The TRIUMPH TEAM

Ms. Dana
Owner/Founder of Triumph National Talent

Ms. Dana was born in Newport, Arkansas. She started dance and gymnastics at the age of five. She went to college with scholarships in vocal music, theatre and dance and was on the dance team. She is an Alumni State Winner for Cinderella Girl Pageant. After college she worked as an actor/dancer/singer in professional theatre and was on a professional touring troupe for children's theatre. Ms. Dana owned a dance studio for 25 years before starting Triumph National Talent dance competition. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful crew of incredible people to work with!

Jake
Tabulator/Technical Director/Truck Driver

Ms. Dana's oldest son, Jake has been working for Triumph since it was founded in 2015. Jake built props for Ms. Dana's dance studio during high school. He was a teacher for kids K-4th grade for 6 years. He attended college for Computer Science/Criminal Justice. In his spare time he likes to travel the states on his motorcycle.

Laney Belle
Judges Assistant/Tabulator/Tour Director

Laney Cathey was born and raised in White Hall, Arkansas. She graduated from White Hall High School and now attends The University of Arkansas at Little Rock studying to receive a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts with an emphasis on Dance Performance. Laney found her love to dance at the age of two and has not looked back.

Laney has been in the competition dance world for 19 years as a student and now a choreographer. In those years, she has received multiple national titles and awards. Laney now works for Triumph National Talent and shares her love for dance with students in Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma.

In her free time, Laney enjoys spending time with her family and with her dog, Earl.

Addison
Backstage Manager

Meet Addison!

Addison Knight grew up dancing at Rison Starz Dance Academy under Amanda Hipp and Joye Miller. She danced there for 10 years and won many regional and national awards. Addison attended college at Arkansas Tech University where she was an Arkansas Tech Golden Girl for 1 and a half years. Addison now works at both Rison Starz Dance Academy and Mrs. Tana’s Dance Factory as an instructor. She also travels with the national dance competition Triumph National Talent and is their backstage manager!

Addison teaches every style of dance but styles she is currently teaching are pom, jazz, tap, hip hop, and musical theatre.

When Addison isn’t working at the studio or traveling with Triumph, she likes to spend her free time at church, shopping, or kayaking. She also loves babysitting her bonus siblings: Josie, Jax and Jensen.

Addison says that she is so blessed to be able to have all of these amazing opportunities that allow her to do what she loves most… dance!

Jali Stafford has been passionately performing for nearly nineteen years as well as choreographing for five years. She is in her junior year of college studying to receive her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance Performance. Originally from Bossier City, Louisiana, Jali has studied ballet, pointe, modern, contemporary, musical theater, hiphop, and tap! Jali debuted in her first collegiate on stage performance in the 2019 University of Arkansas at Little Rock Dance Harvest production, and has been in 3 collegiate productions since. Since moving to Little Rock for her undergraduate degree Jali has received multiple judges choice, entertainment, technique, and choreography awards from competitions spreading across Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas! Jali now works as the official Emcee and Sound Technician of Triumph National Talent. From a child with dreams of dancing alongside prima ballerinas, Jali continues to share her passion with young dancers, and prepares to add even more prestigious names to the list of teachers she has learned from until one day her name joins a young dancers list.