaththeatre.  Recently, she launched her her own dance company:  6 Degrees.  Toni is an adjunct faculty member in the University of Houston Dance Division, and is also an independent marketing consultant for dance companies in Houston.  She is the former project coordinator of Dance Source Houston, a non-profit organization dedicated to supported dance in Houston.  Toni is happy to be rejoining TDG/H as a performer after 3 years of working on her own choreography and being a mom.