Meet the Team
Director of Foundations
Andrea DeLeon
Dance opened the door to countless opportunities along life’s way, but it’s the memories of friends, support, shared success, and words of encouragement that withstand the test of time. We worked hard, performed often and well, and had a blast doing it all. Only now, as a dance teacher of 15 years, do I fully understand and appreciate how hard my directors worked to maintain such a loving dance studio with high standards. That shapes my heart for the mission of Bloom School of Dance. It is my passion to not only offer my students a strong foundation of dance skills, technique, and opportunities, but also to nurture, encourage, and equip dancers to love the art of dance and love their fellow dancers.
Being a life-long and well-rounded dancer, I have had opportunities to train throughout central Texas and Oklahoma including the Bartlesville Civic Ballet, the Norman Ballet Company, Broadway Dance Center, New Mexico Ballet, the University of Arizona, and the University of Oklahoma. While pursuing a degree in elementary education from the University of Oklahoma, I continued the study of ballet through the School of Dance. It was here, I fell in love with dance all over again or perhaps in an entirely new way, as I began to dance for myself and not for others. The passion for the art and the knowledge of the technique soared!
Now I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching at several studios over the years, gaining insight every step along the way. It brings great joy to see students overcome challenges, learn new skills, and grow in strength. I can’t wait to see the students who come through Bloom School of Dance blossom into beautiful young ladies and gentlemen supported by an art form and dance family they will carry with them through life’s roads.
Ballet, Pointe and Contemporary
Grace Manuel
Ms. Manuel, from New Orleans, Louisiana, trained in Houston, Texas with Liza Pollok and Sonja Staines at Excelsior School of Dance from 2011–2015. She then trained at Houston Ballet Academy from 2015–2018 under Shelly Power. Ms. Manuel joined Oklahoma City Ballet as a trainee in 2018, was named Studio Company in 2019, apprentice in 2021, and promoted to corps de ballet in 2023.
Her repertoire includes works by Stanton Welch, Septime Webre, Val Caniparoli, Michael Pink, George Balanchine, Gerald Arpino, Devon Carney, David Nixon, Michel Fokine, August Bournonville, Marius Petipa, Robert Mills, Austin Hartel, and Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye. Her favorite roles include the Wafting Girl in Gerald Arpino’s Birthday Variations, Lady Capulet in Devon Carney’s Romeo and Juliet, fourth movement corps in George Balanchine’s Western Symphony, and one of the Four Little Flamingos in Septime Webre’s ALICE (in Wonderland).
Beginning her teaching journey in Houston at Excelsior School of Dance, Ms. Manuel has since been privileged to teach at several studios throughout Oklahoma following her move to Oklahoma City. Most notably, she has taught at Marjorie Kovich School of Dance and Dance Studio 150, and currently teaches at The Pointe Performing Arts Center. She is excited to join the Bloom School of Dance faculty this season!
Ballet, Pointe
Flannery Werner
Flannery started dancing when she was just two years old, and never stopped! She fell in love with dance, specifically ballet, and her love led her to pursue a career as a professional. Six years of training under Elizabeth Shipiatsky in Denver, Colorado served as the foundation for her technique, which carried her to Houston Ballet Academy, Texas Ballet Theater’s Studio Training Company, and eventually to Oklahoma City Ballet. After a season in the second company, Flannery was promoted to the rank of apprentice, and two seasons later she was promoted to the corps de ballet. In her time with OKCB, she has enjoyed dancing the roles of Clara/Marie in The Nutcracker, Pas de Trois and Four Little Swans in Swan Lake, and in Gerald Arpino’s Birthday Variations - here in Oklahoma City as well as on tour in Chicago and at The Joyce in New York City.
Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary
Katy Whitfield
Katy Whitfield is from Sulphur, Oklahoma. She is a dance performer and choreographer, and has been dancing since she was four years old. She trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, hiphop, and tap at On Pointe Dance Center, and danced competitively at Pauls Valley Dance Station. She later went on to study at the University of Central Oklahoma, graduating in 2025 with a BFA in dance performance. She also performed with UCO’s Kaleidoscope Dance Company and KD2 dancing works by Yukina Sato and Kyera Fitzgerald, Hui Cha Poos, Kimberly Loveridge, Brandi Kelly, and Nate Tylor. Katy also teaches in Sulphur, OK at On the Pointe Dance Center where she also coordinates and runs their competition team. Katy hopes to continue to show her creativity through dance in choreography and performance.
Ballet
Zoe Johnson
Zoe started dancing at age 2 and has loved it ever since. Starting out at the lovely Classical Ballet School in Edmond, OK she danced her way into the prestigious Oklahoma City Ballet’s Day Program where she trained extensively in ballet, pointe, contemporary, jazz and modern. She also had the distinct privilege of performing in the Oklahoma City Ballet’s Nutcracker performance. Now at the University of Oklahoma earning a degree in Health and Exercise Science, Zoe is extremely passionate about pouring her training into the younger generation of dancers that precede her and keeping dance fun!
Ballet, Tap, Jazz
Brynn Ruple
Brynn began dancing at the age of seven and has been passionate about it ever since. Throughout her years of training, she has studied a wide variety of styles including ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical, hip-hop, and modern. She is currently pursuing a degree in Dance Education at University of Central Oklahoma, where she trains under esteemed faculty and works with highly regarded guest artists as a member of the Kaleidoscope Dance Company. While Brynn loves performing, her true passion has always been teaching and choreographing. She is excited to share her creativity and love for dance with the next generation of artists!
Owner and Artistic Director, Tap
Ashley Burget
Ashley Burget’s lifelong love for dance began in Lubbock, Texas, where she trained extensively in ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, and tap. Tap quickly became her primary focus, leading to numerous competitive titles through Dance Masters of America. While studying at the University of Oklahoma, Ashley had the distinct honor of training under celebrated musical theater choreographer Lyn Cramer. It was also during her university years that she was mentored by Maggie Mitchell, former owner of Modern Dance Arts, who deeply influenced Ashley’s approach to teaching and shaping the next generation of dancers. Balancing her passion for dance with a full life of faith, marriage, and motherhood, Ashley has dedicated years to cultivating excellence in her students and remains deeply devoted to her calling as an educator.