We take great pride in the high level of education and experience that our D.A.M. dance teachers demonstrate.
Only the most qualified and skilled professional instructors are available for you, each specializing in their own, unique dance expertise!
Only the most qualified and skilled professional instructors are available for you, each specializing in their own, unique dance expertise!
The Dance Art Media Team
photo by Greg Campbell
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Holding an MFA in Dance with an emphasis in Entrepreneurial Business studies from The University of Colorado, earning a
BFA in Theatrical Jazz Dance from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and a certification from The American Film Institute in Los Angeles. Ms. Page has been a working, career professional in the performing arts and entertainment industries since 1993. A natural leader and intuitive director, she has extensive experience with live theatre/stage, cruise ships, Film/TV, professional sports, education/academia, as well as corporate business, production, finance, administration, and management. Jessica is at her best when creating, collaborating and producing professional-level, theatrical entertainment. This becomes evident when looking at her 25 years of success as an artistic entertainer focused on amusing audiences in the medium of dance-art production. |
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ALBERTA SHULMAN GUEST TEACHER
A dancer, choreographer and teaching artist in the Denver / Boulder area, she grew up in Maryland, where she fell in love with dance at the age of seven. She attended The University of the Arts for two years, working with a multitude of choreographers including Donna Faye Burchfield, Sidra Bell and Douglas Becker then completed her BFA in Dance at The University of Colorado, Boulder, focusing on somatic practices as they apply to modern and ballet technique. Alberta is passionate about bringing dance to new platforms within public education. She is currently pursuing her certification to teach in the Denver public schools and additionally teaches dance, developing ballet programs and performance dance teams. Ms. Shulman performs professionally as a company member of Life/Art Dance Ensemble in residence at the Dance Art Media Studios.
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AMANDA BENZIN GUEST TEACHER - TAP - JAZZ - MODERN
Ms. Benzin is a rhythmically and passionately driven educator, performer and choreographer that holds an MFA in Dance from CU Boulder with concentrations in performance, choreography, somatics (Alexander Technique and Body-Mind Centering), and pedagogy. She graduated summa cum laude from the State University of New York at Buffalo with a BFA in Dance and minor in Business Administration. Amanda was an Emmy-Award-winning member of the renowned Chicago-based rhythm jazz and tap dance company Jump Rhythm Jazz Project for 6 years touring and teaching nationally and internationally. Amanda has taught ballet, jazz, tap, modern, contemporary, hip hop, and musical theatre to children and adults of all ages across the country for the past 19 years. She believes dance education should not only instill the knowledge, passion, love and appreciation for dance, but also inspire students’ creativity and encourage self-confidence, exploration, and skills they can use in dance and in life. She is committed to empowering individuals through the community of dance.
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ALEX MILEWSKI GUEST TEACHER - HIP-HOP
Alex is a professional bboy from Denver, Colorado. He started dancing in 2006 and has competed, taught and/or performed throughout the United States and around the world in Canada, Australia, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, The U.K., Ecuador, Morocco and more. As a founding member of Block 1750, Alex continues developing his passion for learning all styles of dance and sharing his knowledge with his students on a daily basis. https://youtu.be/BkiUpU_O9uE
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AMBER ANDREWS GUEST TAP TEACHER
Cal Poly State University - minored in dance and participated and choreographed for the student-run spring dance show for 3 years. Focused on creative movement and dance theory providing a great appreciation and passion for modern dance and interpretive movement. Amber started an on-campus tap & breakdancing group, sharing knowledge of the two dance styles and subsequently developing an interest in tap/hip-hop fusion. Throughout her studies, she also taught dance for 5 years in many disciplines, including tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, hip hop, and creative dance. Amber's worked with many differing levels of dancers, from ages 3 to adult, and from beginners to the performing pros. She absolutely loves to share her joy of dance with others!
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photo by Drew Levin
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ANGIE SIMMONS GUEST TEACHER - MODERN DANCE
Angie Simmons is is a Denver-based teaching artist and the Artistic Director/choreographer/founder of Evolving Doors Dance, a modern company, founded in 2006. She is Adjunct Faculty in Dance at Red Rock and Pikes Peak Community Colleges. Her creative research has been granted by the Neodata Endowment Fellowship, the Boulder Arts Commission, and the Open Door Foundation. She has choreographed, taught and performed in New York, Colorado, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee, Mississippi and throughout the midwest. She was Presenting Denver’s first In the Spotlight featured artist. Angie teaches throughout the Denver metro, working with beginning through professional dancers in many genres. Simmons has served as dance faculty for the University of Southern Mississippi, Naropa University, and as a Graduate Teacher at the University of Colorado. Angie Simmons holds an MFA in Dance Choreography from the University of Colorado-Boulder, with an emphasis in the Alexander Technique, and a BS in Secondary Dance Education from Illinois State University. Simmons has performed professionally with Isis Movement Company and Tribe of Human in New York and 3rd Law Dance/Theatre and Louder Than Words Dancetheatre in Colorado. She frequently dances with Cindy Brandle Dance. Angie has also performed in individual projects with Nick Cave, Gabe Masson, Tom Evert, Jon DeMone, Doug Woods, David Dorfman, Toby Hankin, Nada Diachenko, and Megan Flood.
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ASHLEY PHAN CREATIVE MOVEMENT - BALLET - TAP - CONTEMPORARY - LYRICAL
Ashley (Ash) Phan graduated from Bard College in 2016 with a BA in Dance, where she received the Ana Itelman Prize for Performance. Ashley was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington where she began her training at Tacoma City Ballet, Barefoot Studios, and Tacoma School of the Arts. She has studied both Ballet and Modern techniques alongside choreography and composition. Ashley is pleased to have performed works by Zvi Gothiner and Peter Kyle. As well as study under the faculty at Bard College including Jesse Zarrit, Cori Olinghouse, and Leah Cox. She also enjoyed working for the American Dance Festival as the Schedule and Faculty Coordinator for their 2016 summer schools. She is excited to be a part of Winifred R. Harris Between Lines Dance Company, and a new member of DAMAGEDANCE for their 2017-2018 season.
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BRANDYN 'BOOG' HARRIS HOUSE - HIP-HOP - POPPING - LOCKING
Brandyn grew up in Philadelphia, deep within the hip-hop community. His father, Rennie Harris, is well-known as the first person to put hip-hop & house dancing on the concert performance stage. At a young age Brandyn was surrounded by the pioneers of this culture and gained a deep knowledge and understanding from first hand experience. He has spent the majority of his professional experience performing, competing, and battling in the local circuits through Philadelphia, as well as nationally. Brandyn ‘ ooh Harris is very versatile and experienced with street styles: popping, locking, hip-hop social, and house. His strongest suit is popping and he as won many prestigious accolades and battles, attributed to his very own and unique style. As a dancer in both Rennie Harris Puremovement and RHAW for ten years, Boog evolved as a dancer, performer, choreographer and teacher and served as the assistant rehearsal director of Rennie Harris RHAW. He always and consistently pursuing progress, as a person and as a dancer, in hopes of one day following in his father’s footsteps as a premier choreographer. Prior to moving to CO, Boog was a hip-hop teacher at Philadanco School of Dance Arts in Philadelphia, PA where he taught a wide range of ages and abilities.
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CHRISTINE ROHDE JAZZ - MODERN - CONTEMPORARY - TURNS, LEAPS, & PROGRESSIONS
Graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point with a BA in Dance and also completed a clinical massage therapy program. Ms. Rohde graduated from the Theatre and Dance Program with a MFA in Dance from the University of Colorado at Boulder in May 2012 with a secondary emphasis in the Alexander Technique. Ms. Rohde's extensive professional background with nationally recognized jazz dance and contemporary dance companies, including Juan Carlos Rincones Dance Theatre, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Thodos Dance Chicago, Interweave Dance Theatre, and 3rd Law Dance, brings further insight to her teaching. As a teacher Ms. Rohde is known as a generous, knowledgeable, and energetic educator who pushes her students to explore the range of their abilities as technicians, artists and performers.
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ELENA KRAMDA BALLET - HORTON MODERN DANCE TECHNIQUE
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Her dance training began w/ Christina Noel Adcock at the Arvada Center. She earned a BFA in dance from the Conservatory of Music and Dance at UMKC. There she studied under and performed in pieces by Jennifer Medina, DeeAnna Hiett, Rodni Williams, Sabrina Madison-Cannon, Paula Weber, and Mary Pat Henry, among others. She attended programs at The Ailey School, Jennifer Medina’s Common Thread Contemporary Dance Company, Cleo Parker Robinson, and Kim Robards, performing in showcases and attending some of these on scholarship. Elena then went on to study Graham with the renowned Franca Telesio. Elena has performed and choreographed with Legacy Dance Ensemble as a soloist, Blue Moon Dance Company, Emmy award-winning Melissa Ivey’s Speed of Life, international artist Nick Cave’s Heard*DAM, Flash Mob America as a lead, Ten Honies, and others. She is a licensed elementary teacher completing a Master’s in Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Education. She hopes to use dance and choreography as a tool to build self-esteem and create a positive self-image for children and growing dancers, especially those who come from difficult backgrounds. Elena has taught in a variety of dance programs in the U.S. and abroad, including Community Minded Dance’s Head Start program, the Dance Academy at the Arvada Center, and guest teaching throughout the Denver metro area.
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JESSE GREAVES-SMITH SOCIAL DANCE - BALLROOM - LATIN DANCES - SWING
Jesse Greaves-Smith holds a Master's degree in Instruction from the University of Denver and brings 12 years of teaching experience to DAM. He performed with CU Boulder's Rueda de Casino salsa team, and has spent the last three years teaching salsa and Bachata basics to 1000+ people through Black Belt Salsa. Having taught dance, rock climbing, archery, and martial arts to groups of all ages, he excels at helping people master new physical motions in ways that work for them. Jesse focuses on helping individuals become comfortable with whichever social dance they're learning, and helping couples connect as dance partners. He strives to bring a sense of humor, enjoyment, and personal growth to his classes.
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LARRY SOUTHALL GUEST TEACHER - HIP-HOP - HOUSE
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Larry Southall was born in the Bronx, NY where he began dancing hip-hop forms in the early eighties. He received an MFA in dance from the University of Colorado Boulder. He has worked with many companies including Boulder Ballet, Harambee African Dance Ensemble, Blue Moon, Motion Underground, Longmont Symphony and Dance Theatre, and Steamboat Springs Dance Theatre. Larry has worked as a master teacher at Dance Place in Washington, D.C., at Slippery Rock University and for the American College Dance Festival. He has choreographed for the Native Tongue Dance Theatre, Skeleton Dance Project, the Black College Dance Exchange and the “Legacies” concert of the American College Dance Festival in Boulder. Larry teaches traditional hip-hop and is an established and well respected teacher. He currently teaches hip-hop at the University of Colorado Boulder, the Longmont Dance Theatre, and Cleo Parker Robinson Dance School.
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MARIA BILEYCHIK SOCIAL DANCE - WEST COAST SWING - LATIN DANCES
Maria started dancing at 6 years old doing International Standard & Latin back in her hometown. She danced and competed in the ballroom circuit for twenty years until in 2014 when she found her favorite dance style in West Coast Swing. Not only does Maria have ballroom training, but she is also well versed in ballet and contemporary styles. Trying to always incorporate and blend the different styles together, she enjoys the opportunity that dance brings to express yourself and improvise.
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MICHELLE BERNIER GUEST TEACHER - BALLET - JAZZ - MUSICAL THEATRE
Michelle was raised in Maine, and has been dancing since age 7. Her early training was deeply rooted in ballet and jazz, with bits of tap, musical theater, and ballroom dance mixed in. She studied dance at Skidmore College, the University of South Florida, the University of Southern Maine, and the Bates Dance Festival. Dancing in college, Michelle fell in love with modern dance and has focused her career in that direction ever since. In Maine, Michelle danced as a soloist w/ the Portland Symphony Orchestra and was a member of Collective Motion, a contemporary dance company based in Portland. Her choreography has been seen throughout that state. Since relocating to CO, Michelle has been performing w/ Life/Art Dance Ensemble in Denver & Blue Moon Dance Company in Boulder, and teaches ballet, tap, jazz, modern, leaps/turns, and strength and flexibility throughout Colorado. She applies her utmost passion and effort to maintain a fun, creative collective for our young performers to gain valuable community-based performance experience. Ms. Bernier earned her Masters of Fine Arts in Dance from CU Boulder. ~ Executive Director, Sans Souci Festival of Dance Cinema ~ Tour Ensemble Director Airborne Dance Center ~ Life/Art Dance Ensemble Board Member
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MYKAYLA SOLORIO ASST. DIRECTOR of THE D.A.M. TEAM / HIP-HOP - THEATRICAL JAZZ - TAP
Mykayla began dancing at Premier School of Dance in Thornton, Colorado at the age of 3. From the ages of 7 to 18, she competed in dance; such was her dedication to dance that Mykayla elected to be home schooled, so she could spend more time dancing and competing. During this time, she studied many different dance styles including African, salsa, musical theater, modern, and break dancing. She joined LA Dance Magic's Company in 2015 under the direction of Jackie Sleight and Dave Carter. While working with LA Dance Magic's company she had the opportunity to study and work under Jason Myer, Will Thomas, Christian Vincent, Eddie Moody, DJ Guthrie, Ayodele Casel, and Albert Blaise Cattafi. Mykayla is currently a member of Life/Art Ensemble dance. She is also attending the Art Institute of Colorado in pursuit of a career in pastry and bakery art.
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STEFANI CINTO SOCIAL DANCE - BALLROOM - SWING - COUNTRY - LATIN DANCE
A Professional Ballroom Competitor in American Rhythm and American Smooth styles, Stefani is certified in the DVIDA Syllabus Bronze / Silver / Gold Rhythm and Smooth styles. She is experienced in teaching and competing ballroom and also has a strong background in Ballet / Jazz / Contemporary / Hip-Hop. Ms. Cinto attended The University of Nebraska on a dance scholarship and was a member of their collegiate dance team for all four years, captain for two, and graduated with a minor in Dance. She absolutely LOVES teaching dance and building confidence in her students!
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