Faculty

Herbi Neil

Hip Hop, Tap, Breakdancing, Jazz, Boys Program, Company

Herbi has been dancing for 20 years. He is trained in Hip Hop, Breakdancing, Jazz, Fosse Style, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, Swing, and Salsa. Herbi has established Hip Hop programs for several Colorado dance studios including; Miller’s School of Dance, Westwood’s Performing Arts, and Gayton Dance World to name a few. Herbi has danced professionally with Elements of Motion, Motion Underground, in “Hip Hop America’s Dance” and “Ink Spot”. He has also performed in the Carnival Choreographer’s Ball in Los Angeles. Herbi has been a back-up dancer for Melissa Fuller and Melissa Lujan (Take Over Tour). He has performed for the Colorado Crush, Denver Nuggets, MC Hammer, Young MC, Arrested Development, Baby Bash, Flipside, Star Pro Entertainment, AND 1, Cost Cutters, Xpedex, Microsoft, Coldwell Banker and did a Hip Hop instructional video featuring Nolan Padilla in association with Capezio. If it’s hip hop, he knows it. He has studied with the best dancers from East Coast to West Coast, implementing both styles into his choreography and instruction. Currently he is a member of BreakEFX.

Nicole O’Farrell

Ballet, Lyrical, Pointe, Pre-dance, Tap, Jazz, Combo, Company, Reception

Nicole is an accomplished performer from the Denver area, currently the co-director and a performer of the Schiff Dance Collective in Boulder, CO. Nicole can be seen in such shows as “Imancipation”, “The River”, “Dreamlife”, “To Be Loved”, “Unsilenced”, “Move Me”, and “Project Joy/Full”. She has spent her career studying, performing and competing in a variety of styles including Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, Pointe, Contemporary and more. She has had the honor of training with talents such as Jenny Schiff, Kit Andree, Thommie Walsh, Bill Hastings, Chet Walker, Jacob Mora, and Doug Caldwell to name a few. In August of 2008 she was a featured artist at two different studios in Oregon for summer workshops. Nicole is in high demand as she currently teaches and choreographs at multiple competitive level and pre-professional studios located throughout Colorado. She attended the National Dance Teacher’s Summit in New York in the summer of 2009. In addition, Nicole is a member of Eminence and Kinetix professional companies. Most recently she was a featured performer with Dança Nova in Boulder. Nicole is a very fun and quirky teacher, a favorite for all ages.

Chanel Winter

Artistic Director, Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Company, etc.

Chanel has been dancing, teaching, choreographing and directing for many years. Chanel has studied with the best from Los Angeles, Colorado and New York and is trained in Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Breakdancing, Silk and more. She has been a member of Get Down Productions in Boulder and performed with Leslie Scott for the 2006 Millennium Showcase in Los Angeles. She has extensive experience with Poms and Dance teams, having been the co-captain of her high school dance team and also creating and coaching the Westlake Middle School dance team with over 60 girls. Chanel began teaching at dance studios in Denver at 16 years old. She has taught at Premier Academy of Dance, Denver Dance Starz. Chanel opened a summer dance camp program, Dazzle Dance, at 16 also.

After moving to Fort Collins for college in 2003, Chanel began teaching at GK Gymplex and soon after took the position of Artistic Director of their dance program. She was a member of the Colorado Eagles Chicks Dance Team for two years, taught for the Fort Collins Base Camp program and coached the Fossil Ridge High School dance team for the 2007/2008 season. Chanel choreographed and costumed Legacy High School’s production of “Aida”. Her show production is second to none and her choreography has won numerous Platinum and high score awards. Chanel was an adjunct faculty member at Front Range Community College, teaching jazz, for the 2008/2009 school year.

Chanel has a degree in Marketing with an emphasis in Psychology, having taken multiple classes in entrepreneurship and child development. Chanel has a strong passion for dance and teaching. She continues her education and research in dance, early childhood education, dance pedagogy, anatomy and kinesiology, injury prevention, psychology and more. She has also attended the National Dance Teacher’s Summit in New York in 2007 and 2009. Chanel’s instruction incorporates anatomy and kinesiology, imagery, and focuses on strong foundation and proper alignment, all the while emphasizing the importance of setting goals and using positive energy to achieve successful results.

Jillian Black

Fairy Tale Theatre & Song, Musical Theatre, Acting, Pre-school and Combo program, Parent/Tot

Jillian put on her first pair of tap shoes at age 3 and has been dancing ever since! Most of her training comes from Alaska Dance Theatre in Anchorage, where she grew up. Jillian danced and acted in numerous theatre productions throughout Junior High and High School including The Music Man, Oklahoma!, The Wizard of Oz, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, and Grease. Jillian is currently a student at Colorado State University where she is studying Human Development and Family Studies as well as Early Childhood Education and Dance. She would like to teach Kindergarten or 2nd grade after she graduates.

Jenny Droeger

(Currently on leave dancing and playing a character for Disney World!!)

Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Reception

Jenny has been dancing for 12 years and is trained in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical and Hip Hop. She grew up dancing at several studios in Colorado including Kit Andree, Artistic Fusion and Inertia Performing Arts. Jenny was a part of the Colorado Eagles dance team for the 2007-2008 season. She trained with Radio City Rockettes during the summer of 2008. She loves sharing her passion for dance with all of her students and looks forward to seeing them pursue their dreams. Jenny spent the last year dancing on the Disney Cruise Lines and has recently become a face character and dancer at Disney World in Orlando Florida! We are so very proud of you Jenny!!

Hayley Bancroft

Conditioning, Jazz, Progressions, Turns/Balance

Hayley began her dance training at the age of 3. As a bumble bee in her first recital, it was obvious to everyone that Hayley was a born dancer. At age 7, Hayley began competing at Denver dance conventions and competitions where she won numerous awards and scholarships. In 2007-2008, Hayley trained and competed with Rocky Mountain School of Dance in Arvada, CO where, in addition to dance training and competition, she traveled and choreographed as assistant to the school owner/director. Hayley has also choreographed solos, duos, and trios for dancers in Ft. Collins.

Over the years, Hayley has performed in numerous dance and musical theatre performances in the community and at school. In 2005 Hayley performed as Clara for the Loveland production of Nutcracker and in 2006 she performed as a soloist and primary actor in the musical A Walk with Gershwin. In spring 2008, Hayley danced in the finale of the movie High School Musical 3. She is currently a key actor/performer for Group Publishing Christian videos. Her attention to detail, amazing use of imagery and bubbly energy make her a phenomenal teacher, especially at such a young age. Hayley enjoys sharing her dance training, creativity, and musicality through her teaching and choreography.

Kate Patterson

Hip Hop

Kate began her dance training at Westin Arts Academy here in Fort Collins. She has also danced at Motion Underground and was a member of the Company at Motion. Kate has taken class with many wonderful artists such as Brian Friedman, Phi (from Jabawokeez), Shane Sparks, Mia Michaels, Lindsey B. (from Beat Freaks), Jewls (from Beat Freaks), Jesse Santos, Misha Gabriel and more. Kate was a member of the 2007/2008 Nuggets Mob Squad and was able to dance with Coolio and the Sugar Hill Gang. Kate has also performed for numerous Bat Mitzvahs, Club Zeda and events at CSU. She is currently pursuing a marketing degree at CSU and hopes to pursue her dancing in Los Angeles or New York following graduation. Kate style is sassy and thrashy while incorporating strong Hip Hop foundation. She is a very enthusiastic instructor with a bouncy personality. You’re sure to have a lot of fun in her classes.

Administration/Instructors

Instructors

Twila Booke

Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Ballroom

Twila Booke is originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, where she trained for most of her life at Christine Harper’s Dance West. She has also trained with Pulse 31 in Salt Lake City as well as Edge Performing Arts in Las Angeles and Broadway Dance Center in New York City. Twila has been nationally competitive for 11 years and has worked with choreographers such as Mandy Moore, Mia Michaels, and Gil Stroming. She has danced at the Las Vegas premier of Dirty Dancing Havana Nights and worked for MAGIC fashion conventions in Las Vegas. Twila has experience in Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Ballet, African, Lifting, Swing and Salsa. Currently she attends CSU as a biology major in hopes of becoming a veterinarian.

Jeff Elliott

Ballet, Boy’s Ballet, Hip Hop, Breakdancing, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary

Jeff Elliot started dancing in September of 2001 at the Canyon Concert Ballet. In June of 2005, he was invited to study on full scholarship at the prestigious Washington School of Ballet, in the District of Columbia, under the direction of the late Rebecca Wright. Following that summer, he was invited back for the next academic year to attend the school in the highest level of the school, where he did some company work as well, and trained principally with the distinguished dancer and teacher Rudolph Kharatian. During his residence in Washington D.C., he performed as the Nutcracker Prince in Septime Webre’s The Nutcracker, and Principal Male roles in George Balanchine’s Divertimento and Serenade, which was done in the spring. In 2006, Jeff returned to the Colorado State University as a student, where he taught Men’s Ballet. That year, he served as a guest artist for the David Taylor Dance Theatre, and Canyon Concert Ballet. Jeff teaches predominantly Vaganova style ballet, although he has extensive knowledge of Cecchetti and French techniques. In addition to ballet, Jeff is also trained in Hip Hop (predominately East Coast style), Musical Theatre and has 15 years of classical vocal training. He has recently graduated CSU with a degree in International Studies and a French minor and speaks French, Italian and a little Arabic. To add to his many talents, he is also a violinist. He never ceases to amaze us with new talents. Jeff gained a tremendous wealth of artistry from his studies, and is thankful for all of the opportunities that he has acquired.

Angela Rota Coming soon

Jazz, Tap

Kim Bollard

Hip Hop/Tap Combo, Tumbling, Parent/Tot

Kim has experience in Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Ballet, Lyrical, Poms, and Tumbling. With more than 12 years of dancing experience and 8 years of gymnastics experience, most of her dance training comes from Elite Dance Academy and Taps and Toes. Kim was a member of Stanley Lake High School’s varsity dance team for four years as well as a member of the school’s Gymnastics team. Kim is wonderful with all ages, but especially young children, having taught dance, cheer and swimming. Currently, Kim is in her second year as a member of the Colorado Eagles Chicks dance team and also coaches Poms and Cheer for the city of Fort Collins. She is also majoring in nutritional science at CSU and aspires to be a pediatrician.

Cassie Cooper

Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop/Tap Combo

Cassie Cooper is a student at CSU studying Communication Studies and Spanish.

She has been dancing for 14 years and is trained in Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Hip Hop,

Lyrical, Tap and Poms. She has received most her training from Steps Dance Studio

in Thornton Colorado, where she also taught for 3 years. She also danced at Ballet

Nouveau in Broomfield Colorado. Cassie was a member of Legacy High School’s

dance team for 3 years and captain for two. She currently is a 3rd year member of

Colorado States Golden Poms Dance Team. She loves to dance and share her passion for dance with her students!

Lexi Reeder

Office Assistant

Lexi has been dancing for 13 years and is trained in Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Partnering, Lyrical, Contemporary, Tap and Jazz. She moved to Fort Collins a year ago from Las Vegas, Nevada. Most of her training has come from Kravenko Dance Academy in Las Vegas. Lexi has had the opportunity to dance in the show “Golden Rainbow” and has danced for the Governor’s Ball in Las Vegas. Last year, she completed the first level in Inertia’s Assistant Teaching Program. In addition to the 16+ hours Lexi spends taking dance class, working the front desk and assistant teaching, she is very active at school. Lexi takes multiple AP classes and is also a member of the National Honor Society and French Club. After graduation, Lexi plans on pursuing her dream of becoming an architectural engineer, officer, dancer, who owns a dress shop on the side. With her work ethic, we have no doubt she will find success in dance as well as many other careers.