Fly KiDS Creators.htm

FLY KiDS is a fusion of two extraordinarily successful dance companies.

Rhonda Valencia's
Morris Dance Team

These two acknowledged innovators both made their mark by proving that young dancers without formal training can be molded into highly entertaining performing artists. The result of their new FLYworks program is ...

FLY KiDS Creators

The creators of FLY KiDS are well known in educational and performing arts circles throughout Houston. FLY KiDS was styled after programs separately created by these two action-oriented innovators—the professional FLY Dance Company and the Morris Dance Team, each program an unqualified success.

Kathy Wood, FLYworks Artistic Director, taught dance and art in Houston-area public schools for over fifteen years. Her innovations in that field earned her high school dance teams six state championships and performances in educational forums and public events in Scotland, Greece, England, and Spain. After retiring from public education, she entered the contemporary dance world in 1993 with an all-male hip hop crew that became an instant hit on the Houston arts scene. Her work with street dancers over the next 13 years produced FLY Dance Company, a national and international touring company performing 50-plus concerts annually in over 30 states in the U.S., Mexico, France, Estonia, Germany, and Austria at performing arts venues including the Kennedy Center, the Lincoln Center, Jacob’s Pillow, and the Vail International Dance Festival. Ms. Wood received her Bachelor of Arts in studio art and art education from Houston Baptist University and her dance certification from the University of Houston. She is past president of the Houston Dance Coalition and the Texas Dance Educators Association and served on the Texas Dance Exet Test Committee. She was elected to the Texas Dance Educators Hall of Fame and recently received their Life-Time Achievement Award. She was honored with an American Red Cross Everyday Hero Award for her work with at-risk youth.

Rhonda Valencia, FLYworks FLY KiDS Director, created the Morris Dance Team at Morris Fifth Grade Center in Pasadena ISD in 2001 as an after-school program. Since then, the Morris Dance Team has been a frequent representative of the school at dance and school-related events throughout the district demonstrating what an asset a quality dance program can be for the student dancers, its school, and school district. A master teacher and instructional leader reflecting 28 years as an educator, Ms. Valencia’s expertise includes choreography for Cool School Kids and Bilingual Theater of Houston. She was the Artistic Director of Aldine Youth and Director of Oleson Revue. As an educator, Ms. Valencia also has experience in gymnastics instruction, dance, and curriculum writing and development. She has helped students develop skills that enable them to perform in different venues. She holds a Masters in Education and currently teaches physical education at Morris Fifth Grade Center in Pasadena, Texas.