The Mission

Our mission is to encourage students of all ages and levels to experience the world of dance while gaining the benefits of high self-esteem, poise and physical well-being.  Our staff is dedicated to providing quality instruction through positive reinforcement, while being actively involved in our student's physical/mental development as a dancer.

In 2002, we began with a vision to create a superior, professional dance school within the Douglas County area.  We continue that vision today.  Housed within a beautiful dance studio, matched with elite instructors and low-cost tuition, Colorado School of Dance's program sets a high standard on dance education.

The Faculty

School Director/Owner Lisa Tuska is the founder and president of the Colorado School of Dance. She has a B.A. Degree from Wright State University, OH, a Professional Dance Teaching Certification from Ohio University, and did her post graduate dance studies at Sinclair University, in Dayton, OH. She has more than 20 years of teaching/directing experience, and continues her education through annual seminars, regional conventions and teacher workshops. She has owned and operated her own studios since 1993 (north of Cincinnati, OH) and has an extensive list of credentials as a dancer, choreographer and teacher. Tuska also is the Founder and Executive Director of the Annual Nutcracker of Parker. She believes her school is a vehicle for her dancers in bringing them together not only with the talents of a professional staff and quality facilities, but giving them true community and opportunity as both dancers and young leaders. Whether their goals are recreational, regional success or professional, Tuska wants her students to come away with impeccable technique, responsible discipline and a positive character that goes with them throughout their lifetime. Tuska's vision and passion for the performing arts is what makes her a successful teacher and leader in the community. 


Jody Arnoldi brings to the CSD 10 years of gymnastics experience along with 6 years of cheerleading. She has coached at a high school level, and has taught preschool gymnastics at a private school in Minneapolis, Minn. She has a musical background, which includes singing in a college swing band and many years of singing at weddings and private parties.

Samantha Byrne has her B.A. from London University and a Post Graduate Certificate of Education from Oxford University. Along with extensive years of training and performance, she is certified by the British Ballet Organization, and has taught for 13 years. She specializes in Levels I – IV, Ballet, Tap and Pre-Pointe, but is one of the most well-rounded faculty members teaching ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical. She has been with the Colorado School of Dance since it’s opening in 2002.

Amy Colwell is a former dancer with the Hilltop Dance Studio in Kansas City, where she studied ballet, jazz and tap for 13 years, and studied Pointe for 7 years. She is great with teaching children foundational technique and a love for dance. She taught for The City of Highland’s Ranch from 2001-2004, and for the Colorado School of Dance since it’s opening in Fall of 2002.

Rebecca Dean is the Ballet Director of CSD's Ballet Department and Colorado Youth Ballet Company. Rebecca graduated with honors BFA in Ballet from the University of Utah. She has danced professionally for Kim Robards Dance Company and David Taylor's Nutcracker in Denver. She also danced with Ballet Magnificat! in Jackson, Mississippi, and was the founder and director of a Utah based Christian Dance Ministry call Spirit and Truth. Originally from Tampa, FL, she trained with New Tampa Dance Theater, Firethorn School of Dance and graduated from the Blake High School of Performing Arts. She danced the professional lead of Sugar Plum Fairy at the Nutcracker of Parker in 2005, where she continues to co-direct annually.

Oleg Dedogryuk is an Artistic Director for the Annual Nutcracker of Parker and Head Faculty Member of the Colorado School of Dance. He is a graduate of the Leningrad Vaganova Ballet Academy in Russia. Throughout his 25 years in the professional ballet world he danced as a Principal Dancer with the Bolshoi Theatre, Leningrad Modern Ballet Theatre, Moscow Renaissance Ballet, The National Ballet Theatre, the City Ballet in San Diego and is known best locally as the soloist with Colorado Ballet from 2001 to 2005. During his career he has danced leads such as Prince Sigfried in Swan Lake, Poet in Les Sylphides and Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. Regionally, he is best known for his portrayal as”Dracula”, and Bodies of Work, Song of Love and Marionettes—just to name a few. Oleg joined CSD in 2005.

Brooke Ebel has a four year degree in education. As a former school teacher, she turned her love for dance into a career of working with our preschool students at the school. With a dance background, and further dance teacher training at CSD, she has been both an asset to the preschool program and a nurturing teacher to our students since the Fall of 2004.

Lisa Freyschlag is the Asst. Children's Programming Director. She is a renowned children's dance and tap teacher in Parker since 1994. Along with her more than 18 years teaching experience, she has extensive dance training, a degree in Elementary Education and she is a part-time teacher at Core Knowledge Charter School in Parker, CO. Freyschlag is a major contributor to the Children's Curriculum & Planning at the Dance School. Much of her work will be seen throughout the 2005-06 in Preschool and Children's Dance Classes.

Curtis Grecco is specialized in jazz and hip hop techniques, and studied dance with Motion Underground in Boulder, CO. As former Mr. Showbiz, and a dancer for many pre-professional companies, Curtis has carried his passion for dance into teaching. He began a teaching apprenticeship position with the Colorado School of Dance in Fall of 2006, and is finishing his studies as a Senior at Ponderosa High School. He is both a talented dancer in the industry, and an articulate teacher in the newest hip hop styles. 

Kara Kunz is a former professional dancer with the Denver Contemporary Dance Theatre. She has been a teacher and choreographer since 1989, working with both competitive teams and high school musicals. She teaches high level jazz, tap,modern, hip hop and ballet, and is one of the head choreographers for the Senior APT Team at CSD.

Tiffany Lengyel is the Children's Programming Director. She studied dance with Joan Pelkie School of Dance in Spokane, Washington, and is a successful dancer, teacher, choreographer and actress. She is a former school teacher, business woman, and choreographer for local theater groups. Along with awards for her winning choreography, she is dynamic with children--and they love her! She started teaching with the school in March of 2005. She believes, as does the school, our foundation begins at the preschool level, and these are the stars of today, and tomorrow alike. 

Stuart and Carol McArthur of Parker both have extensive experience teaching and performing ballroom dance. They began their teaching careers at BYU where they both earned degrees in dance and performed with the Ballroom Dance Company. Carol spent one year as the Director for the performing team that took first place in the world team competition at Blackpool, England. Stuart has performed in movies and television commercials.

Megan Moore has been a key managing member of CSD's Ballet Department and Colorado Youth Ballet Company since 2004. She graduated with her BFA in graphic design and dance from Virginia Commonwealth University. After graduation, she attended George Mason University’s Graduate Intensive Program, studying dance education. She spent five years as a teacher/choreographer of ballet and modern dance at the Russell School of Ballet in Chantilly, VA. She is a former company member of the Potomac Ballet in Northern Virginia. 

Heidi Nichter graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance from Point Park University in Pittsburgh. She trained one year at Steps on Broadway, NY, and Western Michigan University. She has 11 years teaching experience and has taught for reputable school’s like the Cleveland School of the Arts, OH, and Marine City Dance Company, MI. Heidi is a current dancer with Kim Robards Professional Dance Company in Denver since 2005, and a former professional dancer with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company from 2003-05. 

Joanna Smith specializes in teaching hip hop, poms and tumbling classes. She has five years teaching experience and was a former dancer with the Elm Street Dancers. She trained at the Mckinney Dance Academy in Mckinney, Texas where she studied hip hop, ballet, tap, pointe, musical theater, jazz, poms, cheer and tumbling. She was also on the Stomp Team at Mckinney High School. Prior to living in Texas, Joanna competed in poms and cheerleading for two all-star teams in California. She has been dancing for 8 years, teaching for 5 and is currently in her 3rd year of her college studies.

Heather Webb comes to CSD from Salt Lake Dance Center, Salt Lake City, UT, where she developed the Competition Team Program and directed her teams for seven years. She is a national award-winning choreographer, and many of her students have gone on to perform in cruise lines, acting schools and professional dance companies. She trained under her mother, Jillana Webb, a former dancer with New York City Ballet. Heather has trained at Broadway Dance Center in NY and Edge Performing Studio in LA. She is well skilled in Ballet, Hip Hop, Modern, Classical Jazz and Modern Lyrical, and is a reputable teacher for ages 3 to adult.