Meet The Faculty
Certified & Experienced Teachers
RAD Center
Paloma Bernal
Mrs. Paloma was born in Mexico City and started her classical studies at a very early age with her mother Paloma Zepeda Novelo. She has studied different forms of dance and choreography styles with very prestigious Mexican and International teachers through the years such as Elena Jordan, Bodil Henkwill, Emma Pulido, Sonia Castaneda, and Carlos Feria along many . In 1984 Mrs. Bernal became a formal dancer in the "Arte Total" and "Huillacapixtli" folkloric dance group under direction of Paloma Zepeda, de Bernal, this group was highly recognized in promoting Mexican flolkore and culture around the United States, South and Central America and a few European countries. With this "Huillacapiztli" dance group Mrs. Paloma entered into Mexican television for more than 5 years in the T.V. show "Siempre en Domingo" conducted by Raul Valazco and sharing the stage with artists such as Vicente Fernanadez, Ruben Zepeda Novelo y Lucha Villa. In 1988, Ms Bernal became Executive Director of "Estudio de Danza Paloma Bernal", the family dance studio that followed the Royal Academy of Dance programme. The studio 's classes include Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical and Hip-hop as well as traditional Mexican Folklore, Flamenco, Tahitian, and Polynesian styles of dance. The family studio hosted R.A.D. Vocational Graded Exams every year and it is in north Mexico City location. Ms. Paloma was invited to participate in different T.V. shows to demonstrate some of the disciplines taught in the studio. In 2006, Mrs. Paloma moved to the Untied States and began teaching in Houston in 2007. After more than 30 years teaching, she continues to attend workshops and classes for professional development. When the studio was created in 2012, she was integral part and founder to the project that soon became Intempo Dance. In April 2017, Mrs. Paloma completed the Progressing Ballet Technique teacher certification course taught by the PBT founder Marie Walton-Mahon. Mrs. Paloma is an ABT Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary though Level 3 of the ABT National Training Curriculum.
Marissa Hernandez
Marissa was born in McAllen, Texas, and raised in Houston, Texas. Dancing from the age of 4, Marissa grew up in a competitive dance studio environment and trained extensively in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern, and Contemporary styles. She also has experience in competitive cheer, as well as middle and high school dance teams.
Marissa is currently a dance major at the University of St. Thomas, working towards her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts. While studying dance at a collegiate level, she fell in love with her new perspective on modern movement. Alongside her studies, Marissa has performed in various productions throughout the Houston area and has worked with dance companies such as Deeper Than Dance. She has also led masterclasses in different cities, sharing her passion and knowledge with dancers of all levels.
Marissa remains dedicated to her own training and performance, continually pushing her artistic boundaries. Her goal is to help dancers, regardless of their experience, become comfortable with stepping out of their comfort zones while bringing a modern perspective to traditional styles, all while maintaining core technical values.
Joshua Godfrey
Josh has been dancing for 4 years and professionally 3 years! Has taught at multiple dance studios including: Magnify, Delicate Rose, and DanceBarr as a hip hop, Acro, and contemporary teacher as well as a member of the 9+ years world of dance winning team Soreal. Josh has also, trained under the director of men’s Houston ballet, over 10+ different hip hop choreographers and, most recently, background dancer/traveling several tours Cameron Giles and has been super blessed to work with many artist such as Jon Glenn, Jaysn, Brent, PLove, Bibi sings, Eric Harleston, Jacque productions, and Kendra Scott! He has been on a Texas tour with J&D entertainment as a professional Emcee/pop and lock dancer and Texas tour for intmepo dance as a professional ballet/contemporary dancer! While traveling for performing, guest teaching at other studios and Gigging around Houston area, Josh started his dancing journey by choreographing for 8 different high/middle schools since he started dancing!
When not dancing he is running his own businesses, Noteable and GrooveUp Ent. With many different circus performers, magicians,
Musicians, cosplayers, aerialist, dancers, models, gymnasts and singers all over the city of Houston. His companies provides enjoyable entertainment for parties, events, gathers, birthdays, venues, grand openings, companies etc. This makes Josh’s 3 musical here at Jersey Village and is super proud of the cast for such hard work and dedication towards his creation as choreographer. He is super blessed to be doing what he loves and hope to continue to share his gift and blessing from the lord to others. God bless!
Guest Artist-Holda Torres
Holda began her training in Mexico City under the direction of Paloma Zepeda Novelo. She began her classical training in the cuban technique and then moved into the Royal Academy of Dance programme. Apart from classical ballet training, Holda is also trained in other dance techniques such as Modern, Contemporary, Tap, Flamenco, Capoeira and Mexican folklore. She has coursed through the R.A.D graded exams from Pre-Primary to Advance 2. Ms. Holda was a dancer with Allegro Ballet of Houston under the direction of Glenda Brown, Peggy Girouard and Vanessa Brown. Allegro gave Holda the opportunity to dance regionally and nationally at the Regional Dance America Convention and internationally with Young Tanzsommer tour in Austria. While dancing with Allegro, Ms Holda received her R.A.D. training with Rocio Braggiato R.A.D Mentor and Catriona Steel. Through her career Holda has been able to work with recognized choreographers such as Jairo Lastre, Paula Weber, Joe Iste, Rocio Braggiato, and Lauren Garson in their original works in different styles of dance. She has also been able to take classes with Master Teachers such as Laura Alonso, John Magnus, Thom Clower, Jennifer Medina, Paula Weber, Lynn Wallis, Ana Jurado, Albert Cataffi, Leslie Jane Pessemier. Holda has also had the opportunity to perform as a soloist in many original productions such as Venezuela Mia, Venezuela Nuestra and America Latina with DAPA. Holda shared the stage with Angel Laza performing the main roles in the production of "Mi Colombia" in Indianapolis with Colombian Folkloric Ballet (2014). In the spring of 2015 Holda performed the role of "Michaela" in the collaborative production of Carmen along side DAPA dancers, Intempo Dance Ensemble, and Houston Latin American Philharmonic Orchestra. Holda has attended the Glenda Brown Choreography Project at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, on 5 occasions: twice as a dancer and three times as a choreographer. Holda completed her Certificate for Ballet Teaching Studies (CBTS) Programme in 2014 under the mentor-ship of Rocio Braggiato, and is now a Royal Academy Certified Teacher.. R.A.D TC 797370. In April 2017 Ms Holda completed the Progressing Ballet Technique teacher certification course taught by the PBT founder Marie Walton-Mahon.Mrs. Holda is an ABT Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT National Training Curriculum.
Currently, Holda is part of the faculty at the Houston Ballet Academy.