meet the judges
Lori Murillo
Lori brings decades of dance expertise and leadership to our judging panel. A proud Dallas native, Lori’s journey began in both studio training and drill team, eventually leading her to Kilgore College where she became a Kilgore College Rangerette and served as Captain in 1994–1995. Her performance highlights include the 1994 World Cup Halftime Show and the Festival of Lights in Nice, France.
After Kilgore, Lori launched a dynamic career spanning studio instruction, team directing, and national choreography. She spent 12 years as a Senior Instructor for Starmakers Dance and was a key choreographer for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the AT&T Cotton Bowl Halftime Classic. She served as Assistant Director of the Sun Dancers at Westwood HS, Co-Director of the Southern Belles at South Garland HS, and Director of Vision Competition Dance Company at Dancers Workshop, where she still teaches today.
Lori is currently a full-time instructor at Dancers Workshop, a senior instructor for Encore Creative Dance Company, and continues to choreograph and adjudicate across the country. Her passion, professionalism, and legacy in dance education make her a valued part of our judging team.
Bre Medina
Bre Medina brings a rich background in classical and contemporary dance to the judging panel. Originally from Colorado Springs, Bre trained extensively in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Contemporary, and Modern, and later expanded her repertoire to include Tap and Hip Hop.
At 19, she began teaching at Springs Dance, where she led a variety of classes and choreographed for recitals, competition teams, and full-length productions including The Nutcracker. She later helped open and manage a second studio location, gaining valuable experience in both instruction and operations.
After moving to Austin in 2020, Bre quickly became part of the Texas dance community. She is a certified Ballet instructor through the Texas Association of Teachers of Dance and continues to focus on technical growth and performance quality in every dancer she works with.
Today, Bre teaches, choreographs, and adjudicates across the state—bringing with her a passion for clean technique, storytelling, and mentorship. When she’s not in the studio, you can find her crafting, reading, or adventuring with her husband and their four pets.
Bryan smith
Bryan O’Shea Smith hails from Longview, Texas, where he launched his dance journey as a member of the LHS Viewettes dance/drill team. He enhanced his artistry and instructional skills at the prestigious Hartford Conservatory, graduating in 2007 with a Diploma in Dance Pedagogy and Dance Performance.
Following his formal training, Bryan carved out a dynamic performing career in the Northeast, dancing with multiple companies and presenting choreography both regionally and internationally, including engagements in France, Italy, Germany, and Belgium .On returning to Texas, he channeled his performance experience into education—teaching, choreographing for dance teams, and gaining accolades for his communication, technique, and stage presence.
Now based in Dallas, he continues to inspire dancers nationwide through freelance choreography, teaching, and adjudication. His international performance background, pedagogical expertise, and clear presentation style make him a compelling voice on our judging panel.
Roxy gage
With over 30 years of experience in the dance industry, Roxanne Gage is a celebrated educator, choreographer, performer, and adjudicator. She holds a BA in Dance from The University of Texas at Austin and an Associate of Fine Arts from Kilgore College, where she was both a Rangerette Lieutenant and Swingster. Her directing career began at Austin High School and has since expanded to the collegiate level, where she currently serves on the dance faculty at Austin Community College and in the Theatre and Dance Department at Texas State University.
Roxanne is a passionate advocate for the arts, serving on the board of directors for the Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company and producing the Youth Edition of the Austin Dance Festival. She is also a current company member of Blue Lapis Light Aerial Dance Company, performing in breathtaking site-specific works.
Her professional choreography credits include major events like the Blanton Museum of Art’s Warhol exhibition, the Rodan + Fields World Convention, the Essential Oils Convention, and Texas CASA. She has worked in film and television, assisting with auditions and choreography for Miss Congeniality and choreographing for HBO’s Love and Death.
Roxanne has judged at the USASF Dance World Championships and continues to adjudicate for TDEA through the Dance Education Assessment and Learning team. Her approach is rooted in creating an encouraging and challenging environment where dancers can push beyond their perceived limits. We are honored to have her on our judging panel.
Roland Latson
A native of Houston, Texas, Roland Latson discovered his passion for dance at a young age and formally began training in high school at Robert E. Lee and Westside High School. He continued his education with the Houston Community College repertoire dance program, later joining the nationally ranked Treasures Dance Team at Blinn College, where he served as a lieutenant. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Dance from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in Dance Education from the University of Northern Colorado.
Roland has performed on some of the country’s biggest stages, including Showtime at The Apollo – On Tour, Super Bowl XXXVIII, and Will A Real Man Please Stand Up, starring Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child. He was also a featured member of the Acrodanse Dance Company under the direction of Michael Gary.
Now in his 14th year as a public-school dance educator, Roland continues to influence dancers at all levels. He has choreographed extensively for secondary and collegiate dance teams and currently serves as an assistant coach for the OLLU Saints Dance Team, whose routines compete at prestigious events including NDA Nationals, Dance Team Union Invitational, and NAIA's Battle in the Big Easy. He has served on staff with Universal Dance Association, ShowTime International, and was a panelist for the 2022 TDEA Convention.
Roland is excited to return to the judging panel and share in the talent of Texas dancers. “The dancers in the Austin and surrounding metroplex are insanely talented,” he says. “I’m excited to see what these student-athletes will display this year!”
Desiree Kostelnik
Desiree Kostelnik is a proud graduate of Texas State University, where she earned her BFA in Performance and Choreography. While at Texas State, she was a member of the world-famous Texas State Strutters and Merge Dance Company, gaining strong foundations in both performance and concert work.
She furthered her training in New York City through the Summer Professional Semesters at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway. After graduation, Desiree began her professional career performing aboard Holland America Line cruise ships, completing six international tours. She also danced professionally with RWS Entertainment Group in NYC, combining technical skill with show-stopping performance on stages around the world.
Now back on land, Desiree is dedicating her next chapter to developing young artists and pre-professional dancers. Her experience both on stage and in the studio makes her an inspiring and knowledgeable addition to our judging panel.