Directors
Leanne Bilnoski is the Director of the James Bowie Silver Stars, Director of the JV Star Dancers and dance teacher at James Bowie High School. Ms. Bilnoski is a graduate of Anderson High School where she served first as Junior Lieutenant, then Captain of the Anderson Trojan Belles Dance Team. After high school, she became a member of the world-famous Kilgore College Rangerettes 68th line. With the Rangerettes, she performed at events such as the Cotton Bowl, Tremblay Financial Bowl in Santa Barbara California, Stamford Connecticut’s UBS Parade Spectacular, the 2009 Inauguration of President Barack Obama and has had the opportunity to perform at different events around the state of Texas. After Kilgore, Ms. Bilnoski graduated from the University of Texas at Austin earning her Bachelors of Arts in Theatre and Dance. While at the University of Texas, Ms. Bilnoski was a part of STEEL Dance Company. Ms. Bilnoski has taught dance in both high schools and middle schools as well as directed high school and middle school dance teams for the past sixteen years.
She grew up dancing at the Shirley McPhail School of Dance in Austin, TX. In addition to taking dance classes, she was a member the SMSD Performing Dance Troupe for eight years. Her studio training includes jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, modern, contemporary and Pilates from studios across Texas as well as New York and Los Angeles.
Ms. Bilnoski is excited to start her tenth year as the Director of the Silver Stars and to be a part of this wonderful organization.
Caroline Hanley began her dance training at the age of two, and has studied a wide range of styles including jazz, ballet, hip hop, contemporary, and modern. Ms. Hanley graduated from Anderson High School, where she served as Junior Lieutenant, then First Lieutenant of the Trojan Belles Dance Team.
After high school, she became a member of the 83rd line of the World Famous Kilgore College Rangerettes. As a Rangerette, she had the privilege of performing at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Cotton Bowl, the State Fair of Texas, the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade, and on the Today Show. Ms. Hanley continued her education at the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology & Health, majoring in Exercise Science and minoring in Educational Psychology.
She began teaching at Dance Xplosion in 2025, where she trains students of all ages in jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, and musical theater.
Ms. Hanley is overjoyed and honored to begin working with the Silver Stars and Star Dancers! She is looking forward to a great year ahead!