Luise Maldonado -  Director

 

Luise’ Maldonado, a proud Texas native, is a graduate of Sam Houston State University where she earned her B.A. in Dance. During her time at SHSU, she was a captain of the nationally recognized Orange Pride Dance Team and contributed to their National Championship-winning season. With over 14 years on staff with the National Dance Alliance (NDA), Luise’ has had the opportunity to travel the country—and even to Rome for the 2019 New Year’s Day Parade—while training and inspiring the next generation of dancers. She was honored as NDA’s Top Head Instructor in both 2020 and 2024.

Professionally, Luise’ has served as a Client Sales Engagement Specialist for Spotlight Events, Inc., while also working in marketing and social media for some of the dance competition industry’s leading brands, including USASF and Dance Worlds. Her choreography is sought after by top-performing teams across the nation, and she has earned multiple national titles as both a dancer and coach across all-star, collegiate, high school, and studio circuits. One of Luise’s proudest accomplishments came in 2018 when she and her team, the Dancin’ Bluebonnets Open Jazz Team, won their first-ever World Championship title at the USASF Dance Worlds.

Luise’ is married to John Maldonado, head band director at his alma mater, Westfield High School, and a member of the Houston Texans drumline, Deep Steel Thunder. Together, they share their home with two beloved dogs, Abigail and Marley, and two cats, Rita and Bagheera.  She looks forward to contributing to LCISD's success and the growth of the Longhorn Nation.