About
Meet our instructors and staff!
Renée Baca-Chavez
Renée A. Baca-Chavez is the Owner, Artistic Director, Founder and Choreographer of Renée Antoinette’s School of Dance. She started her dance studio on September 06, 1994 at the age of 22. Renée started dancing at the age of 3 and began student teaching at the age of 15 before she followed her dreams of owning her own dance company.
Renée is a Qualified and licensed teacher (ACCA) in the Cecchetti Method of Ballet. The Cecchetti Method is an internationally recognized ballet syllabus. She has been the Chairman for the Cecchetti Council of America, Inner Mountain Committee for New Mexico for the past 12 years. Renée has successfully presented students for their Cecchetti exams from beginner through professional level.
Renée has partnered with Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker since 2003 as the Children’s Cast Director and is the only teacher and Host Studio in New Mexico to hold this prestigious honor for this world class production. (See www.nutcracker.com or this website for current audition & production information.)
Renée also founded a traveling and performing dance company within her dance studio. Her dance company has performed in such prestigious venues as Walt Disney World since 1998, Carnival Cruise Lines, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and in Central Park in New York City, The Hawaiian International Dance Festival & Competition, The Washington Monument, various dance competitions in Las Vegas and many local venues such as the NM State Fair & local Music Festivals.
Renée feels very honored to have been a part of the dance education for so many wonderful students all of these years and always refers to her students and clients as “Our Studio Family”.
kara latter
Kara Latter, a native to Valencia County, started dancing at the age of three and has been teaching classes, including ballet, tap, jazz, tumbling, and hip hop, for the past 23 years.
Kara has trained in the Cecchetti Method of Ballet under Renée Baca-Chavez. She has performed throughout her dance career in several local performances as well as nationally with Renee's Performing Dance Company, including Walt Disney World, Carnival Cruise Lines, Las Vegas, and the International Dance Festival in Honolulu, Hawaii.
In addition to choreographing and teaching at Renee's School of Dance, she has also choreographed for local high school show choirs, musicals with Royal Majesty Productions, and classes at Kings Dance Center in Hanford, CA.
Kara has always had a passion for dance and loves that she is able to share this with her students!
Bailey washburn
Bailey Mackenzie Washburn began her love of dance at the age of 3. She has studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Hip-Hop at Renee Antoinette’s School of Dance. Bailey is currently completing her 5th professional Cecchetti Ballet exam under the direction of Renée Baca-Chavez. She will soon continue her studies and begin the process of earning her teaching certifications.
Throughout her dance career, Bailey has performed at local events, Disney World, and numerous times in Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker. Most recently she had the pleasure of choreographing and teaching a dance for The Hub Community Theatre Workshop in Belen, NM. Bailey is excited to pursue her passion and share it with others.
She currently teaches Primary 2 Ballet, Tap, and Jazz, as well as Pre-Kinder Ballet, Tap, and Tumbling.
Jasmine day
Jasmine Day started dancing at the age of three and has studied Ballet & Pointe, Tap, Jazz, and Hip-Hop, as well as successfully earned her Grade 1 through 5 certificates in the Cecchetti Method of Ballet. She now instructs as a guest teacher and choreographer at Renée Antoinette’s School of Dance, teaching the Performing Dance Company in Lyrical, Contemporary, and the Fosse Method of Jazz.
Jasmine has performed both in local New Mexico shows as well as traveled nationally with Renée’s Performing Youth Group. She has had the wonderful opportunity to dance in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Central Park, Walt Disney World, and on Carnival Cruise Lines. She has also performed in many roles with the Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker since the age of 5.
Jasmine earned her Bachelors Degree in English and Film Studies from the University of Northern Colorado and has studied with the William Esper School of Acting in New York. She now works as a film actor, writer, director, and music video choreographer. She most recently starred in the film “Safe House 1618”, which will be released Fall 2021, and plans to continue her career in acting.
Jasmine is proud of her mom, Renée, and is so thankful that she has given the opportunity for both herself and other students in New Mexico to travel and perform in such amazing places. She states, “I am so grateful that my mom has taught me about the performing arts industry and supports me in all the creative endeavors I pursue. I’ve learned from the best!”.
valerie marquez
Valerie Marquez has been a part of Renée Antoinette’s School of Dance since 1997, when her daughter, Melissa, began dancing at the age of three. She later began working at the front desk and now acts as Studio Manager. Throughout other “day job” changes, Valerie has remained at the studio and refers to it as Disneyland because “everyone who’s there wants to be there” and it is the happiest place on Earth!