Prologues Denton Record Chronicle, June 1, 2003

"Lisa Racina should take a bow. Over the last 11 years Ms. Racina, the founder and artistic director of DancExpress and owner of Denton Dance Conservatory, has done something difficult. She has put emerging dancers--students really -- on the same stage as professional dancers in the annual Collage Dance Festival.

Last weekend at the Campus Theatre, dance students joined the ranks of the conservatory's companies, DancExpress and Denton Youth City Ballet to perform with Texas Woman's University dancers and the New York-based Von Ussar Danceworks.

Dance is a demanding craft, and audiences often forget the degree of technique needed to make even the simplest combination look good.

Collage gives dancing space to dancers in varying phases of development.... DancExpress is a maturing company and boasts an emerging talent worth mentioning. Rachel Cummings, .......excelled in Lisa Racina's gorgeous choreography in "Beatle Suite." In "Blackbird", Ms. Cummings showed poise, grace and an athleticism that should be tapped more in future projects."