Destiny Devoted Dance

Meleka R. Simon

Owner & Artistic Director

Meleka Simon has been a dance educator for 25 years. She has studied the dance styles of ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, modern, musical theater, and praise dance. She's a graduate of the University of North Texas where she earned a BA in Psychology and Child Development. After college, she was asked to be member of the Dallas Dance Company where she danced and choreographed for 5 seasons. Meleka has had the privilege to train under some of the industries top professionals. She has won numerous scholarships which gave her the opportunity to train in Vegas with Thunderstruck, in LA at the Edge Performing Arts Center, and in New York at Broadway Dance Center and Steps. Her training gave her the tools necessary to develop her teaching and choreography skills. Over the years, Meleka has sang background and danced back-up for recording artists, as well as choreographed and danced in award shows, festivals, music videos, and commercials. While teaching and training dancers all over North America she has won numerous choreography awards. Her dancers have won awards for technique, showmanship, artistry, and some have gone on to have professional dance careers. Meleka continues to choreograph all over the US and is an adjudicator for local and national dance competitions and local dance teams as well.

Meleka is married to her husband Leon Simon (11yrs) and they have 3 children; Lunden (10), Madden (6), and daughter Le'Niya (21). She is currently pursuing her master's in Pyschology with an emphasis in Life Coaching. Meleka looks forward to Destiny Devoted Dance serving Plano and the surrounding areas with not only quality dance education but a community of support for our youth.

Leon Simon, Jr.

Business Manager

Leon Simon is the husband of Meleka Simon and the business manager for Destiny Devoted Dance. He graduated from New Orleans University with a BA in Business Administration . He has over 15 years of business management experience and currently works at Penny Mac as a mortgage underwriter. Leon is the business manager for DDD and oversees the business operations there-of. He is happy to serve the clients of Destiny Devoted Dance, the community of Plano, and surrounding areas.

Jocelyn Schimpf

Assistant Director and Instructor

Jocelyn Schimpf completed her Master of Fine Arts in Dance Choreography and Performance at the State University of New York Brockport in May 2021. While in New York, Jocelyn conducted research on injury prevention regimens to develop safe movement practices and promote dancer wellness. In her thesis research, she explored the implementation of a somatic mindset into dance training to generate movement efficiency for optimal performance. She continued to refine her pedagogy by teaching at SUNY Brockport, Alfred University, and Palmyra-Macedon Conservatory of Dance. Jocelyn received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with a minor in business from the University of North Texas in May 2016, graduating summa cum laude. She has travelled and performed at several festivals with imPULSE dance project, Amp: Dance, Wanderlust Dance, Altered Odyssey Dance Project, and Project 3D. Outside of teaching and dancing, she has presented research, stage managed numerous shows, directed dance films, and is currently working towards her RYT 200 certification to integrate yoga into her teaching curriculum.

Jocelyn is currently an adjunct professor at her alma mater, The University of North Texas. Jocelyn enjoys sharing her passion for dance by teaching all ages, levels, and skill sets and is excited to return to the Destiny Devoted Dance family!

Niyi Obioha

Ballet Director

Omoniyi began training at Pofahl Studios in Gainesville, FL studying extensively in ballet, jazz, and hip-hop. In 2002 the school presented her with a scholarship which she received for the following 4 years thereafter. Also in 2002 she was apart of the Corp de Ballet of Dance Alive National Ballet where she performed in works such as Firebird, Carmen and Nutcracker. She’s trained at multiple intensives including Santa Fe Dance Intensive (FL), The Ailey School (NY), Columbia City Jazz (SC), South Carolina Dance Conservatory (SC), Complexions Contemporary Ballet (NY) and Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane (NY). She’s had the opportunity to train with teachers such as Merrill Ashley, Finis Jhung, Desmond Richardson, and Jason Parsons, as well as perform works choreographed and set by Christopher Huggins, Bruce Woods and Milton Myers, just to name a few. She began her professional career in Columbia, SC at the University of SC where she made history by being one of the first dancers outside of the MGDC to perform Martha Graham’s “Sketches from Chronicle” in it’s entirety. A documentary of her work on the project aired May 2008. She’s an alumnus of Florida International University where she received her B.A. in Dance Education. She’s a former company member of Vibrations Dance Company (SC), Dallas Black Dance Theatre (TX) and Larrwell Productions (TX) as a Friends of Tyme dancer performing in different commercial and industrial productions. Omoniyi is an American Ballet Theatre (ABT) Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Preliminary through level three. She has taught ballet, jazz, modern and hip-hop for years at different studios, art academies and churches throughout Miami, FL, Gainesville, FL and Dallas, TX. Omoniyi is very involved in the community as an individual and as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Niyi has began her 3rd season with Destiny Devoted Dance and serves as our ballet director. She is excited to continue working with all of our dancers here at DDD.

Derrick Redmond

Hip Hop Instructor

Derrick Redmon has been dancing all of his life even though he did not start formal training until the age 9. After 5 years of intense training in all areas of dance as well as acting and gymnastics, he took a break from it all to focus more on school sports especially football... but he could not stay away too long. He found dance again later in college where he was “RAIDER RED” the Texas Tech University Mascot, an instructor for Universal Cheerleader Association camps, as well as the Coach and Choreographer for the award winning Texas Tech Pom Squad. Since graduation from Texas Tech his dance career has developed. His credits include performing with Grammy award winning group Destiny’s Child during the 2004 Dallas Cowboys Visa Thanksgiving Day halftime show, principal dancer on the Tuaca Body Art Ball national tour, and televised halftime performance during the MLS Soccer Championship just to name a few. He was also Assistant Choreographer for the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders 2007 halftime show featuring Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson and a 11-time Monsters of Hip Hop scholarship recipient. Derrick continues to train with top choreographers in L.A., New York, Chicago, Dallas, and across the country and enjoys teaching and sharing his knowledge with all.

Derrick is a long time friend and collegue of Ms. Meleka. He's been with DDD since our beginning in 2016. He teacher our level 2, 3, & 4 hip hop classes and serves as the hip hop director for the Destiny Devoted Dance Company.

Nicole Primerano

Dance Instructor

Is a graduate of the University of North Texas where she received her degree in Early Childhood Education with all level Special Education. She is currently persuing her Masters. Nicole has been dancing since the age of 3 years old and competed in dance for 8 years. She was a 4 year member of the McKinney North High School Drill Team where she was Junior Lieutenant in 2011 and Captain in 2012. In 2012 she served as student dance teacher at McKinney North High School. Nicole was a member of Dallas Dance Company from 2014-2016.

Nicole was a student of Ms. Meleka and has been with us since our start in 2016. Nicole serves as the pre-school director and is the assistant director for our Showcase Dance Company here at DDD. She enjoys teaching at Destiny Devoted Dance and is so excited for another year!

Leslie Shaw Hatchard

Dance Instructor

Leslie Shaw-Hatchard is a native Texan and graduate of Dallas' Skyline High School. While dancing on her high school drill team she discovered her love for performing and her passion for teaching. She has since spent the last 29 years performing and teaching dance throughout the U.S. as well as France, Germany, and Switzerland. Her dance training began at the age of 5, at Mary Lois School of Dance. Her career has since developed into a professional career with such credits as performing for the National Football League, National Basketball Association, National Soccer League, and Booker T. Washington High School of the Performing Arts. Leslie's involvement with professional sports began in 1990 when she was elected as one the the 36 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. In 1991 Leslie began dancing for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks and continued for 5 years. In 1996 she received recognition as the Dallas Mavs Dancer of the year and Dancer with the most posivitve influence in 1997. Leslie joined the dance team for the Dallas Burn, Dallas’ outdoor soccer team which ultimately morphed into FC Dallas. She was the founding Co-Director of the professional dance team for the MISL Dallas Sidekicks as well as the founding Director of the NBA D-Leagues Texas Legends Dancers in Frisco, Texas. For twelve years Leslie was the company director at Broadway Dance Center in Garland, Texas. She regularly choreographs award winning routines throughout Texas and the U. S. She often serves as a guest instructor and professional adjudicator for MA Dance, Crowd Pleasers, Spirit Celebration, Half-Time Entertainment (HTE) & Encore. Leslie has been married to her husband Scott for 23 years and resides in McKinney, Texas and is the proud mother of 21 year old daughter, Madison, and 19 year old daughter, Kennedy.

Leslie is excited to be here at DDD for her 2nd season. Leslie teaches jazz, hip hop, conditioning, technique, and serves as the Drill Director.

Gabriela Geter

Acro Instructor

Molly White

Dance Instructor

Renee DeVaney

Office Manager