Brittany Rea Cruz - Artistic Director
Brittany brings a diverse background to dance as a choreographer, in many types of dance including tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, musical theater, ballet, and cheer.
Brittany has trained with top choreographers from all over the globe such as Chris Judd, Jason Parsons, Joe Lanteri, and Mia Michaels from “So You Think You Can Dance“...
For 11 years Brittany was a part of Pivot Dance Company with instructor Maria Kroll, devoting 9 hour weeks for ballet technique, contemporary, and Broadway routines.
Brittany has been a part of numerous competitions, workshops, and shows including NYC Dance Alliance, Portland’s largest showcase “Blue Sky Concert,” and Spotlight Nationals where she received many Overall High Score Awards. Brittany hopes to share her passion and knowledge for dance with anyone and everyone. As she likes to say, “You can dance anywhere, even if only in your heart.”
Laura Anderson
Laura Anderson has studied ballet for 20 years and modern for the last 5 years.  She has enjoyed teaching ballet for the past 7 years. Most of her schooling was at Mt. Hood Ballet Academy under the instruction of Debbie Pierce.  This is where Laura began teaching ballet to young students. When Mt. Hood Ballet became Mt. Hood Dance Academy, Laura added lyrical and partnering to her studies under Haley Talbot and Brittany Rea.
After her Senior year at Mt. Hood Dance Academy, Laura continued her dance education at Western Oregon University where she graduated with honors in June of 2013 with a B.S. in dance.  While attending WOU, Laura taught and choreographed for Keizer Academy of Music and Arts and Inspirational Dance Company in Salem.  She also performed in the dance concerts at WOU and in 2012 she choreographed a modern piece called, “Cohesion” for the Fall Concert.  In the Spring of 2013 she choreographed a contemporary ballet piece called “Fading From Darkness: which she was recognized by the dance department for Most Outstanding Choreography.

During her time at WOU, she was also a teachers assistant and substitute teacher for the advanced ballet and was awarded with an Outstanding Leadership in Dance.  She also was one of eight students chosen to work with Paula Weber who is a choreographer, chair of the dance division, and professor at UMKC’s conservatory of Music and Dance.  She spent a week learning Weber’s contemporary ballet piece “Blue” that then was performed at the American College Dance Festival at Southern Utah University and the Spring Dance Concert at WOU in 2013. Laura is excited to return to MHDA to instruct ballet and lyrical classes.
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Shellie Adams
Shellie Adams has been dancing for as long as she can remember but tap has always been her favorite! She has danced under many different teachers including Tara Marshall, Judy Marsh and DeeDee Rios and while she was in High School she often helped assist DeeDee with tap, jazz and musical theater classes. Shellie graduated from University of Portland with her Bachelors and Masters in Elementary Education and Music. When she isn't teaching dance, she is teaching Kindergarten in Estacada. Shellie loves getting to teach a wide range of students at MHDA and loves helping students of all ages find their passion for dance.
Susan Rodriguez
Susan has always had so much love for dance. Dance has been a big part of her life growing up. She danced three years on the dance team at Sandy High School and was formed team captain. After graduating high school, she wanted to continue her studies for dance and took three years of hip hop and lyrical classes at Mt. Hood Community College with Shanon Barker and DJ Rayley. Also took classes at Stites Performing Art Center. During college she found out about our studio and enrolled her little sister to join the MHDA family. Susan has been part of the MHDA family for over nine years. Helping in the office, assisting teachers, and being a substitute teacher. Susan’s taught Pre-Ballet, Hip Hop, and Pre-tumbling class. Susan is so excited to take the next chapter in her dance life by teaching her first class at the studio and help assist our new Mini hip hop competitive team. She cannot wait to meet you all and share the passion of dance through her students.
Madison Rios
Madison developed a passion for dancing from her mom and dance teacher Dee Dee Rios. At the age of seven Madi joined Mt. Hood Dance Academy under Dee Dee Rios & Brittany Cruz. She would often assist her mom with classes which made her realize her talent for working with kids. At MHDA she found her passion for acting. Madi took her dance experience into theatre and participating in many musicals. Madi was apart of the Sandy High School cheer team for three years. Senior year her varsity team was the first cheer team at Sandy High School to qualify for state since 2002. Madi hopes to take her theatre and dance background to help dancers become performers. After high school Madi came back to MHDA to assist musical theatre classes. She is excited to be back at the studio as a teacher.







Emily Drapela
Emily has been dancing since 3 years old, beginning with ballet and jazz. She has studied under many dance instructors and competed at various competitions. While in her undergraduate studies, she participated in the Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) program providing recreational dance classes for students K-5. Emily graduated from New York University with a Masters of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders and Portland State University with a Bachelors in Speech & Hearing Sciences with a minor in Music. She is a Speech Language Pathologist who works with children with various disabilities. Emily is excited to teach at Mt. Hood Dance Academy and provide a safe space to explore movement!