About City Dance Center

Mission Statement

Our mission at City Dance Center is to not only supply students with solid dance technique but to instill a passion and appreciation for movement and performing. Whether a recreational dancer, a pre-professional/competitive dancer or an adult who has never taken a dance class (but always wanted to), every student is important and welcome at City Dance Center! Move Here!

Jacey Garcia - Owner/Director

Jacey Garcia began her dance training at the age of three years old and immediately fell in love with everything about it. Her first instructors included Debbie Broussard, June Badon, and then Keely Jardell of Mid County. While studying with Keely Jardell, Jacey was a member of the dance company where she had the opportunity to compete and perform throughout Texas. One of the most memorable moments for Jacey though was performing at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.

Upon graduation from high school, Jacey received a dance and academic scholarship to the highly acclaimed Oklahoma City University, a school known for its prestigious and demanding dance program. There she earned a B.S. degree in Dance Management and graduated with honors.

While attending OCU, Jacey had the pleasure of studying under master teachers such as Jo Rowan, Lyn Cramer, and Rhonda Miller. In addition, Jacey was a member of the American Spirit Dance Company, an elite group of dancers that perform all over the United States and abroad.

Since college, Jacey has taught and choreographed everywhere from Oklahoma to Dallas to right here in Beaumont and Mid County. Also, in her efforts to continue to study the art of dance, Jacey has traveled to Monterrey Mexico for the annual Jazz Dance World Congress, New York City to study under top instructors, and she regularly attends dance conventions and workshops throughout Texas.

With more than 25 years of experience in studying, performing, choreographing, and teaching dance, Jacey is excited to share her knowledge and love of the art form with her students at City Dance Center!

B.J. "Chango" Martinez - Latin/Hip Hop Instructor

B.J. “Chango” Martinez was born in Port Arthur, TX into a family of musicians and got his start in music at the age of three years old. His Father, a talented guitarist, was B.J.’s first teacher and taught him the all-important skill of “listening.” By the age of twelve, B.J. was teaching and arranging music with heavy jazz influences. It was not until he was around seventeen years old that he began to also be influenced by Latin music. At this point, B.J. decided he was going to focus his musical talents on Latin music and he never looked back.

He gained experience and honed his skills as a Latin musician by playing with several Latin combos where he had the opportunity to hear, play, and see “salsa.” After a while, B.J. decided that he not only wanted to play salsa music, but he also wanted to experience the dance aspect of it.

In 2004, B.J. began studying in Houston with a renowned salsa dance instructor by the name of Eddy Deynes. “SalsaEddy” originated from Puerto Rico where he began his dance training and now is a very popular salsa instructor all over Texas and the United States. B.J. was a natural and it wasn’t long before his instructor was encouraging him to bring salsa to Beaumont and Mid County.

With the intention of educating people on not just how to do the steps, but the real roots of salsa music and dancing, B.J. began teaching and now has many devoted students that are dedicated to learning all aspects of salsa. His classes are fun, energetic, and informative, which is why he is a very popular and well-known instructor in Beaumont and Mid County.

B.J. also continues to learn himself by attending classes in Houston and attending salsa conventions to study with top teachers and professionals in the field. Therefore, his classes are always fresh and current with what is going on in the world of salsa.

Looking towards the future of salsa dancing and music in South East Texas, B.J. founded the SOULSA Project, a salsa dance company that performs locally and around Texas. SOULSA means salsa with soul and that is the purpose of the project. B.J.’s teaching philosophy is to teach the what, the why, when to wait and when to execute, but most important, how to express yourself!

Tiffany Maloney

Tiffany Maloney has been teaching dance professionally for 14 years. A native of Beaumont, Tiffany was a performing member of Beaumont Ballet Theatre and the Beaumont Jazz Ensemble. While attending Baylor University, Tiffany focused on Musical Theatre, performing in various productions including, “Cabaret”, “A Chorus Line”, and other original dance productions.

Attending TISCH School of Performing Arts at New York University, Tiffany began to study contemporary and organic dance, with movement based on inner feeling and musical interpretation.

In addition to professional choreographic work, Tiffany has worked as an adjudicator for national dance competitions including International Dance Challenge, Hall of Fame, and Dance Olympus. Tiffany is also a certified Yoga instructor and a certified teacher by Dance Masters of America in Ballet, Jazz, and Modern.

Amber Westman

Amber Westman began her dance training at the age of three. From then on, dancing has been a major part of her life. She began her studies with Annabelle Taylor and then danced primarily with Keely Jardell of Nederland. In addition, Amber trained and performed with the Beaumont Civic Ballet.

Some of Amber’s dance performance highlights include the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia and several performances at the Dallas Cowboy’s Football halftimes and pre-shows. As a member of Keely Jardell’s dance company, Amber had the opportunity to compete and perform all over the United States.

Over the past several years, Amber has had the pleasure of teaching dance in Mid County and is now excited to bring her knowledge to City Dance Center. Amber’s goal as a dance instructor is to not only teach students to develop technically as dancers, but to instill in her students a love and a lifelong appreciation of dance. We are thrilled to have her at CDC!

City Dance Center Location:

City Dance Center
3015 N. Dowlen Rd, Suite 270
Beaumont, TX 77706

We are located in the new HEB shopping center at the corner of Dowlen Rd. and Delaware near Monterrey House. Check out our map or call us if you need better directions.