Shannon Wrights
Founder, Director, Chief Executive Officer,
Lead Instructor
Shannon Wrights knows from personal experience that dance is a vital means of developing self-confidence and a "can-do" attitude. Shannon, who is visually impaired, finds that dance gives her positive energy. She walks with grace and confidence and has learned to demand a high standard of herself as well as her students.
Shannon received a Bachelor of Science in Dance Management from Oklahoma City University. She has been teaching since 1997. She has taught for local dance studios, a home school coop, and The Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled. She began her own studio in 2009.
Shannon received the George B. Lewis Advocacy Award, an award given by the Oklahoma City Mayor's committee to individuals who are disabled and work in the community with individuals with special needs. Shannon was a Oklahoma City News Channel 4 Pay it Forward recipient in 2012. Shannon has also been recognized as an honoree on the Morgan's Wonderland Walk of Fame. Morgan's Wonderland is a theme park in San Antonio, TX where individuals with special needs are the main focus. All rides and activities at Morgan's Wonderland are designed to be all-inclusive. Honorees are placed on the Walk of Fame for their work with special needs individuals.
Shannon believes in each student reaching their highest potential. Very few dancers will become professionals, so dance is taught mostly to students who just have a passion to learn the art of dance. Whether the student is in a wheelchair, uses a walker, has autism, or just simply does not like a large dance studio, each student is treated as an individual with their own needs and abilities.
Gray Blevins
Instructor
Gray Blevins is currently pursuing a B.F.A. degree in Dance Performance from the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO). He has performed work by Joshua Mora, Paige Fischer, Hui Cha Poos, and Alexander Olivieri with UCO’s Kaleidoscope II and Kaleidoscope dance companies. He has also performed in RACE’s Hip Hop Nutcracker and Oklahoma Contemporary Dance Festival shows.
At Aspiring Attitudes, Gray teaches jazz, tap, hip hop, musical theater, and contemporary styles. He is passionate about dance accessibility and inclusive teaching methods.
Caitlin Castle
Instructor
Caitlin has been dancing since she was 3! Tap, ballet, jazz, musical theatre, show choir, lyrical - she’s done a little bit of it all!
Caitlin graduated from Texas A&M with her Kinesiology degree and graduated from OU with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy. As a pediatric physical therapist, she spends her days helping kiddos learn how to move their body and explore their environment.
She likes to spend her nights hanging out with her dog and watching her favorite shows. Caitlin has a special passion for helping others learn to enjoy movement through dance!
Emily Megee
Instructor
Emily graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 2007 with a degree in Theatre. She grew up dancing in OKC at Classical Ballet School. She started teaching in 2010 and has taught all around OKC and in Guthrie.
As a performer, Emily has performed at Dollywood in the Veggie Tales Show. She has also toured the United States with two different childrens’ theatres.
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Some of Emily's favorite roles include Scout Finch and Mayella Ewell in To Kill A Mockingbird; Juliet in Romeo and Juliet; Baby Bear in Shrek the Musical; and Lou Ann in Hairspray. She has also choreographed The Music Man, Annie, Guys and Dolls, Puss in Boots, and You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown. Emily believes that dance should be all inclusive and that dance prepares students for many of the challenges that life throws at them.
Bailey Portell
Instructor
Bailey Portell is a graduate of the Yvonne Chouteau School at Oklahoma City Ballet, where she trained for 13 years. Throughout her training, she developed a strong foundation in classical ballet and a love for many styles of dance, including contemporary and salsa.
She has also completed coursework in Early Childhood Development and Character Training, giving her the tools to teach and inspire young dancers with patience, creativity, and care.
Bailey is passionate about sharing her lifelong love of dance and hopes to encourage each student to discover confidence, joy, and self-expression through movement.
Ash Marie Schudalla
Instructor
Ash Marie graduated December 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Education from the University of Central Oklahoma. She has been teaching since 2021 at Aspiring Attitudes. She currently teaches PreK music and movement for Norman Public Schools. Starting dance at 14, she knows that hard work, passion, and joy for movement are what drive technique. She fell in love first with ballet, and then quickly all styles of dance, too!
Since she also has a musical background, Ash Marie incorporates rhythm, tempo, and musical recognition into her lessons. She believes that dance, and all the arts, should be accessible to every single individual, regardless of ability. She has seen firsthand the same hard work, passion, and joy for movement from her students.
Z Taylor
Instructor
Z Taylor is a choreographer, performer, researcher, and educator in the Oklahoma City area. They graduate with their BFA in Dance Performance at the University of Central Oklahoma in May 2026. Z’s work is a collaborative blend of dance, physical theater, performance art, and other art disciplines.
They have performed and shared their research and choreography across the country, as well as recently in Berlin, Germany. In May 2025, they received the "Outstanding Choreographer" award at UCO. Z is an advocate for joy, accessibility, and healing within the dance community.
Rachel Weese
Instructor
Rachel Weese graduated from UCO in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Education and a Bachelor of Science in Special Education. Rachel has been dancing since she was three. She fell in love with working with students with special needs when she was in high school. After graduating, Rachel started teaching special education in the public school system.
Rachel believes in the idea of dance-and dance classes-being all inclusive for anyone who wants to learn to dance. She believes dance is beneficial for many areas of life, no matter who wants to learn or what their challenges may be.