Instructor

Mesha Rebstock

Teacher/Choreographer; Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz, & Contemporary

Mesha first started dancing at age four and has trained under the direction of Raven Hunter, Tiffany White, and Theresa Laussade, dancing competitively for much of her career. She was an original member of The Hornets Dance Team The Stingers from 2014–2017. Mesha has also acted in and choreographed musicals for Bayou Playhouse and Le Petit Theatre. Her choreography has been featured by the South Lafourche Royals and the LCO Dance Team.
Mesha has been on staff at DWC since 2015, working with the company, and her choreography has been recognized both regionally and nationally. By day, Mesha is a Licensed Professional Counselor, though dance has always been her passion and a constant in her life.
Mesha would like to thank her husband, Jacob, for being so understanding of her crazy schedule, and her son, Chord, for sitting through countless performances like a champ. Her daughter, Sawyer, is currently a member of Company, and Mesha loves being a dance mom!

Emily Griffin

Teacher/Choreographer; All Styles

Emily began dancing at the age of three under the direction of Tiffany White, before continuing to dance for Raven Hunter and Rhiannon Toups. She started competition dancing at the age of 6. Her passion for dance continued in middle school where she was a part of the LCOMS Dance team and then the LCOMS Cheer Team. Following middle school, Emily decided to expand her dance education by joining the South Lafourche High School Tarponettes, where she served as captain for two out of her four years.

Emily was given the opportunity to share her passion for dance with other kids at a very young age. She first student taught under Raven for many years before being asked to become an instructor at the age of fifteen. She started her dream of teaching by instructing ballet and has continued to improve her abilities by now teaching ballet, jazz, and contemporary. She is so thankful to be able to share her passion of dance with future generations and loves every part of it.

Emily is currently attending Nicholls State University to get a degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in History and hopes to continue teaching dancing while pursuing her other passion.

Rhiannon Ballard Toups

Studio Director/Owner/Choreographer; All Styles

Rhiannon began dancing when she was 5 years old under the instruction of Tiffany White, before going on to dance for Raven Hunter at DanceWorks Center. She continued to dance in college under Mina Estrada, Susan Perlis, Blair Buras, Christine Chrest, and Claudio Ribeiro de Silva. She graduated from Louisiana State University in May of 2017 with a Bachelor's degree in Business Management and a minor in dance.

Rhiannon always knew that she wanted to return to DanceWorks Center after graduation. She is grateful that Raven welcomed her back with open arms and she enjoys every part of teaching, from the Tiny Dancers classes to the oldest Ballet class. Rhiannon says that as much as she enjoyed being a student, she enjoys teaching even more. Rhiannon is certified through Acrobatics Arts, Dance Teacher University, and Intellidance 3-5 Year Olds.

Rhiannon is married to Justin Toups, who she says is the greatest thing that ever happened to her. They have two sons, Brighton, and Rhett, who are the light of their world.

Emma Willingham

Teacher/Choreographer: Hip Hop

Emma began dancing at the age of 6 under the instruction of Raven Hunter at Danceworks Center. She did recreational hip hop for two years when she was asked to join the competition team in 2016. She ventured out to try other styles like Contemporary and Jazz and eventually fell in love with all styles. She began student teaching in 2018 with Rhiannon Toups in her home town, Grand Isle, where she learned she loved teaching kids. She continued student teaching throughout the years under Rhiannon and Raven. Although, she has a passion for teaching all styles, she knew she wanted to share her love for hip hop with others, especially since this is where she started. She student taught Hip Hop 1, 2, and 3 with Raven in 2023 which confirmed that this was the style she would enjoy teaching.
Emma is a Senior at University View Academy, where she also holds the position of Beta Club President. She plans to attend Nicholls State University in the fall where she will pursue a degree in Birth to 5/ Early Interventionist Education to teach Pre-k or Kindergarten. She plans to continue teaching dance after high school as being a dance teacher has always been her passion.

Ali Plaisance

Teacher/Choreographer; Tap

Ali began dancing at age two under the instruction of Tiffany Hymel before continuing her training with Raven Hunter and Rhiannon Toups at DanceWorks Center. She entered the competitive dance world through tap and later became a full company member, training in tap, hip hop, jazz, and contemporary. While she enjoys every style of dance, tap has always been where her true passion lies.

Before becoming an instructor, Ali spent many years student-teaching tap classes under Raven and Mesha, where she discovered her love for working with younger dancers. Through her teaching at DWC in both recreational and competition classes, Ali realized that she not only wants to continue teaching dance for as long as possible, but also hopes to teach in a school setting.

Ali currently attends Nicholls State University where she is pursuing a degree in Secondary Education. She hopes to one day teach science in at the high school level.

Raven Pierce Hunter

Studio Director/Owner/Choreographer; All Styles

Raven began dancing at age 6, studying lyrical, tap and jazz dance for a decade under Toni Sphar and Tiffany White in Cut Off and Houma, La. She continued dancing in college under Sarah Stravinska and Kenneth Jenkins, earning a bachelor’s degree in performing arts with a concentration in dance from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. After college she entered an intensive study program at Duke University, where she learned from Pam Peitro, Robert Battle and Gerry Houlihan. Her tutelage under Battle continued in New York City, where she moved directly after the intensive program, and where she also learned from Jana Hicks and Kenny Larson. She is certified by Dance Teacher University, as well as Acrobatics Arts.

After dancing with the Fluid Edge Dance Company, Raven jumped at the opportunity to take over DanceWorks Center, and has found her calling in teaching. She believes that passion holds the secret to success, and her passion lies in dance.

Raven is married to Caleb Hunter, who she calls the “best husband in the world.” They have two sons, Kael and Koda.