A Native of Houston, Heather trained under Lynette Mason Gregg at The Royal Academy of Fine Arts since age 4. She Danced Professionally with the Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre for four seasons, during which she performed featured roles including the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Swanhilda in Coppelia, Cinderella in Cinderella, Lucy in Dracula, Carmen in Carmen, and several company works. Her Choreographic work for BAHBT includes Hairspray, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and several mixed programs. In New York she performed in the Moving Beauty Series Dance Festival and Sans Limit Dance Collective. Returning to Clear Lake with her husband, Travis Kirk Coombs, to raise their beautiful daughters, she enjoys being home at The JETPAC (Juxtapose Emphasis Theatre & Performing Arts Center) as Artistic Director and as Company Manager and choreographer for Juxtapose Arts Collective.

Melissa Ludwig received her early training from the School of the Grand Rapids Ballet Company and has enjoyed an extensive performance career.  She has danced professionally with the Grand Rapids Ballet Company, Milwaukee Ballet, and Ballet Austin.  She joined Bay Area Houston Ballet and Theatre in 2012 as an Artist in Residence.  While dancing with BAHBT, Ms. Ludwig enjoyed performing roles such as the Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty, the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, Sugar Plum, Snow Queen, and Rose in The Nutcracker, Lead Vampire in Dracula, The Dying Swan, as well as the soloist in Mujeres and Bolero.

Ms. Ludwig has danced with Juxtapose Arts Collective in many different performances since its inception in 2016.  This past season she had the opportunity to set Giselle Act 2 on the Juxtapose II dancers and was honored to accept the role of Ballet Mistress with the company for the 2018-2019 season.

Ms. Ludwig was cast as the Stepmother and the Autumn Fairy with Misty Copeland in Open World Dance Foundation's production of Cinderella at the Hobby Center.  She alos toured these roles with OWD, performing with ABT Principals Devon Teuscher and Cory Stearns.  Ms. Ludwig has also performed as a guest artist as Firebird in The Firebird, Myrtha in Giselle, and Big Swan in Swan Lake, all staged by Charmaine Hunter.

Ms. Ludwig is currently the Dance Program Deputy for the Juxtapose Emphasis Theatre and Performing Arts Center, and the Youth Program Principal for Vitacca Vocational School for Dance Montrose.

Jenna started her dance journey at 2 years old. Ballet and Jazz being her main focuses led her to Royal Academy of Fine Arts, where she became a more serious dancer. Jenna trained pre-professionally alongside professional dancers in world renowned works by Luis Fuente, Ayman Harper, and Kevin Cahoon. Once graduated, Jenna took a more freelance approach to a dance career. She signed with talent and modeling agency Neal Hamil Agency, there she worked with big brands such as M.A.C, Dillard’s, and No Cow Protein Bars. Jenna has had the privilege to be an in-house professional dancer/choreographer for Juxtapose Arts Collective for the past 6 years. Jenna would like to thank Heather Steele for allowing her the opportunity to grow in a new passion for choreography. She would also like to thank her past instructors for instilling a strong knowledge in technique and performative skills.

Cathy Marmolejo, a Houston native, wears a lot of different hats. She began dancing at age 5, having
her first potential tap solo to the ever popular "Tea For Two" at age 6. Sadly, she was too shy at the
time and had four other dances to worry about, so she declined – something she regrets to this day.
However, she soon moved to Deer Park and continued her training with Lynette Mason Gregg at Royal
Academy of Fine Arts and has not declined to perform since.
While in middle school she took up the clarinet, eventually graduating from college with a Bachelor of
Music Education on bassoon, bass clarinet, and clarinet, with a minor in dance and theatre -
performing, in some capacity, was always the focus. With bass clarinet/bassoon being difficult
instruments to march with, she took up colorguard – combining dance with flags, rifles, and sabres.
This is where the choreography/designing bug bit. She went on to become an award-winning
choreographer for several high schools and colleges during marching season, as well as for winterguard
in the off-season.
She started teaching for the Academy at the Humphrey's School for Musical Theatre at Theatre Under
The Stars in 2006, teaching all levels of tap, ballet and jazz, as well as all ages for the Open Enrollment
Program including the 4-6yr old musical theatre classes, tap, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, summer camps, and
her beloved adult tap classes. There with the Musicals for Young Audiences program, where students
work alongside professional in continued training, she choreographed and performed in James and The
Giant Peach and then re-choreographed/adapted it for Miller Outdoor Theatre for HSMT. Other
performances include SCROOGE (Mrs. Cratchit), The Shoemaker and The Christmas Elves
(Gretchen), and The Phantom Tollbooth. One of her favorite things is to choreograph tap numbers that
are not from traditional tap shows – "Matilda" and "Bring It On" to name a couple. She also teaches
and choreographs in many schools throughout the state and was invited to choreograph a number for
"Tapping Away" with students from HSMT during Dance Month at the Kaplan Theatre featuring Acia
Gray and Tapestry Dance Company as well as other area performing groups.
Other favorite stage performances include, Guys And Dolls (Sarah Brown), Hello Dolly (Irene
Malloy), You Can't Take It With You (Essie Carmichael), and Mousetrap (Mollie Ralston), to name a
few. She performed 6 seasons with HGO and has also worked in film and commercials. Aside from
performing on stage/screen, or in the orchestra pit, and teaching/choreographing all around Houston -
to round out the hat rack, she can also be found backstage as part of the wardrobe crew for TUTS,
HGO, and Broadway Series. In addition to choreographing, she also writes and directs. Her newest
endeavors include writing children's books, narrating audio books and transcribing closed caption for
TV.
Her greatest accomplishment to date though are her two wonderful and amazingly talented kids who
tagged along long enough to catch the bug and are now professional performers/teachers themselves.

Travis Kirk Coombs is a Houston native and actor/director/playwright. Travis originated the role of "Rock" in "Moonshine" (now "Shucked") at Dallas Theatre Center. Off-Broadway: Honestly, Abe (Abe) and Piggy Nation (Swing/Guitar) . Favorite regional credits: Tick, Tick...Boom (Jon), Big Fish (Will), Hairspray (Link), and RENT (Mark). Travis has directed over seventy musicals, produced albums, is the composer of Sole Mates: The Musical  and is the songwriter for several artists, including himself, on streaming platforms worldwide. Travis has his BFA in Theatre from Texas State University. He has two kids, Larkin and Lorelei, with choreographer Heather Steele. Together they own and manage The JET-PAC, a theatre/dance academy in Houston. Travis is a proud member of Actors Equity Association and the Dramatist Guild.

Laurel Powell is the Head Director for the Dickinson High School Theatre Department. This is her 25th year teaching at DHS.  Throughout her teaching career she has taught Theatre Arts 1-4, Theatre Production 1-4, Technical Theatre, and the Special Programs Theatre class. As well as teaching, Mrs. Powell has directed a variety of shows including numerous award winning One Act Plays that have been seen at the 4A, 5A, and 6A UIL Area and Region Level. As well as directing UIL One Act Play, she is also the UIL Prose and Poetry coach.  In 2009-2010, she was named DISD Secondary Teacher of the Year, representing Dickinson at the Region IV level.  She is involved with International Thespian Society, TETA, Alpha Psi Omega, Phi Mu and Southwest Theatre Association. She holds a BA from Lyon College and a MA from the University of Houston.  As well as teaching, Mrs. Powell can be seen on stage & directing in area Houston and Galveston Theatres where she also performs. Laurel’s pride outside of theatre are her two amazing and talented children!

Kathy Pubentz is a versatile artist, teacher, and performer with nearly two decades of experience. She creates Broadway-caliber props, puppets, and set pieces in Houston. Her scenic design work earned her the 2024 Broadway World Houston Award for Best Scenic Design for Ride the Cyclone. Kathy's impressive portfolio includes Seussical, Bonnie and Clyde, Frozen, Big Fish, Rocky Horror , Edward Scissorhands and Hairspray.

In addition to her design work, Kathy holds a BFA in Education for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired, along with certifications in Art and Theatre. She is passionate about teaching, and finds joy in leading the Jovians musical theatre students to grow in their on-stage skills and confidence.

As a performer, Kathy has graced Houston stages for over 15 years. Some of her favorite roles include Warbucks in Annie(TheJetPac), Tanya in Mamma Mia(Art Park), Detective Rob in Detective ROB: Sweet Dreams(TheJetPac), Prudy Pingleton in Hairspray(Art Park), Mrs. Doris McAfee in Bye Bye Birdie(BAHBT), and Mrs. Mayor in Seussical(BAHBT).

Ms. Alyssa graduated with her BFA in Musical Theatre from The University of Tampa in 2021. She founded the Squire Series at JET-PAC in 2019 and has directed each year since. Her directing credits include Little Women, Be More Chill, Bonnie and Clyde, Ride the Cyclone, and 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

She has performed at Dollywood, directed across Houston, and has worked with several Broadway casting directors in NYC, in programs such as Open Jar Institute and Broadway Artists Alliance. She is so excited to share what she’s learned to our students!

Aura Alden is a highly accomplished vocal performance graduate from Texas State University, where she honed her skills in performance and developed a strong passion for vocal anatomy and technique. With a deep understanding of the intricacies of the voice, Aura is dedicated to helping aspiring singers unlock their full potential and achieve their dreams of becoming acclaimed vocalists.

     Drawing from her extensive experience performing and coaching with renowned opera and symphonic organizations, Aura brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her teaching. She has worked with individuals from all walks of life and has helped them develop a strong vocal foundation, expand their vocal range, and master the art of expressive singing.

     Aura's students have gone on to achieve remarkable success, earning spots in prestigious choirs, theaters, and opera companies such as the Houston Grand Opera, Tuts, and TMEA All-State choirs. Her personalized approach and keen attention to detail have proven invaluable in helping her students overcome vocal challenges and reach new heights in their musical journeys.

     She is thrilled to be at Jet PAC sharing her passion for music with the next generation of young performers!

Bio coming...

Originally from Houston, TX,  Herman Charles III began his dance career as local performer. He quickly became one of the city's most sought after performers and dance instructors. Herman has worked with talent managers, Mathew Knowles, Charles Chavez and creative director, Kim Burse as a choreographer & creative director. He has worked with artists such as Frankie J., Solange Knowles, Tri-ni-tee 5:7, Megan Thee Stallion, That Girl Lay Lay and help develop artist like Normani and Josh Levi. He has also choreographed for Pro Teams: Houston Rocket Power Dancers and Houston Dynamo Girls. Herman has also staged and choreographed musicals, Saturday Night Fever, The Wiz, Grease, Bye Bye Birdie, Annie, The Wizard of Oz & Cinderella. He is currently developing new artist and when he’s not touring, continues to teach hip hop dance in his hometown.