JOSEPH (JOE) CUTAIA,
PRESIDENT & LEAD INSTRUCTOR

ANN BRIGGS-CUTAIA, INSTRUCTOR

Joe Cutaia

…a native Texan, has had extensive training in all areas of dance. His background includes studying notably in Dallas, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Mr. Cutaia's professional experiences include the Broadway national touring companies of "Little Me" with Donald O'Connor, "George M" with Ken Berry, and "Hello Dolly!" with Carol Channing. He has also performed as a dancer/singer for regional Miss USA pageants around the United States and was recently a guest soloist with the DIFFA Charity Fashion Show in Dallas.

Joseph and his wife, Ann Briggs-Cutaia, studied ballroom dancing with Mary Ellen Lacy, former undefeated U.S. Theatre Arts Champion. They have continued their training with Michelle Hafle and Sergey Korshunov, who are currently rated one of the top 25 couples in the world for International Latin.

Mr. Cutaia is an active member of the Dance Council of North Texas and for the past several years has been a committee chairman of the National Tap Dance Day celebration in Dallas. He and his wife are members of 3 Dallas ballroom dance clubs and have presided as presidents for one group and are currently holding the position of President-Elect for another.

Besides his dance training and performance experience, Joseph has been in the restaurant and hospitality industry for over 30 years with almost 20 of those being in fine dining. He therefore knows first hand what is expected at such restaurants, which therefore makes him extremely capable in teaching children about dinner etiquette and table courtesies.

Joseph Cutaia personally trained under our founder, Mr. Dick Chaplin, for seven years before taking over as the lead instructor in 2004.

Ann Briggs-Cutaia

…was born and raised in Dallas, Texas where she studied dance with both the Texie Waterman and Buster Cooper studios. She continued her training into college and graduated in 1982 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Southern Methodist University.

As a performer, Ann danced professionally as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader appearing in various commercials, television shows and movies in the United States and Japan. She also danced on the television show "Dance Fever" and was a featured part of their national commercial.

After college she began her own dance troupe, Ann Briggs Showworks, performing at various conventions in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Their most popular western cancan girl show was even featured on an MTV segment with the popular band INXS.

Ms. Briggs-Cutaia has taught for various dance studios as well as for Ice Capades, Dallas County Community Colleges and for several years was Mr. Dick Chaplin's assistant in teaching adult and children's classes. She is a certified teacher in dance by the Texas State Board for Educator Certification and has recently gained her certification as a school counselor. For twelve years she taught dance classes and was a high school drill team director in public schools.

Like her husband, Joe, Ann Briggs-Cutaia is an active member of the Dance Council of North Texas and is on the Scholarship and National Tap Dance Day committees.

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