Meet Our Instructors
Mrs. Lori Read: Owner, Artistic Director
Class: Ballet, Tap, and Jazz
Mrs. Read has been dancing all her life. Lori was a member of Harlingen Concert Ballet performing in such ballets as The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Swan Lake, and Raymonda. Lori graduated with a Bachelor in Arts degree from Lamar University in 1995 and opened Rio Grand Valley Arts Studio. Mrs. Read has choreographed for Harlingen Performing Arts Theater as well as Harlingen High School Flag Corps. Mrs. Read's goals are to bring back a pre and professional ballet company to Harlingen in the future. Mrs. Read's reputation of quality, safe and fun classes proceeds her with many of her students following in her footsteps with college degrees in dance as well as professional dance careers! Mrs. Read invites everyone, young and old, to enroll at RGVAS who want to experience the life as a dancer or any of the other arts that RGVAS offers.
Mrs. Yvette Thompson
Yvette Thompson began dancing at the age of 3 at the Dottie Burton School of Dance in Weslaco, Texas. Her music studies began with piano through Shirley Atkins who is also the director of The Tower Theater, and choral training with Sybil Mattar. She joined the music department of the Weslaco schools where she played trumpet in the orchestra for 8 years. She was also a member of the theater arts department and competed in U.I.L. One-Act play winning several awards. She went on to study at what is now U.T.P.A. Through her experience in numerous musicals and plays-including Chicago, Into the Woods, Jekyll and Hyde, and Lend Me a Tenor- it is her hope to pass on her love of dance and the arts to children like others have done for her.
Jobs Held:Ballet teacher at Rio Grand Valley Arts Studio (2003-present), tap teacher at Burton School of Dance (2004-present), and music teacher at the Montessori Academy in Harlingen (2005-present). Co-Director of the Harlingen Performing Arts Theater Children's Workshop, and choreographer for the production of the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2007).
Seminars and Training:Tremaine Dance Workshop, Sunking Dance at the Richmond Ballet, Hula Workshop and classes at Ballet Austin, Third Coast Rhythm Company, and master classes with members of the Moscow Ballet, Finish Jhung, Barbara Phillips, and Gil Stroming.
Certifications:CPR certification through the American Heart Association, Physical Therapy Aide certification through Penn Foster Career School, and Group Fitness Certification with American Council on Exercise.
Mr. Thomas Ryan Brady
Class: Guitar
His name is Thomas Ryan Brady. He is currently studying for a Bachelors degree in Music Education from The University of Texas at Brownsville. He began his formal musical studies on the Guitar at the age of 22 with the UTB/TSC Music Academy. Upon completion of one semester he began studying at the University of Texas at Brownsville under the direction of Dr. Michael Quantz. As a member of the UTB Guitar Program, Ryan has been a performing member of the 1 O'clock Guitar Ensemble and the Jazz Guitar Ensemble. In 2007 he had the privilege of accompanying Grammy Winner, Mr. William Kannengiser in his performance of Shingo Fuji's Concierto De Los Angeles.
Mr. Henry Millerborg 
Class: Piano
- Graduate of University of North Texas
- Twenty-two years as a church pianist/organist
- Twenty years as UIL piano accompanist for solo instrument competition.
- Seventeen years as a teacher in public and private schools.
- Three years as a piano teacher at Calvary Christian School and Rio Grand Valley Arts Studio
- Favorite classical artist: Chopin
- Favorite contemporary musicians: Sarah Brightman, Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Weber
Mrs. Lisa Roberts
- Began dance lessons at age 7
- Studied with Francis Schofield at the age of 10-17
- Attended Colorado Womans Collage & Lamar University as a dance major
- Owned Center Stage Dance Studio in Raymondville for 10 years
- Has been teaching tap here at RGVAS since 1996
- Attended Soul to Sole Tap Fest in Austin and Third Coast Rhythm
- Project in San Antonio
- Has taken tap courses and classes from:
- Acia Gray
- Barbara Phillips
- Dianne Walker
- Jay Figan
- Sam Weber
- Brenda Buffalino
- Jackie Troup Miller
Mrs. Madeline Luaces
Madeline is originally from Miami, Florida where she started dancing at the age of five. Some of her dance teachers include Vivian Greer De Digon (Ballet), Esperanza Espinosa (Ballet), Mary Levin (Ballet), Darlene Del Zingro Farls (Jazz and Tap), Dr. Andrea Zidel (Modern) and Fina Escayola (Flamenco Dance). She was the dance captain and choreographer for the Miami-Dade Community College "Orchesis" Dance Company and helped start up their aerobics team. Madeline taught at Miami-Dade Community College as a substitute dance instructor and found her true love of teaching young children when she taught for Ballet at Your School in Miami Florida. She is the owner and instructor of My First Dance inc. Her Goal is to give all children a chance to dance and feel good about themselves. She has attended Joe Tremaine workshops, Pulse Dance Conventions, The Sun King (Richomond Ballet) Adult Workshop and recently Rhee Gold Dance Life Teacher Conference where she learned ballroom dancing. Other certifications received include NDIETA Aerobics and Fitness, AFAA Aerobics and Fitness and Step Reebok Certification. Continuing education credits include Funk (hip/hop) Aerobics, Salsa Aerobics, Step Aerobics with Gin Miller, Kids Funk Aerobics, and Body sculpting.
Mr. T.J. Faver
Class:Voice & Piano
T. J. Faver has called the RGV his home for the past 15 yrs. Originally from Corpus Christi, TX, he graduated from W.B. Ray High School in 1989. He was selected his Senior Year to be a member of the prestigious T.M.E.A. All-State Mixed Choir. The choir performed Brahms’s “Requiem” under the direction of the world-renowned director Robert Shaw. T.J. continued his education at Howard Payne University in Brownwood TX. He received a Bachelor of Music in Education with Choral Emphasis in 1993. He participated in many ensembles and studied voice under Dr. Thomas Woods and Dr. Nancy Jo Humfeld. T.J. moved to the RGV in 1993 where he taught choral music in the Brownsville, Mission and Donna Independent School Districts. His experience with children’s voices is immense. He has taught many students in his twelve years of choral education. His students have participated in Solo and Ensemble and U.I.L. choral activities receiving many awards. T.J. has also been featured as a soloist with the Brownsville Civic Chorus under the direction of Sandra Glover and has been a featured soloist with the South Texas Chorale under the direction of Diane Brumley. You may have also seen T.J. in some of the musical productions put on by the Harlingen Performing Art’s Theater. Student enrolled in voice lessons will experience a wide variety of styles in music. They will also learn the fundamentals of reading music and proper vocal technique through class instruction and individual performance.
Mrs. Jennifer Hinojosa-Rivera
Class: Belly Dancing
Jennifer is a graduate from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi. She was a member of the Middle Eastern Dance Club for four years. Jennifer served as Junior Instructor for two and a half years then moved into the position of Instructor. As a member of the club she was also Vice-President for two years and President for one. Jennifer choreographed several of the dances performed by the group and helped to organize several of their events. In the summer of 2006 she gave private lessons in Harlingen and has been teaching here at Rio Grand Valley Arts Studio since 2007. Her troupe Starfire Bellydance has been seen in several local events including Fiesta De La Feria, Rio Fest, and the San Benito Live Stock Show. Jennifer has taken lessons from Karen Barbee, Jim Boz, Stacey Lizette, Rachel Brice, and even Saidie !
Mr. Jeremiah Walker
Class: Karate
Jeremiah WalkerClass: Shotokan Karate
Jeremiah Walker began training in karate in 1986. His martial arts experience runs the gambit from traditional Shotokan karate to mixed martial arts. During his time in the Houston area he earned his shodan, balck belt, under the tutelage of Shihan Scott Messina and Jerry Nunez in Huntsville, TX. Jeremiah has won his division in state-wide championships in open-style point fighting organizations, such as the USA Martial Arts Association and full contact organization, Texas Amateur Contact Kickboxing Association . His competition experience includes qualifying and competing with United States Karate Teams in both the WKA and WCOAA, which allowed him to train with Team England and Team Slovakia during international travel. Included in his experience is an amateur MMA record of two losses to submission and two wins by knockout (2-2).
Aside from his hombu dojo, main karate school, Walker has had the opportunity to train with Kanazawa Hirokazu and Nobuaki (SKIF), Kagawa Masao (JKS), Kohama Masaya (Japan Shobukan Organization), UFC Fighter: Yves Edwards (3rd Column Fight Team), and Olympic bronze medalist, Israel Hernandez (USA Judo) to name a few.
Walker earned his Bachelor of Arts in English/Spanish from Sam Houston State University while managing and teaching at his hombu dojo. With over fifteen years of teaching experience, he has been working with students in Texas Consolidated Independent Schools, City Parks & Recreations, and even associates of Chuck Norris’s D.A.R.E. program. His career in education provides him the experience to work with various ages and learning levels.
Within the organization he is in charge of curriculum and sits on the testing board for upcoming black belt candidates. Officially recognized as, instructor, Walker currently holds the rank of sandan, 3rd degree, with the Bekuku Ryu Karate Do Organization.
Jeremiah Walker recently became the 2010 Master Awards Ceremony- Instructor of the Year
Mr. Lucas Darger
Class:Violin
Lucas Darger began private lessons on the violin at age 7. He received a Bachelor in Violin Performance from the University of Utah, and a Master of Music degree from the University of Iowa. He has studied violin with David Park, Dr. Shi-wha Wang, and Jack Ashton, and chamber music with Misha Boguslavsky and Trisha Park. He has been privileged to serve as concertmaster in the orchestras at both the University of Utah and Iowa. Additionally, he has performed with orchestras across the country, and has performed on tours
internationally, including a month-long tour through the Netherlands,
Belgium, France, and Germany.Darger has been teaching privately for over ten years, and is certified by the Suzuki Association of America. He is a member of TMEA, ASTA, SAA, LAO, and the Conductor’s Guild. New to Harlingen, he is proud to be a member of the Harlingen Community. He is currently the Orchestra Director at CMS and a teacher at the Rio Grand Valley Arts Studio.
Mr. Mario Leal
Class: Art
Mr. Leal has lived in Harlingen, TX since 1995. While attending college Mr. Leal assisted Ms. Olga Sanchez with instruction of children at Rio Grand Valley Arts studio. He graduated from the University of Texas-Pan American in the fall of 2007 with a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, after which he began working as a graphic designer. As a designer, Mr. Leal had the privilege of working on projects involving businesses such as Knapp Medical Center, KRGV News Channel 5 as well as many other local companies. Throughout the years he has been painting, drawing, and working with photography.
Instructors Website:lealCreations
Previous page: Philosophy of This School
Next page: Classes