FACULTY
Kerin Martinez
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Artistic Director
Kerin began studying tap, musical theatre, jazz, and ballet at the age of seven in Northern California. She was a varsity dance line member and choreographer for both her high school and junior college dance teams. She began teaching tap at the age of sixteen at the Katherine Wheeler Dance Studio in Santa Rosa, California. At eighteen she was hired as a drama and dance instructor for the West County Theatre Arts Guild in Petaluma, California. Before moving to Austin, Texas, she lived in Anaheim, California where she performed dancing, singing, and character roles in parades and stage shows at The Disneyland Resort, which was a dream come true. Kerin was part of the faculty at a central Austin studio beginning in 2003, promoted to Assistant Director of the studio at large in 2010, and she spent 17 years as the Artistic Director of their award-winning competition teams. From 2009 to 2017, Kerin co-directed this team with Ryan Miller. She decided to retire from this position in May of 2020.
In August of 2020, Kerin began teaching dance outdoors. She founded Open Air Dance Collective in November of that year as a way to foster the community of students she was working with during the pandemic. She is fascinated by movement theory and the inspiring, healing power of dance. In addition to over 20 years of dance teaching experience and expertise, she continues her education as a dancer by taking in-person and virtual dance classes, regional convention classes and traveling to Teachers conventions and education seminars for both dance and kinesiology. She holds an ACE Certification for Group Fitness Instruction and is a 2021 graduate of the Yoga, Meditation & SEL Certificate from Breathe For Change. She was hired as an instructor for Ballet Austin in 2022.
She specializes in alignment, flexibility training, conditioning, tap, musical theater, kick choreography and drill prep. For the last two decades, Kerin has enjoyed her seasonal work as a choreographer and conditioning coach for drill teams all across the great state of Texas.
Ryan Miller
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Artistic Director
Ryan started taking tap classes at the age of seven in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Tap was his first love, and after moving to Panama City, Florida he began training in many other styles of dance. He danced with several performance teams in the Gulf Coast area which inspired a love for the stage that drove him to pursue a professional career in dance.
At nineteen, he moved to Chicago where he performed with Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Thodos Dance Chicago, and freelanced with other experimental dance projects. He performed works created by Lucas Crandall of Hubbard Street Chicago, John Lehrer, Shapiro and Smith, and Lar Lubavitz. In 2007, he was selected to perform alongside members of Joffrey Ballet, Hubbard Street, River North in the closing number of Chicago’s Dance for Life Benefit. While in Chicago, his choreography was performed in the Alvin Ailey CitiGroup Theater, Ruth Page Theatre Chicago, and The Harris Theater.
Ryan moved to Austin, TX in 2009 to pursue music. He was so grateful to have the opportunity to participate in the vibrant music scene that Austin has to offer. Ryan played guitar, bass, & drums in several bands and performed consistently at many venues, and festivals, including SXSW! He joined the dance faculty at a Central Austin Studio and co-directed their award-winning dance team alongside Kerin Martinez from 2009 to 2017. While in Austin, he continued as a freelance choreographer, setting pieces on local drill and dance teams as well as dancing in several professional showcases and benefits, including the 2016 Seton Medical Benefit and Dance to Breathe.
Accepting an invitation to perform with Alabama Dance Works, Ryan moved to Dothan, Alabama in 2017. Intrigued by the three-tiered format of the organization which included an outreach program, studio classes, and a professional company, Ryan spent the next 6 years heavily involved in all three. While at ADW, his choreography was featured each year at the Alabama Dance Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Ryan is delighted to be back in Austin, Texas to partner in what he believes is an important stride in dance education theory at OADC.
Carson Duncan
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Administrative Assistant
Carson has been dancing since the age of 3, and was a founding member of Open Air Dance Collective in 2020 and the Open Air Dance Company in 2021. During her time on Company, Carson has been part of numerous shows and performances. She has preformed at three Spurs Halftime games, including two at the San Antonio AT&T Center, and one at the Moody Center! In December of 2022, she performed in the Dance The Magic Christmas Parade in Disneyland, California.
She is now a Sophomore on the McCallum Blue Brigade serving as a Social Officer.
Her favorite dance memory was getting to play Dorothy in OADC’s, 2023 Spring Productions, “Once Upon A Time In Kansas”, and “The Land of Oz”.
Carson is excited to be working as part-time Administrative Assistant with OADC this season.
Marlowe Walsh
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Administrative Assistant
Marlowe has been dancing since the age of 3, and was a founding member of the Open Air Dance Company in it’s inaugural season. In her time with OADC, she has enjoyed the opportunity to build her portfolio. In addition to various local performances, Marlowe danced in the Dance the Magic Christmas Parade in Disneyland in 2022. She has also preformed at three San Antonio Spurs halftimes for arena crowds of 10,000-18,000 spectators in 2021, 2022, and 2023. In January of 2024, she was awarded a scholarship at the Soul De Soul Dance Convention in Chicago.
She is a Sophomore at McCallum High School. Her favorite subject is English and she is part of both the Cheer and Golf teams!
Her favorite memory from her OADC experience so far is being part of the Assistant Teacher program and working with the younger dancers. She enjoys being a friend and a role model for dancers at OADC.
Marlowe is looking forward her role as part-time Administrative Assistant with OADC this season.
Professional Guest Faculty
OADC was founded in 2020 by dancer & choreographer, Kerin Martinez.
Since 2021, OADC has hosted professional guest faculty from all across the country.
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Nicole Greene-Cramer (MFA Dance Science, Trinity Laban)
Helen Estrella (Motion Dance Center & Boulder Dance Workshop)
Eugene Peabody (Lion King Broadway, Touring Cast)
Shelley Schmidt (SMSD)
Samuel Rutland Simpson (Alabama Dance Works)
Sara Arnold (UT Pom Alumni)
Elizabeth McGriff (Certified Acrobatic Arts Specialist, Alabama Dance Works)
Ryan Wagstaff (Alabama Dance Works)
Justin Prescott (MJ The Musical, Touring Cast)