Our Mission

The purpose of Pendragon Academy is to provide exceptional education of the performing arts to children and adults in a friendly, clean, and professional atmosphere. We provide innovative lesson plans that inspire creativity and originality in both our students and staff members. We hire and train the most qualified and proven leaders in the performing arts industry, provide superior customer service to our client families, and use state-of-the-art equipment such as portable, adjustable-height ballet barres and shock absorbing "Marley" style dance floors, and the most current technology including security data encryption, auto-pay options, and online account management. Our mission is to serve our community through quality performing arts education and elaborate productions which provide opportunity for all who come through our doors.

About Our Name

Pendragon is an ancient family name of famous Briton kings including the legendary King Arthur. Throughout history, the name Pendragon has been synonymous with excellence, distinction, and leadership, the qualities you will find within our company and those we teach to our students.

About Our Facilities

We have a 5000 square foot facility with two dance studios featuring wood-sprung Marley style flooring and full-length mirrored walls, professional sound equipment with iPod docking stations, and adjustable, portable ballet barres. We have two dressing rooms, two bathrooms, a waiting room/eating area for parents, siblings, and birthday parties, a front lobby, staffed front desk, and a retail shop (coming soon!) selling dancewear, shoes, and logo apparel, healthy vending options, and plenty of parking spaces!

About Our Staff

Laney Atherton

has an extensive background in the dance industry as well as valuable training in management of retail and service businesses. Laney was raised by two successful business owners. While growing up, her father owned a health food store and café in New Mexico, and her mother owned a celebrity fitness studio in the River Oaks. Both businesses prepared her for life as an entrepreneur beginning at a very young age.

Laney has excelled in the business world as a manager for retail and service companies. She has a strong love for teaching dance, and a passion for producing elaborate productions.

She has had over 23 years of training in classical and modern ballet, Pointe, jazz, tap, musical theater, and lyrical as well as related training in gymnastics, acting, and visual arts. She has danced with esteemed Houston dance companies and international super houses such as Moscow Ballet, & Kirov Ballet. She competed in advanced dance and acting competitions for many years always scoring in the top, overall percentiles as both a soloist and team competitor. Laney became an apprentice dance teacher at the young age of 16. Just two years later, she was appointed as Artistic Director for Ballet New Mexico and directed her first full-length production for the prestigious Spencer Theater in New Mexico.

Laney went on to teach and direct for several award-winning dance companies, she taught private lessons, and choreographed commercially under the name she made for herself. She has directed numerous stage productions since her first debut.

Laney attended the College of William and Mary in Virginia, where she continued her professional training in advanced dance while pursuing an Honors Neuroscience degree and holding positions on student organization boards. In Virginia, she also directed City Arts Dance Company and founded the Children's Ballet of Newport News. She helped restructure and promote the city government's non-profit dance & outreach programs, and choreographed commercially for area events and businesses. City Arts doubled in company enrollment just 6 months after Laney became the director. The company won numerous "top score overall" awards throughout the region, and Laney received the award for “Most Outstanding Teacher” at the Virginia Region I Love Dance competition in 2006. The award was given for her demonstrated dedication to her students and for bringing the largest number of dancers to the competition.

Laney returned to her hometown of Houston, Texas in early 2007. She purchased the Louetta location of Koenig School of Dance in May of 2008, and renamed the school Pendragon Academy.

Ms. Laney directs the Pendragon Dance Company competitive dance teams, our elaborate performances, and she also teaches weekly classes in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, and Pointe.

Marquita Hurd holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Dance and a minor in Biology. Marquita began dancing her freshman year at Westfield HS when she became a member of the Lariettes Dance Team. She worked her way up as a Junior dance officer to Senior 1st Lieutenant. Her love for dance grew each year, and she made the decision to further her dance education when she attended Stephen F. Austin State University. SFA is where she received formal training in dance and where she found her love for teaching it. She was a member the Repertory Dance Company at SFA for 4 years which provided the opportunity to perform on stage, travel, and learn about dance production. Marquita has trained extensively in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, Pom Pom, Latin American Dance, and Improvisation. In addition to her dance training, Marquita has 7 years of choreography experience. She has helped choreograph routines for Westfield HS, several concerts for SFA's dance program, and her own "Burdens of Chaos" that premiered at SFA in fall 2006. Marquita completed her Internship at Nacogdoches HS and student teaching at Klein HS where she experienced working with students of different learning abilities and dancing levels. She has danced for the Texas Copperheads, Houston's own arena football team, where she danced and cheered professionally.

Ms. Marquita currently directs our pre-team and perform teams, teaches Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, Drill Prep, Modern, Contemporary & combo classes, and she is our very organized office manager! We are so glad to have her!

Jessie Smyczek

Jessie is an advanced dancer with many years of training in classical ballet, pointe, jazz, and tap. She is a member of our senior dance team, and has competed and performed at regional and national events for many years. Jessie has performed soloist roles in various ballets including her most recent role of the Sugar Plum Fairy. She is training as an Assistant Teacher for us, and we are thrilled to have her talent as part of our team!

Corinne Bochinno

Currently attends Arizona State University where she is pursuing a dance degree. She received a scholarship from Dean Simon Dove for her talent in dance, and has been cast in several graduate pieces and film work. She has studied a wide variety of dance skills in unique genres such as Argentinean, Rakshariki, Barhata, and West African. Before college she studied dance for many years and participated in competitive dance teams as a teenager. She teaches our high powered jazz and tap classes in all levels. Ms. Corinne has a true love for dancing and teaching, and she is gentle with even our youngest of dancers.

Jim Atherton can be found backstage at our performances. Jim is a life-long dance parent himself, as the director's father! He has extensive backstage experience, and has been instrumental in past Nutcracker performances. He really understands the dance parent perspective, and is happy to assist you.

Tracy Jenkins is our front desk and office assistant, who is happy to help you with any account questions, registration, and performance information. Tracy is a dance mom herself, and she has even performed in our past shows such as the Nutcracker!