Meet Our Staff
Staci Allen
Dance Program Coordinator
HBCU Lead Instructor
Staci brings over 8 years of HBCU, majorette, pop, jazz, and lyrical experience. Staci began her dance career as a Lionette at Little Rock’s John L McClellan High School. She was placed in the all-state category and earned a spot in the Universal Dance Association Showcase.
After High School, Coach Staci continued her dancing at the collegiate level at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. She became the only freshman to make the team in the 2013 HBCU M4 Golden Girls Dance Line. She completed four years of dance, and in the last two years, she served as a Captain. She became a member of Tau Beta Sigma Honorary Band Sorority and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
While in college, Staci discovered a love for teaching and compiling choreography for school dance teams and pom-pom squads. Teams such as JA Fair, McClellan, Parkview, and Dollarway High Schools are known for their work with dancers to unleash powerful presence and connection in each moment. She has also judged dance competitions, played Mistress of Ceremony's role, and hosted special dance workshops.
Upon graduation from college with a degree in Business Administration, Staci became AmeriAKA’s Superstars Lead HBCU Instructor in 2018, where she has been such a dedicated Coach. In 2020 she was promoted as the Dance Program Coordinator, which assists the Director.
Staci brings her wisdom, creativity, and technique to this squad of brilliant dancers. She is passionate about empowering beginning and professional dancers to feel no boundaries. Staci is most proud of instilling in her student's beautiful stories while dancing of all of her accomplishments.
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John Gray
Head Majorette & Lead Instructor
John Gray discovered his passion for the art of dance at a young age. His success with teaching began in 2005, giving instructions to all ages and levels. Now with over 15 years of experience, he makes it a priority to mix both intense dance training with compassion to mentor dancers to be the best version of themselves that they can be.
John has consulted, coached, and choreographed for several school districts and their dance teams across the state of Arkansas such as Pine Bluff School District, Dollarway School District, and Lighthouse Chartered School. He's also had the opportunity to train dancers at Wheeler High and Osborne High in Marietta, GA.
The dance industry has allowed John to become versatile with many experiences through teaching, assisting choreographers, choreographing, performing, judging, and hosting dance competitions. John decided to step into the majorette world and create his own dance team known as Flawless All-Starz in July 2015-January 2019. Throughout his journey in 2019, he decided to move on to a new chapter in his life, and join AmeriAKA’s Super Stars Dance Team as an Instructor and Coach.
Since performing is close to his heart, he is very aware of the importance of training and is diligent in his desire to stay current for his students, including staying abreast of the newest trends in dance and competitions.
John's proudest accomplishments are those of his past student's successes gaining the opportunity to dance all over the US at HBCUs with scholarships for dance and cheer.
Destianna Gunn
Juniors Battle Team Coach
