Grant Qualls grew up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. He attended Houston Baptist University where he competed as a collegiate gymnast. Grant is well known in the gymnastics community, and approaches teaching with a nurturing, stress-free energy that encourages students to push themselves to the highest level possible.
I am Dani Donnelly, and I am the General Manager at Iron Cross. I started gymnastics at 2 years old and competed until I was 12 years old. Gymnastics was a passion of mine that helped shape me into the person I am today. It taught me not only perseverance and discipline, but it truly served as a safe place for me throughout my childhood. I enjoy doing puzzles and playing sand volleyball. Some fun facts about me are my favorite color is yellow, I collect coffee mugs, I love all things Harry Potter, and my 115lb German Shepard, Moose, is my best friend. One of my favorite things about my job is our company’s mission to provide a positive, loving and encouraging environment to our students. That is so important to me, and it’s been an incredible journey to be a part of as we grow and expand into so many different interests such as music and dance.
Hi! My name is Ashlyn Gray and I am the Office Manager here at Iron Cross. I was a competitive cheerleader for 13 years where I competed with a local cheer gym in all-stars and college at Stephen F. Austin State University. Fun fact: my tumbling coach throughout my cheer career was the famous Jeremy Alspaugh! My husband and I met and cheered together at SFA and now have 2 kids, both of which love coming to Iron Cross for gymnastics. I grew up with Jeremy and Grant in the gym and nothing makes me happier knowing my kids will have the same opportunity.
Hi! My name is Lauren Cuevas. I manage the front desk team and had the privilege to coach as well. I was a competitive cheerleader for 13 years and currently going on my 6th year of coaching. During my free time I love to tumble, go to the gym or hang out with friends & family. I love working here at Iron Cross because it’s one big family and a great environment to be in 🙂
My name is Coach John, and I have been coaching gymnastics for over 20 years. Gymnastics has always been a part of my life. When I am away from the gym, I also enjoy cooking and hanging out with friends and family. If you know me well, you know most of my time is spent at the gym. I look forward to working with your competitive team athletes!
Christina Leachman began her training in Houston with Banbury School of Dance. She trained with various schools including the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, Pittsburg Ballet Theatre, Margo Marshall School of Dance, and Houston Ballet. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Utah in Ballet with a Teaching and Choreographic Emphasis in 1991. At the University of Utah, she was the first student allowed to set an original work, “Ballroom Dances” on the Utah Ballet Company. Upon graduation, she danced with Austin Contemporary Dance Theatre, where she also taught. Along with teaching at other schools in Austin she taught in Utah. Since returning to Houston in 2000 she has worked with schools in the area including Fort Bend Academy of Dance, Becky’s Academy of Dance, Lynn Bates School of Dance in Wharton, TX and Iron Cross Gymnastics. She also began a private studio business called the Ballet Boot Camp to offer private and semi-private lessons to serious students seeking to advance their dancing to the next level. She has successfully served many dancers from Houston and surrounding areas to achieve their personal goals.
Christina joined the Iron Cross team in 2010 to give the competitive gymnastics girls team its first dance program. This program was designed to improve the girls dance knowledge, strength, and ability. In 2015 she became Director of the Inspire Dance Program. Since beginning Inspire Dance we have developed a company of young talented dancers that compete at several major dance Competitions in the Houston area. Primarily using the Russian ballet teaching style commonly known as Vagonova, this has proven to be the successful pathway to giving our dancers the solid foundation they need to succeed in many styles of dance. We offer classes in ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and tap. Christina is dedicated to leading Inspire Dance Company to the highest quality, best dance experience in the Fort Bend County area.
Hi I'm Coach Dakota and I have been the Boys Team Director for about 10 years. I have been working at Iron Cross since the doors opened in December 2007! My favorite part of working at Iron Cross is working with my family and my best friends, and I love the fact that I have watched our athletes grow up in the gym. I enjoy rock climbing, golfing, and most importantly hanging out with my family. Fun fact - I am a secret agent for the government and I go on super cool missions when I'm not coaching.
I come from a musical family and was raised around music. My father is a professional guitarist and my mother's side of the family has many musicians. I began to play guitar when I was 11 years old, was in High School band (percussion), and taught myself to play piano at age 14.
I was writing music from an early age and first began performing in the Praise and Worship band at church, both guitar and drums. When I was in High School, I entered original instrumental compositions in a National Competition at Oral Roberts University two years in a row, winning third place and second place.
Shortly after graduating High School I was hired to play in community college productions. I have since continued to play various instruments at venues in and around the Greater Houston area.
Sharing music with children means a lot to me. I love watching them grow from not being able to read music or hold their instrument, to performing full songs for an audience. I love sharing knowledge with them and watching as they broaden their horizons and deepen their understanding and appreciation of music.
Hi, my name is Coach Georgie! I have been teaching gymnastics for 27 years. My favorite part about my job is watching children learn & grow and, before or after classes, I love to drink Dr. Pepper & snack on chocolate. When I am not at the gym, you can find me at the beach or off-roading in my Jeep.
My name is Garett Lee, but most people know me as Coach G, I’ve been training in marital arts for 28 years and teaching for 16 of that. I grew up in a karate household where both my parents were competitors and school owners for over 30 years so you can say blackbelts run the family. I made blackbelt in September 1999 at the age of 7 making me one of the youngest of time. After making blackbelt I dedicated myself to competition and competing all over the world which led me to accomplish many goals, like being the #1 ranked Jr blackbelt in forms & fighting in Texas from 2008-2012. Making Team USA in 2016 and coming home with the silver medal at the world games held in Dublin, Ireland in heavyweight fighting. Countless grand championships at local and state tournaments including 2022 Jam all nationals grand champion and being ranked 2nd in the world for traditional Japanese Forms in N.A.S.K.A (North American Sport Karate Association) in 2021.
During this time, I also coach my students to multiple gold medals at numerus events including the US Open (on ESPN) and the 2020 AAU Jr Olympics. I’m a huge nerd for Ninja turtles and Star Wars so don’t judge me if you hear me quote Master Splinter or Yoda. I love my two dogs Shadow an Ashoka who always keep me on my toes. If I’m not training, traveling, or competing for a karate tournament I can be found with them, usually in the backyard with something on the grill or on the couch watching a good movie. My passion is passing on the knowledge and skills of martial arts to the next generation not just to become champions in competition but Champions in life.
Hi! My name is Lauren Cuevas. I manage the front desk team and had the privilege to coach as well. I was a competitive cheerleader for 13 years and currently going on my 6th year of coaching. During my free time I love to tumble, go to the gym or hang out with friends & family. I love working here at Iron Cross because it’s one big family and a great environment to be in 🙂
Hi! my name is Allison Cuevas and I teach preschool and recreational gymnastics. Growing up, I had the privilege of training here at Iron Cross for a few years, then later started training as a dancer. Ever since I was little, contortion/acrobatic dance and gymnastics have always been a passion of mine. My favorite part of my job is the positive environment. Outside of work I enjoy dancing, spending time at the gym, and hanging out with my family.
Hi, My name is Will and I am excited to be coaching our boys team with Coach Grant. I grew up at Iron Cross and did gymnastics for 12 years making it level 10. Currently, I am on the GRHS dive team and hold the school record! In my free time you can find me skateboarding or playing the guitar.
Hi, I'm Aubree! I am currently in high school at Calvary Episcopal Preparatory. Some of my favorite hobbies are cheerleading, theater, and playing with my cats. When I'm not working at Iron Cross, I love to volunteer at George Ranch Historical Park.
Hi! my name is Allison Cuevas and I teach preschool and recreational gymnastics. Growing up, I had the privilege of training here at Iron Cross for a few years, then later started training as a dancer. Ever since I was little, contortion/acrobatic dance and gymnastics have always been a passion of mine. My favorite part of my job is the positive environment. Outside of work I enjoy dancing, spending time at the gym, and hanging out with my family.
Hi I'm Coach Ariel! I have been doing gymnastics for 9 years and I coach Girls Team levels 3 & 4! My favorite part of my job is working with the amazing kids here and getting to know them!
Hi, I'm Coach Katherine! I did 4 years of gymnastics and my favorite thing about it was learning new skills! What I enjoy most about my job is getting to interact with and have fun with our amazing students! One of my hobbies is baking cookies!
Hey I'm Coach Kendrick! I coach all levels of girls gymnastics and tumbling. My favorite part of my job is seeing the students have fun, work hard, and learn. A couple of fun facts about me are I also teach 7th Grade Math, and I love to cook and create new dishes!
Hi I'm Coach Nick. I have been coaching at Iron Cross for 12 years and have loved every moment. My favorite part of coaching boys team is the smiles I get to see when they get a new skill. I love puzzles, basketball and spending time with my wife and son. Fun fact about myself… I never wear my crocs in sports mode.
Hi I'm Coach Gabby! I am in my third year of college pursuing a BSN in Nursing. I have four years of experience in competitive cheer and dance, and I have taught gymnastics for four years! In addition to my passion for teaching, I enjoy building relationships with my students to further their knowledge and love for gymnastics. Fun fact - I have a dog named Oreo and a cat named Roco!
I come from a musical family and was raised around music. My father is a professional guitarist and my mother's side of the family has many musicians. I began to play guitar when I was 11 years old, was in High School band (percussion), and taught myself to play piano at age 14.
I was writing music from an early age and first began performing in the Praise and Worship band at church, both guitar and drums. When I was in High School, I entered original instrumental compositions in a National Competition at Oral Roberts University two years in a row, winning third place and second place.
Shortly after graduating High School I was hired to play in community college productions. I have since continued to play various instruments at venues in and around the Greater Houston area.
Sharing music with children means a lot to me. I love watching them grow from not being able to read music or hold their instrument, to performing full songs for an audience. I love sharing knowledge with them and watching as they broaden their horizons and deepen their understanding and appreciation of music.
Hi, I'm Cody House! I've been teaching and working professionally in Houston since 2017. I've been on both sides of the stage with ADplayers, Mainstreet Theater for Youth and others, and teaching privately as well as for various organizations in Houston ranging from the DECATS summer camps and School of Rock, to elementary music with Smaller Scholars Montessori Academy: Dairy Ashford. Music has always been a part of my life, but I became more active in elementary school on percussion. In college, I started taking singing lessons on a whim and liked it so much I left engineering to pursue a bachelor of arts in music, specializing in voice, from Illinois Wesleyan University, and I've been doing it for work and for fun ever since! I work with any age and have loved the opportunities I've been afforded to work with kids. Being a part of the growth and development of children, helping them to find not only their voice, but their confidence, is a blessing and a privilege I am incredibly grateful to enjoy! Hope to see you in my studio soon!
Amina, who also goes by "Minnie," has spent over 14 years mastering the piano, infusing her teaching with a deep understanding of the instrument. Her journey in music has been diverse, from performing in a School of Rock garage band and gracing the stage at The Pub Grill, to honing her vocal skills through years of private lessons. She’s not only proficient in piano but has also published three original piano pieces on Spotify, with more to come in the near future.
Beyond the piano, Minnie is a seasoned wind instrumentalist, with seven years on the Bb clarinet and three on the bass clarinet, including leadership roles in the Clements High School Marching Band as both a section leader and lead drum major.
When she's not making music, you'll find her crocheting, rollerblading, or scrapbooking. However, her true passion is to nurture young talents, driven by her desire to share the gift of music with the world.
Alan Richards has both a teaching and performance background. At 17 he was a touring guitarist on the East Coast, and currently is the concert guitarist for a Nashville recording artist. He brings extensive teaching experience in from private lessons, the classroom, and with many performing groups over the years. He is very glad to have the opportunity to share the gift of music to the next generation.
Camille was born in Houston, TX and attended the University of Houston. Her start in music began when she took pipe organ lessons at the age of 12 and later jazz piano lessons. She has been a pianist at the University of Houston Jazz Orchestra, a singer in Soundscape, UH's treble choir, and has played organ and worship piano in churches across the Houston area. She is very glad to have the opportunity to share the gift of music to the next generation.
Christina Leachman began her training in Houston with Banbury School of Dance. She trained with various schools including the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, Pittsburg Ballet Theatre, Margo Marshall School of Dance, and Houston Ballet. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Utah in Ballet with a Teaching and Choreographic Emphasis in 1991. At the University of Utah, she was the first student allowed to set an original work, “Ballroom Dances” on the Utah Ballet Company. Upon graduation, she danced with Austin Contemporary Dance Theatre, where she also taught. Along with teaching at other schools in Austin she taught in Utah. Since returning to Houston in 2000 she has worked with schools in the area including Fort Bend Academy of Dance, Becky’s Academy of Dance, Lynn Bates School of Dance in Wharton, TX and Iron Cross Gymnastics. She also began a private studio business called the Ballet Boot Camp to offer private and semi-private lessons to serious students seeking to advance their dancing to the next level. She has successfully served many dancers from Houston and surrounding areas to achieve their personal goals.
Christina joined the Iron Cross team in 2010 to give the competitive gymnastics girls team its first dance program. This program was designed to improve the girls dance knowledge, strength, and ability. In 2015 she became Director of the Inspire Dance Program. Since beginning Inspire Dance we have developed a company of young talented dancers that compete at several major dance Competitions in the Houston area. Primarily using the Russian ballet teaching style commonly known as Vagonova, this has proven to be the successful pathway to giving our dancers the solid foundation they need to succeed in many styles of dance. We offer classes in ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and tap. Christina is dedicated to leading Inspire Dance Company to the highest quality, best dance experience in the Fort Bend County area.
Hillary Clark has thirty eight years of dance experience combined in education, training, instruction, and competition. Born and raised in Sugar Land, she started dancing when she was two and by the age of eight went on to compete nationally with Cynde Lomonte’s Dance Dimensions for thirteen years. Hillary is a Texas Scholar graduate from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She then graduated Cum Laude with her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from Sam Houston State University holding dance scholarships, Dean’s list, and choreography awards four years in a row . Living in the Fort Bend/Richmond area, she worked for multiple local dance studios including Fort Bend Academy of Dance, Lynn Bates Dance Studio, Cynde Lomonte’s Dance Dimensions and touring part time with Round Rock Dance company. Hillary has currently wrapped up her fourteenth year in owning and directing her own dance studio, DanceTech by Hillary, and is enjoying being a part of the Iron Cross Inspire Dance Program. The dance studio is where she loves encouraging and motivating students to reach their goals with her creativity and positive attitude. Holding five certifications with Dance Masters of America in Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz, and Acrobatics, she also holds a certification with the South Texas Association of Dance Teachers. Her life's dream is to promote "Education through the Art of Dance."
Kenny Louis is an entertainer based in Houston, TX. He is currently the Coordinator of the Houston Rockets Launch Crew, a core member of RAD (Rock All Day) Crew and is a principal dancer for Fly Dance Company. At 14 years old he began breakdancing and has been performing since. In high school, he entered Inertia Dance Company which helped him enhance his skill and explore the possibilities of dance - he performed in symphonies, parades, half-time shows, musicals, concerts, and won first place as Dance Champion at MA Nationals.
After graduating high school, Kenny continued to study dance at the University of Houston and decided to pursue dance as a full time career. In 2013 he joined the Houston Rockets Launch Crew and solidified his place as captain three years later, then also became Coordinator 4 years later. 2013 was also the year he joined Fly Dance company, which has allowed him to travel the United States as well as entertain audiences abroad in over 12 countries. Since 2017, Kenny and his breakdancing crew “RAD” have hosted an annual entertainment event for the community called “The Ether,” bringing in around 450 people from across the U.S. Despite his love of performing, Kenny has always retained a passion for teaching and started his role as a teacher in 2010. He worked for HISD as a dance teacher for Jane Long Middle School. He currently works throughout the greater Houston areas.
Rose began her dance training at the age of 6 with Fort Bend Academy of Dance. She has been dancing for 11 years. During three of those years she was a member of the Regional Dance Company, BalletForte. Here she had the opportunity to dance in full length ballets such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Coppelia. She played many roles including the main role of Clara in the Nutcracker. She also took part in the Regional Dance America festival with opportunities to learn from many different ballet teachers in the area. She has had a great foundation of training in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz and Contemporary. She joined the Iron Cross Inspire faculty in the Fall of 2020. Along with joining the Inspire Company in last year’s competitions she has enthusiastically shared her knowledge with the newest generation of dancers. She looks forward to continuing to bring her love for dance and teaching to Inspire Dance for years to come.
My name is Garett Lee, but most people know me as Coach G, I’ve been training in marital arts for 28 years and teaching for 16 of that. I grew up in a karate household where both my parents were competitors and school owners for over 30 years so you can say blackbelts run the family. I made blackbelt in September 1999 at the age of 7 making me one of the youngest of time. After making blackbelt I dedicated myself to competition and competing all over the world which led me to accomplish many goals, like being the #1 ranked Jr blackbelt in forms & fighting in Texas from 2008-2012. Making Team USA in 2016 and coming home with the silver medal at the world games held in Dublin, Ireland in heavyweight fighting. Countless grand championships at local and state tournaments including 2022 Jam all nationals grand champion and being ranked 2nd in the world for traditional Japanese Forms in N.A.S.K.A (North American Sport Karate Association) in 2021.
During this time, I also coach my students to multiple gold medals at numerus events including the US Open (on ESPN) and the 2020 AAU Jr Olympics. I’m a huge nerd for Ninja turtles and Star Wars so don’t judge me if you hear me quote Master Splinter or Yoda. I love my two dogs Shadow an Ashoka who always keep me on my toes. If I’m not training, traveling, or competing for a karate tournament I can be found with them, usually in the backyard with something on the grill or on the couch watching a good movie. My passion is passing on the knowledge and skills of martial arts to the next generation not just to become champions in competition but Champions in life.
My name is Raina, I am 15 years old, and have been part of Iron Cross’s Xcel team for the past five years. I love gymnastics and arts and crafts, and my favorite season is summer!
Howdy! My name is Hannah Namutebi and I have been working here at Iron Cross since June 2021. I have done Dance for 5 year and I did Gymnastics for about 2 years. I love watching the kids grow in anyway possible and their fun energy is something I look forward to seeing each and every day. I enjoy running and working out with my friends. A fun fact about me is that I run track and cross country!
Hi I'm Coach Kylie! I coach preschool gymnastics and my favorite part about it is interacting with the kids and helping them get their skills! A fun fact about me is I also enjoy cooking!
