OUR BEGINNINGS

Kassi Bolan is a 3rd generation dance studio owner. She trained for over 15 years at Bonnie Siscoe’s School of Dance (her grandmothers studio) where her mother, Tami, taught and choreographed for over 30 years. Kassi choreographed her first solo at age 12 and at age 13 choreographed two more numbers which received the highest achievement awards.

At age 16, Kassi choreographed the “Teen Ms. Headliner” title winner routine and received the “Best Young Choreographer” award that same year. . Kassi began working alongside her mom at Dance Productions when she was 19. By her early 20's, she was choreographing and directing the Dance Productions competitive company. Kassi has received instruction from Tremaine Dance Conventions, Pulse On Tour, Jump, Monsters of Hip Hop, Broadway Dance Center in NYC and Millennium Dance Center and The Edge in L.A. Her first professional job outside of the dance studio was choreographing a hip hop routine for the Dobie High School Lariaettes Drill Team, and a jazz routine for their officers. Both numbers received over all first place, and the hip hop won first place internationally. The following year, Kassi choreographed for the Dobie officers, where they again placed first. She has also choreographed for the Pearland Prancers and The Bellaire High School Dance Team as well as Master Classes for the Friendswood Wranglerettes and St. Thomas Episcopal High school.

Kassi continues to consistently choreograph successful routines, winning choreography awards, studio awards and overall placement. Kassi started Project 3 in the summer of 2021 when her mother decided to retire from Dance Productions. During her first season, Project 3 recieved the ADCC Studio of Excellence award from Artists Simply Human. During Season 4, Kassi was awarded Teacher of the weekend as well as Project 3 being named Studio of the Weekend at ASH Dance Convention. Kassi is dedicated to growing  Project 3 and providing the best studio environment for all dancers training under her direction.

Nevaeh Meraz began her dance training at the age of 2 at Project 3 Dance Productions, under the direction of Kassi Bolan and the ownership of Tami Richardson. Throughout her teens, she expanded her training at various esteemed studios across the Houston area, honing her skills and building a strong foundation in dance.

In 2017, Nevaeh was awarded the prestigious title of Dancer of the Year at the Tremaine Dance Convention Nationals, a testament to her dedication and talent. Following this achievement, she trained under the mentorship of Derrick Schrader, who significantly influenced her dance journey.

Prior to moving to Los Angeles, Nevaeh was selected by Robin Antin and Mikey Minden to be a part of The Next Generation of The Pussycat Dolls. In this role, she recorded songs and worked alongside Pia Mia and a few other selected dancers. Although the revival of the original Pussycat Dolls led to the scrapping of The Next Generation project, this opportunity opened doors for Nevaeh, leading her to teach at PLAYGROUND LA and to appear in and assist with the PCD experience.

At the age of 18, Nevaeh made the bold decision to move to Los Angeles. During her time in Los Angeles, Nevaeh trained and worked under some of the industry's most sought-after choreographers. Alongside previously mentioned credits, Nevaeh starred as the lead in Sam Spiegel's short film, "Heaven," 

After gaining valuable experience and insights in Los Angeles, Nevaeh made the decision to move back to Houston, Texas to fulfill her true passion: teaching and training the next generation of aspiring dancers.

Currently, Nevaeh serves as the Assistant Director at Project 3 Dance Productions, which is now owned and directed by Kassi Bolan. In this role, she teaches a variety of classes, sharing her knowledge and passion for dance with students of all ages. She also plays a key role in running the Project 3 Competition/Convention Company, helping to guide and inspire the next generation of dancers. During her time at Project 3, Nevaeh has won numerous choreography awards at local and national dance competitions and conventions, further showcasing her talent and creativity. Most recently, Nevaeh was featured as Lead Dancer in TRY & Empress Of’s new music video ‘With me’ Under the direction of Sam Spiegel and choreographed by Denna Tomsen, this video has amassed thousands of views. 

Nevaeh’s dedication to dance and her students is unwavering. She continues to push the boundaries of her own artistry while fostering a nurturing and challenging environment for her students to thrive.

Maddie Medina is from Houston, Texas where she trained at Vitacca Dance Project from 2015–2017. Medina then trained at The Juilliard School working with renowned choreographers such as Ohad Naharin, Andrea Miller, and Brian Arias. There, she also performed repertoire by Bill T. Jones and Trisha Brown. She has worked professionally with Brett Ishida in new works titled longing floats around you and dream of black. She graduated from The Juilliard School with a bachelor’s degree of Fine Arts and is now dancing at Vitacca Ballet in Houston, Texas. Maddie brings a unique style to Project 3 and we are excited to head into another season with her!

Courtney Banfield started dancing at the age of two, at Bonnie Siscoe School of Dance, in Friendswood, Tx. At the age of 9, she moved to Dance Productions, where she did the majority of her serious competitive training. Courtney was a highly competitive dancer and won multiple titles while studio dancing. Courtney then went on to become an officer on the Friendswood Wranglerettes Drill Team. After high school, she continued dancing at the collegiate level on the Stephen F. Austin Dance Team. Courtney was Captain of this team for 3 years, then went on to become the SFA Dance Team assistant coach. She graduated with a bachelors in Management and a Masters in Business Administration. Courtney is part of the Texas College Dance Team Connection staff, and became Director of the Friendswood Wranglerettes Drill Team this year. She is happy to be home, and back to her roots at Project 3, formally known as Dance Productions, where she grew up.

Niyah, original from Seattle, Washington, attended University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she received a BFA in choreography and performance as well as a Bachelors in science in Urban Affairs. While at UNLV, under the direction of Louis Kavouras, she performed in works for the University Partners showcase where she performed an  original Erik Hawkins piece in New York, as well as LINK dance festival in Salt Lake, UT. Niyah currently resides in Houston, Tx where she is an artist with Houston Contemporary Dance Company.

Reese began her dance journey at the age of 4 at Project 3 Dance Productions and has been training with dedication ever since. Currently in her third year as a Pearland Prancer and a member of Project 3's Pre-Professional Company, Reese is excited to begin teaching at Project 3 this year. She hopes to make a positive impact on her students' growth and inspire them to reach their full potential.