STAFF

 

Susan Angell-Gonzalez | Founder & President

Susan serves as President of ShowMakers of America®. She holds a B.S. Degree in Dance and Physical Education from Southwest Texas State University, is a former SWT Strutter Head Captain, and she was the first Strutter to be inducted into the Strutters Hall of Fame. Susan was a high school dance team director and has 44 years of experience teaching/directing camps and contests. She was awarded the Distinguished Alumnae Award in Dance from Southwest Texas State University and has been recognized for her achievements as one of the “Top 100 Years of Women" at Southwest Texas State University. Susan has co-authored three levels of dance curriculum for NEISD and was selected by the Texas Education Agency to help develop the certification exam for dance educators. She has directed and choreographed dance performance tours throughout Europe, the Orient, the United States and for 24 years, has served on the production staff for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® in conjunction with Spirit of America Productions. She is the recipient of the prestigious Rolle Award & "M" Award for her years of service to this parade. In addition, Susan has studied dance in New York City with some of the Nation’s leading dance authorities. She has been recognized as one of the nation’s Top Ten Directors, was the recipient of Dance/Drill Team Directors of America Lifetime Achievement Award, is a three-time national nominee for Delta Zeta Sorority “Woman of the Year”, and has been recognized nationally and internationally for her work as a choreographer, director, and entrepreneur. In March 2009, Susan conducted a dance performance workshop in Santiago, Chile for the LOCD Cheerleading and Dance League. Recently, Susan was the recipient of the Texas Dance Educators Association Hall of Fame Award, the Texas Dance Educators Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the Texas State University Alumni Star Award, and the Texas Dance Educators Association Distinguished Service Award, In 2013, Susan was recognized and received the following: Official Recognition of Service from Texas Governor Rick Perry, State Representative Jason Isaac, United States Senator John Cornyn, and received a Senate Resolution for Service from The Senate of the State of Texas. In addition, she has received the key to the City of San Marcos, Texas. Susan has choreographed and conducted auditions for the San Antonio Spurs Silver Dancers and the Texas State University Strutters. Most recently, Susan was selected to receive the 2015 Texas State University Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2013, Susan completed 17 years as the director and choreographer of the “world renowned” Texas State University Strutters and has choreographed their performances and tours in 16 countries, on NBC’s live semi-final round of America’s Got Talent, twice in the Nationally televised Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®, the regionally televised Celebrate the Season Parade in Pittsburg, PA, and MTV’s Total Request Live.

 

Sarah Visel | Owner/CEO

After working for ShowMakers of America® for 21 years, Sarah is the new owner and COO of Visel Enterprises, which includes ShowMakers of America®. Sarah trained with Larry and Bettye Roquemore at Roquemore Ballet Arts and Cristina Munro with Corpus …

After working for ShowMakers of America® for 21 years, Sarah is the new owner and CEO of Visel Enterprises, which includes ShowMakers of America®. Sarah trained with Larry and Bettye Roquemore at Roquemore Ballet Arts and Cristina Munro with Corpus Christi Ballet. She also trained at the Houston Ballet Academy’s summer program for 3 consecutive summers. She holds a B.H.A. in Healthcare Administration, a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education, and is certified in dance. Sarah is a former Mitte Scholar and SWT Strutter Head Captain. While pursuing her master’s degree, she owned and operated her own dance studio in Kingsville, TX. After receiving her certification in dance, she was hired at Tom C. Clark High School in San Antonio and chosen as a Silver Dancer for the San Antonio Spurs. In the 10 years at Clark High School, Sarah was the director of the Top Cat Varsity Dance Team (10 years), Aristocat Junior Varsity Drill Team (6 years), and Fine Arts Coordinator (5 years). She has participated in D.E.A.L. as an instructor and coordinator for the past 3 years. Sarah provides professional development workshops and teaches technique to area high schools. She also serves on the Strutters Always Alumni Board as Treasurer and the Alpha Zeta Chapter of Chi Omega’s House Corporation Board as President.

 

Stacy Becker | Vice President

Stacy Becker is the Executive Vice President of ShowMakers of America and has been with the company since its formation. She has coordinated dance workshops, contests and camps for the past 42 years and has co-directed performance tours in Europe, the Orient and the United States. Stacy also coordinates specialized officer and director training workshops for summer camps and director conventions. She is a former Head Captain of the Southwest Texas Strutters, holds a Masters Degree and is dance certified. For the past 24 years, Stacy has served on the production staff, is the Spirit of America Productions Coordinator for Special Ops for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® and was the recipient of the prestigious Rolle Award & “M” Award for her years of service to this parade. She served as the dance, drill and pep director at John Marshall HS for 18 years and was recognized as one of the Top Ten Directors of America. Stacy was the 2004 recipient of the Dance and Drill Team Directors of America Lifetime Honorary Member Award, the 2005 Educator of the Year at O’Connor HS., the 2006 O’Connor HS. nominee for HEB’s Excellence in Education Lifetime Achievement, the 2006 recipient of the National Nobel Educator of Distinction Award, and the 2009 O’Connor HS. nominee for the Texas Exes Outstanding Teacher Award. She is currently retired after 34 years of teaching World History AP and as the Dept. Coordinator of Social Studies at O’Connor HS in San Antonio.

2019+Staff

Leaders

ShowMakers of America® brings the most knowledgeable, passionate and experienced staff members to the business. We believe that our staff is the foundation for what separates our company from others.

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Experience

Our staff has 390+ years of classroom experience and 500+ of teaching experience. We have Teachers of the Year, Fine Arts Coordinators, Campus Leaders(Dept. Coordinators/ Administrators), Masters Degrees and Middle School - College Directors.

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Talent

Within our team we have college dancers, NFL/NBA dancers, Dance Moms Audition finalist, solo finalists & winners, College Dance Directors, College National Champions and MORE!