Miss Toni

Toni Rodriquez is a native Texan, born in San Antonio. She moved to Houston at age 5 and began her dance training with Joee Shapiro. Toni began her competitive dance career at age 10, and in addition to training in jazz, tap, and acrobatics, she trained in classical balet with Margo Marshall and Gilbert Rome. By age 16 she was studying with Frank Hatchett in New York, and Ricky Odum in France. She continued to study ballet with Soli Arvola and Leo Ahonen as an apprentice for the Texas Ballet. Toni worked with choreographer Jamie Rogers as a dancer for the Peoples Choice Awards as wel as working with Patsy Swayze and Debbie Reynolds while she lived in Los Angeles.

Toni returned to Texas, attended University of Houston, and participated in many state and national beauty pageants, mostly as a way to pay for college. Her titles included, Miss Harris County, Miss Fiestas Patrias, 2nd Runner up for Miss Texas, and Miss Petite Texas. Toni realized her dream of opening a dance studio in 1994. At the same time Toni began developing programs for several Montessori schools in the Houston area, and her true love and passion for teaching became evident. Toni’s students have won many national awards, as well as Toni winning the prestigious, Presidents Cup for Choreography from the Dance Educators of America. In 2006, Toni retired from the “studio business,” and is now a contract choreographer, guest clinician, master teacher and judge. Her travels have taken her across the United States and to Monterry, Mexico where she continues to share her passion of teaching and educating dancers of all levels.