Dance Instructors

Anthony Morales
Anthony is a hip hop performer, dancer, and DJ. For the past several years he has been making noise in the Denver underground music scene as an artist and youth music instructor. His favorite dance styles include hip hop, house, and freestyle. He is a host of the monthly hip hop event, "Dusty Science," where artists come together to showcase their beatmaking and microphone skills. He has shared the stage with legends of the scene, which include KRS-ONE, The Pharcyde, and Slum Village. When not in the studio or teaching classes he is spending time with his family fishing, hiking, and going to concerts. As CEO of Rare Character Records, his ears are always looking for new sounds or artist to work with. You can find out more info by visiting rarecharacterrecords.com

Carmina O’Sullivan- Scimemi
Carmina is a dancer and choreographer originally from Michigan. Dancing has always been a part of her life, even from the moment she could walk. She took dance classes while in middle and high school but really fell in love with choreography and performing while in high school. Because of her drive and passion for dance and choreography, Carmina started a dance company at her school that raised funds for a local hospital and allowed everyone the opportunity to dance and perform. From there she went to college to Hope College, a small liberal arts college in Michigan, where she received her bachelor’s degree in dance and psychology. Carmina moved to Denver, Colorado in 2017 and started teaching at a park and recreation center and has been teaching dance ever since.

Christine Scott
Ms. Chris has been dancing since the age of five. She’s trained in ballet, jazz, poms, and tap and started teaching her own classes at age 15. Chris has taught at Denver Ballet Theatre Academy, Arapahoe Academy, South Suburban Parks and Rec, and Foothills Park and Rec. With twenty years of experience, her students have gone on to perform with professional companies as well as win multiple dance competitions. Chris’s goal in class is to allow each child to find love in dance while having fun in a safe and engaging environment.

Dana Wasielewski
Dana is a graduate of Kent State University, Kent, OH with a BFA in Dance Performance. An Ohio native, Dana started her professional career with Morrison Dance, performing at Cleveland Public Theater and various festivals. She worked as a performer and educator for Morrison Dance for five seasons. Dana was also a Teaching Artist with Dancing Classrooms of Northeast Ohio, educating fifth and eighth graders on ballroom dance as a social development program. Her after school program experience includes teaching dance in a variety of styles at Solon Center for the Arts. Modern and Jazz are her favorite styles, as she is trained in the techniques created and inspired by May O’Donnel, Erick Hawkins, Lynn Simonson, Matt Maddox, and Luigi. She loves dancing in an organic way and Gaga movement also plays a big role in her creative process. Dana is a runner, hiker, and yogi at heart. You’ll see her running on the trails and eating some good food after in downtown Golden.

Elleri Schaefer
Elleri is a dance teacher and choreographer from Oconomowoc, WI. She has taught dance, yoga, and barre classes for the past eight years at dance studios and recreation centers. Elleri grew up dancing competitively with Elation Dance Center in Delafield, WI, taking classes in jazz, ballet, tap, lyrical, contemporary, and pointe. Elleri has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Secondary Education from Southern Illinois University. During her time at university, she was also a member of the D1 SIUE Dance Team. When Elleri is not teaching dance classes, she teaches high school math at Alameda International Jr./Sr. High School. At Alameda, she also coaches the middle school poms team. Elleri enjoys hiking, playing with her dog, and downhill skiing. 

Jessica Riggs 
Jessica is a Colorado Native hailing from Golden, Colorado. She possesses bachelor’s degrees in both Dance and Dietetics from Colorado State University, as well as a Master’s degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition. In 2009, Jessica founded the nonprofit dance company, Life/Art Dance Ensemble, which focuses on increasing access to dance for older adults, as well as increasing opportunities for professional dancers and dance companies in Colorado. Jessica has also danced professionally with Cindy Brandle Dance Company, Lost Walks Band, and Stacey Temple DANCE and her choreography has been performed locally, nationally, and internationally. Jessica approaches her teaching from a holistic perspective with an emphasis on healthy practice, balance, and injury prevention. You will find her teaching ballet, modern, and tap at the Lakewood Cultural Center, as well as a line dancing and “Move with the Beat” at the Clements Community Center. 

Kathryn Dudley
Kathryn holds BAs in Dance Honors and Theatre, receiving the 2017 Distinguished Dance Student Award from Gustavus Adolphus College in St Peter, MN. Kathryn moved to Denver in 2020 and is currently a company member with Life/Art Dance Ensemble. Her modern dance concert works have been featured in shows by Minneapolis Ballet Dancers, Zenon’s Zone Program, In Box at the Art Box, COHORTS, and Convergence 2022. In 2018 and 2019 she partnered with 4 collegiate peers as …and Company to produce, direct, and choreograph productions for the MN Fringe Festival.  Interning under Vie Bohem with the Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis, MN, Kathryn assistant choreographed for Hair. Recently, she choreographed productions including Annie Jr, Sweeney Todd, As You Like It, and Honk Jr. As a dance educator since 18, Kathryn has worked with students of all ages and abilities and is Dance Ability^ⓇTeacher Certified. She teaches Modern/Contemporary, Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, and Musical Theatre Jazz. She looks forward to continuing to inspire, create, and coach dancers with all abilities. Alvin Ailey said it best, “dance is for everybody.”

Tanniqua-Kay, MUPP (She/Her), is a First-Generation Jamaican American mover, maker, choreographer, and urban planner whose work bridges arts, movement, and urban planning. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Theater with a Dance focus and a minor in Community Planning (Kansas State University), where her research explored the Black Dancing Body through color theory and social experimentation. This work deepened her understanding of how movement intersects with identity, culture, and space. She received her master’s in urban planning and policy (University of Illinois at Chicago), focusing on spatial planning and how cities can be shaped by human movement and dance. Tanniqua-Kay was awarded a fellowship from The Field Foundation of Illinois, through which she advocated for various arts organizations on Chicago's South and West sides, working to elevate local arts communities. She is currently pursuing a Dance MFA at the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a secondary focus on film studies. 

Taka Carnes
The dream of dancing has always been in Taka’s heart since she was a child. At the age of eight, she began studying ballet and quickly went on to learn tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, hip-hop, and musical theater. After graduating high school, she discovered belly dance or more appropriately MENAHT (Middle Eastern, North African, Hellenistic, and Turkish) dance. She instantly fell in love with the art form. Her passion for belly dancing led her to dedicate herself to learning as much as she could about its technique, cultures, and varying styles. After performing at her first Hafla (student show) at the Moroccan restaurant Tajine Alami, she was asked to perform professionally at their weekend dinner shows. Taka has become a highly sought-after performer and instructor. Over the years, she has taught and performed both nationally and internationally. She has won competitions such as The Ultimate Belly Dancer and Belly Dance Masters and has toured with Belly Dance Evolution throughout the United States and Europe. Taka is passionate about sharing the magic of the performing arts and produces shows in Denver throughout the year. Her productions include Around the World in 1001 Nights, Mythos, and Anime Mayhem. These events showcase amazing performers, mostly local to Colorado and promote culture, diversity, inclusivity, and love. Belly dancing has been a blessing in Taka’s life, but the greatest blessing has been connecting with others. We have more in common than we have differences. Taka can be seen performing weekly throughout Denver. The Clocktower Cabaret, The Phoenician Kabob, and Sahara’s Restaurant are some Denver venues where she regularly performs. 

Tia Hildebrandt
Tia has been dancing since she was 3 years old. She has experience with multiple different styles of dance, but hip hop has always been her favorite!  She has been part of multiple competitive dance teams throughout middle and high school and taught dance classes for her peers while at college. Her favorite dance memory is being able to attend the Monsters of Hip Hop Dance Convention and learn from Tabatha and Napoleon. Tia teaches Mom and Me and Intro to Creative Movement at the Lakewood Cultural Center. She is also the In-school Dance Workshop Instructor for the Lakewood Cultural Center's outreach program and loves sharing her passion for dance with students around the Lakewood community. She encourages her students to reach for the stars because anything is possible!

Zoe Lewis
Zoe is a dancer, instructor, and choreographer from Colorado Springs, Colorado. She started dancing at age five and fell in love with dance. She then went on to dance pre-professionally at Colorado Ballet Society under Patricia Hoffman, where she danced for all her high school years. At Colorado Ballet Society, Zoe was extensively trained in Vaganova and Cecchetti methods. At this time, she also found her love for contemporary and modern. Zoe pursued dance in college and received her dance minor. Zoe has taught during summer seasons at studios in Texas and in Colorado around the Denver area. Zoe believes in the balance of striving for excellence in training and having fun. Zoe wants to help her dancers cultivate an intrinsic love for dance, learn to be confident in their strengths, and work on their growth areas.