Our Story – A Dream Rooted in Family
The Dance House is more than a dance studio—it’s a dream built from years of passion, perseverance, and purpose.
As a homeschooling family with four children deeply involved in dance, we’ve joyfully spent years supporting our kids through rehearsals, performances, competitions, and intensives. Every moment has been a gift—and through those experiences, a bigger dream began to grow: to create a local studio that not only offered excellent training, but truly felt like home.
We’re the Dowdell family—Christina and Aaron, along with our four amazing kids. Our son, Thatcher, and daughters, Kaiya, Karis, and Thia, are passionate dancers and the heart behind The Dance House. Their dedication and love for dance inspired us to turn this dream into reality. This past year, we’ve also had the joy of welcoming Sukky, our exchange student from Thailand, into our home and hearts—making our family, and this journey, even more special.
With backgrounds in education, entrepreneurship, and the arts, we decided to build something unique right here in our own community: a dance studio dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of dance in a supportive, growth-minded environment where every dancer feels at home. Whether your child is just starting out or dreaming of the stage, we’re here to nurture their journey—just as we’ve done with our own.
The Dance House will officially open this fall, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome dancers of all ages into a space that celebrates creativity, confidence, and joy.
Welcome to The Dance House—we’re so glad you’re here.
Our Dance Teachers
Meet Thatcher
Thatcher brings unmatched energy, versatility, and heart to The Dance House. As one of the youngest dancers ever selected for the audition-only Collin College Dance Ensemble, he has quickly made a name for himself through standout performances, original choreography, and a contagious passion for dance. He has performed at the American College Dance Association Conference and, during his time on the ensemble, earned recognition for both his technical excellence and uplifting presence.
A multi-genre dancer, Thatcher trains extensively in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, hip hop, and acro. His talent has led to performances with Rhythmic Souls Tap Company, as well as standout roles such as Scar in The Lion King, King Triton in The Little Mermaid, and Dr. Facilier in The Princess and the Frog. Thatcher—alongside Kaiya—were recently selected to present their own original choreography at the Collin College Choreography Showcase, a testament to his artistic voice and emerging choreographic talent. He has earned scholarships at every convention he’s attended—including full scholarships to Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, a Dance Council of North Texas scholarship to attend the Dallas Black Dance Theatre Summer Intensive, two AMDA High School Summer Conservatory Scholarships, and Dupree Dance. He was also named Most Valuable Dancer in Modern, Improvisation, and Ballet at Collin College.
Offstage, Thatcher is a gifted and engaging teacher with a natural ability to connect with students of all ages. With experience teaching and assisting at multiple studios, he brings a rare combination of professionalism, creativity, and joy to every class he leads.
Meet Kaiya
Kaiya brings a blend of precision, creativity, and warmth to The Dance House. As the youngest dancer ever accepted into the Collin College Dance Ensemble, she is a trailblazer recognized for both her technical excellence and radiant stage presence. She has performed at the American College Dance Association Conference and appeared in Dance Fusion, Dance Plano!, and Dances at 7. With the ensemble, she also tours schools and festivals across the DFW area. In her first year, she was honored with the Most Devoted Member Award, recognizing her outstanding dedication and work ethic. She--alongside Thatcher was also selected to present their original choreography at the Collin College Choreography Showcase, highlighting her creativity and growing choreographic voice.
Kaiya’s training spans ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, and hip hop. She has performed with the Rhythmic Souls Tap Company and shined in lead roles such as Ursula in The Little Mermaid and Mama Odie in The Princess and the Frog. Her six years of competitive dance experience include award-winning routines across multiple styles. She has earned scholarships including the Rhythmic Souls Tap Scholarship, KAR Audition Slate Champion, and Hollywood Connection Icon Scholarship.
As a choreographer, Kaiya has created standout competition pieces and led her own dance workshops and camps. She also teaches and assists in a variety of classes. She is known for her patience, passion, and positive energy, and brings both deep expertise and a joyful spirit to every class—helping dancers grow in skill, confidence, and love for the art form.