Laura Blair - East Texas
Laura grew up in Whitehouse, Texas, where her parents taught her the importance of faith and led her to the Lord while attending Pollard United Methodist Church. At an early age, she realized her love for dance. Dance-N-Drill studio in Tyler taught her the importance of using talents to glorify God. This carried over as one of the most important life lessons to shape her hobbies and career.
She served as an officer of the Whitehouse First Ladies Drill Team from 2006-2008. From 2008-2010, she lived the dream of being a World Famous Kilgore College Rangerette. She later graduated from Texas State University in 2012 with her Bachelor Degree in Exercise Sports Science with an emphasis on Pre-Physical Therapy.
While at Texas State, she was blessed to be the assistant director for a local dance studio competition team and teach classes as well. Texas State is also where she met her husband Haydon Blair, especially fond of him when learning he was from East Texas.
Laura then attended Kilgore College Physical Therapist Assistant program from 2012-2014, always knowing her heart was in pediatrics. God placed more opportunities for dance in her path while back in East Texas as she taught studio classes in Kilgore and served as interim drill team director for her high school alma mater.
Haydon and Laura lived in Garland and Plano for a few years where she began her physical therapy career, realizing how God allowed her to use teaching dance to children as a way to relate teaching movement to her pediatric patients.
Eventually God led Haydon and Laura back to East Texas to be close to their families. Since moving back, Laura and Haydon have added two boys to their family, Bowen and Asher. Now that their roots are solidly back home in East Texas, Laura is ready to run after this dream of creating a dance team for all-abilities!
Erica Harris - Houston, Texas
Erica was born in England but raised in Altus, Oklahoma, where she completed her associates degree in psychology. She always had a dream of becoming a pediatrician so she decided to move to Texas and attend college and medical school. Once things in her life started to change, her focus shifted from pediatrics to behavior and speech pathology. This was the beginning of her career journey with individuals with special needs. Erica has always had a passion for this special community and has had many volunteer opportunities over the years as well.
Erica worked privately as an In-Home ABA therapist for 4 years, where she developed and implemented lesson plans, taught life skills/social skills and dealt with behaviors using positive reinforcement. This led to her obtaining a position as a social skills teacher for an after-school program. After a few years, a school was opened and Erica was chosen to lead their inclusive preschool program, which she did for 6 years. During this time she worked with individuals with anxiety, ADHD, high-functioning Autism and Aspergers.
Erica was heavily involved in ministry at her church and in 2014 she was invited to become a Lakewood intern and accepted the call. It was a life-changing experience that confirmed even more that working with children with unique abilities was not only what she loved doing but it was also her passion and part of her God-given purpose in life. Erica’s strong faith has not only gotten her through many of life’s ups and downs but it has also guided her in how to truly connect with any child, teen, or adult with unique abilities she comes in contact with. Erica is also a Certified Christian Counselor.
One thing that has always been a major part of Erica’s life and personality is music and dancing in all forms. There have been numerous children that have benefited and thrived from Erica’s use of dance and music in all therapy settings and classroom settings. As she always says, “My body hears music, and it can’t stay still.” Erica truly believes dancing is healing and everyone needs it in their life in some form.
Rachel grew up in Austin, Texas, and began dancing at an early age with her twin sister and Harmony Dance Team Co-Director, Kristen. She continued dancing throughout high school on her school’s drill team.
Rachel grew up attending Westlake Bible Church where she was encouraged in her faith as she began a relationship with the Lord.
Following High School, Rachel attended Texas Tech University where she majored in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. She had the privilege of dancing on the Texas Tech Pom Squad for 2 years and she and her husband love returning to Lubbock to watch Texas Tech Football games!
After graduating from Texas Tech University, Rachel attended West Texas A&M University to pursue an M.S. in Speech Language Pathology. It was at this time she discovered a love for working with pediatric clients. She moved to Frisco, Texas, following graduation where she became a member at her church and began working with elementary-age students as an SLP. Rachel then moved to Midland in July of 2020, after marrying her husband, Chase. Rachel and Chase have been married for three years and are expecting a baby boy in December!
Rachel and Kristen are incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to bring Harmony Dance Team to the Permian Basin!
Rachel Lynch - Midland, Texas
Kristen Gilbert - Midland, Texas
Kristen grew up in Austin, Texas, and started dancing at the age of three. She grew up involved in her local church youth group and accepted Jesus as her Savior when she was 11 years old. The truth of the Gospel has only gotten sweeter as she has gotten older. What a gift!
Kristen continued her love of dance and served as a First Lieutenant and Captain of her High School Drill Team. She then attended Texas Tech University to major in Education with a Specialization in Special Education. While at Tech, she was a member of Raider Sisters for Christ and the Texas Tech Pom Squad. She is so thankful for the wonderful community, friends, and experiences that she was able to have through both programs.
Following graduation, Kristen moved to Frisco where she began teaching! She taught Second Grade for 4 years and was a Resource teacher for 2 years. More recently, Kristen got married and lives in Midland with her husband! She has worked as a Second Grade Teacher in MIdland ISD for the past two years. She is thankful for the opportunity to bring Harmony to Midland and prays that it will be a wonderful ministry opportunity for her community!