Raguel, along with her sister Dara, is the owner and director of Fierce Factory Dance & Talent. The studio reflects her passion for teaching dance. Raguel is best known for her national award winning solos, duets, team and officer choreography along with aspiring young dancers in the Houston area.
Raguel McFarlane
Owner & Director
Dara Sayrie
Owner & Director
OWNER & DIRECTOR
Dara McFarlane is a professional dancer and choreographer born and raised in Friendswood, Texas. She discovered her passion for dance at the age of 8 and hasn't stopped since. Dara attended Friendswood High School while also competing in many dance competitions locally and nationally. After graduating high school, she became one of the world-renowned Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders for two years, where she had the opportunity to travel on USO tours to Iraq and Afghanistan to perform for our soldiers for the holidays. From Dallas, Texas Dara then moved to Los Angeles, California and began dancing for the prestigious L.A Laker Girls from 2009-2013.
Currently, Dara has moved back to the Houston area where she is focused on going back to school to receive her degree in Communications. She is continuing to share her love and passion for dance with other young people and teaching dancers the importance of having fun doing what you love and learning to be confident in who you are. In 2016, Dara got married and they are now the proud parents of their baby boy, Legend.
Molly Waldner
Dance Instructor
Molly has been a Dance Choreographer and Educator for 16 years and has been a dancer for 25 years. Her journey actually began with Baton Twirling, but she quickly found out that her true love was for dance. She started competing at the age of 4 and has not stopped. She trains in as many styles of dance as possible and wants to learn everything she can about this art form. She has trained in hip hop, jazz, ballet, contemporary, lyrical, tap, jazz funk, bachata, housing, popping, heels, flexibility, lyra, pole, improvisation, dance therapy, Bollywood, and more. In High School, Captain of her Dance team her senior year. She joined crowd pleasers staff right after graduation, where she traveled and taught at schools throughout Texas. Her first year of college was at University of North Texas, Denton. She transferred to Texas State University to complete her education the next year. While she was in school, she taught at San Antonio Dance Academy and Central Texas Ballet Conservatory full time. During that time, she began to expand her teaching experience as a freelance choreographer. She taught at multiple schools and studios throughout Texas. She also danced on an adult Hip Hop crew called Illovation. They won many competitions, such as World Of Dance, and did many performances and workshops throughout Texas. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts, specializing in Choreography and Performance. After graduation, she began teaching at Soundbox Studios until she moved to Los Angeles, California. While in LA, she landed a work-study position at the world famous Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio in North Hollywood, California. She learned so much about to commercial dance industry and trained under LA’s finest dance instructors. She also did character work with Universal Studios in her time in LA. She moved back to Houston in 2016 to further her teaching career and education in dance. She began teaching at Elite Dance Academy and Athletistry Performing Arts Center full time. Molly has since received Outstanding Choreography awards for numerous pieces and styles at competitions and conventions throughout the years. She is certified in Aerial Yoga and Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT). Her hobby when she is not dancing is to learn Aerial Art such as Lyra and Pole, as well as, makeup and modeling. She recently discovered her true calling for dance. She wants to use Dance Therapy as a way to help people feel confident in their own skin. Molly will continue to dance as long as she is able. She feels extremely lucky to have found what she loves at such a young age. Molly loves her craft and more than anything, loves sharing it with others.
Taylor Gross
Recreational & Ballet Instructor
Taylor started dancing at the age of 3 and immediately fell in love with it! She traveled across the country with her competitive dance studio and attended HSPVA (High School for the Performing & Visual Arts) as a dance major. After graduating high school, she attended Texas A&M as an education major and dance minor and was a member of Dance Arts Society.
In 2016, she became a Houston Texans Cheerleader and danced with them for two amazing seasons. During her time as an HTC, she was chosen to travel to Playa del Carmen for the swimsuit calendar photoshoot, Mexico City for the Texans' international football game, dance for Super Bowl LI, represent the team at numerous appearances across the state, and was a team captain for the 2017-2018 season. In 2019, Taylor moved to Chicago and made the NBA dance team for the Chicago Bulls. During her rookie year, she was chosen to dance at the 2020 NBA All Star game.
Taylor moved back to Houston in early 2022, and she couldn't be happier to be home!!! She works for a dermatopathology lab and is a signed model with Page Parkes Modeling Agency. She loves to bake and spend quality time with her husband and two kitties!
K’Julon Bradley
Recreational Instructor
K’Julon Bradley also known as KJ is a native Houstonian who has been dancing for 20 years now. She graduated from Willowridge High School where she served as the captain her senior year. She continued her education and dance career with the 11x National Champion Dance Team of McLennan Community college for two years, where she served as a captain her second year. From there KJ transferred to Stephen F. Austin State University and was a part of the 20x National Champion SFA Dance Teams. After graduating from SFA with a B.A in Human Resource Management in 2019, KJ continued her dance career with the Houston Texans Cheerleaders for two seasons. Her teaching career began as an elementary dance teacher, and now Assistant Director at GBHS. She is also a part of MA staff and works closely with high school drill teams to help enhance contest routines.
KJ has taught various styles of dance which includes: Creative movement, Praise dance, Jazz, Pom, and Hip-Hop. KJ is super excited to meet new students and give them an opportunity to express themselves in a safe space and grow as individuals and dancers.
Savanna Franco
Tiny Tot Instructor
Dalanah Freeman
Recreational & Team Instructor
Dalanah had what most people in the dance world would call a “late start,” to her dancing career. Her dance career began in Dance I, her freshman year of high school at Ridge Point High School. Her love and passion for dance grew after auditioning for the Ridge Point Royals Dance Team, in her years on the team, she served as a founding member, sophomore class representative, Jr. Lieutenant, and Captain her senior. After graduation, Dalanah joined MA Dance company where she traveled around the world teaching high school dance camps, choreographing, and judging competitions.
Dalanah received BA in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Social Media Marketing, at Sam Houston State University, and is a PROUD alumna and former Captain of the 8X National Champion Orange Pride Dance Team. After graduation, Dalanah went to cheer for the Houston Texans NFL Organization and took her first high school directing job as the Assistant Director of the Illusions Dance Team at George Bush High School. She currently just finished serving as the Head Director of the Illusions Dance Team. Her time at George Bush has been spent loving her team and creating dancers of the future! She is now married and enjoying being a wife and new mommy to her daughter.
Dalanah has an intensely competitive spirit and an equally strong passion for dance and sharing with the next generation, and cannot wait to share her passion with the talented dancers at Fierce Factory!!!
Austin Ingle
Social Media Manager
Austin Ingle, started her dance journey dancing for a small town Competitive dance studio in Friendswood, TX. Her love & passion for dance soon drove her in the opposite direction of competitive dance, & she started to take class at the Houston Metropolitan Dance Centre. She was soon asked to join the pre-professional company, the Houston Met Too. Austin worked under the instruction of Marlana Walsh, Ray Dones, Kiki Lucas, Joe Celej, Jane Weiner, Peter Chu, Steven Boyd, & many others. She had the opportunity to dance for Steven Boyd, and participate in his technique instructional videos filmed at the MET. At the age of 16, Austin went on to direct her own Non-Profit Performance Company called Dancers Against Cancer. From 2006-2008 Austin co-directed & competed with her, and her mom’s dance studio, LA Dance Productions, where she won State, Regional, and National competitions as a soloists. She later committed to dancing every summer with iHollywood Dance in Los Angeles, CA, where she performed, & filmed at Universal Studios under the direction of well known choreographers such as Travis Wall, Nick Lazzarini, Ivan Koumaev, Sonya Tayeh, & many more from the reality show, "So You Think You Can Dance." In 2010, Ms. Ingle started her own family, while continuing to teach and choreograph for Dance Dynamics, in the Woodlands, TX. She also worked summer camps, and judged for MA Dance Company. Since 2014, Austin has been a freelance choreographer/instructor, continuing her dance education, & judging competitions/auditions for MA & a select few dance companies. Besides dance, she dedicates her time, & energy to being a mom of two, teaching for Fierce Factory Dance & Talent, as well as going to school & pursing her career in real estate.
Ereeni Bernitsas
Ballet & Dance Instructor
Ereeni Bernitsas is so excited to be teaching this summer! She has been dancing with Fierce Factory for 11 years, and has competed for 7 seasons. Along with being on FFDT’s competition team, she is also a part of her high school's dance team, and is a junior lieutenant for the ‘23-24 season. She is so excited to be teaching and can’t wait to spend the summer with your kids!
Kriszti Mills
Stretch & Conditioning Coach
Kriszti Mills is a stretching/conditioning coach that brings unique exercises from over 25 years of rhythmic gymnastics’ coaching experience. She has been with Fierce Factory since 2016.
Kriszti graduated with summa cum laude with a Business degree from U of H Downtown and has been a USA Gymnastics’ professional member since 1995. )
Herman Charles
Hip Hop Instructor
Originally from Houston, TX, Herman Charles III began his dance career as local performer. He quickly became one of the city's most sought after performers and dance instructors. Herman has worked with talent managers, Mathew Knowles, Charles Chavez and creative director, Kim Burse as a choreographer & creative director. He has worked with artists such as Frankie J., Solange Knowles, Tri-ni-tee 5:7, Megan Thee Stallion and That Girl Lay Lay. He has also choreographed for Pro Teams: Houston Rocket Power Dancers and Houston Dynamo Girls. Herman has also staged and choreographed musicals, Saturday Night Fever, The Wiz, Grease, Bye Bye Birdie, Annie, The Wizard of Oz & Cinderella. He is currently developing new artist and when he’s not touring, continues to teach hip hop dance in his hometown.
Madison Carter
Recreational & Tiny Tot Instructor
Madison Carter will be a part of the FFDT staff this summer. She has been dancing for 11 years now, and has been a part of the Fierce Fam as a dancer for 8 of those years. Madison has also been a Tiny Tot instructor at Fierce Factory for the past 3 years. She will be attending Duke University in the fall but until then, she cannot wait to spend time with your kiddos!